September 19, 2015 by davidcraigstl

A-B Oktoberfest September 25-26-27

German beer will flow at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis when Oktoberfest happens September 25, 26 and 27!

The event kicks off Friday evening with a ceremonial tapping of the first keg of Spaten, a traditional Oktoberfest brew, by Mayor Francis Slay. Actually, the keg tap follows a wedding—a nice touch, since the Munich Oktoberfest grew from a wedding celebration in 1810. (Beer was introduced in 1818 and the event has grown over the last two centuries to a 17-day annual event that draws six million visitors each autumn.)

The A-B Oktoberfest will feature German-style beers and food (bratwursts, pretzels, gingerbread cookies, etc.). Authentic German music and entertainment will be offered all weekend.

Hours for the Oktoberfest are Friday, September 25, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 26, 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Sunday, September 27, noon to 5:00 p.m.

Adult tickets are available for 30/person and may be purchased by clicking HERE. Your ticket gets you a commemorative Oktoberfest beer stein, two beers and one food item. Additional beer, food and soft drinks will be available for purchase. (This is an all-ages event. Tickets for ages 4-20 are 10/person. That admission includes a soft drink and one food item.)

There is free parking in and around the A-B Biergarten located at 12th and Lynch in St. Louis.

Lederhosen optional, FYI.

August 24, 2015 by davidcraigstl

Ballpark Village Brew Fest By Budweiser, A St. Louis Home Brew Celebration

That’s a long name for one event. And I even left out the words “second annual.”

The BPV Brew Fest happens this Saturday, August 29, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Ballpark Village, with lots of love for the local home brew community. In case you don’t know, STL home brewers produce some excellent brews!

In addition to samples of Anheuser-Busch beers, the Brew Fest features a sampling of various beers from local home brew clubs. Also, there’s a single-style home brewing competition with the winning recipe being brewed at the Anheuser-Busch Research Pilot Brewery and sampled in the Budweiser Brew House. This year’s competition beer will be an ESP (Extra Special Bitter).

Attendees will also have the chance to have your photo taken with a Clydesdale!

Tickets for the event are $25 in advance ($30 at the door).

70 VIP tickets are also available for $75, which includes general admission to the Brew Fest plus exclusive samples from Home Brew Clubs and a guided four-course lunch pairing food and beer with an Anheuser-Busch brewmaster, as well as voting for the “Best of Show” of the home brew offerings.

Tickets are available via ticketfly.com.

For more info on the BPV Brew Fest, click HERE.

November 19, 2014 by davidcraigstl

A-B Lights It Up For The Holidays

Driving by the Anheuser-Busch brewery to enjoy Christmas lights has been a St. Louis holiday tradition for years. For the 2nd year in a row (following the opening of the Biergarten), A-B now offers a walking tour on the brewery campus. With food and drink!

The tours begin November 20 and run every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., through January 4, 2015. (No tours on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days.)

Along with walking tours of the grounds, guests 21 and older can sample beers (complimentary tastings) along the way including Bud and Bud Light. Other beers available include Stella Artois, Stella Cidre, Shock Top Shockolate and Bud Light Ritas.

Other offerings include:

S’Mores Stations—Fire pits for roasting s’mores. (S’mores kits $2.50 each.)

Biergarten Buffet—$10 for adults; $8 youth.

Holiday Cheer Pass—Pose for a photo in a themed snow globe or with a Clydesdale and take home a print, plus a sampling glass. ($10.)

The Biergarten Package—Buffet, sampling glass, photo and s’mores kit. ($22.50 adults; $10 youth.)

Fire Pit Fun—Reserve a fire pit for 8 people for 3 hours. Includes 8 s’mores kits and wait staff service. ($75.)

VIP Clydesdale Photo Op—Dinner for 4 in Biergarten, 15 minute photo session with a Clydesdale and 2 holiday ornaments. You get a print and a digital copy (for your family Christmas card) of your photo. (Limited availability. $200.)

For info on special experience tickets, click HERE.

Parking is free at the Tour Center lots at 12th and Lynch. The holiday lights experience is wheelchair and stroller friendly.

Drive-through tours of the A-B brewery are welcome Monday through Wednesday evenings from November 24 until December 31 from dusk to midnight and on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Enter from Arsenal onto Seventh Street, then along Pestalozzi.

January 27, 2014 by davidcraigstl

Busch Heroes: Here’s To Earning It!

Busch Beer has launched a new campaign to salute the working man and woman. It’s called Busch Heroes. The campaign focuses on 8 real people chosen from across the U.S. They were introduced last week at the A-B Brewery in St. Louis.

(One of the Heroes was called back to his job in Houston, which is why there are only 7 Heroes in the photo.)

I spoke to Busch Hero Damian Sharbowski of Troy, Michigan about how he found out that Busch wanted him as one of its Heroes. Click below to hear his response. (Runs 3:25)

I spoke to the lone woman among the group, Jackie Gabelein of Langley, Washington about the work she does. Click link to hear her response. (Runs 3:17)

Nate Scudieri, Brand Director for A-B’s Value Brands, talked about the Busch Heroes campaign and the selection process for the 2014 group. Click below to hear his remarks. (Runs 3:00)