January is National Soup Month, which makes sense, considering the first month of the year is typically marked with below-freezing temperatures, snow and slush. What's better than a delicious, hot bowl of soup on a chilly day? A delicious, hot bowl of soup that you don't have to make -- that's what. This January Gut Check will revisit some of our favorite hot soups to help guide your belly through this month-long soup celebration.
Most St. Louisans would agree that Saint Louis Brewery, the beer brains behind Schlafly, knows beer, but many don't realize the lengths Schlafly goes to, to create a menu that is creative, seasonal and supportive of local farmers. It is consistently one step ahead of the game as far as its beer is concerned, so when the Schlafly Tap Room (2100 Locust Street; 314-241-2337) incorporates beer into its food, you can only imagine the result.
The beer cheese soup is the perfect example of how well Schlafly beer translates into a meal. A combination of Schlafly Pale Ale, bacon, white cheddar, pepper jack and vegetables leaves a mixture that is neither too cheesy nor too hoppy, with just the right amount of smoky undertone. With ideal texture and thickness, this soup will fill you up but not leave you feeling like you ate an entire wheel of cheese.
The soup is served with bread and a shot of Pale Ale to stir into the soup, where it blends perfectly with the smoky cheddar and pepper-jack mix. Regardless of whether you order the soup with a salad or sandwich, in a cup or a bowl, you'll get the true Schlafly Tap Room experience with every slurp.
