First, let me tell me why I gave Heavy Riff a 4. Ordering is wonky. You have to order at the bar from the get-go. I had to pretty much guess what I wanted to order because I am not a beer snob and have no real preference and a few others in my party went to sit. If there hadn't been people behind me waiting to order I would not have had so much stress trying to just get it done. That being said, Maddie was awesome! She saw that I was struggling and had me pick some beers that weren't so bad. They don't have a huge food menu but what they offer is very good. NOT your regular bar feed. VERY upscale. I loved all the art around the room. It really brings up some good conversations. We will definitely be back to enjoy the patio. read more

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What a great neighborhood spot! They have a fairly large outdoor patio area and indoors it's a mix of bar seating, tables and booths. You order at the bar and they bring your food to your table. They have a large selection of beer. I ordered the vegan seitan sandwich with a side of cheesy taters, and my dining companion got the pork sandwich with side of corn. Our order came out fairly quickly, even though they were busy. The sandwich was brimming with the protein and everything tasted good. Service was adequate and the decor is rock and roll. They have street parking and you can test your parallel parking skills. read more

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Vanilla Cream Ale - Love Gun: Packs just as much punch as its namesake Kiss album:song. Totally delicious. Grab one to enjoy on-site, and don't leave without a growler or a 4-pack of tall cans to take home. Feels more like a friendly neighborhood bar than a typical brewery -- cozy, welcoming, and full of character. read more

Love this brewery! Friendly staff, tasty beers, and lots of seating options. They always have good tunes playing and accessible QR codes with details of all their available draught options. You can also grab 4-packs to go. Cheers! read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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This is my absolute favorite brewery in St Louis. They have very creative brews that just work. My favorite is the variations of Layla, a sour beer, black current and peach have been a couple of my favorite flavors. My husband swears by Love Gun which is similar to a cream soda flavor but not overwhelming still an enjoyable beer forward flavor. Their location has a great outdoor patio. I have enjoyed their snacks here as well, in theory you could have a full meal here but we usually just enjoy the brews. Never too busy. read more

The renovations for the outdoor space were worth the time and construction! It's massive and so easy for groups, especially if you go for an early happy hour. It's easy to order inside (although a little confusing with the QR code menus on the table), just remember what your number is on the table! The nachos were pretty good and the drinks were crisp. read more

I love that giant dog filled shady patio. I'd go even if the beer were bad but luckily the beer also slaps. Wear flats you're gonna have to park a ways. It's worth it. Did I mention the dogs? read more

Fun place near Forest Park! Always a good atmosphere. The beer is fresh! The girls pretty.

Saturday afternoon and I've successfully managed to get in to Saint Louis without murdering anyone or bonking in to any other cars. That deserves a reward. So I'm at Heavy Riff for a beer! Unfortunately, the one I really wanted was tapped out and the bartender recommended something similar. None of the others appealed so I tried a half pour of their dark Czech lager. It was good for what it is but it didn't fit my taste and after the one beer, I opted to move along to somewhere else. [Review 580 of 2024 - 283 in Missouri - 21611 overall] read more

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This is a good place to enjoy craft beer and very creative food. It's located nearby the St. Louis Zoo and usually has street parking available nearby. The food was served quickly and had good tastes, but the menu is limited if you have little ones. The beer menu was extensive, so I ordered flight of beers to sample their recommendations. You have to order at the bar counter inside and the food and drinks will be served to your table. But the staff is friendly and gives good recommendations for food and drinks. The ambiance is very casual and chill, outside in their covered patio. read more

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Great brews and tunes. Didn't sit out on the giant patio (it was just a liiiiiitle hot) (and also it got extremely crowded; I guess a run club meets here?), but it was also roomy inside. It seems like they were out of several different ingredients (saitan, cabbage, one of the butters for the beer bread), but the food we did get was tasty. Not sure how often I'll make it back, but happy to check out! read more

