While we’ve seen the number of local breweries blossom in St. Louis City, we’re just beginning to see the same renaissance occur just east of the Mississippi. Scratch Brewing has quietly created a cult following with their locally sourced ingredients; Excel Brewing is crafting their takes on both classic and new-world styles; and brand new Old Bakery Beer Company is the only fully organic brewery in the metro area.
What makes each of these breweries unique is that they all fill a specific niche in the Metro East. That’s what Chris Rahn and his wife Tammy had in mind when they decide to follow a dream and start Stubborn German Brewing Company in Waterloo, Illinois.
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Chris and Tammy wanted to create a space in Waterloo that not only pays homage to the strong German culture of Southern Illinois, but also helps to preserve some of the classic styles of German beer. Chris is an award-winning home brewer and BJCP judge and plans on starting with five year-round German-style beers and a rotating selection of German and American styles after they open.
The Rahns are close to closing on a 100-year-old building in Waterloo and already have purchased a three-barrel brewhouse. While no definitive date have been set for opening, Chris hopes to be serving beer across the bar in 2016.
“We want to grow slowly and steadily and love the idea of the freedom of owning this ourselves and building it ourselves,” says Chris, “We realize that most breweries don’t operate this way, but I feel like we can do it with a lot of hard work which never scared us off before.”
If you can’t wait until 2016 (and we don’t expect you to), you’re in luck, as Stubborn German Brewing will be debuting their beer in Forest Park this weekend at the St. Louis Microfest.
