UCBC to open Urban Research Brewery in The Grove

Experimental beers will take flight in The Grove as Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. prepares to open a consumer research and pilot brewery, the Urban Research Brewery at 4501 Manchester Ave., across Taylor Avenue from the brewery’s Bierhall in The Grove.

Brewing these trial beers within a 62-gallon system will allow the brewery to create styles and recipes on a limited scale. “It will allow us to brew very small test batches before potentially producing them on a larger scale,” said Joe Taylor, UCBC communications coordinator.

In addition to playing mad malt scientists, UCBC will offer customers the chance to provide feedback via smart phones and devices. The URB will offer daily test flights of four 2-ounce pours for $1. Testers will then provide feedback on a digital platform. Full pours of the experimental brews or other UCBC offerings will be available at regular prices.

Equipment and the licensing process are still in the works, and a firm opening date is expected to be announced within the next four to six weeks.

UCBC isn’t the only one to build a beer-based science lab. Schlafly also launched a 20-gallon Pilotworks brewing program inside its Maplewood Bottleworks location in November 2015. Customers can check out its Small Brews Program Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where members of the brewing team explain the ingredients and process behind the current small batch brew.