A small, roadside craft brewery off of old Route 66 was a surprisingly wonderful overnight stop — and a great alternative to noisy, dirty, and possibly dangerous overnight stops like a Walmart parking lot or truck stop.

We did a lot of traveling in 2018. We’re home-based in upstate Illinois, roughly 50 miles due west of downtown Chicago, in a small, rural city named Sycamore. Our RV holding tank cleaning business takes us over to the Elkhart, Indiana area (proclaimed the “Home of RV U.S.A.,” since so many brands are headquartered and/or manufactured there) at least a half dozen (or more!) times each year.

In 2018, however, we branched out and worked a rally in Amish-settled Iowa, two in central Oklahoma, and even one in California. Yep, it was a year of a lot of traveling. In fact, our count of miles put on our truck, Big John (a Ford F-350 King Ranch) were well over 15,000. That’s a lot of driving and towing of our Airstream, Ginger (named after one of our late Collies).

On our way out to Oklahoma one trip (because there were two separate ones!), we decided to spend an overnight at a brewery outside of St. Louis.

Huh? Overnight at a brewery?

Well, it was a part of an unnamed (because they don’t like anyone mentioning where their overnight partner’s properties are at) travel cooperative that features vineyards, breweries, family farms, and even odd museums offering free overnight stays for RVs in exchange for you patronizing their business.

Hence, we came to find one of the best little gems in RVing, the Point Labaddie Brewery, located just off of I-44 (and old Route 66!) in Labadie, Missouri (why the different spelling?). Owned and operated by brothers Andy and Bob Grimm, its a pretty successful craft brewery started — as most are — by two home brewers.

Beer, beer, and more beer

Situated on 17 acres of pasture and woodland, the brewery opened in September of 2016. The brewery specializes in saisons and other sours, and they are some of the best we have ever had. During warmer weather (and we were there in September), they have an outside grill going. Stopping for lunch and a tasty beer alone is a fantastic idea. Their “smash burgers” are to die for and definitely order them with their homemade rarebit cheese sauce on them. We go there around lunch time, had burgers for lunch — and then came back a few hours later and had them again!

The grounds contain a covered, outdoor “beer hall;” really a bunch of picnic tables arranged German Octoberfest style under a permanent canopy. There’s also a large fire pit and outdoor stage since the brewery hosts quite a few small music festivals throughout the year. Be sure to check out their Facebook Page (and become a Fan!) for a list of upcoming events.

As for parking our RV, as a part of the afore-mentioned, unnamed overnight parking cooperative, we phoned a few days ahead, spoke to the owner, and arranged an overnight (no hook-ups of any kind — bring solar, a very quiet generator, or good set of batteries and use proper electricity conservation strategies). The field wasn’t the flattest and we ended up moving more toward their graveled parking lot, but the ambiance of relaxed pasture, fine, craft beers, and friendly staff made the stop one of our “go to” places when we’re in the area.

If you’re passing by, certainly stop by for lunch (or dinner), check to see if there’s a festival while you’re there, and, if you want to stay an overnight, be sure to join that cooperative — it’s one of the best-kept secrets (and greatest values!) in all of RVing. Just know that you can’t stay overnight with your RV unless you are a member of that RV club. FYI.