The Scoop: Friendship Brewing to open in Wentzville this summer

  Yet another new brewery is on its way to the St. Louis metro area. Friendship Brewing Company is set to open doors in Wentzville in late summer. Owners Brian Nolan and Dan Belcher will take the century-old space at 100 Pitman Ave., which formerly housed an ice factory-turned creamery. “Dan and I have been homebrewing for 28 years, since we were college roommates,” Nolan said. “When we were at college, the beer was bad. We didn’t like drinking the corporate lager selection, so we decided to make our own.” Nolan and Belcher intend to maintain the space’s historic vibe with pre-Prohibition era décor. One-third of the 3,200-square-foot space will be used for the seven-barrel brewery, and the remainder will serve as a 72-seat tasting room. An additional 75 seats will be available outside on the patio. Friendship’s bar will feature 25 taps, 10 of which will be house brews. Nolan said they hope to keep a constant selection of four to five brews and rotate the remaining house taps with seasonal and small batches. The remaining 15 will be guest taps with a mix of local and regional craft beer. While the bar itself will not prepare food, Nolan said he plans to work with catering services and food trucks to include culinary options. He hopes to add a kitchen at a later date. “We’re just longtime craft brew enthusiasts taking it to the next level,” he said.