![Two people drinking beer](/assets/Images/Food-+-Drink/Old-Bakery-Beer-Alton__FocusFillMaxWyIwLjAwIiwiMC4wMCIsNDAwLDYwMF0.jpeg)
A passion for craft beer, the love of hometown, and a commitment to locally sourced ingredients: the perfect bakery mix.
Old Bakery Beer Company reclaims the essence of the original Colonial Bakery building in downtown Alton—a Southern Illinois gem that produced bread for nearly a century. Even the taproom's furniture has a local heritage—the beer tappers are made from rolling pins, and the bar's 50-foot-long centerpiece is made from the floor joists of a one-room schoolhouse in Collinsville. On top of that, every beer is USDA certified organic, relying on local, sustainable ingredients from organic farms.
Brewmaster James began his craft-beer journey with his own homebrews, soon parlaying his passion into the prestigious American Brewers Guild Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering Program. Today, James serves as brewmaster, working in the garage where Colonial Bakery delivery trucks used to park. The space is now lined with stainless-steel fermentation tanks producing varietals ranging from Golden Oat to India Brown Ale.
Old Bakery's commitment to reclaiming the region's heritage extends to their onsite restaurant, which pairs their beers to a menu of seasonally-rotating artisan sandwiches. As trucks distribute cases of Old Bakery Beer throughout the region, one can't help but think how similar it must be to when Colonial delivered fresh loaves to every doorstep. The legacy of local lives on in every can.
Discover more Illinois artisans at Illinois Made.
![Cans of beer](/assets/Images/Food-+-Drink/Beer-Old-Bakery-Beer-Alton__FocusFillWyItMC4wNCIsIjAuNDAiLDUwMCwzMzBd.jpeg)
![People in a taproom](/assets/Images/Food-+-Drink/Old-Bakery-Beer-Taproom-Alton__FocusFillWyItMC4wNSIsIjAuMTkiLDUwMCwzMzBd.jpeg)
Related Reads
![Field of pumpkins with a horse and carriage in the background](/_resources/themes/enjoyillinois/images/px.png?m=1710871496)
The Great Pumpkin Patch
First homesteaded by the McDonald family of Scotland in 1859, the Great Pumpkin patch is a destination for the harvest season, when kids — and kids at heart — arrive every weekend by the carload to experience life on the farm.
![Beer and burger and fries](/_resources/themes/enjoyillinois/images/px.png?m=1710871496)
Forbidden Root
Forbidden Root is more than just a brewpub: you can taste the ethos of this greater chemistry between restaurant and brewery in fresh, seasonal dishes created to heighten each crafted brew.
![A woman standing in front of her store](/_resources/themes/enjoyillinois/images/px.png?m=1710871496)
Katherine Anne Confections
At her small, independent contiserie in Chicago's Logan Square, Katherine Anne Duncan makes sweets from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
![Cheesecake](/_resources/themes/enjoyillinois/images/px.png?m=1710871496)
Chicago Style Cheesecakes
It started as a signature creation in one of Chicago’s classic steakhouses. Today, the legend of Eli’s Cheesecake lives on in every decadent slice and has been served at four Presidential Inaugurations!
![Bicycles](/_resources/themes/enjoyillinois/images/px.png?m=1710871496)
Heritage Bicycles
Fully customized, American-made with American steel, hand-welded Heritage bikes are the talk of the town—and the toast of the neighborhood.
Share your Moments
#EnjoyIllinois