In the city of Alton, a brewery occupies a building that was once home to Colonial Bakery, which started business in the late-1800s and then shut its doors for good in 1980. In 2015, the building came back to life as a brewery which has maintained much of the historical elements of that former bakery building. Even the name, The Old Bakery Beer Company, pays homage to what was once here.
In downtown Alton, you'll find The Old Bakery Beer Company, a USDA-certified organic craft brewery with a tasting room and a warehouse-style restaurant that features a rotating seasonal menu.
The owners renovated the 18,000-square-foot space of the old bakery building, keeping certain original elements in order to keep some of the history alive.
Although you may be here for the beer, it's well worth it to order a meal as well. The delicious food is made using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
The menu has a wonderful variety of snacks, soup, salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and sides. If you end up bringing the littles, there is also a kids' menu.
A lot of thought as far as environmental and community impact goes into all decisions that are made at this brewery. For instance, only USDA-certified organic processes and malt and hops from North America are used to make the beer.
The brewery also works with and supports many local businesses. Every third Thursday of the month, it hosts a Drink for a Cause night where 25% of beer sales are donated. A different charity is chosen each month.
The beer menu is organized by 'Light, Fruity, or Tart,' 'Hoppy,' and 'Amber or Darker,' so there should be a good variety for any craft beer connoisseur. Most are served both in cans and on draft.
Try a hoppy A-Town Brown Ale or maybe a tart and fruity Femmeboise. There is also a play on a mimosa called Beermosa, a light ale with orange juice added.
And perhaps the most interesting one is the Carrot Cake Brown Ale, brewed with organic carrots from a local farm and spices that provide a taste reminiscent of a fresh-baked carrot cake.
The Old Bakery Brewing Company also distributes its brews to many other bars and restaurants throughout central and southern Illinois. If you are unable to make it to Alton to visit, you can at try their tasty organic beer elsewhere.
Have you tried any craft brews from The Old Bakery Beer Company yet? If so, what was your favorite brew?
Visit the website to view menus and location, and give a like to the official Facebook page for any updates.
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