On March 2, I took in Budweiser's "Bud Light Tour" at the beer icon's St. Louis, MO brewery while visiting family in the city.
Now, I have no shame in saying I really don't like beer. Even as a born-and-raised Wisconsinite — where beer is its own food group — I've yet to find a single beer I actually enjoy over a decade of legal eligibility. But, I love the science of beer. I like learning and seeing how it's made, even if I have no interest in drinking it.
With that, I love taking brewery tours. I've been on at least a half dozen over the past few years, large ones and small. And ever since becoming editor of IMPO, I can't help but keep a maintenance-eye while walking these brewery facilities, wondering what lean practices they have in place, what they're doing to eliminate downtime and maximize safety.
Here's some facts and figures about Budweiser's St. Louis brewery:
- It was opened in 1852
- It covers 118.6 acres
- It's total floor area covers 1,655,280 square feet
- It produces the following brands: Budweiser, Bud Light, Budweiser Black Crown, Bud Light Platinum, Budweiser Select, Budweiser Select 55, Budweiser Chelada, Bud Light Chelada, Michelob Amber Bock, Michelob Golden Light Draft, Michelob Golden Draft, Michelob ULTRA, Shock Top, Natural Light, Natural Ice, Natty Daddy, Busch, Busch Light, Beck’s, Beck’s Sapphire
- It serves the following states: Indiana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee
- Its general manager is Jim Bicklein, and its Resident Brewmaster is Travis Moore
Below, see some of my photos from the tour — which show some of the oldest buildings of the brewery, many which date back to the late 1800s — as well as a video scan across the bottling plant.
I still won't partake in consuming, but "Dilly Dilly" to all who do nonetheless.
