Latest reviews from Alton

“Yep, it's in an old bakery building. Very well done rehab into a vast industrial space with a bar and dining area adjacent. Unfortunately (more so for my elderly dad), access from the small parking area on the waterfront highway to the actual bar/seating area is a bit of a hike. They should've reversed the layout, IMHO. That said, good beer, good food. Service was a bit indifferent, but efficient. Would visit again. Great stopping point for an end to the magnificent Great River Road scenic drive along the Mississippi in near-STL Illinois. Brewery #945.“

Braudog 807 days ago

“This is located inside the Alton Belle Casino and is the first place you see when you walk into the casino. There are a lot of bottles, cans, and taps and that totals about 60. Their craft offerings tend towards the local offerings. Unfortunately, there are a lot of BMC beers and those make up about 1/3 of their beer list. I still logged 3 quality ticks and could have had another 2 or 3. I had the nachos and my wife had chicken strips. Both were good and reasonably priced.“

Strykzone 2890 days ago

“Nice looking place. Huge, clean with TV’s a big bar area and lots of tables. Service was friendly but ineffective. Selection was only OB beers, they were above average, mostly low ABV offerings. Did not get to try the food, value was good with one of the more generous samplers I have ever seen. Worth a try when in Alton.“

coachd 2973 days ago

“Great beer selection. On the menu, beer is classified by flavors, not categories. You can taste anything for free. They had KBS on draft, that’s hard to find in St. Louis. Very upscale and classy looking place. I didn’t get to try the food.“

coachd 2973 days ago

“could be my favorite place in the metro STL area. A really cool location just outside of downtown Alton, il. great service, awesome food. cant go wrong with this place at all. Always enjoy going here.“

Terminus 3042 days ago

“Update 1/23/2016, seems like my subtle complaints have been taken care of. I was 5/5 in requesting beers and them having them on tap. Burger was really good too, Awesome onion rings..........Prior ratingL Really good beer selection, but expect them to be out of the first two of whatever you choose. This is one of the better beer bars in the St. Louis metro area and has great selection that isnt distributed to Missouri. (Speedway and Clown Shoes on tap!) Food is good, really close to being great. I can’t wait until it warms up so I can sit in their amazing outdoor area.“

gregwilsonstl 3057 days ago

“This is very much an Irish pub and it is a fun one. The location is on the corner across from the ConAgra mill on the River Road. Their specialty is, duh, Irish beers. Plenty of Guinness including their blonde. Templar, Peoria Brewing Co., and a series of taps that rotate. I had a full pint of Peoria Brewing Big Bloke and it cost $6. Not a huge tap list but they do have some locals that are new to most tickers. Also lots of Irish whiskeys, etc. They do have food but I did not eat.“

Strykzone 3113 days ago

“Very cool rehabbed space on the Alton riverfront, driving distance from St. Louis. They wisely kept a lot of the old-timey structure and décor intact: wrought-iron spiral staircase, beat-up subway tiles, polished concrete floors, exposed beams and plumbing, etc. Very big and open feel, clean bathrooms. Lots of quiet sitting spaces in the long entranceway, lots more tables in the main room, huge bar across the back wall, all built from diverse recycled wood. Chalkboard painted columns listing the current offerings. Art gallery space on the side wall, a (really good, btw) live band in the corner. Approachable, casual, non-pretentious vibe. Bartenders were extremely friendly, helpful, knowledgeable. Beer was above-average generally, a few great ones, a few duds. They especially excel at the English session styles, in my opinion (Porter, English Pale, English Breakfast). Like any new brewery, they’re still resolving some diacetyl and clarity issues, but that didn’t seem to bother anyone else. Food looked and smelled great. I bought a souvenier nonic pub glass. A long drive for me, but I’ll make the trip again sometime, and seek them out at festivals in the meantime.“

seymour 3125 days ago

“Great beer bar within driving distance of St Louis. Since Illinois has different distribution deals than Missouri, they have lots of cool breweries we can’t get. I was thrilled to taste Port Brewing, Upland Brewing, Destihl. I saw Old Bakery, Ballast Point, Smuttynose, Three Floyds, AleSmith, Dogfish Head, and many, many others. The bartenders were super-knowledgeable and friendly, certified Cicerones, and unafraid to tell you before ordering a not-so-good beer. Large rectangular room with tables in the center, private party area in one corner, a stage for live music in another corner, and a long bar against one side. Food looked and smelled great, supposedly great burgers. Prices were fair, I especially liked the option for a half-pour of anything, and you still get a fancy-looking little tulip glass. Off the beaten path for me, but a cool enough destination to return.“

seymour 3125 days ago

“Wow, what a find this place was. The outside looks like a typical store or restaurant, but the inside is big, bright, clean, and beautiful. The bar is on the left and features 60 taps. The great thing is that IL gets a lot different distribution from MO, so if you’re used to the St. Louis side of the River, this place is like a beer vacation destination without having to go far. And they don’t just settle for the easy finds from each available-to-them brewery, either. Plenty of unique seasonals and one-offs from the area, the state, the region, and across the country. A few international standards, too. I could’ve spent two straight meals here getting small pours and not hit everything I wanted. I didn’t eat, but sampled a few, made a trade with the (outstanding) bartender Trevor, and headed out on my way. But man oh man, will I be back here. I can’t believe this place isn’t more hyped. It’s an absolutely stunning gem of a bar and restaurant. Can’t say enough good things. Must-visit if you have any opportunity at all to stop in.“

