We rate the drinks and venue a 5/5 and the food a 4/5; granted you don't come here for food but it…read moreis always nice to have some choices when you will be drinking. There is on street parking. You seat yourself. Casual attire. Speakeasy downstairs with its own entrance it seems. Bartender did an excellent job with our drinks. You help yourself to the water (end of bar). We had the calzone (which was good) and beef sandwich (which was avg; would have been better if included an au jus because beef was dry). We would come back for drinks.

We stopped in at Four Towns as we were headed back to STL after visiting Johnson's Shut Ins. The…read morerestaurant is located in an old building in the downtown area with free street parking available. We went on an early Saturday evening, and there were plenty of tables open. The interior has an interesting, welcoming vibe. There were regular tables, but a couple couches for comfortable seating. We saw they also had some games in a corner that you could play while eating or drinking. There's also an outdoor patio and it looks like they were setting up to have live music later that evening. We ordered a flight of beers, and thoroughly enjoyed each of the different ones. We also got some pizza, which was really good. Before leaving, we checked out the downstairs speakeasy room, which can be reserved for parties. I am sad that this restaurant is too far from me, because I would love to host a birthday party there. I definitely recommend checking this place out, and if we drive through again, I plan on stopping!

Really nice spot for a beer flight! $12 for 6 pours. They also have a private event speakeasy, a…read morecovered porch, and the inside feels historic but not in any way but good. Staff is friendly and the Stubbornfest beer is a must try! Cans available in the cooler to go. Easy, free street parking.

A suuuper cool place! Tons of beer options, a huge page of bourbon flights, and friendly service!…read moreThe bartenders move quickly and still have time to chat with you a little. They do bingo and other events which keeps the place full and fun. Definitely an easy go to spot!

Shoehorn Brewing is a great place to quench your thirst! It's a pretty simple setup--a bar with…read moreabout 10 stools, some long tables, and a seating area with padded furniture and a coffee table. They sell just beer and a couple cocktails (there was something green available when we visited around St. Patrick's Day) and a few packaged snacks. Sometimes there's a food vendor set up inside, and you're welcome to bring in food or have it delivered to the premises. There's a stack of board games available, which to me says they don't mind guests sitting around awhile. The beer here is very good, and they have an impressive variety. Their Draiocht is a sweet and tasty Irish Honey Red Ale. LoveStory is a well-balanced Coffee Blond Ale--a collaboration with the local library. I especially liked the Judith APA. It's a collab with STL Pink Boots Society honoring Judith Love Cohen--"engineer, author, and a true trailblazer... who worked on the guidance system that helped bring Apollo 13 safely home and later wrote children's books to inspire young girls in STEM." Gotta love that! The folks behind the bar are consistently knowledgeable and engaging. There's no dedicated parking lot but we've never had a problem finding a spot downtown.

As a Belleville resident I frequently visit this Belleville small brewery jewel. With innovative…read moreand delicious brews from their pale ales, stouts, lagers, and sours and delicious food pairing including chaucootrey board, sandwiches, and meats, this is a great place for drinks and good eats. Very grateful for having this brewery in our town. Take advantage of their glass growlers which allows for multiple refills of your favorite brews.

Don't miss Hopskeller on your next visit to Waterloo. We love this place. Reliably great beer,…read morewood-fired pizzas, and worn-in cozy atmosphere. We enjoy sitting upstairs or on the back patio in nicer weather - so many options for a get-together with friends. Service at the bar and the food service counter are excellent. Staff are friendly and always have helpful suggestions. We recently came for Sunday lunch the week of Christmas, and there wasn't much of a crowd. This was great for a relaxed lunch with the kids and brother visiting from out of town. Plenty of seating! There are kid-friendly options here, with the pizza and pub snack menu. My picky daughter (not a fan of pizza) enjoys the pretzels. There is something for everyone. The salads have fresh ingredients, made-to-order. Pizzas on the menu are excellent and can also be modified or build-your-own. Pizzas and other hot appetizers come out on paper-lined pans. When ordering salads, they come in a takeout box rather than a plate or dish. You may need an additional box or plate, because the salads are packed full and you might have a mess! Utensils are plastic. There is a bit of a disconnect because the food and overall cozy vibe seem worthy of real plates and silverware ;) but the plus side is quick table turnover on the busy days or the days where everyone is out on the patio. It's nice to be able to order and pay at the food service counter. You will want to stay a while, but you'll be free to leave whenever you're ready to move on to your next stop!