I love Dogtown and I love Heavy Riff! We went to Stone Turtle for brunch on a Sunday and decide to prolong the brunch vibes with some patio beers. First thing I always notice is that their patio is dog friendly! Always a plus and a true asset for many people. You walk in and you go a bit to the left to get in line to order your beer. They have A LOT of options and some choices for everyone. I opted for the Squeeze Box Lemon which is was great! I love lemon and the vibes of a summer brew- so it hit the spot. We then split a flight with several different options which was all enjoyed. They come with 4 5oz pours which is a good amount of beer and variety for around $12. Looking forward to trying the food menu next time! read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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First time eating here and we were impressed! The ambiance was very casual and inviting. It wasn't super crowded at 6 PM and the music played at an acceptable volume. We started with the brisket nachos, which were delicious. Our 2 year old devoured the burnt end baked beans. My husband had the corned beef sliders and I got the Reuben with cheesy potatoes. Believe me when I say the corned beef is so tender and flavorful. Some of the best we've had. Extra props to the staff for their patience and kindness , as dining out with a 2 year old is always an unpredictable adventure! Oh, the beers were good, too. We will be back! read more

I was looking for a nice microbrewery to take my customer for dinner. Heavy Riff seemed to be what we were looking for. Good comfort food along with great beer. I ordered the smoked pulled pork nachos as well as the a smoked reuben. Really nice thick and tender slices of corned beef along with sauerkraut, swiss cheese and thousand island dressing on a toasted pumpernickle bread. The nachos were too filling to eat all. The beer was very good as I had the IPA. My customer ordered the pale ale which he said was also very good. That's a compliment since he comes from a town where there are many good microbrews. I placed this on my return list of places to visit when in STL. read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Smoked pork nachos - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Consistently one of my favorite spots for a beer. Love their selection and they let you try samples if you're not sure what to get.

Food is great for brewery food. Highly recommend the beer bread! Nice inside area and great outdoor patio when nice weather. Service you need to go to bar to order and line can get a bit long sometimes. A go-to spot for friend hangouts. read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Smoked reuben and corn - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Great local brewery! Loved the beer and selection. Great location in Dogtown. Friendly staff. Only downside was the prices on the menu had no prices. So didn't order any food. Went next door for pizza! read more

We stopped into Heavy Riff after eating at Hogtown Smokehouse (go there). We just had a couple of drinks. The beer here was really great and we were happy to support a local business. They have a full service bar. The atmosphere here felt similar to a sports bar but they had a rock and roll theme, with guitars hanging on the walls: which was cool. The service e had was great. They sell their beer here and a bunch of merch too! read more

A moderately sized brewery with a central Dogtown location just off Clayton Ave. There's always a great vibe whether you're indoors or on the patio. The staff is friendly and there is great variety of beers to try. That all being said, the element that earns Heavy Riff 5 stars from me is their dark beers (stouts, porters, brown ales, etc.). My all-time favorite is the Vanilla Coffee Underbrown which was initially brewed for another one of my STL favorites, Vincent Van Doughnut, at the launch of their food truck. Aside from the VCU they also offer a series of stouts titled, Dear Agony, that have been barrel aged in some of your favorite bourbon casks. These stouts carry an immense depth and richness that you simply must try. The added plus to Heavy Riff is that they offer these heavier beers in 5oz pours so you can try multiple options without feeling like you need to lay down right away (These 5oz options are also present in the flight options they have on their menu). Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. *They offer bottled/canned beer from their taplist near the entrance. If you find yourself a fan of the Dear Agony series, don't hesitate to pick up some bottles on your way out as certain barrel picks sell out quick! read more

I came to Heavy Riff for a fun night with friends and ended up getting cursed at for ordered a flight of beer on a Saturday night. I emailed to share my negative experience and the response was a justification of their actions. I truly enjoyed my time at Heavy Riff, the beer and food are great but unfortunately this experience has tainted my overall view of this establishment. read more

The second brewery on this trip to St. Louis that I made it to was Heavy Riff. It was another brewery I have been meaning to get to for a while. I went around lunch time and was pleasantly surprised to learn they also smoke their own meats and enjoyed a Brisket Sandwich with pit beans that paired wonderfully with the acidity / funkiness of the sours and the malty characters of the BBA Strong Ale. The rock playlist also was fantastic as I felt obligated to jam along with the songs as I ate and drank. Highly recommend getting out here! Rumbleseat: A Bourbon Barrel Aged Strong Ale. Not overly alcoholic, but a pleasant warmth to the beer. Strong malty character of caramel, plum, and figs. Dark color with a hint of bitter dark chocolate, but leaned towards the caramel / sweetness just slightly (but not sugar sweet). Weird to drink in the hot STL summer, but enjoyable none-the-less. Foedre Fafa: A Missouri Oak Aged blended Wild Saison Ale (did you know most oak barrels come from MO?). The ale has a tangy acidity that creates a fruity tartness similar to freshly pressed lemonade. Cosmic Cowboy: A Double Dry Hopped New England Style IPA featuring Galaxy and Nelson Sauvin (my favorite hop right now). Huge Sauvignon Blanc grape character, medium bitterness, medium tropical fruits like passion fruit and mango. Medium body that provides some thicker mouthfeel that coats the palate with this flavorful IPA. Oud Bruin: One of my all time favorite styles and rarely seen. And if it is seen, not done well - glad to say this was done extremely well. This Oud Bruin was aged two and half years in port wine barrels. Has a slightly tart and acidic character with malty notes of dark fruits like figs / dates, dark chocolate, and fresh caramel. Some port / sherry is just noticeable. BBQ and Beer, what more could you ask for? read more

