Saturday 15th of January 2011 09:58:59 AM

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Visited on a recent business trip. The building and layout is quite nice. Had a few beers while waiting for others to arrive. The Brown was OK but had a weird aftertaste that was not too inviting. Moved over to the stout which has a nitrogen pour. Good mouthfeel but not much flavor. With dinner I had a red ale which again OK. Appetizer was very good, sandwich was nothing special. Place was very crowded and loud on a Thursday evening. Overall I'd say pedestrian brews and pub quality food. Atmosphere and location are the main attributes.

Tuesday 14th of December 2010 10:15:38 PM

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Like the other reviewers, this place has an amazing layout, decor, feel. Too bad the beer and service didn't live up to the look. Of the 5 beers tried, the ONLY stand out was a specialty/seasonal they had on they called a smoked scotish ale. actually very tasty and none of the "wang" the other beers seemed to have. To be honest I think there was something way wrong with the stout... maybe dirty line or a bad keg?

Anyway, the food the first time (wings) were amazing, great smoked flavor with a kick. The servic ethe first go was alright as well. This second time both were lacking. Food tasted okay, but would have been much better if it actually came out warm.

Would I go back? Maybe, but Hill Brewing to the east is a much better choice for beer, food and service.

Tuesday 7th of December 2010 10:10:11 AM

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This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

Been going for years.

Great location and architecture, VERY average beers. The seasonal pumpkin is the only beer that I actually enjoy.

As a prior reviewer commented, the owner likes the status quo profits, and is happy to sell average, 'safe', uninspired beers largely to tourists.

Eat the food and then head down the street to Llewellyn's or RT Weilers for better beers on tap. Or go next door to Millstream, who has a pretty strong bottle selection, but no drafts.

Tuesday 3rd of November 2009 10:15:22 AM

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A good place to stop for lunch if visiting the historic area of St Charles or a break from the casino. I have to agree with Aleforge about the beer. They are "safe" beers. Nothing too risky here. Of the samples I had, the Hefe was the most tolerable. While I did not eat the food, all the food I saw looked great and the menu was predictable. I would go back to eat with a group of friends but the beer would be secondary. Its like the spawn of a humdrum microbrewery & TGIFridays. I did have to wait a while for refills and the bill, so the bar service was not great.
The location is beneficial for cyclists (trailhead) of the Katy Trail as I like to have a beer after the ride.

Wednesday 29th of April 2009 11:01:47 AM

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This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

I have been here on a few occasions, both on Friday nights and had a nice time. The atmosphere is laid back and although we had a long projected wait time we sat fairly quickly. We sat upstairs in the non-smoking area, which I was pleased they had. The food was fairly good, good as it needs to be. The Beer is fairly boring, run of the mill "safe" type recipes that really could use a little more pop. Something to make them really stand out. I get the feeling the owners wanted a profitable average place, and that's what they got.

Sunday 22nd of June 2008 10:05:45 AM

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Despite being a microbrewery, I would rather have the food than the beer here. Don't expect anything above an average beer made by their brewery - they are flat and "thin". The only exception would be the Pumpkin Ale available in the fall. The building is large and has a fun atmosphere. Good happy hour with half price pints and appetizers until 7 PM. Very nice sandwiches, pasta dishes, and pretty good ribs.
Parking won't be a problem and service is usually adequate.

Thursday 17th of April 2008 11:18:29 AM

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Don’t be fooled by the old grist mill appearance, inside Trailhead is a modern restaurant and brewery. From the street level, there are two bar areas one upstairs and another down. We went up past the bar and then up another flight of stairs to the non-smoking area. The tap list included 6 house brews and I enjoyed the Trailhead Red and the Old Courthouse Stout. The menu includes a nice selection of sandwiches, pizza, pasta and many upscale entrees. We parked on the street but there are many free public lots nearby.