Adam Allington

Brewery Ommegang in upstate New York is famous for making a kind of dark, malty, Belgian beer, often with high alcohol content.

This style of beer has become increasingly popular among craft-beer makers—including local brands such as Schlafly, Urban Chestnut and Perennial.  

Phil Leinhart is Ommegang’s head brewmaster.  Leinhart is in St. Louis to provide a tasting of specialty beers this Saturday at Urban Chestnut’s second annual Wolpertinger Anniversary festival..

Budweiser Black Crown, the latest of Anheuser-Busch's higher-alcohol beers, will hit shelves across the country on Monday.  The beer has been sold in St. Louis for several weeks now.

The new recipe is the result of a challenge, called “Project 12” among the company’s 12 brewmasters.

The new take on classic Bud features a stronger hop flavor and higher alcohol content, about 6 percent.

Benj Steinman, editor of Beer Marketer’s Insights says the move comes as mass-market brands face increasing pressure from craft beer, wine and spirits.

The City of St. Louis released its annual crime statistics on Wednesday.

The numbers show a 12.4 percent decrease in so-called “Part One” crimes, such as murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults and vehicle thefts.

The total number of murders committed in 2012 was 113 (the same as the previous year)

2013 will also be the first year for a new definition of rape, which has been broadened to include victims of same-sex assault.

Police Chief Sam Dotson says the new definition will create a more accurate picture of sex crimes in our city.