Our Review of Before and After Brewing

If you made a Venn diagram of a coffee shop and a brewery, there might be more under the similarities category than you’d think. For starters, they’re both neighborhood gathering places and each of them brews some of America’s favorite beverages. It was the similarities and also the differences that first sparked the idea for Before and After Brewing (2940 E. Sunshine St., Springfield, 417-265-2739). Doug Riddle, David Soper and Marci and Brent Sonnemaker are the dream team behind the 2-in-1 concept, and they’re also responsible for some of Springfield’s favorite food joints, such as City Butcher and Barbecue and Team Taco.

Riddle and Soper came up with the concept for Before and After Brewing while working at Mother’s Brewing Company. The two were processing massive amounts of coffee for the company’s coffee stout, Winter Grind, and it dawned on them that a combined coffee shop and brewery would be a good business model since they both draw in visitors during different times of day.

And that’s exactly what Before and After does. On Fridays and Saturdays, the business operates with extended hours and opens at 10 a.m., but you can order off of the coffee menu in the afternoon or evening as well. As far as the morning food menu goes, they offer specials on a pop-up basis; think brunch items like eggs and avocado toast.

It’s evident that the owners behind Before and After Brewing are passionate about their crafts, which the quality offerings certainly reflect. I happened to check out Before and After in the evening, so I knew I had to order the soft pretzel. At first sight, I immediately dubbed it the pretzel of my dreams because it was such a generous size that I didn’t even mind the fact that I was sharing it with my husband, Chandler. The beer cheese dip had just the right amount of spice to it. If you’re feeling adventurous, I say go for the loaded pretzel version, which features pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. The pickled jalapeños, red onion, and house mustard offer an acidic flavor, while the pulled pork and guac transform it into a hearty meal.

Chandler was most excited about trying the tinned fish board, which features catches by Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co., a Los Angeles-based company that offers ethically sourced specialty tinned fish. If you end up ordering the tinned fish board and loving it as much as we do, you can purchase tins to take home. However, it would certainly be difficult to recreate the amazing tomatillo salsa that they serve on the board yourself, so savor it while you’re there.