Ferguson Brewing Company (418 S. Florissant, Ferguson) will serve its last pint on December 20, closing out a 15-year run as one of North County’s most beloved brewpubs.
In a Facebook post, the brewery said that after “riding the roller coasters of ups and downs” and facing “challenges and adversities at every corner,” it had made the difficult decision to close.
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The team had hoped to find a buyer to keep the Ferguson Brewing legacy alive but said it was “sadly unsuccessful in doing so.” Instead, a local buyer “who loves this community as much as we do” will take over the building.
SLM has reached out to Ferguson Brewing Company management for comment but had not received a response by press time. The brewery said it plans to release a joint statement with the new owners next week.
The Backstory
When Ferguson Brewing opened in 2010, it filled a void. At the time, North County didn’t have a neighborhood brewpub, the kind of place where a pint could be local in every sense of the word. Founders Joe Lonero and Josh Wilson turned a former liquor store on South Florissant Road into a community anchor with exposed brick, wood booths, and a full kitchen
Early hits, such as the Pecan Brown Ale and Oatmeal Stout, became regulars at St. Louis beer festivals, and the brewery built a reputation for easy-drinking, food-friendly beers. Over the years, brewers including Rob Abell, Adam Kessler, and Jim Wells added seasonal creativity—think Blackberry Helles, Coconut Cream Ale, and barrel-aged variants of Mocha Stout—while quietly expanding into sours and ciders as tastes evolved.
Ferguson Brewing’s story has never been only about beer. During the unrest of 2014, the brewery kept the lights on and the doors open, serving first responders and neighbors alike. After a 2015 kitchen fire, the team rebuilt. They collaborated with fellow brewers to support nearby Hopskeller Brewing after its own fire, proof that for all the competition in craft beer, community has always been the through-line.
The Food
Ferguson Brewing didn’t fit the “brewery bar snacks-only” mold. It was a true brewpub, known as much for its kitchen as its beer. Over the years, it built a loyal following around comfort fare that paired well with a pint, especially its lineup of burgers.
For many, a visit to Ferguson Brewing meant a Pecan Brown Ale alongside the Bacon Jam or Bacon & Pimento Beer Cheese Burger, the kind of simple pairing that never needed improving.
It’s the kind of menu that invites regulars to linger—straightforward food, done well, in a space that always felt like home.
The Changing Landscape
Ferguson’s farewell comes amid a turbulent year for local craft beer. It’s the third brewery to close in two weeks and the fifth so far in 2025. Arch Nemesis Brewing in Chesterfield recently announced it would close by the end of November. Freestyle Brewing Co. in Eureka shuttered earlier this year. And even established players are scaling back: Schlafly Beer closed its Bankside brewpub in St. Charles in January after its lease ended, and later withdrew from managing its Highland, Illinois, property.
STL Beer, the regional advocacy organization representing more than 70 local breweries, called Ferguson Brewing “an anchor in North County and a proud member of the St. Louis brewing family.” Executive director Troika Brodsky and creative director Brian Margiotta said the closure is “bittersweet news” that reflects both the personal impact of losing a community hub and the economic pressures facing small brewers. “There’s much to be hopeful about,” they added, noting new breweries such as Great Heart Brewing, Perennial on the Trail, and Natural History Brewing Collective, part of what they called “one of the country’s most vibrant beer cities.”
For small and mid-size breweries, rising costs, tightening margins, and consumer fatigue have created an uneven playing field. Ferguson Brewing’s closure underscores how even deeply rooted community spots aren’t immune.
What’s Next
In its announcement, the Ferguson Brewing team thanked the community, its employees, and the wider St. Louis beer family for “everything you’ve done for us and our family.” The team invited patrons to come in one last time “to enjoy your favorite brew, see your favorite server or bartender, and enjoy a fresh-cooked meal.”
The taps will go silent before year’s end, but the building—and the role it’s played as a gathering place—will soon find new life.
