No single sight explains St. Louis as well as the Anheuser-Busch brewery. Beer has been made on this site south of downtown since the 1850s, and the campus of red-brick buildings, stables and brew houses is a National Historic Landmark that still produces beer today. The St. Louis Brewery Experience, at 1200 Lynch Street, opens that campus to visitors through a menu of tours. The experiences listed on the venue's site are the Day Fresh Tour, the Beermaster Tour, the Clydesdale VIP Experience, the Finisher Tour, Beer School and King of Beers, and the tours cover the campus, a visit to the famous Clydesdale horses and tasting beer straight from the finishing cellars. The tours run every day from 11 am to 5 pm, and a biergarten is open daily from 11 am to 6 pm, with a gift shop open until half past five. For visitors, the appeal is partly the beer and partly the scale and history: this is where a regional brewer became a global name, and the grand old buildings let you see the working world behind the label. It is also a very different kind of beer experience from the small craft taprooms elsewhere in the city.
How to visit
The Brewery Experience is in the Soulard and Benton Park area, a short drive or rideshare south of downtown and the Arch. Tours are sold in several versions, from a basic walk through the campus to longer, more hands-on experiences and a Clydesdale-focused option, so decide first what you care about and compare the descriptions on the venue's tour pages.
The tour page does not give lengths or prices in a single place, so check the details of each tour before booking. Booking ahead is wise on weekends and in summer, and the biergarten is a pleasant place to finish whether or not you take a tour.
What to expect
You will walk through the grounds and some buildings with a guide, so wear comfortable shoes. Tastings are part of the experience, so plan on having someone else drive afterwards, and expect age rules for alcohol, which the venue enforces. The Clydesdales are the star for many families, but remember that animal visits can change with the weather and the schedule.
If you have only an hour or two, choose the shorter campus tour. If you love beer, the Beermaster and Beer School style experiences are aimed at people who want more depth than a quick tour. Check the venue's site for any closure dates, because it lists specific days when tours do not run.
Making the most of it
Combine the brewery with a stroll through Soulard, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, and with lunch at one of the many places nearby. History lovers can pair it with a guided look at the Lemp brewing story, which shows another side of the same industry, and baseball fans can add a Busch Stadium tour to complete a St.
Louis beer and baseball day. Be realistic about timing: a tour plus the biergarten easily fills a late morning and early afternoon, so book an early slot if you also want to see the Arch the same day.
What to expect
The experience
A guided tour of a historic working brewery campus with the Clydesdales, beer tasting and a biergarten.
Best time
A weekday late morning, when it is quieter than weekends and summer afternoons.
How long
Allow a half day with travel, tour and biergarten; check the length of the tour you choose.
Tips
Pick the tour version that fits your interests, book ahead for weekends, check closure dates on the venue's site and arrange a driver if you plan to taste.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Beer lovers, history fans and visitors who want the best-known St. Louis brand story.
- Families
- Families can visit the Clydesdales and the campus, but check age rules for the specific tour you choose.
- Couples
- A relaxed afternoon in the biergarten after the tour.
- Pair with
- A walk in Soulard, a Lemp neighborhood tour or a Busch Stadium tour.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Where is the Anheuser-Busch brewery tour?+
The St. Louis Brewery Experience is at 1200 Lynch Street in the Soulard area south of downtown.
When are the brewery tours offered?+
Tours run every day from 11 am to 5 pm. The biergarten is open from 11 am to 6 pm and the gift shop until 5:30 pm. The venue lists specific closure dates, so check before you go.
Which tours can I choose from?+
The venue lists the Day Fresh Tour, Beermaster Tour, Clydesdale VIP Experience, Finisher Tour, Beer School and King of Beers.
Do the tours include a tasting and the Clydesdales?+
The tours cover the campus, a visit to the Clydesdales and tasting beer straight from the finishing cellars. Which of these each tour includes varies, so read the tour details.
Should I book in advance?+
Booking ahead is a good idea, especially on weekends and in summer, because the venue sells tours by version and times.
