The Springfield Brewing Company

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

I guess my one complaint was the lack of "Ground breaking" beers being made there. However I do realize that their normal Midwest clientele may reject such offerings and they may brew what they do according to what they can sell in this area.

I live in a place where you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a great microbrewery and I am sooo over "ground breaking" beers. Double this and imperial that- I'm done with it. I judge a place by how well they can make a pale ale or an IPA. If they can do either of those well, I'm impressed and happy. I think it takes more skill to make a beer that stands out in a catagory with a million other examples than it does to do something outrageous and wild.

Ah, the curse of living in California. I understand what Blowmax is saying. The brewpub closest to me plays it pretty conservative. Can't fault 'em for it, they keep winning medals at GABF. They just recently brewed something like a DIPA, and I have to say I was so glad to have something, anything, that reminded of the great CA brewpubs I visited during NHC. I live an hour from Freetail in San Antonio, and they have a bunch of wits and saisons on tap, but nothing like Russian River's Belgians. Noth By Northwest, in Austin does some interesting things, but I'm two hours from there. And the Covey in Fort Worth does some amazing beers, but that's five hours away. I'd like to be "sooo over" ground breaking beers. But, that's the curse of living in Texas or anywhere away from the west coast.

I stopped at Springfield brewing company in 2008 on the way home from NHC. They had a nice summer wheat and I thought the food was good. Even though it was summer break, you could tell it was a college place. I liked the vibe of it, even if it tried too hard to be upscale. I'd like to go back someday.

[BrewTa2]

Springfield's beers are average. I've had two of their anniversary beers - the '08 barrel aged Brett beer was pretty good, this year's blue berry whatever was awful. Still, a nice place with decent food and ok beer.

If I'm ever near Cabool, I'll try Little Yeoman but I can't imagine being near Cabool.

One place in Missouri to absolutely avoid is Gruhlke Brewing near Hermann. They brew the worst beer I've ever had - no contest. The only reason I took two tastes from each beer in my sampler was because I couldn't believe anyone could make beer that bad. Ever brew a beer that tasted horrid so you figured you'd give it some time before dumping it, then forgot about it for a couple of years? Did you try it and find that it was 10 times worse? I guarantee it was better than any of their beers.

BTW - Flat Branch in Columbia is one of the best brewpubs in the state.

[BrewBum]

Springfield's beers are average. I've had two of their anniversary beers - the '08 barrel aged Brett beer was pretty good, this year's blue berry whatever was awful. Still, a nice place with decent food and ok beer.

If I'm ever near Cabool, I'll try Little Yeoman but I can't imagine being near Cabool.

One place in Missouri to absolutely avoid is Gruhlke Brewing near Hermann. They brew the worst beer I've ever had - no contest. The only reason I took two tastes from each beer in my sampler was because I couldn't believe anyone could make beer that bad. Ever brew a beer that tasted horrid so you figured you'd give it some time before dumping it, then forgot about it for a couple of years? Did you try it and find that it was 10 times worse? I guarantee it was better than any of their beers.

BTW - Flat Branch in Columbia is one of the best brewpubs in the state.

Just heard about Flat Branch this weekend and that was the same statement.

[seanhagerty]

I have had some good beers from Tin Mill too.