Seth A.
Yelp
I know Budweiser has come under scrutiny lately for their actions but I am writing this as just my unbiased opinion getting to tour the beer factory in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri.
This was my 2nd official visit to the plant. I originally planned on just taking some quick updated photos from outside the entrance area, but when it was posted that a Basic Tour or formally known as the Day Fresh Tour was just $15...lol, I had to come back and enjoy another experience.
When I say Basic Tour, that's the minimum type of tour offered. There were 3 more in-depth and detailed/personalized experiences for the avid beer enthusiast, but I was okay with walking around as the casual visitor with no worries about what extras were included. Well, getting a little tasting moment would be fun, and yes...I received that with the Day Fresh Tour.
You're given 2 instances for beer tasting. During the middle of the tour, you're offered a plastic cup of either Budweiser or Bud Light.
And as the tour finishes, you receive a 2nd, bigger cup of beer with much more selections of Budweiser products on tap. Then you can take your beer into the Beer Garden section for some relaxed drinking, socializing and hanging out.
But back to this Day Fresh Tour, for $15, it's about 75 minutes long and guides you through the famous Clydesdales Horse Stables and inside the factories where beers are processed, fermented and bottled.
Plus, along the way the guide provides details and talks about everything that is Budweiser. My guide was knowledgeable and friendly that I had to tip him $5 at the end. In fact, the gentleman happily volunteered to take family photos to anyone who asked him along the way. I appreciated that.
The 75 minutes went by efficiently and with a brief break for enjoying some beer, I was happy overall with the tour and content that I returned regardless of it not being my first time here.
Also, I'd like to mention just exploring the grounds of the Budweiser plants was sort of nostalgic in that it transported me back to a simple time when appreciating a classic beer without stresses was (and still is, I think) part of the American way of life.
The factories and buildings all had that recognizable red/brick coloring to them and were a photogenic reminder for being in the "Gateway to the West" - St. Louis, Missouri.
Some last extras...
- The Gift Shop was extensive and offered everything catering to Budweiser.
- The Beer Garden is a great social hangout and offers a full menu of options like burgers, chicken, salads and your All-American type flair. I noticed some of my tour friends eating BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and they looked delicious.
- The front entrance area right beside the Ticket Counter is good for a picture moment. There's a big sign stating..."Welcome to the Home of Budweiser".
Other tours offered on the grounds were...
- Finisher Tour = $20
- Clydesdale VIP = $30
- BeerMaster Tour = $40
Overall, if you're visiting St. Louis, MO, you must come here to Budweiser and take a tour. It's part of the package for enjoying a terrific city in the middle of the USA.