MAPLEWOOD, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Some say it's a good time to be a local brew pub in St. Louis. In fact business for Schlafly right now is so brisk they're actually fighting to keep up with demand.
"My shifts have become longer and I don't see my family as much," joked brewer Eric Roy.
He estimates Schlafly sales jumped 27% in January and can't help but wonder whether some beer drinkers turned away from Anheuser Busch during the InBev takeover.
"No, no it's still a locally produced beer," countered Budd Starr, owner of a beer and wine store in Richmond Heights.
He says A.B. brands are still very popular.
Beer blogger Mike Sweeney of Stlhops.com says AB is still the "King of Beers" by far and away and is still the gold standard for local brewers.
"You can talk to any of the local brewers and they'll say AB is the best brewer in St. Louis," said Sweeney.
But he's also found many restaurants and bars hearing calls for change when InBev took over.
"Especially after the deal went down they heard a great amount of interest from people saying hey listen I want to try something new, I want to try something local," Sweeney said.
"Whatever it is people are very thirsty for our product right now," said Roy.
Schlafly has hired new people, is in the process of automating more of it's beer bottling process and hopes it's good fortune as a local brew pub continues.
He estimates Schlafly sales jumped 27% in January and can't help but wonder whether some beer drinkers turned away from Anheuser Busch during the InBev takeover.
"No, no it's still a locally produced beer," countered Budd Starr, owner of a beer and wine store in Richmond Heights.
He says A.B. brands are still very popular.
Beer blogger Mike Sweeney of Stlhops.com says AB is still the "King of Beers" by far and away and is still the gold standard for local brewers.
"You can talk to any of the local brewers and they'll say AB is the best brewer in St. Louis," said Sweeney.
But he's also found many restaurants and bars hearing calls for change when InBev took over.
"Especially after the deal went down they heard a great amount of interest from people saying hey listen I want to try something new, I want to try something local," Sweeney said.
"Whatever it is people are very thirsty for our product right now," said Roy.
Schlafly has hired new people, is in the process of automating more of it's beer bottling process and hopes it's good fortune as a local brew pub continues.
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