Walk into Lafayette Square and you’ll feel it immediately. It’s that old-world, "painted lady" Victorian vibe that makes you want to wear a top hat or something equally ridiculous. But tucked into a corner of this historic neighborhood is a spot that isn't just about looking at the past. It’s about drinking it. Honestly, Square One Brewery St Louis Missouri basically saved the soul of this corner when it opened back in 2006. While other spots try way too hard to be "industrial chic" or whatever the current trend is, Square One just feels like a pub. A real one.
It’s in an 1880s building. That matters. You can feel the history in the brickwork and the way the light hits the patio. Steve Neukomm, the guy behind the magic here, didn't just want a place to sell beer; he wanted a distillery, a restaurant, and a neighborhood anchor. He got all three.
The First Micro-Distillery Inside a Brewery
Most people don't realize how weirdly difficult it was to get this place running. Back in the day, Missouri laws were kind of a mess regarding "tied houses" and the separation of brewing and distilling. Square One wasn't just another craft beer spot. It was actually the first brewery-distillery combo in the state. That’s a massive deal. It paved the way for the spirits scene you see exploding across the city now.
When you sit at the bar, you aren't just looking at tap handles. You're looking at copper stills. They make their own vodka, gin, and whiskey under the Spirits of St. Louis label. It’s a bit overwhelming if you’re just looking for a quick drink. You’ve got to decide between a heavy-hitting stout or a gin and tonic where the gin was literally made ten feet from your stool.
The complexity of their spirits is legit. Their Hopskey is basically a whiskey distilled from finished beer. It’s weird. It’s funky. It’s exactly what you want when you’re tired of drinking the same mass-produced stuff.
The Beer That Isn't Trying Too Hard
Let's talk about the beer. In an era where every brewery is trying to out-hop each other with "Triple IPA Nuclear Waste" flavors, Square One stays grounded. They do the classics. The Bavarian Weizen is a staple for a reason. It’s crisp. It tastes like banana and clove, exactly like a Hefeweizen should, without being a caricature of itself.
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Then there’s the Single Malt Scotch Ale. It’s rich. It’s dangerous because it goes down way too easy for its ABV.
The brewing philosophy here seems to be "balance over bravado." You won’t find many gimmicks. You will find a very clean Light Squared or a deep, roasty stout that feels like a meal in a glass. The brewmaster isn't chasing TikTok trends; they're making stuff that pairs with a burger.
Eating at a Brewery (That Actually Has Good Food)
Beer food is usually a gamble. Usually, it's just frozen fries and a patty that's seen better days. Square One is different. They take the "restaurant" part of "brewpub" seriously.
The menu leans into that gastropub feel but keeps it approachable. We're talking Guinness Pot Roast and fish and chips that actually have a crunch. They use their own spirits and beers in the recipes, which is a nice touch of synergy. It’s not just a marketing gimmick; you can actually taste the maltiness in the sauces.
The patio is arguably the best in the city.
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No, really.
It’s enclosed, lush, and quiet enough that you can actually hear the person across from you. In a neighborhood as pretty as Lafayette Square, being outside is basically mandatory. You’re surrounded by high-end real estate and 150-year-old trees, sipping a drink made on-site. It feels like you've hacked the system.
Misconceptions About the Location
Some people think Lafayette Square is too "stuck up" for a casual brewery. Wrong. Square One is the equalizer. You’ll see guys in suits from the nearby law offices sitting right next to people who just finished a bike ride around the park. It’s a community hub.
Also, don't confuse this with the big-box breweries downtown. This is small-scale. It's intimate. If you go on a Tuesday, you might actually get to talk to the person who brewed your pint. Try doing that at a massive corporate brewery. You can’t.
The Logistics of a Visit
Parking can be a pain. It's a historic neighborhood, so the streets are narrow and usually filled with residents' cars. My advice? Park a block or two away and enjoy the walk. The architecture in Lafayette Square is world-class. You’ll see houses that look like they belong in a Disney movie, except they’re real and probably cost more than your life.
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They are closed on certain days, usually Mondays and Tuesdays, though that can shift seasonally. Always check their site before you trek out there. Nothing sucks more than craving their bread pudding and hitting a locked door.
- Check the Seasonal Taps: They rotate fast. If you see the Pumpkin Ale in the fall, grab it. It actually tastes like pumpkin, not just spice.
- Try the Spirits Flight: If you can’t decide between a gin and a whiskey, don't. Get the flight.
- The Burger Rule: Get the Square One Burger. It’s consistent. It’s beefy. It works.
- Walk the Park After: Lafayette Park is across the street. It’s the oldest park west of the Mississippi. Walk off the calories and look at the cannons.
Why Square One Still Matters
The St. Louis beer scene is crowded. Like, really crowded. New breweries pop up every weekend in renovated warehouses with neon signs. But Square One Brewery St Louis Missouri has something they don't: tenure. They survived the craft beer boom and the subsequent "shakeout" because they didn't try to be anything other than a great neighborhood pub.
They don't have a massive distribution wing. You won't see their cans in every gas station across the Midwest. And honestly? That's probably why it's still good. They focus on the four walls they own.
The reality of the industry right now is that "big" is becoming a liability. People want the local spot. They want the place where the bartender knows the history of the building. Square One provides that without the pretension. It’s a place for people who like beer, not people who want to post about beer on Instagram—though the patio is definitely photogenic enough for it.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
If you’re planning a trip, do it on a weekend afternoon. The vibe is peak "St. Louis" then. Start with a walk through the park, head to Square One for a late lunch, and make sure to buy a bottle of their JJ Neukomm Missouri Malt Whiskey to take home. It’s a souvenir that actually tastes like something.
Don't just stick to the beer. The cocktails are arguably some of the most underrated in the city because the distillery side of the business is so technically proficient. Ask for a classic cocktail made with their house-distilled spirits. A gin fizz or a simple Manhattan hits differently when the base spirit was crafted under the same roof.
Check the "Spirits of St. Louis" labels on the bottles behind the bar. Each one usually has a bit of a story or a tie-back to the city’s history. It’s that attention to detail that keeps this place relevant nearly twenty years after it first opened its doors. While the city changes around it, Square One stays the same: reliable, historic, and very, very local.