Popular Seasonal Favorite Now on Tap
Schlafly Vanilla Pumpkin Ale is now pouring as a guest tap at Rochester! We are lucky to have a supply of this very limited release, and now may be your only time to sip its seasonal goodness!
Schlafly Vanilla Pumpkin Ale elevates the seasonal pumpkin ale, highlighting the classic flavors of pumpkin, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, with a twist: a creamy vanilla sweetness that is reminiscent of a homemade pumpkin pie. This Vanilla Pumpkin Ale tastes like dessert in a glass and is delicious on its own, as part of a beer flight or paired with one of Rochester’s seasonal pastries or savory sandwiches.
Pumpkin Ale History
You may think pumpkin ale is a relatively new phenomenon, borne of the popularity of microbrewing and America’s obsession with all things pumpkin once autumn rolls around. That is not the case. The humble pumpkin has graced the pages of beer history since colonial times.
As far back as the 1700s, pumpkin ale has been filling mugs and warming hearts. In early colonial times, our beer-loving ancestors were forced to be creative when it came to sourcing brewing ingredients. Pumpkins were plentiful, easy to grow and made a decent substitute for a primary beer ingredient: malt. These early pumpkin ales didn’t capitalize on the pumpkin flavor, they simply used pumpkin pulp in the fermenting process. Softened chunks of baked pumpkin would be carved and added to the pumpkin ale mash. Other ingredients of the original home brewers included barley and molasses.
As the young nation grew and sourcing traditional beer ingredients became easier, pumpkin ale fell out of favor for almost two centuries, until the microbrewery explosion of the 1980s brought it back to life. Buffalo Bill’s Brewery produced the first pumpkin ale to much commercial success, and many other breweries and home brewers followed suit.
Schlafly’s History
In the summer of 1983 Tom Schlafly, a law student, wanted to bring “real ales” to St. Louis, like those he had enjoyed while studying in England.
At this time, the beer market, especially in St. Louis, was dominated by a megabrewer with the initials A.B. Undaunted, Schlafly converted an old building in midtown St. Louis into his first brewery. Schlafly Beer received the first microbrewery license in Missouri and the Schlafly Tap Room officially opened December 26, 1991. Missouri liquor laws were not favorable for small breweries, but Schlafly worked tirelessly to change that, laying the groundwork for the state’s vibrant microbrewery landscape.
Schlafly has continued to focus on bringing “real ales” to the public, and this seasonal Vanilla Pumpkin Ale is a variation on the theme, dedicated to beer’s quality, consistency and authenticity.
First Guest Tap
At Rochester, we are proud to feature the Schlafly Vanilla Pumpkin Ale as our first guest tap. But it won’t last long, so stop by soon to enjoy it. And stay tuned for future guest taps as we collaborate with great brewers across the region to bring the best beer to you. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to stay in the know. Our current taplist is located here.
Rochester Brewing and Roasting is Kansas City’s first craft beer brewery and coffee roastery under one roof. We’ve created welcoming spaces to gather for the best of both worlds – a Kansas City brewery and Kansas City coffee shop – all in one place. Our head coffee roaster sources the best quality coffee beans, roasting each batch meticulously to bring out our house roasted coffee’s unique character. Our head brewer blends the art and science behind brewing beer to create a rotating slate of beer styles, focusing on tradition with an eye on innovation. You can find local KC coffee beans for sale in shop, and our current beer tap list online.
We would love to see you in person to pour you a cold one or whip up one of our popular specialty coffees. We also have a rotating menu of delicious sandwiches, breakfast burritos and fresh-made-in-house pastries and donuts. Stop by our spacious Kansas City brewery and coffee shop, located in the city’s vibrant Crossroads Art District. Or check out our charming Parkville coffee shop and brewery, located inside two vintage train cars. We also host public and private events at the Crossroads location ~ details on our spacious Kansas City event space can be found on our website. Both locations are open day and night, so come early for the coffee, stay late for the beer!