If you’re still looking around for something to do on New Year’s Eve, I’m sure you’re trying to find a spot where you’ll not only have a great time, but also get some great beer. Here are a couple of different spots around town where you can have your beer and drink it too.

Schlafly Bottleworks:

Enjoy food favorites & specials from local farmers & dessert (dinner hours: 5-10pm). Live music in the Crown Room by The Foggy Memory Boys & The Wayward Mountaineers ($15-9pm) & “Naked Mike” Newman in the Bottleworks Bar (free-9pm). A midnight toast of Black Velvet, a mix of Oatmeal Stout & sparkling wine. $15 cover for the Crown Room includes live music, midnight toast & the tasting glass. No reservations necessary.

Growler’s Pub

Includes an appetizer buffet from 8 p.m.-10 p.m., open bar from 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m., party favors, champagne toast and DJ. Hotel packages available with late check-out, free shuttle and great rates! Cost is $50.

Cicero’s

Cicero’s throws everything in a pot and cooks up a New Year’s Eve that provides a little bit of something for everyone. Live music is served by Machree and the Morley’s, while hypnotists, mind readers and Tarot card readers tell you what the new year holds for you. You also get a magician or two, some comedy and a hard-working DJ rocking the dance floor. And then at midnight, blammo, Champagne toast. All this merriment is reserved for those 21 and older only, please. Cost is $35-$40.

Newstead Tower Public House

Ring in the New Year with Newstead and a Beer Dinner. Newstead is hosting its final beer dinner of 2009 featuring the favorites of 2009! The date of the dinner is December 31st. Reservations for this dinner are being accepted for the entire evening.

The cost of this five course dinner is $55 and reservations are required. You can make reservations by calling 314-535-7771.

Blueberry Hill

40 ‘Tils, Spark Treez, Fufops, Inappropriate Behavior; open bar (draft and rail), party favors & Champagne toast. Starts at 9PM. Price: $35

International Tap House

The International New Year Party – $40 per ticket 7pm-1am
Includes appetizer buffet, live music (C-Box Prophets) and complimentary select draughts from around the Globe. As different time zone around the world celebrate their new year, we will too by featuring their beers on tap (these draught features are included in the price of the ticket).
8-9pm: European Mainland (Belgium and German beers)
9-10pm: British Isles
10-11pm: Eastern Time Zone (New York and Michigan beers)
11-12pm: Central Time Zone (Missouri Beers)
12-1am: Mountain Time Zone (Colorado and Montana beers)

Riddle’s Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar
Just to let you know Riddles will be having live music performed by the Swirl band from 9:00 – 1:00 on New Years Eve, we will also have Prix Fixe Menu options, and a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight with party favors. Of course, like always, there is never a cover charge at Riddles.

Iron Barley

$65 will get you: Wine/Draft Beer Included, A Fabulous Endless Dinner Buffet, Musical Entertainment by Bob Case, and Hats, Party Favors/ Champagne at Midnight.

---

If you’re a restaurant or pub that’s not on the list, drop me an email and I’ll make sure to add you on. If you’re a reader of STL Hops, keep checking back on this post for updated information. Also, if you’re going out, make sure to do it safely and order a cab in advance. We all want to be able to celebrate the next year together.

While Henry may no longer be with us, the show will go on. Tonight’s scheduled St. Louis Brews: 200 Years of Brewing in St. Louis 1809-2009 book signing event will still take place.

Authors Don Roussin and Kevin Kious will still be at the Schlafly Bottleworks tonight from 7PM-9PM.  If you don’t have a copy of this amazing book, you can purchase a copy at the Bottleworks retail center tonight.

Henry’s family will be in attendance for the event tonight and I’m sure there is going to be a pint raised in Henry’s honor.  If you can, go out to support this amazing book, some great authors and a great man.

Back in March, I let you know about what will probably be the definitive book about brewing in St. Louis, St. Louis Brews: 200 Years of Brewing in St. Louis 1809-2009. Well, the book is now available, and first off, you MUST pick this up.  It’s wonderfully detailed and full of amazing photographs from throughout the past 200 years of brewing in St. Louis.

This upcoming Monday, October 19 from 7PM-9PM, will provide you with the chance to get a signed copy of St. Louis Brews by one of the book’s authors Henry Herbst at the Schlafly Bottleworks.  I don’t know if any of you have been following along with Henry’s condition, but things aren’t going great.  But Henry is going to fight through hell and high water to attend the event.

If you have the chance to attend, I’d love for everyone to stop by and thank Henry for this book and have a chance to meet a legend of the St. Louis beer scene.

I had this beer about a year ago and was very excited to see it back on the menu at the Bottleworks. This is an amber colored ale with a nice malt character, a small amount of spice and a slight maple finish. It’s one of those perfect fall additions that will go well now that the nights are starting to get a bit cooler.

Edit: Bill informs me that the Maplewood Ale was only in the tasting room and not in the actual bar. Looks like you may have to take a tour if you want to sample this beer.