Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Brothers Danny and Jeff Gustafson and business partner Bob Sears have created a unique experience for bourbon and beer aficionados at their shops in Sunset Hills (3880 S. Lindbergh Blvd.) and Creve Coeur (10453 Olive Blvd.). When the trio behind The Brothers Beer & Bourbon House had the opportunity to launch their own brand, they consulted with the true experts: their customers. The result is a welcoming environment that’s conducive to learning and relaxing. Each of the two locations, formerly BeerSauce Shops, is a synergistic combination of elements: part retail shop, lounge, eatery, event space, and private tasting room. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Menu
A curated collection of American whiskeys and craft brews is central to the owners’ vision for The Brothers Beer & Bourbon House brand. Customers can get acquainted with the beers and bourbon in several ways—and while they do, they can enjoy barbecue.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
On the beer side, there’s the retail section with a huge variety of mix-and-match canned and bottled beers that can be packaged into six-packs or enjoyed on the spot.
There’s also a bar with a rotating selection of 24 local and national craft beers and seltzers on tap, designed to encourage customers to expand their horizons. Thursdays are a popular night because draft beer flights are only $10. Another fun way to explore is to buy a “rando can” from the bar; its label is carefully covered in a black wrap that can only be removed after purchase.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Then there are tastings and special events, both public and private. And because most members of the staff—including all three owners—have Cicerone certifications and love to share their expertise, even a quick trip into the shop can deepen customers’ appreciation of craft beers.
On the bourbon side, there’s a curated list of roughly 80 options including single malt, blended, and grain whiskeys. The owners stock iconic brands such as Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey, as well as unique small-batch brands such as Blacksmith and Yellowstone. For those who want to sample before they buy, a standard flight of .75-ounce pours is $16, but premium pours are also available.
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Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
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Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
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Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
190 bottles of Ben Holladay came from this particular barrel.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
The actual barrel in which the barrel pick from Ben Holladay was aged
Be sure to ask about The Brothers’ barrel picks, which are prominently displayed around the store. Sears explains that because each barrel develops unique flavors and characteristics while the bourbon inside ages, distilleries sample an entire batch before combining the barrels to get the exact flavor and proof that they’re seeking. The Brothers’ partnership with distilleries means they can “select the best barrel, and they bottle it for us,” Sears says. The current offering is from Missouri’s Holladay Distillery, featuring a barrel selected in partnership with the Gateway City Whiskey Society.
On the barbecue side, meats from local smokers such as Navin’s BBQ anchor a variety of small plates such as The Midwestern tacos, loaded with chicken, pork, or brisket plus sweet slaw, diced onion, jalapeño, and optional queso. Other dishes are meant to be shareable, such as the meat platter and The Brothers nachos (a tray of chips dripping with chili, queso, sweet slaw, onion, and jalapeño). While it’s possible to make a meal out of the menu items, based on customer feedback, the Gustafsons have adjusted The Brothers’ portion sizes to better complement the main draw: the drinks.
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Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Brisket sliders
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Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Pulled pork tacos
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Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Pulled pork nachos (full plate)
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
House Manhattan
Finally, on the cocktail side, the focus is on bourbon-friendly libations such as Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Whiskey Sours, and Moscow or Kentucky Mules. Ask the bartender about the barrel-aged cocktails for an extra-flavorful option. Jeff Gustafson says they regularly experiment by adding cocktail ingredients to small charred oak bourbon barrels and letting them age for about a month, then finishing the drinks with the fresh components. His favorite right now is a high-proof rye Old Fashioned at the Sunset Hills location.
The Atmosphere
The two locations already have an established clientele that ranges from those just entering the vast world of bourbons and craft beers to longtime aficionados who want to continue to explore with expert guidance. Perhaps surprisingly, the shops also attract non-drinking adults and parents with young children who enjoy the comfortable, laid-back vibe.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
That goes for the owners, too. Sears says his adult daughter loves the place—in part, because she can come in with her 1-year-old son—and Jeff Gustafson sometimes brings his 4-year-old in to “help” at his dad’s business. Both shops offer a collection of tabletop games to help keep everyone entertained, as well as cozy patios with outdoor seating.
The Brothers’ selection of craft sodas and non-alcohol beers is easy to find thanks to the way the shelves are arranged and labeled by style. There’s also a separate section for “special, different, flavorful” local barbecue sauces and rubs, for cocktail mixers, and for condiments like pickles “because people love them,” Sears says.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Although the shops are designed to feel like a home away from home, Sears and the Gustafsons are focused on what happens behind the bar, especially when it comes to the rules for beer kegs and taps.
“We’re proud of presenting a properly poured beer to the customer,” Sears says. “It’s an art. I want people who pay attention to see that we’re taking special care.” That includes rinsing each glass beforehand, positioning the glass a specific distance under the tap at the correct angle, and cleaning it off with water afterward, so there’s no residue.
That high level of professionalism is matched by an equal level of joy in helping newcomers find their footing. “Craft beer is super fun,” says Jeff Gustafson. “You can think of anything, and there’s a beer for it—pickles, you name it. People come in and say they don’t like beer, and I guarantee I can find something they will like.”
The Team
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Long before the trio teamed up as owners on their beer and bourbon enterprises, Sears was a family friend of Danny and Jeff Gustafson, who worked in the fitness industry. All three were—and still are—avid fans of craft beer, which is what drew them together to partner on the BeerSauce Shop locations in Sunset Hills and Creve Coeur. (The others locations, in St. Peters, Ballwin, and Bradenton, Florida, remain open under separate ownership.)
Jeff Gustafson says he initially wasn’t really into bourbon, but he knew that he needed to learn for the success of the business. “When we first opened, every night, Danny and I did a whiskey flight after business hours—and now I almost prefer it over beer,” he admits. “I like the fact that whiskey always has a story. It makes enjoying a pour that much more special.”
And indeed, when Sears describes the most recent visit to the Holladay Distillery to pick their barrel, he pulls out his phone to scroll through photos of the historic cave where the bourbon ages. Such storytelling is a hallmark of the shop, because the owners want their customers to feel the same connection to the producers that they do.
They take customer preferences and requests into consideration when planning what canned and bottled beers, ciders, and seltzers to stock. But, Sears says, you’ll never find a product that the owners themselves don’t enjoy drinking. “It’s all about flavor,” he says, “with a slight edge going to local producers.”