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One of my favorite breweries in STL. They have a wide variety of styles and there is always something new to try. Their food is pretty good, too! Staff is friendly and quick to help work through a line of people. There's a nice outdoor patio where dogs and people can chill. Bonus is Felix's Pizza is right next door and it's good to pick up on the way out. read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Daisy Glaze IPA - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Second visit to Heavy Riff, first time since COVID. They had added a huge tent for protected outdoor seating with well-spaced tables and had some fully open-air tables as well. We chose to relax in the tent since rain threatened. I tried the "Beware of Darkness" barrel aged beer. Wow. I really enjoyed this pour. My daughter tried a different one but I completely forgot which! Nonetheless, she was happy with her choice, too. And we all snacked in their delicious soft beer grain pretzel sticks. The tap list at Heavy Riff is solid and diverse. Something for nearly everyone! read more

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So glad I got to go back to St Louis and Heavy Riff Brewing was first and only brewery in my mind to revisit. As I always do when I travel, I bought beer to go back home to Little Rock with. One such treasure was unbelievably still around from fall. Much to my benefit the Evil Pumpkin Imperial Porter was still being sold. Now I have had numerous pumpkin beers and a few recommended from the St Louis area, but this by far exceeds the quality, taste and balance of all those. St Louis, what a treasure you all have up there in Heavy Riff! Love the city and can't wait to return! read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Evil Pumpkin @HeavyRiff - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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The atmosphere in Heavy Riff is incredible. You have to swing by if you're in the Dog Town neighborhood - even just for a drink. With it being a brewery, there's endless beers to choose from even for people who don't particularly like beer. The food pairs very well with the beer and has a nice Irish influence you expect from Dog Town. The bread with homemade spreads is a must-have. The staff is friendly and attentive and very willing to give recommendations for pairings. I live in the area and I love to go regularly. read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Reuben with a side of cornbread - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I love their beer selection, they have a whole bunch of good stouts! Try the Love Gun We went there very hungry for their beers & food, learned that kitchen closes at 9pm Had to go to a different place.. read more

Orders: Daisy Glaze IPA | Vanilla Coffee Underbrown Brown Ale SO GOOD!!!! Awesome local brewery in Dogtown STL with a fun selection of delicious, cleverly named & canned beers. Great spot for getting growlers filled &/or stopping in for an indoor/outdoor (heated) patio beer. Love ittttt!!!!! read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Daisy Glaze Hazy IPA & Vanilla Underbrown Brown Ale - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Over the last few years, Heavy Riff Brewing has been rocking up the power rankings of breweries here in St. Louis. Tucked away in the heart of Dogtown, I think it was overlooked at first because of the neighborhood's old standards. But with a growing availability in stores and draught distribution, they are a major player in the craft beer game. I'm kind of happy that my first experience at their brewery was post COVID. To help expand their seating, there is a massive outdoor tent with tons of seating. The tent in their parking lot seems to be semi-permanent because it has exit signs and some type of HVAC system. The tent made for a very comfortable dining and drinking experience. The flow of ordering inside, giving your table number and having your food brought out was flawless. Plus being outside, you're able to bring your four-legged friends. We went to Heavy Riff for dinner with our friends Beth and Nathan. They're in the middle of buying and selling their house, so they had big appetites from so much housework. Needless to say, we were all overly satisfied with our meals as the portion sizes are quite generous. Heavy Riff is becoming more well known for their handcrafted BBQ and I can confirm that it's great! The brisket sandwich I had was tender, and it was interesting that the meat was cubed instead of sliced like most brisket. Kind of made the sandwich memorable because of the difference in presentation. My personal favorite was the asian wrap my boyfriend ordered. The wrap had bold, spicy flavors that completed the beers we were drinking. As for the beer at Heavy Riff, it's really good! I think they have done a great job curating a menu that has drinks to appeal to a wide array of palates. I appreciate the vast selection of juicy IPA's and my boyfriend really enjoyed all of their sour beers. It's truly a great place to snag a pint and some tasty bites. read more