phaleslu 3136 days ago

“Visited here on an afternoon shortly after opening. It’s on the busy road that lines the River and downtown Alton, so you can only get in if heading north/west on 67, and can only exit one direction. The space is huge, and literally in an old brick bakery building. They did an incredible job preserving that old charm while making it their own, and have plenty of room to grow. The front door is about 200 yards from the actual tap room, so don’t get discouraged. The tap room is huge and inviting, with tables scattered throughout and a long bar. There were over a dozen house brews on tap, which shocked me for a new place. They were good, too, ranging from really good takes on normal styles to really unusual things. I didn’t eat but hear the food is good. The bartender turned out to be a guy I knew from my second stint living in STL, so that was great. If you’re anywhere near Alton, this is a must-visit.“

phaleslu 3136 days ago

“A really cool place right on the Mississippi river in downtown Alton. Huge place, has lots of room for expansion in the brewing facility. the tap room section is awesome-a slightly renovated old building but keeps its charm. Beer is promising however a bit of a letdown. I had 2 beers that were infected and/or very old but the others were above average. This place has tons of potential so lets see what happens.“

Terminus 3168 days ago

“Really enjoyable place. Kind of like a cross between Civil Life and Urban Chestnut. Good solid beer. Quite affordable.“

gregwilsonstl 3232 days ago

“Stopped in for lunch on a week day. Place is quite large with a good stroll to the bar area. The parking lot has been recently improved but still fairly small. No glitz and glamour here as the brewery has maintained its original look giving it a unique ambience. The servers were very knowledgeable and offered suggestions. They had 15 beers on taps and the menu is quite limited at this time but is expected to improve as they move forward. They have a good selection of beers to choose from, with sampler flights and growlers to go. Worth checking out if you are in the area.“

Bif 3277 days ago

“Located in an old Sears building, this place has been re-done and beautifully so. Among the nicest places in the region. 60 taps (one or two for Bud and Stag) with many standard craft beers. Cans, too. I had a lagunitas XXIV and a Verhaeghe Echt Kriekenbier. The restaurant menu is burgers and they are done with creativity. They are only about 4" around but are at least a full inch thick. Very tasty. We had 3 different ones and all were very good. They opened a month or so ago and are still evolving. If you are in the Alton area this should be at the top of your list to visit.“

Strykzone 3295 days ago

“This is the same group as the Belleville location which is where the beer is brewed. No beer is brewed at the Alton location. The site is a former Texas Road House restaurant and it was changed cosmetically. Table setup is a little crowded and on the Friday evening we went business was very brisk. There is plenty of parking since this is located adjacent to a mall. The food was good and the menu is the same as Belleville. Service was good. Interestingly, we had the same waitress last week in Belleville. She was training then for the Alton site. All of the servers seemed to be around 20 years old so their knowledge of beer is limited.“

Strykzone 3296 days ago

“Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon, nice big place. My only complaint, the parking lot fills up quickly. Plenty of room to sit at the bar or grab a table. We had a snack and a couple of samplers. Bartender was really knowledgeable, and suggested what to choose with our two flights. Will definitely be returning as new offerings come about. Easy drive on the way to Grafton or returning home from Grafton.“

jandd1983 3342 days ago

“Visited early afternoon on a Friday. The building is massive, but the spaces seem to be utilized very, giving a little more intimate -local flavor. I love that the brewery smell permeates the whole building.The beers are top notch too!“

sharkbcr 3387 days ago

“I stopped in on their first day of being open to the public. This is a big space with all kinds of room for brewing. It is a long walk through the building from the parking lot and past the brewery. The tasting room / future restaurant is also spacious. The building is an old bakery (hence the name). The beers were all exceptional. Six are on tap and I had no complaints and especially liked the porter. They only had snacks and will have a full menu in March. It promises to be a nice upscale menu when they are ready for it. My sever knew his stuff. They also had 6 or 8 guest taps as well as their own and all of them local and quality. This is a much needed addition to the town of Alton. This brewery has a plan for growth and the room for it to happen. I expect some really good things are in store for Old Bakery Beer Company.“

Strykzone 3418 days ago

“Tony’s is an Italian restaurant that has been in Alton for Decades. Recently they decided to offer craft beer and have 30 taps. Bells, Urban Chestnut, Schlafly, Boulevard, Rogue, and Smuttynose are an example. Food is always excellent and now the beer is, too.“

Strykzone 3953 days ago

“My wife and I stopped in on a Friday evening. This was at a couple of buds’ recommendations. Their tap list was not exciting at all and included macros. However, their bottle list makes this a RateBeer quality place. About 50 bottles. I had a Piraat and chose not to have a Founders Porter. It is a very decent list. The food was very good as was the ambiance. It is near both Big Muddy and The Ragin Cagin, both of which offers some very nice beers.“

Strykzone 4276 days ago