Grab a Beer and Grab a Paddle at the Paddle Stop New Haven
Oct 21, 2022 01:28PM ● By MERYL SIEGMAN
Lovers of both paddleboarding and craft beer, it all started when Stacy, an English teacher, asked her husband, a skilled carpenter, to build her a standup paddleboard out of wood. A born tinkerer, Shane enjoyed the challenge so much that he soon made wooden standup paddleboards in his basement.
PADDLE STOP TOURS MAKES ITS DEBUT
As his hobby grew and more space was needed, the couple took over a former lumber yard on the Missouri River in New Haven. Soon, they offered guided instruction that included an introduction to Missouri paddling and group trips in a 10-person Voyager canoe. Next came a shuttle service for clients with their own canoes and canoe and camping equipment rental for paddlers.
Because their building had so much unused space, Shane loaned out space for Matt Walters to work on his boat. At the time, he was the owner of Foeder Crafters of America, a manufacturer of oak fermenting barrels in nearby St. Louis, and the only maker of American foeders. Before long, Shane and Matt drew up plans to start a brewery, another one of Shane’s favorite hobbies.
A NEW BREWERY ON THE MISSOURI RIVER IS BORN
New Haven is the perfect location for a brewery. As Stacy ex- plains, “It’s located on Highway 100 in Missouri wine country, a destination for wineries, breweries, and distilleries and it’s right on the river.” She goes on to say that experienced canoers and kayakers often set out from Three Forks, Montana to travel the entire length of the 2300-mile-long river, stopping at the Paddle Stop’s taproom 1400 miles into their journey. The brewery even offers a slide show featuring photos taken by paddlers who have completed the trip.
Since its soft opening in January 2022, the brewery functions primarily as a taproom open year-round from Thursdays through Sundays. The full-time manager is none other than the Camdens’ daughter Madison. The industrial-style space’s paddleboard- themed decor showcases Shane’s carpentry skills. Many of his hand-crafted cedar paddle boards are displayed on the walls, some as many as 18 feet long. The bathroom features a trough sink that he fashioned out of a cedar strip canoe, while the beerhall style tables are yet another example of his artistry.In addition, some of the taproom’s wall space is reserved for featuring the work of local artists.
Taking a year off from teaching to get the project off the ground, Stacy found herself with boxes full of her favorite books. As further evidence of the couple’s entrepreneurial spirit, she opened a library lounge where customers can browse through them while enjoying their brew. The other two Camden kids, Mason and Megan, are helping out by serving smashburgers , a local favorite, to go along with the beer, making the brewery truly a family affair. They plan to add to the menu in the near future.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE BEER?
The beer is crafted using a five-barrel oak system purchased from Foeder Crafters. As for what makes it unique, Stacy explains, just like oak wine barrels, “the wood tannins impart an oaky taste to the beers.” The large-barreled system creates a high beer-to-wood ratio that allows the beer to mature. In contrast, the beer in smaller barrels progresses sooner, leading to acidification before it is fully developed.
When asked what the future holds for Paddle Stop Brewery, Stacy responds, “We have an outdoor space, but it’s not what we want it to be, so we will soon start converting it into a beer garden.” There are also plans to begin distribution. She concludes, “But our focus will always be on producing a strong, solid beer and making the Paddle Stop a great place to hang out.”
