Some beers become more than something you order at the bar. Over time, they become part of the fabric of the city. For 4 Hands Brewing Co., City Wide American Pale Ale has become one of those beers.
A decade after it was first introduced, City Wide has become one of the brewery’s defining beers, both as a flagship release and as the centerpiece of its charitable giving efforts, helping generate more than $450,000 for 40-plus nonprofits.
“For us, being part of St. Louis means more than making beer,” says 4 Hands founder Kevin Lemp. “It means showing up, building relationships, and creating something that gives back. This city has supported us from the very beginning, and City Wide is our way of returning that support.”
To mark the milestone, 4 Hands is launching a yearlong Thank-You Tour, featuring collaborations with 10 St. Louis businesses, ranging from restaurants to dessert makers and retailers.
Pints + Partnerships
To celebrate the anniversary, 4 Hands partnered with 10 area businesses, with the brewery unveiling the full lineup as part of the anniversary kickoff. While several collaborations will be revealed throughout April, three offer an early look at the range of creative partnerships planned.
Hi-Pointe Drive–In is creating a City Wide Burg Box, an adult take on a classic combo meal pairing one of its signature burgers and fries with a 12-ounce City Wide and a custom koozie. Available beginning April 13.
Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery will release a City Wide–inspired boozy ice cream on April 1, incorporating the beer’s citrus and tropical fruit notes into a dessert format. The collaboration will also include custom packaging and special activations at both Clementine’s locations and the 4 Hands tasting room.
Sauce on the Side will debut the City Wide Strike Zone Calzone on April 1, featuring apple bratwurst braised in the beer along with applewood-smoked bacon, giardiniera, mozzarella, havarti, and queso on the side.
Additional collaborations are planned with these area restaurants, with details and release dates to be announced throughout April:
- Peacemaker Lobster & Crab
- Blues City Deli
- STL Toasted
- Gus’ Pretzels
- Sugarfire Smoke House
- Strange Donuts
- Fitz’s Root Beer
- Rally House
“These are partners we’ve worked with for many years in different ways, whether through events or just being part of the community together,” says Liz Swyers, chief marketing officer for 4 Hands. “When we reached out, every single one said yes. Then it became, ‘OK, what are we going to create together?’”
Beyond the Beer
City Wide launched in 2016 with its charitable mission already attached. But the way that the community embraced it helped shape what it would eventually become. “When we launched City Wide, it was probably the most energetic and passionate launch we had ever had,” says Swyers. “It almost felt like we had something special before we even realized what it could become.”
Over time, the beer became a way to connect the brewery with nonprofits and local businesses while expanding its presence across the city.“We are more than beer,” Swyers says. “Beer has been the vessel that has allowed us to give back.”
While some of the anniversary collaborations may include charitable tie-ins, the primary goal of the celebration is to recognize the relationships built along the way. “This is really about celebrating City Wide, celebrating our partners, and celebrating the city,” Swyers says.
Today, City Wide has become part of St. Louis’ culture. “I still love going out and seeing people drinking City Wide at a table or at a bar,” she says. “There’s a real sense of pride in seeing that.”
Some people even refer to 4 Hands as “the City Wide brewery”—a sign of how strongly the brand has embedded itself locally. “In the early years, City Wide kind of became the beer to drink for all occasions,” she says. “City Wide is the heartbeat of our company. Without it, we would look very different. It really pushed us to become more than just a brewery.”
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