John and Helena Valentine had the perfect launch date in mind for their European-themed brewpub in Olivette: Valentine’s Day. The name, Great Heart Brewing, is just as fitting. Their goal is to create a warm, welcoming community space by combining traditional German brewing techniques with the charm of Alpine hospitality. Here’s what you can look forward to when it opens Friday night.
The Beers
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Great Heart Brewing will showcase four core beer styles—Pilsner, Dunkel, Helles, and Weissbier—each brewed with traditional natural filtering methods and carefully sourced ingredients.
“We want people in Olivette to feel like they’re drinking these beers in a cozy beer hall in Germany,” Helena says. The couple’s attention to detail extends from the German hops to mimicking the exact water profiles of Munich.
One key element of authenticity will be the glassware, something often overlooked in the U.S. but essential in Germany. “In Europe, every beer is served in its proper glass, which enhances the experience,” John explains. “We’re bringing that tradition here. Each beer will have its glass designed to highlight its specific characteristics.” From Weissbier glasses to Pilsner flutes, the Valentines believe that using the right glassware elevates both the beer and the overall drinking experience.
The brewery will utilize decoction mashing and horizontal lagering, both time-honored techniques that contribute to the smoothness and depth of the beers. “It’s an old-school approach, but it adds body and character that’s hard to replicate,” John explains.
John is currently brewing a Czech Pilsner, a Vienna Lager, and a variation on his Helles—Hele’s Helles—named after his wife.
The Food
To complement the beer offerings, the Valentines have partnered with renowned local chef Jim Fiala and rising culinary star Tim Zenner. Fiala, known for his work at The Crossing and Acero, helped craft the Alpine-inspired menu, drawing on his deep knowledge of European cuisine. Zenner, who worked under Fiala, will take on the day-to-day execution of the menu, ensuring that Great Heart’s kitchen delivers on its vision.
Expect soups, salads with Raclette cheese, pretzels, schnitzels, and Swiss-style apple fritters. “We’re focused on fresh, high-quality ingredients,” Helena says. The menu will rotate seasonally and feature local produce to keep regulars coming back for something new.
Featured items include a smashburger with two 4-ounce Ruth Family Farm’s beef patties, Appenzeller cheese, and a tallow toasted house-made bun with house-made fries. (Of note is that Great Heart does not use any seed oils and cooks only with beef tallow and butter.) Additionally, the breads are baked in house using 75-year-old Italian sourdough starter that the Valentines received from an Italian family in Padua.
John adds, “We want the food to match the care we put into our beers—flavors that are approachable but crafted with intention.”
At the bottom of the menu is a related sentiment: “Full hearts. Full glasses.”
The Atmosphere
The 8,000-square-foot space was designed to be warm and communal, with glycol-cooled copper serving tanks serving as a focal point and adding a touch of Old World charm. Beyond serving exceptional beer, the Valentines are focused on creating the welcoming atmosphere they’ve experienced in Germany.
“We fell in love with the coziness of the beer halls there,” Helena says. “It wasn’t just about the beer; it was the feeling of belonging, of everyone coming together in a relaxed and welcoming space. We wanted to bring that spirit to St. Louis.”
The project architect, V Three Studios, and branding expert Attilio D’Agostino, principal at Novel, have collaborated to bring that vision to life.
Rugged bierhall-style tables encourage conversation, while intimate booths and an upstairs loft/event space with a fireplace provide cozy nooks for quieter gatherings. Throughout the space, wall sconces flank what appear to be prints of the German countryside—but that are actually super-low-profile flat-screen TVs. Personal artifacts appear throughout, from watercolors painted by a Busch family member to a photo of John’s graduating class at the World Brewing Academy.
“We want Great Heart to be a place where people feel at home,” Helena says. “It’s all about that European coziness.”
The Background
John Valentine Jr. may come from one of the most well-known brewing families in the world—the Busch brewing dynasty—but his path to beer was uniquely his own. Although connected by blood to the family of Anheuser-Busch, John didn’t initially set out to follow that path. “I wanted to be a high school football coach,” John says with a laugh. A chance internship at a small brewery in California, however, changed everything. “The hands-on artistry of brewing really grabbed me,” he says.
John’s brewing journey led him to the prestigious Siebel Institute in Chicago and the Doemens Academy in Munich, where he deepened his expertise in European beer styles. When he returned to St. Louis, he was ready to bring to life his vision—one rooted in craft, independent of his family legacy. “I’ve always admired the Busch family’s contributions to brewing, but I found my own passion for it,” John says. Great Heart Brewing is his opportunity to merge tradition with his journey.
Helena Valentine, who in December received an MBA from Washington University, was raised in Bavaria near Munich and comes from a family of hop farmers. She’s been passionate about beer from a young age. “I grew up attending hop-farmer meetings with my dad, which gave me a real respect for the craft,” she says. Helena’s expertise in sourcing high-quality ingredients perfectly complements John’s brewing skills. Together, they’ve laid the foundation for Great Heart Brewing’s lineup of authentic European-style beers.
Opening on Valentine’s Day, Great Heart Brewing is poised to deliver on its promise of exceptional beer and warm hospitality—a perfect pairing for the season of love.
