St. Louis continues to prove why it’s one of America’s most respected beer cities. The region has secured four nominations in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, reinforcing its reputation as a top destination for craft beer lovers. Voting runs through late February, with winners announced in early March.
This year’s nominations highlight the depth and diversity of the St. Louis brewing community:
- Best Beer City: St. Louis
- Best Brewpub: Perennial on Lockwood
- Best New Brewery: Blue Jay Brewing Company
- Best Brewery Tour: Anheuser‑Busch
These categories reflect both the city’s historic brewing legacy and its continually evolving craft beer culture.
A Changing, Strengthening St. Louis Craft Beer Landscape
According to Troika Brodsky, executive director of STL Beer, the St. Louis beer scene has transformed significantly since the pre‑COVID era.
“The pre‑COVID St. Louis beer scene feels like a different era,” Brodsky says. “The last six years brought real disruption—rising costs, supply chain pressures, shifting consumer habits, and tough decisions that led to some brewery closures. Not everything snapped back to ‘normal,’ and pretending otherwise wouldn’t be honest.”
Despite those challenges, he says the region’s breweries have emerged more focused and more innovative.
“Brewers today are more disciplined, more innovative, and more intentional than ever,” Brodsky adds. “While some beloved breweries were lost, new ones emerged, others evolved, and the overall quality, creativity, and professionalism of the scene has continued to rise.”
This evolution positions St. Louis as a standout destination for beer tourism and craft beer exploration.
National Recognition Boosts St. Louis Beer Tourism
For STL Beer creative director Brian Margiotta, the USA Today 10Best spotlight helps broaden national awareness of the city’s modern brewing identity.
“National recognition helps put St. Louis on the map as a beer destination,” Margiotta says. “That kind of attention brings new eyes to our brewing scene and often to the city itself, prompting visitors to check out our neighborhoods, restaurants, shops, and other local businesses.”
He notes that many visitors still associate St. Louis primarily with Anheuser‑Busch, but the craft beer offerings now span an impressive range of styles.
“You can find everything from stouts, saisons, sours, and hazy IPAs to classic styles and even several breweries that focus heavily on the style that helped put St. Louis on the map: lagers,” Margiotta says. “Simply put, there’s a beer for everyone in St. Louis.”
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