Gateway Beer
St. Louis Craft Brewing in the Shadow of Anheuser-Busch
A definitive history of the St. Louis craft beer scene
Paper – $29.95
978-0-252-08958-9
eBook – $14.95
978-0-252-04908-8
Publication Date
Paperback: 10/20/2026
About the Book
Once synonymous with Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis slowly embraced craft beer and became a powerhouse within the industry. Joel Bittle’s history charts the growth of the Gateway City’s craft brewing scene from its first convention-defying microbreweries in the 1990s through COVID-era difficulties and beyond.Interviews with the founders and brewers of the city’s craft beer businesses reveal how enthusiasm and expertise coalesced into a thriving community. Their stories of brewer creativity and underdog business acumen include looks at now-iconic brands like Schlafly and 2nd Shift. Bittle also describes how St. Louis entrepreneurs used the spirit of collaboration to not only change the city’s beer culture but build a scene that attracted a following eager to move beyond the hometown beer giant and other established brands.
An engaging insider account of a craft beer bastion, Gateway Beer takes readers inside a movement while telling a story of resilience and triumph.
About the Author
Joel Bittle is a freelance writer in St. Louis and a longtime part of the city’s craft beer community.Reviews
"“This engaging history of brewing in St. Louis is both well written and as easy to enjoy as a good craft beer.”—Thomas F. Schlafly, cofounder, Schlafly Beer
“The importance of St. Louis on American beer has never been a question. This book goes beyond the surface and deep into the city's history and the artisans and titans of industries that shaped a national movement. Filled with entertaining stories and insight, the pride in place is on full display.”
—John Holl, editor, All About Beer magazine
“Anheuser-Busch rightfully gets its due here, but this is mostly a crazy story about the many of us in St. Louis who made a bet against big beer—told with detailed care and wit by a man rooting for us all to succeed.”
—Phil Wymore, co-founder, Perennial Artisan Ales"
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