Square One Brewery & Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

Square One Brewery & Distillery is located in a renovated townhouse in Lafayette Square in St. Louis, combining a neighborhood brewery, a restaurant, and a small distillery under one roof. The venue opened as a brewery and restaurant in 2006 and added a microdistillery in 2008, called Spirits of St. Louis, which produces a range of handcrafted whiskies, bourbons, and infusions using local ingredients.

History

The building where Square One is located today was built in 1883 by Christopher Schumacher and has over time housed a tavern, a dance hall, and a soda fountain. Anheuser-Busch owned the site in the early 1900s, and after Prohibition it reopened as a restaurant in 1934. In the 1970s ownership changed hands several times, and Steve Neukomm became a central figure as he leased, later purchased, and at times operated the restaurant. A serious fire in June 2004 led to a comprehensive renovation of the building and the courtyard. Square One opened as a brewery and restaurant in February 2006, and in 2008 the site was expanded with a microdistillery, marking a new chapter in its modern history.

Raw Materials and Production

The distillery works closely with the brewery's expertise and uses both local and imported ingredients. For its whiskies, Square One uses malt-based mashbills, and Urban Bourbon is made with barley- and rye-malted malts as well as heritage corn from Kirkwood, Missouri. JJ Neukomm is built as a single malt, with 25% of the malt cherry-wood-smoked, and several of the spirits rest in Missouri oak barrels. The distillate is produced in the house's small-batch processes, and many finished products undergo infusions with fresh ingredients such as cucumber, jalapeño, or citrus to create signature cocktails and liqueurs.

Maturation and Barrel Types

Aging takes place primarily in local Missouri oak barrels. Urban Bourbon is stated to be aged in Missouri white oak with heavy char, while JJ Neukomm rests in Missouri oak barrels. There are also reused casks, for example for brandy, that rest in used JJ Neukomm whiskey casks. Agave products also undergo resting in Missouri oak barrels to impart color and rounded notes.

Whiskies

The range covers both the house whiskies and a broad range of other spirits. At the center are JJ Neukomm Whisky (a single malt American Whisky with 25% cherry wood-smoked malt) and Urban Bourbon (barley- and rye-malted malt with heritage corn from Kirkwood, Missouri; fermented with a proprietary yeast blend and aged in heavily charred Missouri oak barrels). In addition, the house produces liqueurs and infused products such as Vermont Night Liqueur, as well as gins, vodkas, agave distillates, rums, brandy, aquavit, and absinthe under the Spirits of St. Louis name. The products are used both in the restaurant and in signature cocktails.

Whisky Style and Flavor Profile

The distillery's products draw on three guiding directions: smoke from cherry wood-smoked malt, spicy notes from infusions and liqueurs, and sweeter aroma components such as vanilla and maple. Citrus zest is also a recurring element in blended and infused products. These traits are found across both the whisky base (JJ Neukomm) and the finished liqueurs (Vermont Night Liqueur).

Visiting the Distillery

Square One runs a restaurant in the renovated building in Lafayette Square, and the distillery is located inside the restaurant. Guests can therefore sample the house whiskies, bourbons, and infused spirits via the bar and cocktail menu as part of the dining experience. The cited pages do not provide specific information about guided tours or fixed visiting programs, but the restaurant serves as the primary point of public contact.

Philosophy and Craft

Square One prioritizes craftsmanship, local ingredients, and natural ingredients. The goal is to create characterful, quality-oriented spirits and beers rather than mass-produced flavor profiles. The work is coordinated between the brewers, the distiller, and the executive chef to develop original and locally inspired flavor combinations.