As the most famous brewery complex in St. Louis, a city that loves its beer, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery is a Budweiser brewery experience. Famous for the architecture in their St. Louis location, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery is one of 6 breweries owned and operated by Budweiser around the country today. The Anheuser-Busch Brewery is a National Historic Landmark District, tracing its lineage to over 150-years ago. In 1966, the designation received the recognition echoed its importance in the history of beer brewing and distribution in the United States. The landmarked area today includes 189 structures that are spread over 142 acres. Within the land consists of many red brick Romanesque structures with square towers and elaborate details. The most famous part of the brewery, the Brew House, was built in 1891 and noted by its multi-storied hop chandeliers, intricate ironwork, and natural light utilization.
History of Anheuser-Busch Brewery
The brewery officially opened its doors in 1852 by German immigrant Adolphus Busch, who aptly named the brewery we know and love today. As part of the wave of German immigrants who came to settle in the Missouri Rhineland during the mid 19th century, Busch was determined to bring Germany’s brewing secrets with him to America.
Budweiser Clydesdales
The company keeps a rotation of its famous Budweiser Clydesdales at its headquarters today, lending them to the infamous Super Bowl commercials featuring the massive draft-size horses pulling the Budweiser carriage. The historic draft horses were initially used to pull the wagons carrying the beer during the 19th century. Visitors can observe the Clydesdales in their exercise field and see their places in the carriage house on the Anheuser-Busch complex. Other parts of the herd are kept at the company farm in St. Louis County, also known as Grant’s Farm (President Ulysses S. Grant). In addition, the complex is home to various animals such as elephants, tortoises, and various exotic mammals. Starting in 2008, close to half of the Budweiser Clydesdales are kept in the Warm Springs Ranch near Booneville, Missouri.
Anheuser-Busch Tours
Guests are allowed to walk the brewery halls, engage with the brewing process, and learn about what it takes to make some of America’s most cherished beers. Tour attendees will learn about the 7-step brewing process created more than 100-years ago and the infrastructure and machinery used today to produce the beer on a wide scale. Each tour includes free parking, ADA accessibility, Anheuser-Busch gift shops, live music events, and sampling opportunities throughout the brewery to those above 21. The brewery offers different tours, including the Complimentary Tour, Day Fresh Tour, Beer School, Beermaster Tour, History Tour, and The Biergarten. Attraction availability varies depending on the time of year. The company also has a fully informative website providing brewing and ingredient information and updated tour information for attendees. Be sure to check the schedule and book tickets in advance before visiting for a tour.
More St. Louis related pages – Busch Stadium – Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis – Fox Theatre – Gateway Arch – Lambert International Airport – Mississippi River – Missouri Botanical Garden – Peabody Opera House – Publicly Traded Companies in St. Louis – Soulard District – St. Louis Cardinals – St. Louis Zoo – Union Station.