History
From the first brewpub to wider distribution!
Our original logo. Our Kolsch marriage gift.
The First Brewpub
While studying law at Oxford in the summer of 1983 Tom Schlafly, an attorney in his non-beer life, became passionate about the idea of bringing “real ales” to St. Louis, like those he had drunk in England.
Charles Kopman, a former law partner, introduced him to his son Dan Kopman, a sales manager for Young’s Brewery in London. It was Dan who made Tom aware of microbreweries in other cities and suggested that one could also thrive in St. Louis.
In the shadow of the eagle (Anheuser-Busch), the partners bought a burned-out old building on Locust Street in midtown St. Louis that had sat vacant for over 22 years. The Saint Louis Brewery was born.
Their journey came with challenges. Brewpubs had been illegal in Missouri. In 1991, following a change in state law, Schlafly Beer received the first microbrewery license in Missouri and the Schlafly Tap Room officially opened December 26, 1991.
It was the first brewery opened in St. Louis since prohibition.
Wider Distribution
This wouldn’t be their only legal battle. Tom Schlafly has played a significant role in changing numerous alcohol laws in Missouri, helping mold what the St. Louis beer scene is today.
In 1993, he successfully changed laws on how beer could be sold and distributed, opening up wholesaler and retailer opportunities.
It wasn’t long until demand for Schlafly Beer grew. In 2003, operations expanded to increase beer production including packaged products and open a second brewpub in Maplewood, Missouri.
After renovating an abandoned Shop ‘n Save grocery store that had sat vacant for eight years, Schlafly Bottleworks opened April 7, 2003 – the 70th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition.
Schlafly has held true to the idea of “real ales” in the land of light lagers and pilsners. We continue to brew a diverse collection of beer styles, both lagers and ales, and remain committed to quality, consistency, and authenticity.
Our Original Logo
This is the original logo for Schlafly Beer and the Saint Louis Brewery. Its ibex goat and mountain tops incorporate the official village crest of Steinhof, Switzerland where Tom and David’s great grandfather August was born. Barley stalks and hop vines were added to signify their foray into the beer business.
The logo has changed over the years. Schlafly Beer now uses a more simplified (and less detailed) button logo with our name.
It works better on signs, hats, shirts, coasters, bottles, cans, and across the web. However, our fondness for the ibex still remains.
Customers see the ibex when they visit our St. Louis brewpubs and it appears from time to time on special beer releases.
Kölsch Marriage Gift
In 1995, Tom Schlafly married Ulrike Kärst, (a native of Cologne, Germany) in St. Louis, Missouri. To accommodate their European family and friends, a vow renewal was held in the Cologne Cathedral in 1996.
Among the Cologne connections was Heinrich Becker, the managing partner of Privatbrauerei Gaffel, one of the many Kölsch breweries in Cologne.
Due to their friendship with Heinrich, a container of traditional and authentic Kölsch yeast was shipped to St. Louis. This yeast strain is used to this day and is only used to make our Schlafly Kölsch.
With a connection to a city that originated the style, our Kölsch is the real deal, and truly unique among all American craft breweries.
Not only is our Kölsch authentic, but it is also among the best in the world. Schlafly Kölsch is the proud winner of the gold medal for best German-style Kölsch at the World Beer Cup.