On July 28, 2026, St. Louis Magazine hosted our fifth St. Louis Supper Club, presented by ReeceNichols. The secret location: Great Heart Brewing Co. SLM dining editors George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr carefully selected this location as it perfectly captures the “discovery” spirit of Supper Club: a beautiful, under-the-radar destination known for outstanding German-inspired cuisine, exceptional beer, and a talented young couple whose backstory is as memorable as the experience they have created.
Guests were treated to a five-course menu featuring German dishes inspired by family recipes, each thoughtfully paired with GHBC beers. The restaurant’s charming Alpine atmosphere completed the experience, transporting diners to a cozy German beer hall.
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About the Chef
Timothy James Zenner is the executive chef at Great Heart Brewing Company, where he leads the culinary program with a focus on authentic German cuisine, exceptional hospitality, and craftsmanship. Working alongside owners Helena and John Valentine, he has helped bring generations of Helena’s family recipes to life, creating a menu that honors German culinary traditions.
Tim began his career under acclaimed chef Bill Cardwell before spending more than two decades with chef Jimmy Fiala’s restaurant group, where he rose to executive chef. He later served as corporate executive sous chef for Lodging Hospitality Management and further honed his skills while working in New York City and at Annie Gunn’s.
Drawing on experience in French, Italian, American, and German cuisine, chef Zenner combines classical technique with a deep respect for authenticity to create memorable dining experiences centered around great food, exceptional beer, and warm hospitality.
About the Founders
Great Heart Brewing Co. was founded by husband-and-wife team John and Helena Valentine, who opened the brewery on Valentine’s Day 2025 with a shared vision: to bring the warmth of European hospitality, exceptional beer, and thoughtfully prepared food to St. Louis.
John Valentine is a sixth-generation brewmaster who developed a passion for brewing under the influence of his grandfather, August “Gussie” Busch Jr. Determined to master the craft from the ground up, he worked in respected craft breweries in California and St. Louis before earning his Master Brewer qualification through the Siebel Institute in Chicago and Doemens Academy in Munich, Germany. It was in Bavaria that he refined his brewing philosophy and met his future wife, Helena. Today, John combines generations of family tradition with authentic European brewing techniques at Great Heart Brewing Company.
Born into a family with deep roots in the brewing industry, Helena Valentine was raised between Germany and Switzerland, where she developed a lifelong appreciation for Alpine hospitality, European cuisine, and brewing traditions. She spent her childhood accompanying her father to hop farms throughout Bavaria, learning firsthand about the craftsmanship behind great beer. Before co-founding Great Heart Brewing Company with her husband, John, Helena built an international career in mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs in London before earning her MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.
The Menu
FIRST COURSE
- Bayerische Brezensuppe: Rich beef broth with caramelized onions, topped with a toasted Bavarian pretzel and melted Gruyère cheese.
- Beer Pairing: House Helles 5.0% ABV
SECOND COURSE
- Heart Six Ranch Beef Carpaccio: Thinly sliced Heart Six Ranch beef served with house Swiss dressing, Gruyère cheese, and toasted crostini.
- Beer Pairing: House Helles 5.0% ABV
THIRD COURSE
- Housemade Spaetzle: Housemade traditional German egg noodles tossed with fresh summer vegetables, basil, Alpine cheese, and a creamy tomato sauce.
- Beer Pairing: Vienna 5.1% ABV
FOURTH COURSE
- Sauerbraten: Beef chuck marinated and slowly braised in the traditional German style, finished with crushed ginger snap cookies and served over buttery whipped potatoes with braised Blaukraut.
- Beer Pairing: Beer Pairing: Vienna 5.1% ABV
FIFTH COURSE
- Chocolate Torte: Rich flourless chocolate torte served with Washington cherries, candied orange peel, and Weizenbock whipped cream.
- Beer Pairing: Weizenbock 6.9% ABV
Drinks
- BEER: Diners enjoyed beer pairings with each course and access to GHBC’s full beer menu.
- WINE: Sauvignon Blanc Von Winning and Pinot Noir Strub
- COCKTAILS: Hugo Spritz, Manhattan, and Negroni
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