Such a fun, friendly gathering place. Food options include some small plate- type choices, but go…read morefor the pizza. Thin crust done on a wood fired oven. Self ordered, then brought to your numbered table. Tables set around beautiful bar area. So many beer options, but cocktails, cider, wine as well. Great place to chill with friends, family.

Came here once, with another couple and unfortunately, it was too close to when they were going to…read morebe closing down the kitchen for us to feel comfortable ordering anything (we were offered, we just chose not to order 15 minutes before the kitchen closed down for the night), so I can't really say anything about the food, but the drinks were amazing! All four of us got something different (I think one was a blueberry beer of some sort... but don't quote me on that), and all the drinks were so good, that we had to pass them around for the other others to try! Ended up going down the menu and ordering another one for each of us, so we got to try eight drinks in total and all of them were epic! The bartender was super sweet, and right there, even though the establishment was pretty busy, as soon as one glass got down to 1/4, he'd come by and ask if we were ready for another, but wasn't intrusive as much as just making sure we were OK and seeing if we needed anything. He was there and gone in a flash, as I think, he thought that since we were two couples, he didn't want to interrupt any conversations, but wanted to make sure we were taken care of. We made sure to tip him well. The restaurant was clean, the bathrooms were fantastic, especially for a late evening out at an establishment that serves liquor, it felt like a high-quality establishment, but in no way did we feel out of place, nor were we made to feel out of place. If anything is the exact opposite. The bartender made it where it was very warm and welcoming in a good place to socialize for us. We will definitely be back! Next time and time to try the food too!

I'm not gonna lie, I almost didn't go in because there was no one in there who looked like me. But…read moreit looked so inviting and it's black history month, so I took a chance. I'm glad I did. I've been a lot of places, but the country girl in me remains. So when I saw the mason glasses on the table I knew I was about to eat good. The menu was straight to the point (they have hummus) and that makes me feel like you're sharing your favorite dishes consistently. The drink menu is extensive (because it's a distillery) and there are so many unique things you can try. I had the blackberry lemon press and it was yummy. We also had the sloppy fries, smash burgers (one with signature bacon jam), onion rings, cheesecake, and carrot cake. It was all very flavorful. They have a store attached if you want to take some drinks home & they have a virgin menu for your Christian friends. The dining room is well lit and you can eat outside on good weather days. Even in bad weather days, it's a nice view outside with only glass between you and outdoors. Staff were great and service was timely. I would say the food is cooked to order & you don't need to tell them how to prepare a burger. It comes out juicy and medium well to perfection. They also have a BBQ kick to the ketchup they serve. Oh, there's a Rte 66 sign around the corner if you're just passing through (but I get the sense they know if you're not from around those parts). I hope your dining experience is as good as mine was!

Headed here after our Valentines Day dinner!! They always…read morehave some amazing Cocktails and especially for the "Holiday" This year they did a Girl Scout Cookie Themes well as some other ones. I have to admit.... Even though the tast was good.... They just did not have a Wow factor. Both are drinks look the same even though they are 2 different ones. The only way to tell the difference is the Cherry in the Cherry Sour! I did get a Samoa cookie for my Samoa drink. The good thing is these drinks are very very reasonable prices for specialty cocktails.

Love the patio in all its autumn splendor! This is a great stop on our annual trip to Southern…read moreIllinois. Spacious patio, charming interior and a variety of beer and mixed drinks to please every palate. You can even bring in food from local restaurants and enjoy with a pint of beer. I recommend The Burnt End Micasa sandwich shop. When we stopped in on Friday, they had a special, 13 bucks for a pitcher of beer (except IPA). Love this place.

Came with some friends for dinner and drinks. Unfortunately their kitchen was closed so we weren't…read moreable to get anything to eat, but they still had beer! We got our drinks and headed outside to the patio which was gorgeous. We came early on a Monday and it was super empty. They let us bring in outside food because their kitchen was closed so we ordered a pizza. Super great.

