1st Visit to 2nd Shift – Working Hard on the Weekend

“On the road again, going places that I’ve never been, seein’ things I may never see again, and I can’t wait to get back on the road again”. Well, maybe not the last part Willie; brewery hopping can be pretty exhausting… The sentiment is totally there, though. Needless to say, the travel wagon rolled on this weekend as Tay and I continued to bounce from state to state in search of the best beer around the US of A. This week, we found ourselves back in the LOU again at a brewery neither of us had visited, but both had heard a ton about. Hidden just out of reach from the shadow of the St. Louis Arch, we finally had a chance to discover the awesomeness that is 2nd Shift Brewing! 

The Vibe

We knew we were in for an enjoyable time from the get-go. We hopped out and were attempting to snap a photo of Tay in front of the garage tag you see in the photo above when we were suddenly greeted by a tiny, but confident voice from outside the camera frame. “That’s my dad’s garage.” I put the camera down for a sec and we both had a chuckle as we got the 4-1-1 on the brewery from 2nd Shift’s pint-sized ambassador, whom we assumed was the daughter of the brewery’s owner. She chatted with Brewliet, who knelt at eye level and also learned that this pint sized surprise’s birthday was in late February. “My mom and dad are at the beer event but you guys should come see their place”. Still amused, we obliged. Unbeknownst to us, we were heading up the stairs and opening the doors to what will go down as another epic StL brewery find.

The Brewery

Inside 2nd Shift, it was Halloween in all the right ways. On staff, there was Winnie the Pooh & a Wizard too. “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,—”. 2nd Shift’s very own, Beetlejuice was pouring beers, tossing out recommendations left and right and of course, doing all of this while taking time to pose for a photograph without missing a beat. The entire staff and a majority of the patrons were in costume too, which in conjunction with decorations, made for an absolutely killer mood. The brewery was perfectly lit for the occasion, bathed in black light with, cellar tanks adorned with decorations. and plumes of purple & Halloween orange lighting dotting the tasting. All and all, 2nd Shift really dialed up the spooky. A+ to them for creating an enjoyable space and plus points for the giant dragon blow ups and the design your own pumpkin worksheets. The worksheets were laid out on the tables, and clearly put in place to distract younger visitors, but hey, aren’t we all still kids deep down inside? As for the costume winner of the evening, hands down it goes to the homemade Macho Man Randy Savage that walked in towards the end of our visit. Slam dunk on all fronts peoples, the taproom was super welcoming and enjoyable!    

The Beer

First Beer – Pickney Barrel Bend Liquid Spiritual Delights (11.5% ABV)

Bartender in Wizard suite recommended, Romeo & Brewliet approved. The Pickney has a STRONG chocolate flavored coffee stout vibe going on. The oaky flavor is tame, but in a good way. All the flavors come together tightly & in the best way possible. This beer is flavored all kinds of confident and is not for the pinky out drinkers, you know who you are. When you drink this beer, you go toe to toe with it & you feel it after you put it down. Very satisfying. 

Second Beer – Blanton Bourbon Barrel Aged Liquid Spiritual Delight (8.9% ABV)

St. Louis has been hitting high marks with us all year with raspberry spiked stouts, porters, and ales. But I need to tell you, this version of the LSD takes the crown. I know we both gushed over this one for longer than we should but the fact that we ordered multiple glasses of this even with so many delicious flavors on the menu should tell you all you need to know. Not as sticky tasting as the Pickney Barrel and packing a little less wallop, Tay fell hard for this one. Her favorite of the bunch and a 1A for me. DRINK IT!

Third Beer – Blanton Barrel Aged Dream Bar (8.9% ABV)

For me, this beer was the joy of the journey. This barrel-aged beaut is a chocolate donut covered in coconut shavings without the mess. It’s just as good as the LSDs, but cleaner tasting. I love when heavy flavors are smooth and you can add this beer to that list. You can’t really go wrong with any of the beers at 2nd shift but if you’re a stout lover, make sure this one is your first…and second…and third. Absolutely spectacular!

Fourth Beer – Moonbeams Dry Hopped Sour Golden Ale (6.7% ABV)

Fitting for the horror season, this beer is a frankensteined concoction that hits initially like a sour but then a hazy smooth flavor surfs in as you finish your sip. 2nd shift wasn’t initially sure what they were creating when they brewed up this bad boy, but we’re sure glad they made it happen. If there’s a “beer for everyone” at 2nd shift, it’s a toss-up between this and the Pink Skies.    

Fifth Beer – Katy (5.4% ABV)

The Katy is a solid farmhouse ale. To maximize your enjoyment with this one, drink this before the Moonbeams and you’ll appreciate both. Think of this one as the plus one to the Moonbeam. It’s fun by itself but thrives when the Moonbeam steers the ship.

Sixth Beer: Hibiscus Wit (5.2% ABV)

Maybe it’s just me, but I never really know what Hibiscus is supposed to taste like… and after drinking this, I still don’t. If you are a witbier drinker that likes a wittle bit of punch to your beer (see what I did there), give this one a try and let us know what you think. The beer is not bad, but the heavier beers appeal more to our pallets. If you’re bringing along a friend that is just dipping their toes into the craft beer scene, this is a good way to push them off the dock.  

Seventh Beer: Pink Skies (3.2% ABV)

The boating theme continues… If ever there was a beer to sip on a boat trip, it’s this one. Don’t let the low ABV deter even the most seasoned beer drinker. This Berliner Weisse is a true bouquet of floral flavors wrapped neatly in lemonade. I found this drink not too sweet & not too sour – fun to drink for sure!   

What I Wish We Got to Try but Couldn’t

On the beer front nothing – we drank too much (we’re not complaining, we’re just full). I do wish we had tried the food, but we had already eaten beforehand. Bootleggin’ BBQ makes a small, but sensible home inside the brewery. They offer bag tacos, pulled pork & a few other items that nicely compliment the beer menu. If you ask nicely, they staff will even recommended pairings. It’s a convenient touch, especially for people like us that find ordering from outside food stops, a bit cumbersome. 

Concluding Thoughts | 2nd Shift

To sum up it all up… we’ve had a fantastic run this year when it comes to about every stop we’ve made on the craft beer circuit. 2nd Shift not only lived up to the reputation it has rightfully garnered, but it steamrolled past our expectations. One of the most enjoyable aspects of exploring the St. Louis beer and food scene has been how wonderful each establishment’s employees have treated us. 2nd Shift’s staff was probably the most enjoyable team we have encountered. Not only are they Rockstars when it comes to serving beer in ridiculously awesome costumes, but they did it with smiles on their faces. They were also extremely gracious when we asked for information on the different beers & even more so when we asked for pictures for this blog. Take a bow everyone! Thank you for the wonderful experience, a return trip in the future is a certainty.