For a work team building event, we took a half day and did the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour in St. Louis, Missouri. I had taken this tour many years ago and I can’t believe how much they have changed and improved the experience. The tours run about every ten minutes and we pretty much walked right in. The tour starts out with a brief introduction and history of the brewery. Just as a reminder, the tours are FREE and last about 45 minutes.
As a side note, I have fond memories from my childhood of the brewery. Years ago, as part of our Christmas family traditions, my family would meet my uncle and aunt at the Macy’s department store downtown. We would look at the train sets in the street windows and then go inside and pick out whatever we wanted from the candy counter. Our next stop would always be the brewery where there was a street with a circle drive at the end and a lighted Christmas tree in the middle. We would drive down the street looking at the brewery Christmas lights and then one by one, each of our cars would enter the circle drive. We would drive around and around the circle, waving at each other and laughing. No one ever wanted to be the first car to exit the circle! After what felt like forever, one of the cars would leave the circle and then we would be on our way, laughing and cherishing these silly memories forever. =)
But anyway…around 1852, Eberhard Anheuser became part owner in Bavarian brewery and by 1860, he had acquired a major interested in the company. Adolphus Busch met Eberhard (who would later be his father-in-law) and purchased half of the ownership of the brewery. At this time, there was over 50 breweries in St. Louis! In 1876, the iconic beer that we know today, Budweiser, was first brewed.
The first stop on the tour is the stables which are home to the world famous Clydesdales. This building is listed as a National Historic building and even the brass chandelier is from the 1904 World’s Fair that was held in St. Louis!
We walked about two blocks and entered two more buildings, but my favorite part of the tour was looking at the architecture. The red brick buildings match the historic St. Louis style that you see throughout the city.
The tour ends at the new Biergarten which is a pretty cool outside experience. After completion of the tour, you also receive a free beer of your choice!
If you are visiting St. Louis, Missouri, I highly recommend you tour the iconic Anheuser-Busch brewery!
Planned Spontaneity 
Loved the childhood memories!!!! My dear one, your eye for detail with the camera is remarkable! The lighting and use of the available shadows brings out every nuance one can get for inanimate objects! And your prose just brings us along! Awesome! Thanks!
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You are too sweet! 💚
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Gingersnap, what a great post! Those memories have put a smile on my face all night! Macys, candy counter and that wonderful circle with the huge tree!Do you remember when you and Shea asked if you could hop out and walk and get a better look at the lights, and of course we said yes! Oh to turn the clock back just a bit!Love 💚Aunt Judy &Uncle Ray
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Nice – I took the brewery tour a few years ago with my daughter. Funny story too – We set out that day to do the tour and when we arrived as the gates were opening, there was a group of construction owners/workers that were being given a tour as part of a conference I believe. We were just walking in the mix of people, not really knowing what was happening, and before we knew it we were being shuffled in as part of this group being given a VIP tour. We didn’t think much of it until about the last 15 minutes of the tour when one of the VIPs asked us if we were part of the construction group – “no, but we’re having a wonderful time” I replied. Ya – he looked at me like I was from another planet. Once the bus stopped, my daughter and I quickly made our way back to the main building and kept our mouths shut about our stupidity. We loved the tour though and got to see the horse keepers grooming them for a show. Very cool indeed. Thanks for sharing.
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Ha! That’s a great story! Well glad you got to do the tour the unconventional way lol
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So glad it’s a cherished memory for you. Those were the days!
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Can you believe that I have never toured the brewery? You did an excellent job of “seeing” it for me and you have reminded me of yet another thing that St. Louis offers its visitors (and locaIs)! Thanks
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