Schlafly Photo of the Day

A Spundaparat. Otherwise known as a bunging device. It allows us to capture the CO2 generated in the fermentation process in order to naturally carbonate the beer. It's set to a vent only when the tank reaches a pre-determined pressure.

Schlafly Hefeweizen wizzing by, just about to be packaged in pink packaging for Breast Cancer Awareness month last year.

Tanks are in place.....

Let the brewing begin....

The two new tanks are in place and plumbed with glycol. The inaugural batch, a 200bbl batch of Schlafly Pale Ale, is fermenting away.

Up till now, the largest fermenters in the cellar were a quartet of 125 bbl tanks, two of which are visible from the parking lot through the windows.

This will give Schlafly the potential fermentation capacity to brew more than 30,000 bbl a year.

We might not tap into the full potential yet, but given the support we have received from the growing numbers of thirsty Schlafly fans, having the extra head-space gives us room to plan for the future.

These photos were taken just prior to the first batch being cast into the tank.

New Tanks!

Schlafly was the welcoming recipient of two 200 bbl fermenters yesterday. Provided to us by JV Northwest in Oregon, the two tanks are about as large as we can accommodate in the building. The addition of 400 barrels of capacity will allow us to continue to grow and make sure that there is a pint ready for every thirsty beer fan.

The Post-Dispatch's Jeremiah McWilliams and a photographer were in attendance for the fly in. Williams wrote up a short piece about it on his P-D blog Lager Heads.

New Skin....

Just kidding. Sierra Nevada's Ken Grossman has just unveiled the Chico,Ca brewery's foray into the glassware world. They join the much-talked about glass developed by Jim Koch at Sam Adams, as well as the mostly unmentioned glass developed at Anheuser-Busch-a tall, almost Weiss-glass shaped vessel with thin glass around the top as well as an etched bottom to create nucleation sites for the release of co2.

The interest in the beer industry in developing new glassware designed specifically for the enjoyment of beer is an exciting advance. Some may have seen it as a conceit, that brewers shouldn't adopt the wine industry's demand for proper glassware.

That may have been a more valid point in the past, beer was meant to be drank from a bottle or a can, and that's the way we liked it.

But as consumers begin to develop greater interest in investigating the inherent qualities of beer-it's aromas, the different flavors created by hops, yeast and malt (and now spices) the relative turbidity and color-and the variety of beers now available, a proper glass is just what the brewer ordered.

In fact, rather than the brewing industry adopting wine culture, proper glassware is a brewing throwback. There is a reason the denizens of Cologne enjoy their thin-walled 50 centiliter glasses. Those Bavarian masses have their place. Belgium, of course, has always had a great variety of glassware to enjoy its draught.

However you quaff your pint, just make sure it's beer-clean.

Indian Summer Kolsch

We may be slipping into fall, but you wouldn't know it for the temperature. Therefore we bring you Indian Summer Kolsch!

Our homage to the official beer of Cologne, Germany, has been so popular this year we brewed another batch, late in the season. It may not be summer any longer, but we have fresh Kolsch just the same....

STL Hops August Bottoms Photos

Mike Sweeny over at STL Hops posted some photos from the Augusta Bottoms Beer Festival.

Angie and Natasha keep the beer fans' glasses full.....

Beer Drive

Our friends over on Pestalozi have come up with a way to take it with you to the office.

Hey, even if the backup fails...you've got a shot of relief!

Pumkin Ale Review

The Louisville Courier-Journal's freelance food writer penned a piece on Pumpkin ales. happily, Schlafly seems to be his favorite. It's ours too...

Fine Day In Augusta

The 6th annual Agusta Bottom's Beer Festival kicked off with near-perfect weather. Sunshine and not too warm. Schalfly was among the many participating brewers pouring at the event, including the Garage Brewers a group of dedicated and talented home brewers.

For those who were able to make the trip and joined us for a glass or two, we thank you as do our fellow brewers and H.I.S. K.I.D.S., a charitable organization helping kids which benefits from the event.

We should have some photos up on the blog soon.

Hello to all who stopped by the table to say hello.