Six years ago, I explored the intriguing world of beer blending, which involved combining two distinct beers to create a unique drinking experience. The inspiration struck at Schlafly’s Cabin Fever festival when I learned that one of their imperial pumpkin beers was crafted from a blend of Pumpkin Stout and Oatmeal Stout. This revelation sparked my imagination about what other combinations could elevate flavors, leading to my article titled The Art of Mixing Beers. Surprisingly, this piece gained consistent traction over the years, even as the featured beers faded from the market.

As I reflected on my previous experiments, the time felt right to merge my knowledge of beer blending with local beers from St. Louis and its surroundings. The core question was simple: Can two finished beers come together to yield an entirely new flavor profile?

One key lesson I learned was the importance of ratios. In my earlier attempts, a straight 50/50 blend seldom resulted in balance; generally, one beer would overpower the other. Therefore, I shifted my approach to consider factors such as ABV, bitterness, and flavor profiles in determining starting points for my blends.

Here are some suggested combinations to try at home:

1. Logboat Snapper IPA + Shortleaf Blood Orange Wheat
   DIY White IPA
   Suggested ratio: 1 part Snapper to 2 parts Blood Orange Wheat. The Snapper’s strength is moderated by the wheat beer, which highlights the citrus notes.

2. Side Project For Friends Golden Lager + Bluewood We All Scream For Oat Cream!
   DIY hoppy lager
   Suggested ratio: 3 parts lager to 1 part IPA. This straightforward blend allows the light lager to shine, enhanced by hoppy aromas.

3. 4 Hands Chocolate Milk Stout + Modern Disco Punch
   Chocolate-covered fruit
   Suggested ratio: 2 parts stout to 1 part sour. The maltiness of the stout balances the fruity tartness of the Disco Punch.

4. Schlafly Oktoberfest + Rockwell Now Streaming
   DIY hoppy amber
   Suggested ratio: 3 parts Oktoberfest to 1 part IPA. This combination maintains the lauded malty character of Oktoberfest while introducing hops.

5. O’Fallon Pumpkin Beer + Piney River Old Tom Porter
   Dark pumpkin pie
   Suggested ratio: 2 parts pumpkin to 1 part porter. The sweetness and spice of the pumpkin beer are complemented by the roasty notes of the porter.

6. Narrow Gauge Peanut Butter & Stout + 2nd Shift Enchanted Garden
   The WTF blend
   Suggested ratio: 3 parts Berliner Weisse to 1 part imperial stout. Tartness from the Berliner Weisse contrasts with the thick, rich stout.

7. Urban Chestnut Mercator + Alpha Believers Brew
   Chocolate Berry
   Suggested ratio: 2 parts Mercator to 1 part Believers Brew. A classic blend of fruity tartness and rich chocolate flavors.

8. Deep Sleep Train of Four + Third Wheel Gotta Have It
   DIY Cascadian dark ale/Black IPA
   Suggested ratio: 1:1. Balanced bitterness and robust flavors from both the stout and the IPA make this combination stand out.

9. Civil Life American Brown Ale + Brick River Cornerstone
   Candy apple
   Suggested ratio: 3 parts brown ale to 1 part cider. A sweet caramel apple flavor emerges from this delightful mix.

10. Big Muddy Blueberry Blonde + Iron Hops Soothsayer Weizenbock
    Blueberry bread
    Suggested ratio: 1:1. This pairing harmonizes blueberry notes with a wheat and clove background.

11. 4 Hands Incarnation IPA + Narrow Gauge Meersalz Double Raspberry
    Tart IPA
    Suggested ratio: 2 parts IPA to 1 part sour. A balance between fruity tartness and hoppy bitterness perfectly characterizes this blend.

12. Side Project Revived + 4 Hands Pineapple Fruit Whip
    Tropical dessert stout
    Suggested ratio: 3 parts Revived to 1 part Fruit Whip. For a decadent combination of coconut, pineapple, and vanilla flavors.

13. Perennial Southside Blonde + Heavy Riff Vanilla Coffee Underbrown
    Belgian mocha
    Suggested ratio: 2 parts Belgian blonde to 1 part brown ale. This mix brings a light, fruity character together with rich coffee notes.

Feel free to adjust these suggestions according to your own palate, embracing the fun and creativity that comes with mixing beers. After all, the joy of beer blending lies in experimentation and personal preference.