The Old Bakery Beer Company is an all-organic brewery located in Alton, Illinois. The brewery’s name pays homage to the history of the building the beer company now occupies–part of the building served as a bakery as early as the late 1800s, and the building remained a bakery until the 1980s. Today, the handsome brick and industrial building has been remodeled and is a nice location to sip some beer and eat pub-inspired food.

The brewery’s tasting room is a large room with a bar area at one end and tables and chairs scattered throughout the space. The heavy industrial vibe reminds patrons that they’re in a factory space over one hundred years old. Old Bakery has a number of their beers on draft, ranging from light and wheat beers with summer fruit and flower ingredients to hop-filled IPAs to stouts featuring local coffee. All of the brewery’s ingredients are certified organic. We sampled several Old Bakery beers and enjoyed the refreshing drinks.

In addition to beer, Old Bakery has wine and cocktails for those wanting something a little different. The brewery also has a food menu that features typical pub fare, such as salads, sandwiches, burgers, and appetizers like pretzels and wings. We ordered a Caesar salad and a chicken sandwich with fries. Both of our orders were delicious.

Along with the brewery tasting room, the large building also has the capability of hosting large events. While the building itself is interesting, the brewery itself is located within sight of the Mississippi River, offering spectacular views and a plethora of sightseeing opportunities in the area, such as the National Great Rivers Museum, the Edward “Ted” and Pat Jones-Confluence Point State Park, and the Great River Road running north from Alton.

The Old Bakery Beer Company is a nice place for a beer and a bite to eat, especially after exploring the area around the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.