Many of us enjoy a refreshing beverage of an alcoholic nature - whether wine, kombucha or beer - from time to time. What many of us do not know much about, is the meticulous process during which these beverages are created.
In the photo above, my fiance is posing with one of his closest friends. They are both homebrewers. We got together for a socially distanced brew day during the month of April. Our state was observing social distancing during this time, but throughout the course of the day, we never violated any guidelines. Why? Because they are brewers, and following sanitation precautions are part of their passion.
One of my favorite types of local business is the microbrewery. While they may feel like commercial establishments from the outside, many-to-most microbreweries start in someone’s garage, with a passionate brewmaster willing to make mistakes on the journey to learn his craft. While it is easy to think of a brewmaster as an individual who loves a good pint, it is important to realize that these individuals are masters of sanitation first and foremost -0 as any contamination of the product (which remains open to the air for much of its creation) will result in an unconsumable product. Bottom line: Brewing is one of the most sanitary processes I have ever come across.
I myself started brewing when I was 17. I lived in Montana, and I wasn’t allowed to partake in the final distilled beverage under the law (and being the ultra-cautious child I was, I didn’t), but some of my best friends brewed in their garage, and the process fascinated me.
Breweries Saving Lives
In current times, many breweries, including those in the state of Missouri, have stepped forward to produce a crucial substance in the battle against COVID - hand sanitizer. Having experienced some of this micro-brewed hand sanitizer myself, it is amusing how very much it smells like moonshine alcohol. Nevertheless, it is effective, and needed, at this time. While larger distilleries are in a position to make the same choices, the decision-making process tends to be slower, even at times when speed means everything.
Breweries Creating Jobs
Another special feature of microbreweries which I treasure is how very essential they are to the local economy. Touring a region by trying their local food and drink is a popular activity, but even year-round residents love to see their favorite local brands available in stores and on tap at local eateries. By definition, a microbrewery is typically independently owned and operated - local by nature. This stimulates the local economy in so many ways - by employing brewmasters and staff, by the hiring of chefs and waitstaff to provide food along with beverage, and often-times nurturing other local businesses with a rotation of food-trucks.
Micro = Local
In order to be a microbrewery, a location must be relatively small, regionally owned, and create small batches of product. This means, that when you frequent a microbrewery, it is a safe assumption that it is directly benefiting the local economy. I love this, because when traveling, I have a go-to method to know I am at a local watering hole - just by the nature of the business type.
Micro = Adventure
Major brands are somewhat bound to follow the taste of the larger market. Microbreweries tend to be more adventurous in their choices - as their barrier to trying new things is “The brewmaster wants to do this. Can we risk losing a batch?” instead of “What does the marketing department say?” I have had beers flavored with hibiscus flowers, earl grey tea, lemons, lavender and even sweet pea flowers. This variety is something I treasure in microbreweries.
Back to Missouri
I’ve been slowly collecting a list of microbreweries across the US. Some are closed, some are open, some are fighting in the grey space between the two. For my #StateChallenge offering this week I present this list of all the Missouri breweries I could find. One of my favorite features of lists is how locations saved to them pop up with extra emphasis on my Maps view, making it easier to remember these locations when I have the chance to patronize them. If you have the chance, take a look at the list and check out these unique businesses. I hope that my list of Missouri breweries can bring attention to locations that are fighting hard to remain open, giving back to their communities, and providing jobs to the local economy.