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The good: Great outside space. Good beer. Nice that there is 8oz pour option. The less good: Ordering method not very good. Scan QR code but then need to go inside and stand in line (there were a bunch of people waiting) and place order with bartender. If you don't know your table # need to go back out and get it. Also need to remember order for entire table including food and sides, etc. food was ok. Overpriced for what you get. Veg nachos with tofu barely had anything on them. At least half the chips naked or with a bit of (not very good) cheese sauce. Barely any beans and not much tofu. Brisket salad soggy with dressing. Only spinach, onions, meat and candied pecans (best part). Could use some vegetables. Portion small. read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Posters inside - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Loved our first visit to Heavy Riff! On a sleepy Saturday, the craft brew spot in Dogtown was just the call. Amazing beer, great food, a rocker/musician atmosphere with a wood bar and an outdoor tent - you can't go wrong. I would highly recommend the corned beef or the rueben. The corned beef is house brined and is amazing! The bbq is great too, but the beer is the real star! Eat a Peach, Prison Bound, Evil Pumpkin, and Oud Bruin just to name a few! We'll be back for sure and will spread the word amongst our friends. read more

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I can't say enough good things about Heavy Riff. The beer is amazing, the food is amazing, but the staff? You can't find better owners and their staff never disappoints. I was an early regular when they opened and now live 4 hrs away but I can't make a STL trip without stopping by. 10/10 recommend all day every day. read more

Summary: excellent beer, slightly above average food. Will visit again. I had the pork sandwich with coleslaw and Prison Break pale ale. The sandwich was alright, the meat was tender but bland. With their barbecue sauce it was somewhat decent. The coleslaw was good; it was quite peppery, and the cabbage had a good crunch to it. The beer was very good, it was hoppy, fruity, and exactly as described. I came here because their beer was highly recommend by the St Louis beer community, and I can see why. They have loads of covered outdoor seating at a safe distance from other tables, and it was enough for almost all customers when I visited on a Saturday at lunchtime. Indoor seating is also available. The interior is dimly lit, which I am personally not a fan of, but the decor and guitars on the wall are pretty cool. Overall I would recommend visiting, especially for the beer. read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Pork sandwich with coleslaw and a pint of Prison Bound pale ale - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Loved this place! The atmosphere was fun, the beer was great and they have a ton of it! We stopped in after dinner and shared a flight! Perfect ending to a fun night. read more

Heavy Riff Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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The beer, food, service, everything is great here! Anything brisket it fantastic. I've never had a beer I didn't like. Definitely check it out! The patio is a fun place to hang out when the weather is right too. read more

A new brewery favorite! I'll be back, for sure! Came into this cozy Irish pub feeling brewery during a cold day in December with some friends. As some others have shared, their holiday 2018 brew selection leaned towards heavier options. We shared a flight of what sounded most delicious and we were impressed! The beer had complex flavors, the right amount of body, flavor, and fizzle. (I despise flat tasting beers--thank heavens there is none of that here!!) The hit of our experience here was their milkshake IPA. It's a sweet, citrusy, hazy, full bodied, delicious IPA beer-one of the best I've had. I also loved the Bohemian Rhaspberry Sour Ale. I don't like sours, but this was DELICIOUS! The folks here also brewed Resilience Butte County Proud IPA to support the folks of California impacted by the wildfires in 2018. Their taps change with regularity, so be open to trying something new! Follow their latest brewskie offerings on TapHunter. They offer what looks to be some very tasty lunch/dinner fare, though, I'll have to give it a try next time I'm in. I have my eye on a Reuben next time I'm in. The bar has a very Irish homey feeling to it. Lots of dark woods / dark walls. The staff were pleasant and helpful. We did learn you cannot order a sample size of any of the barrel aged beers. Cheers to finding a new local favorite! December 2018 read more

