Soon, hockey lovers will have a new place to enjoy the game in Midtown. As reported by the St. Louis Business Journal, Center Ice Brewery is slated to open at 3120 Olive St., a couple doors down from Southern and Pappy’s Smokehouse, in early 2017.
Owner and brewmaster Steve Albers started homebrewing in 2010 with a couple friends and struck out on his own two years later. After developing about 30 recipes and launching two Kickstarter campaigns, he raised the capital needed to expand operations.
Albers hopes the 5,000-square-foot space will be a go-to for both beer aficionados and hockey fans looking for a fun place to watch the Blues game. A longtime hockey fan, Albers said he wanted to use his brewery as an opportunity to highlight his beer and the St. Louis hockey scene. “What I’ve learned from the craft beer world is the brewery name is typically an expression of your personality,” he said.
He expects to have 12 to 18 beers on tap. His year-round portfolio features beers like a Center Ice American golden ale (a hybrid style combining a German Kölsch and American golden ale), Hop Shelf IPA (a West Coast-inspired IPA), Raspberry Picker (a raspberry cream ale) and Puck of the Irish (a dark chocolate Irish stout). “I like to take the traditional styles and put my own spin on them, much like a chef does,” Albers said. Center Ice won’t offer food; instead, patrons will be encouraged to bring in carryout or have food delivered.
Though Albers doesn’t have plans to distribute just yet, look for his brewery to popup at beer festivals around town in fall and winter.
This article appears in August 2016.