Look like my Invasion of the Gastropub post is once again relevant as it looks like St. Louis has another gastropub soon to be in it’s midst. Wm Shakespeare’s Gastropub at 601 North Grand Avenue is now open and is offering another option to get your British beer and food fix.

Offering what looks to be kicked up pub fare for lunch or dinner after or before a show, Wm. Shakespeare’s looks to try to be providing a traditional pub atmosphere near the theater district. But what about the beer? It looks again like Wm. Shakespeare’s is going traditional:

• Tennents Lager
• Harp Lager
• Bass Pale Ale
• Schlafly Pale Ale
• Boddintons Ale
• Hobgoblin Ruby Beer
• Fullers ESB
• Newcastle Brown Ale
• Guinness Stout
• Strongbow Cider

While maybe not the most exciting list of all time, in fact the list looks like a smaller version of the list at the Scottish Arms, it does seem relatively authentic which once again provides for a total experience. I even enjoy the addition of the Schlafly Pale Ale, as Schlafly make a very nice sessionable British style Pale Ale (even if Wm. Shakespeare’s spells “Schlafly” wrong on their website.) I would have liked to have seen at least one offering from O’Fallon, because while they may not make an English style beer, part of the enjoyment of a gastropub is offering local beers from the area. But perhaps this isn’t the whole list, so I wouldn’t be too quick to judge, quite yet.

I’m quite curious to check this place out now that it’s open. If someone beats me over there please give a full report.

Way back when (ok, only about 2 months ago) I talked about the Gastropub’s invasion into our fair town. Now that I think about it, invasion sounds like a bad thing and more beer places are never a bad thing.

Anyway, Ian let’s us all know that the Newstead Tower Public House opens this evening.

Here is their website, if you happen to go, please let me know how your experience was.

As with almost everything in Saint Louis, we’re behind the times. We always seem to get things a few years after they’ve arrived on the coasts. Our newest omission is that of the gastropub. It’s all of the casualness of a pub with a more upscale menu. Most importantly is that the menu is made to compliment the beers (and wines) that the pub has to offer.

We currently have one gastropub in place (The Dubliner) and another one the way (Newstead Tower Public House.) I’ll have to admit that my first look at the Dubliner’s beer menu left me a little disappointed. I mean I realize that it’s an Irish pub, so by law they’re required to carry Guinness, Smithwicks and Harp, but after that it’s pretty much the standard Saint Louis beer menu:

• Double Dragon
• Blue Moon
• Schlafly Pale Ale
• Schlafly Hefe
• Fat Tire
• Stella Artois
• Magner’s Cider
• Dubliner Amber Ale
• Bud
• Bud Light
• Bud Select
• Kaliber
• Coors Light
• Miller Light
• Corona
• Corona Light

Sure you have some more unusual choices like Double Dragon and Magner’s Cider, not to mention a special beer brewed by Old Dominion Brewery ( Dubliner Amber Ale.) But after that the list just seems lazy. If you’re trying to tell me that you’ve prepared your menu around your beer selection, well I can’t say I’m too hep to eat there.

I’m excited to see what Newstead Tower Public House has in store for the gastropub and to see if they can pull off a menu that truly does compliment the beer.