The food, beer and music at the Heavy Riff Brewing are a fantastic combo. Located in the iconic Dog town neighborhood it is a charming fit to complement this neighborhood with a lot of character. The service is friendly, welcoming, efficient and kid friendly. First you sit at a table and use the code to bring up the menu. Then you go up to the counter, give them your table number and order and they bring the food to your table when it's ready. We started with the BBQ pork nachos as an appetizer it had delicious cuts of smoked pork, cheese, and baked beans . We then ordered a rueben with cherrywood smoked corn beef sandwich on marble rye with sour kraut and thousand island. We also had a smoked beef brisket sandwich that was tender and delicious with the house made bbq sauce and a slice of cornbread made with fresh pineapple that was moist, sweet and delicious. Also being a brewery they had beers that would fit an assortment of preferences and beer styles.(see pics for more details) They have beers both on draft or in bottles as well as bottles to take home. (I bought a bottle of Dear Agony stout aged in Woodford reserve bourbon barrels to bring home for later. Small taster glasses of beer are available for sampling the various styles of beer if you are into that. The prices were reasonable for the quality and quantity of the food. The dining room was comfortable and had great music and music themed decor. We can't wait to come back in warmer weather to sip beers on the spacious patio. read more

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My boyfriend and I LOVE this place! The beer is consistently good with lots of options. Their food is so good, especially the Reuben sandwich! Both the inside and outside of the brewery have fun vibes- in the winter they decorate the inside with Christmas decorations which is extra nice! The bartenders are also extremely friendly and always make us feel very welcome when we come in! Overall one of our favorite spots to go in the St. Louis area. read more

This place has really good beer! Came here on a Monday afternoon for an early dinner and they were not busy. We tried a lot of different beers from their menu, IPAs, cream, sour, brown ale and stouts and all were very good. They have a large variety of beers you can choose from. We also got food and it was really good. The food is mostly BBQ and we had to order at the bar even though we sat at a table. This might be different on a night they are more busy. BBQ nachos are really good and their bread that is made from leftover grains is amazing. Highly recommend both! Will be coming back for some good beer and food!! read more

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Me and a group of people went to Heavy Riff on the Saturday before St. Patrick's day (let me preface by saying the brewery was quite dead, maybe 1 or 2 people in line and most seating was open). Me and my 2 female friends ordered 3 flights and the response of the bartender was shocking. "Three f****** flights, do you know how long this will take me?" All while complaining to his co-worker in the process of making the flights right in front of us. Behind us were 2 people, again as the brewery was not that busy. Shortly after we paid and had no rebuttal, our 3 male friends ordered and experienced no attitude or swearing in their faces. As three young women, we felt extremely uncomfortable and unsafe in the environment. The next day we sent an email recalling our bad experience, and the response put all the blame on us and compared us to our male friends, saying that "your male friends obviously got it" and that we had no reason to feel uncomfortable and that our feelings were 'ludicrous'. One of us had previously gone with their father and brother and received a MUCH different attitude, on a night much busier than the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day (again, they blamed their attitude on St. Patrick's Day being busy when we had actually gone the Saturday before and it was EMPTY.) read more

Decided to try a new brewery on a freezing Saturday night. Walked in as noobs asked a worker where to go he sent us to grab a seat. Apparently you need to use your phone to QR code the menu. APP does not work to order. You must go back up to the bar to order. bar tenders were friendly and helpful with the assortment of homemade brews to choose from. I got the corn beef sandwich with cheesy tots and my wife got the bbq brisket with chips. BBQ was served on the side and wasn't impressive. Corn beef was a moderate serving on a schnuks bun and was way to salty. Got a the scallop taters over what I ordered no biggy. But they were over peppered. Got a Pilsner for the lady and a nitro stout for me. Both were fine but a switched to anIPA on round two witch was excellent. With a Chicago basement vibe I give ambience a 4 out of ten as they seem to be debating whether they were a sports bar or a rock bar. Music was a 8 as they played a mix of new wave and punk. Food was 4 as it was really not fabulous but you could eat it. Staff was an 8, besides the misstep when we walked in they were friendly and helpful. Cleanliness was a 9 out ten. They cleaned the bathrooms three times while we were there Brews were a 6. Better then average but I stayed getting a head ache so im certain the lines need cleaning. Parking would be a bitch any other night if it were warm out They are expanding (see pic) so they're movin up! Covid protocols seem lax but I don't blame them. We're all sick of Fargin covid!!! Only note, they push the shuffle board on google but it's pushed into a corner and boarded up to make room for seating. Boo! Over all 6 out of ten read more

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