United Nations of Beer

Hermann, Missouri

by Chris Perrin
(Beer Delegate, MO, USA)

Hermann Missouri beer guide

Wine enthusiasts in the Midwest know Hermann, MO very well. Traveling to this picturesque town, with its unique German heritage, is like being teleported to 1800s Germany.

Nestled in the Rhine-like Missouri River valley, this town has a magic that has everything to do with its authentic architecture and small town charm.

And wine. Using techniques gleaned from the finest German winemakers, Hermann wines and the Missouri soil have gone on to win a number of national and international awards.

However, Hermann’s entrepreneurs were not content to just have America’s first official wine district. A number of microbreweries have been popping up all over this center of wine excellence, for those willing to mix grape and grain, especially during their city-wide, multi-day liquor festivals: Maifest and Oktoberfest.

The first microbrewery is located in the Bias winery. With the help of Gruhlke the gnome, Bias has become the first Missouri winery to be both a winery and a brewery and only the second winery in the whole United States to pair this awesome combination.

They currently offer a Raspberry Wheat, a Golden ale, a Lager and a rich Porter. No brewery would be complete without a selection of seasonal ales, of which Gruhlke has four to offer, including Octoberfest. Given Hermann's history of throwing outrageous Oktoberfests and Maifests, that beer should be outstanding.

For those who find themselves in Hermann Missouri's city limits and need a beer to keep going, there is Tin Mill Brewery. Tin Mill currently occupies a former feed store with a selection of five beers: a light Pilsner, a Lager, a Dopplebock and, of course, an Octoberfest.

What is very impressive about Tin Mill is that they are planning to import all of their ingredients from Germany, so that they can keep the traditions of German beer making and use authentic ingredients. Plans for this brewery include expanding to a full restaurant, a beer garden and a separate brewing area to produce more beers. One of the upcoming brews includes "an oatmeal stout that is aged in used Jack Daniels barrels for six months." That should be amazing.

Hermann was also the site of the Hermann Brewing Company, which sadly has gone away despite offering an impressive selection of beers and sausage.

Hermann is about an hour and a half outside of St. Louis, about three hours from Kansas City and maybe six hours from Chicago. The good news is that the drive across rural Missouri is scenic, offering a number of photo ops for those inclined to snap pictures. Even better, for those who want to drink copious amounts of liquor, but not stay in the town, Amtrak has several trains which stop off in the middle of Hermann Missouri.

The bottom line is that those who like the charm of the Old World will love Hermann Missouri’s timelessness. For those who like getting really drunk with a few thousand of their closest friends, camping out in the city park and drinking excellent microbrews, Hermann has that, too.