Great Heart Brewing Co., located along Olive Boulevard in Olivette, features small-batch ales and lagers, German food, and is centered around a love story between owners John and Helena Valentine: an American brewer and European woman with a passion for food and hospitality. Helena grew up in Switzerland and Germany, and brings her family recipies passed down from generations to the restaurant. John is a descendent of Adolphus Busch, and worked for over a decade in the craft beer industry. He traveled to Bavaria to study and became a sixth-generation brewmaster. In Munich, he met Helena and they opened Great Heart as a collaboration of their family traditions. 

The beer features European style ales and lagers, including German Pale Lager, Weissbier (Bavarian-Style Wheat Beer), House Pilsner (Northern German-Style Pilsner), Dunkel (Dark Bavarian Lager), Czech Pale Lager, Schankbier (German-Style Light Beer), Rauchbier (Bamberg-Style Smoked Lager), Maibock (German-Style Strong Lager), Pils Du Soleil (Pilsner), Vienna (Golden Copper Lager), and Weizenbock (German-Style Strong Wheatbeer)

The food featured traditional flavors and truly reminded us of our time in Germany. Executive Chef Tim Zenner is a well-renowned St. Louis chef, having previously worked under Bill Cardwell, then Jim Fiala, also at Lodging Hospitality Managment, and Annie Gunn’s. He designs the menu in collaboration with the Valentines, highlighting Helena’s family recipes and prepares the dishes fresh daily. Many products are sourced locally, and bread is made using a 75-year-old sourdough starter from Padua, Italy. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday, Lunch is Saturday-Sunday, Wednesday-Friday. Soups, salads, sharable dishes, and larger plates such as Schnitzel, smash burgers, and leberkaese are on the menu. Here are some of the dishes we tried:

BAVARIAN PRETZELS

Served with your choice of two or three dips: Bavarian Obazda, quark with herbs, mustard, hummus, tzatziki, olive oil, butter or melted beer cheese.

BEET CARPACCIO

thinly cut roasted beets with whipped quark, honey sherry vinaigrette and diced shallots.

SWISS CHEESE CROQUETTES

Croquettes filled with alpine cheeses served on house tomato sauce.

SCHNITZEL, ADD JAEGERSAUCE

Pork, chicken or vegetarian. Served with German potato salad or spaetzle.

ROASTED BRATWURST

With caramelized onions, crisp potato roesti and red wine veal reduction.

Parents will enjoy the fact that they have a kids menu! We loved our date night at Great Heart Brewing but will be happy to bring the kids back to join us next time. We highly recommend this unique spot in St. Louis!