2nd Shift, Old Bridgeview release new collab beer, ‘Maria’ – and its love story

October 4, 2024 Jordan Palmer New Releases Comments Off

Old Bridgeview Brewing in Washington, Missouri, and 2nd Shift Brewing in St. Louis have come together to brew a special beer. The beer, Maria, is a cream ale honoring Maria Willson, the late wife of Tony Willson of Old Bridgeview and a beloved figure in the St. Louis craft beer community.

“I brewed a collaboration with two of my dearest friends, who just happen to own one of the best breweries around, 2nd Shift Brewing,” Willson said in a social media post. “When they asked to name it Maria to honor my late wife, I was taken aback. They selected one of Maria’s favorite pictures and did the artwork for the can labels. They even made me some framed pictures for my home and the brewery. It has been a bit overwhelming.”

Maria is a light and crisp cream ale with a creamy mouthfeel, slight hop bitterness, and a sweet corn finish.

“We’ve known Big Tony of Old Bridgeview for over 15 years and have watched him grow from a beer enthusiast to a talented home brewer to owning his own incredible brewery, with his wife, Maria, by his side every step of the way,” 2nd Shift wrote on its Instagram page. “Beauty, grace, and kindness – that was Maria. This beer is named in her honor and memory, to an amazing woman, wife, and friend.”

Old Bridgeview Brewing

Old Bridgeview Brewing began as a shared passion project between Maria; her husband, Tony Willson; and partners Eric Earls and Fair Holschen. The four met through a local beer festival and continued brewing together as part of a New Haven, Missouri, beer club. Prior to relocating to St. Louis, 2nd Shift Brewing was originally based in New Haven.

From backyard brews to a taproom of their own, Old Bridgeview has grown to embody their philosophy of “brewing for community.” Using a small two-barrel system, the team enjoys crafting unique small-batch beers that reflect customer tastes and foster collaboration.

“All our best relationships were forged in beer,” Earls explained in a 2020 interview with Drink314. “Tony and his wife, Maria, met, fell in love, and got married. Beer was involved in all of those events.”

With the Maria Cream Ale, Old Bridgeview and 2nd Shift Brewing celebrate Maria’s life and contributions, sharing a beer that captures her essence and the love she shared with the world.

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