St. Louis Celebrates Local Brewers with Fourth Annual Heritage Festival June 11-12

ST. LOUIS (April 28, 2010) – For beer lovers looking to toast St. Louis’ rich brewing tradition this summer, the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival will return again June 11 – 12 to historic Forest Park, bringing together 15,000 adults to enjoy a variety of local beer styles and cuisine from St. Louis' finest restaurants.

Now in its fourth year, the festival will feature several new elements, including:

• • Entries from three new local breweries (see list below)
• • A new festival beer based on a local homebrewer’s award-winning recipe
• • Brewmasters and homebrewers together under one tent interacting with attendees

“The people of St. Louis have made the festival a tremendous success, and we are very excited to come together again with our fellow brewers to celebrate beer with 15,000 of our closest friends,” said Keith Levy, vice president of marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “This city has a strong history and passion for brewing, and the festival is an ideal opportunity for St. Louis brewers to collaborate and honor that heritage.”

Eleven breweries from last year's festival line-up will return, including Amalgamated/The Stable, Anheuser-Busch, Augusta Brewing Company, Buffalo Brewing Company, Highlands Brewing Company, Mattingly Brewing Company, Morgan Street Brewery, O'Fallon Brewery, Schlafly Beer, Square One Brewery and Trailhead Brewing Company. Cathedral Square Brewery, Six Row Brewing Company and Ray Hill's BrewHouse will join this year's line-up.

“The festival has been a highly-successful event that allows us to connect with the St. Louis community and celebrate our history,” said Dan Kopman, co-founder, Schlafly Beer. “We have the chance to exhibit the wide array of styles of beer offered in St. Louis and give beer drinkers the chance to try something new and different.”

Several of the brewers will feature their own interpretation of the festival's showcase beer, Hefeweizen. The recipe for this beer was developed by local homebrewers Dave Roesch and Joe Orsa, whose brew finished “best of show” at the St. Louis Brews' annual holiday homebrewer competition. Roesch and Orsa, from Millstadt, Ill., will be on hand with fellow homebrewers in the center tent to discuss the art of homebrewing, conduct demonstrations and provide samples of their brew. Brewmasters from the participating St. Louis breweries will also join the homebrewers to answer questions and provide advice on the art of homebrewing.

More than 60 lagers, ales, specialty beers, hybrid styles and homebrews will be available for sampling by adults 21 and older. Festival enthusiasts enjoying the variety of beers crafted for the event will also have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of culinary delights from several members of the St. Louis Originals – a collaboration of independently owned and operated restaurants committed to uniting local restaurants and presenting the unique flavors of St. Louis cuisine. Participating restaurants include Companion Bakery, Harvest, LoRusso’s Cucina, SqWires and Vin de Set.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the local charity, Lift for Life – a non-profit organization that relies on private donations to keep its doors open and is dedicated to helping children who live in the city of St. Louis. The money brought in by the festival helps to maintain their after-school programs that give kids a safe, nurturing home away from home.

This year's festival will include three individual sessions spread over two days:

• • Friday, June 11; 7 – 11 p.m.
• • Saturday, June 12; 1 – 5 p.m. and 7 – 11 p.m.

Tickets are currently on sale at www.stlbrewfest.com, by calling 1-888-792-2424 and in person at the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery Tour Center, the Schlafly Tap Room and Schlafly Bottleworks. The taps will flow rain or shine, and only adults, ages 21 or older, are allowed to purchase tickets and attend the festival. Tickets are $30 prior to the event and $35 at the festival. Last year's festival sold out, so adults are encouraged to buy tickets early.

For more information on the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival, visit www.stlbrewfest.com or e-mail contact@stlbrewfest.com.