Charleville's tasting room has a great view of Saline Creek Valley. Photos: Marika Josephson
Located just outside of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, Charleville Winery and Brewery might be the best microbrewery within driving distance of Carbondale, and it makes a great day trip when combined with a stop to Hawn State Park.
Head out through Murphysboro and along Route 3 into Chester. Chester is the last Mississippi river town in Illinois before Missouri. It is also the birthplace of E.C. Segar, creator of Popeye. If you go any day other than Sunday, you can stop at one of the Popeye-themed stores or the Popeye museum. If the spirit moves you, you can also do the "Popeye Character Trail" and catch all of the Popeye statues in town.
About half an hour after leaving Chester, you will arrive at Hawn State Park, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful parks in Missouri. Some of the prettiest trails run in the valley at the bottom of the hill along Pickle Creek. There are trails long and short; one as easy as a couple hundred feet, leading to a lookout over the valley; others loop around most of the park and stretch up to about 11 miles. Pickle Creek Trail, one of the most popular, is a winding stretch along the creek, just a short mile.
Since there are few amenities, be sure to pack a snack or a picnic lunch. You can eat either at the picnic tables or one of the many wide, flat rock formations along the creek.
When you're done, get back in the car and go deep into neighboring Saline Creek Valley to find Charleville. If you like wine, you can also make some stops along State Road B, which is dotted with vineyards and tasting rooms.
Charleville is both a winery and a brewery, and it has a great selection of seasonal and regular beers on tap. This November featured the Hoptimstic IPA, the Explicit APA, a barleywine, an amber ale, an oatmeal stout, a wheat wit, and a tripel wit. A tasting of every beer on tap is only $5. And if you didn't quite bring enough to snack on at Hawn, you can also get a cheese plate, elk sausage, or a handful of other snacks, and you can eat them by a fire in the back, with a vista of the valley. Or drop by before your hike at Hawn and get a picnic basket to take with you.
A beautiful spot and a brewery (and winery) that is not to be missed in the area.
Stay tuned for more about Charleville's beers.
Comments
I LOVE Charleville! Isn't it the best and beautiful scenery.
Yes! Beautiful scenery, great tasting room, lovely people and very good beer.
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