Last May, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed into law a controversial bill that allowed restaurants to sell draught beer in growlers as long as the establishment had 45 tap handles and derived 50% of their business from food sales.  Without getting into the controversial political aspects of the bill, the provisions pretty much only allowed for a single restaurant in Missouri to sell growlers for off-premises consumption.

Well, the Missouri Legislature is back in session and an amendment to the original law has been proposed in the Missouri House of Representatives.  House Bill HB1355 is an amendment that reduces the amount of draught beer necessary from 45 to 20.  This is a big step as it would increase the number of places locally that could allow for growler sales.

But, without the food provision being removed it would also keep a lot of places from allowing off-premises sales.  So, it’s time for us all to take action.  Write and call your legislators, let them know that you want to have this bill changed to allow for more places in St. Louis to enjoy growler sales.

Don’t know who your legislator is?  Luckily, Missouri has made it easy for you to find out.  Get out there and make your voice heard.

Duff’s Restaurant is once again holding their annual Autumn Beer Dinner featuring New Belgium Lips of Faith beers tonight, Monday, November 2nd at 7:30PM. The dinner will cost $75.00 which includes tax and gratuity. You can make your pre-paid reservation by calling 314-361-0522. Here is the menu for the event:

La Folie Sour Brown Ale
Smoked Trout Pate, Goat Cheese Crostini

Bier de Mars
Warm Cabbage Salad, Crisp Pork Belly, Smokey Blue

Le Fleur Misseur
Waterzooi Poisson, Belgian Seafood Stew

Fall Wild Ale
Cranberry Duck, Sweet Potato Pear Puree

Trans-Atlantique Kriek
Ronnie’s Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream, White Chocolate Waffle, Cherry Sabayon

Here are my thoughts from 2007′s dinner for all of those interested in this year’s dinner.

There was a lot of hubbub back in early January when The Shaved Duck, one of the best beer restaurants in St. Louis, closed its doors for some retooling.  Well, snow and ice have arrived and so has the new Duck.

Shaved Duck owner, Ally Nisbit, let me know that The Shaved Duck will be re-opening its doors tonight with new menu offerings including things like flatbreads, smoked meats and chili.  But don’t fret, the excellent craft beer menu that helped get me excited about the Duck in the first place will be returning.

So, if you’re in the mood for a warm meal tonight and are willing to make the trek, give the Duck another go.

As some of you might have heard via the St. Louis Magazine Blog Feast, the South City restaurant The Shaved Duck will be closing its doors on January 3rd.  Fortunately for us beer lovers this is not a death of a place to get a great meal and a great (and inexpensive) beer, but a re-birth.

Shaved Duck owner, Ally Nisbet emailed to let me know that the restaurant will be re-opening on January 27th with a new menu that will be focusing on rustic American cooking, “specializing in smoked meats, BBQ and traditional American side dishes.” But favorite dishes such as the duck frites and confit will not be going anywhere when the Duck reopens.  The Sauce Scoop reports that some of the new dishes we can expect include “flatbreads, substantial salads and several chilis (served with milk!) that range from from mild to screaming hot.”

But fret not, the beer list will not be going anywhere.  Stay tuned.

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.

Duff’s Restaurant is once again holding their annual Autumn Beer Dinner featuring New Belgium beers on Monday, November 3rd at 7:30PM. The dinner will cost $70.00 which includes tax and gratuity. You can make your pre-paid reservation by calling 314-361-0522. Here is the menu for the event:

Phyllo Curried Lamb Samosa, Coriander Mint Chutney
Mothership Wit

Pear, Blue Cheese and Walnut Salad, Cranberry Vinaigrette
Le Fleur Misseur

Marblehead Shellfish Chowder
Blue Paddle Pilsener

Brazilian Pork Feijouada
Abbey Belgian Style Ale

Beef Tournedos, Roasted Root Vegetables, Beet-Horseradish Sauce
1554 Brussels Style Black Ale

Chocolate Tiramisu
Giddy Up

Here are my thoughts from last year’s dinner for all of those interested in this year’s dinner.

Way back in June I told everyone about some of the beers I had tasted at Growlers Pub twice yearly tasting event. How did Growler’s do? Let’s find out:

Draught

• Spanish Peaks Crystal Weiss
• Breckenridge Avalanche
• Breckenridge 471 IPA
• Boulevard Bully Porter
• Leinenkugel Creamy Dark
• Kona Fire Rock

Bottle:

• Lemp Lager
• Anchor Porter
• Arcadia Coco Loco
• Bridgeport ESB
• Ommegang Rare Vos
• Bridgeport IPA
• O’Dells 5 Barrel
• Left Hand Haystack Wheat
• Left Hand Polster
• Left Hand Jackman
• Left Hand Sawtooth
• Left Hand Milk Stout
• Rogue Hazelnut Brown
• O’Fallon Gold
• Spanish Peaks Black Dog
• Avery Ellie’s Brow
• Avery IPA
• Samuel Smith Imperial Stout
• Samuel Smith Organic Lager
• Samuel Smith India Pale
• Old Peculiar
• Ayinger Celebrator
• Ayinger Dunkel
• Bitburger
• Gouden Carlous Ambrio
• Pilsner Urquell
• Beamish
• Peroni

I don’t know about you but, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Just as a refresher here are a few beers from the tasting back in June:

• Avery Hog Heaven
• Arcadia Coco Loco
• Het Anker Gouden Carolus Carolus D’Or – Cuvée Van De Keizer
• Great Divide Yeti
• De Proefbrouwerij – Reinaert Flemish Wild Ale
• O’Fallon Smoke
• Great Divide Hercules
• Left Hand Milk Stout
• Arcadia Hopmouth

So basically of the beers I tried, two made the cut. How sad is it that I walk into a restaurant with over 130 beers and I usually order the same two beers? I think that’s why I like places like The Stable so much, while it’s awesome they have one of my favorite beers on draught, I find that I only have one glass of it before wanting to try another beer. Growlers has 32 draught beers and changed out 6? Weak.

It looks like their continuing price gouging on Ommegang beers continues, Rare Vos is still $11.25. We also have five Left Hand choices? Seems a bit excessive to me. Nothing against Left Hand, but we get 5 Left Hand beers and no Bear Republic or Great Divide? This list is making me pretty angry and I think it’s just a continuing example that Growlers knows very little about beer and doesn’t have any interest in learning.