Alpha Brewing Company is branching out, with a new location and new beverage offerings in a new development.
Alpha Brewing Company Distillery (ABCD), a “brewstillery,” is slated to open at 5232 Delmar in late summer or early fall 2023. The project will be part of the Maker’s Locale in the Delmar Maker District (rendering depicted above), which is anchored by Third Degree Glass Factory. The development will also feature an adjoining restaurant, an event space run by Third Degree Events, a retail store, and a sprawling shared exterior that will include a family-friendly beer garden and game area.
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“We are super excited to bring more food and beverage options to the district to increase foot traffic, particularly options that families can come hang out while having a drink where their kids can play,” says Jassen Johnson of Renaissance Development Associates, the developer behind the project.
The Brewstillery
Earlier this month, Alpha Brewing lead Derrick Langeneckert signed a lease to open a second location with a distillery focus. “Every distillery needs a brewery,” says Langeneckert. “Every distillery starts with what we call ‘distiller’s beer,’ which is the liquid produced through fermentation that is then distilled into a spirit.”
The brewstillery will include a 2,300-square-foot tasting room and an additional 1,200-square-foot distilling space, as well as a small kitchen that will serve up St. Louis–style pizza and snacks.
As for the spirits, Langeneckert says to expect three brown spirits (whiskeys, ryes or bourbons), though he’s also excited about creating a new line of vodkas, called Squoosh. “The goal is to work with clear spirits and utilize our experience in brewing fruited sours to create fruited vodkas,” says Langeneckert. “We hope to open with six flavors–cranberry, peach, grapefruit, lemon, lime, and blood orange–all at 70-proof, which is more appealing to the mixed-drink crowd and those who love traditional and canned cocktails.”
For Langeneckert, the move will allow him to realize a longtime vision, after relocating Alpha Brewing from downtown to Tower Grove South in 2018. “We first started talking about the idea of distilling when we began a collaboration with StilL 630,” says Langeneckert. “We even eyed a building next door, but it didn’t work out. When this concept became available, we jumped.”
Jordan Palmer worked as a local TV producer from 1995 to 2020. He also founded and curates Drink314, a blog focusing on the responsible-drinking community of St. Louis.