St. Louis is lousy with these microbreweries--this part of town in particular, to the point where,…read moreas I ran the streets of the surrounding area, I was violently assaulted with what must be the smell of beer as it's being brewed. It's not altogether different from the smell of beer as it's coming back up, and it called to mind my illustrious, mostly-forgotten-at-this-point college years. I was suddenly compelled to listen to Cannibal Ox and watch certain videos that I'd pilfered from Kazaa, and it's probably for the best that I didn't have access to a circa 1998 Compaq Presario in that moment. The vibe in Bluewood Brewing is a lot classier. There's no "Iron Galaxy" over the PA. The lights are dimmed, which I imagine would be convenient if there was someone there you owed money to. I was particularly impressed with a long table on the patio. I remarked to a member of my running group that it almost certainly didn't come from IKEA. The wood was of too high a quality. The food menu is limited to a small selection of standard sports-bar fare, but this is not anywhere you'd go to watch the game. They might not have any TVs. Did they spend too much on the table? Also, they don't sell any beer in cans, that I'm aware of, which I generally prefer as someone who, as the evening progresses, is prone to dropping things. I went with something called Crush, which is an orange-flavored high-gravity IPA. It was the highest ABV selection on their regular beer menu, but it also costs a little bit more, so you're not really getting over on them--unless you thought to "pregame." I found it to be both less "stiff" than I was expecting and less orange-tasting, in a good way but also in a bad way, in that anything that fails to conform to expectation is at least somewhat disappointing. I was expecting paint thinner and orange juice. I got something that was balanced and flavorful. From the food menu, I got the daily special, which was a sort of elevated patty melt called the Stable Melt. It came with two all-beef patties, Swiss, caramelized onions and "Frisco" sauce on Union Loafers marbled rye, with your choice of chips or fries. It was $18, and as I was standing there a guy came out and changed the price to $19, presumably due to developments in the war with Iran. I was assured that I'd be "grandfathered in" at $18, but I'm not sure if he told the guy at the register and I didn't bother to check. It wasn't necessarily my kind of thing, but it was a great burger. The name-brand bread alone nearly justified the price increase. The meat was generously proportioned (no Diddy), but it didn't quite extend to the edges of the bread. Perhaps if it were one larger patty? The onions gave it a sophisticated Salisbury steak vibe, wholly superior to Hungry Man. The fries called to mind the fries at Wendy's. If only they offered a Frosty to dip them in. It wouldn't necessarily go with their beer. I'd suggest they put bourbon or something in it, but I shudder to think what they might charge.

This is a great little place to go with fantastic food You have got to try the pretzels they're…read moredifferent and unique Beware cheese sauce is little bit Spicey but tasty The Brussels sprout ... ummm delicious Those are my two favs but to be honest everything is so great Smash burger and wings Their red beer is yum I tried it for the first time You have ti order at the counter and they'll bring your food to you Don't forget your tastings at the so you can choose what hits your taste buds It's a cozy lively little place that has the sports in and sometimes events I love to go Service is great

The bartenders are so friendly and patient it made me feel so welcomed. The food was plenty and…read morefull of flavor! We came in a Wednesday where they had trivia. What a fun time!

Met up with some friends here for soup Sunday. I was impressed with how busy it was. By the time…read moreI got there my friends had already found seats. I have not been drinking lately so I ordered a non alcoholic rose and it was very good. We also all ordered soup, I think mine was chicken and mushroom and it came with bread and butter. Food came out quick and was delicious! The place was very busy so it was loud, but not too loud to have a conversation so that was nice. I was also surprised by how big it was. Parking was also pretty easy to get. It was a great experience and I would def go back!

Civil Life Brewing Company is a win all around. The nitro beer and chicken noodle soup were…read morestandout--simple but absolutely hit the spot. Loved the laid-back vibe with free games to play and a great outdoor space to hang out. The staff was friendly, and it's definitely kid-friendly, which makes it even better. Would gladly come back.

We've been dropping in to Opera House for a few years now, and it keeps getting better! This time…read morewe arrived at a rather quiet time (it got busier as the night went on) and were able to talk with one of the owners about their extensive spirits selections. We tried a few, including their barrel pick, and a new beer as well. Always a great place for a drink and friendly conversation (or a quiet spot to hang, if that's more your thing!)

Great service and ambiance. Would definitely stop here again while visiting Hillsbororead more