Once synonymous with Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis slowly embraced craft beer and became a powerhouse within the industry. Joel Bittle’s history charts the growth of the Gateway City’s craft brewing scene from its first convention-defying microbreweries in the 1990s through COVID-era difficulties and beyond.

Interviews with the founders and brewers of the city’s craft beer businesses reveal how enthusiasm and expertise coalesced into a thriving community. Their stories of brewer creativity and underdog business acumen include looks at now-iconic brands like Schlafly and 2nd Shift. Bittle also describes how St. Louis entrepreneurs used the spirit of collaboration to not only change the city’s beer culture but build a scene that attracted a following eager to move beyond the hometown beer giant and other established brands.

An engaging insider account of a craft beer bastion, Gateway Beer takes readers inside a movement while telling a story of resilience and triumph.