Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc Hagan.
Hi Marc, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I spent the better part of my career in corporate America, primarily in customer-facing roles within life sciences.. When I retired early and relocated from Seattle to St. Louis to get married, I suddenly found myself with something I hadn’t had in years — time. I’ve always loved craft beer, and what started as a passion quietly turned into a plan. Five years ago, Crossroads was born.
I won’t pretend I had it all figured out. Starting a brewery with no prior experience in the industry is humbling in ways you don’t anticipate. But there’s something freeing about building something from scratch in the second chapter of your life. You’re not trying to prove anything to anyone. You’re just trying to create something worth showing up for.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building a loyal customer base has been our biggest challenge and our greatest teacher. Early on I realized something important — not everyone who walks through our door is a craft beer lover, but they’re usually with someone who is. If I could give that person something they enjoyed too, the craft beer drinker stayed longer and came back more often.
That insight shaped everything. We expanded beyond beer to offer bourbon and whiskey, seltzers, margaritas, Manhattans, and ciders — all on tap. We now have 30 taps total. We introduced an Insiders Club two years ago, expanded our physical space by taking over an adjacent area, added music bingo twice a month, live entertainment every Saturday night, and we sponsor a monthly car show and cruise-in on the last Saturday of each month. We also launched a barrel aging program this year.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Crossroads, we brew small-batch craft beer on site — under 250 barrels annually — which means we can be intentional about quality and creative with our recipes. We recently launched a barrel aging program that we’re excited to see develop over time.
We’ve also built a taproom experience that has something for everyone, regardless of taste or age. One of our favorite touches is our kiddie flights. While the adults enjoy a beer flight, the little ones get their own flight of fun flavors so they can be part of the experience too. It’s a small thing, but it says a lot about who we are — a place where the whole family is welcome at the table.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Crossroads was always meant to be more than a place to drink good beer. We’re pet friendly, kid friendly, and we work hard to make everyone feel like they belong here.
A lot of that comes from the people who work with us. Our taproom manager, Trish, is someone truly special. She takes the time to learn everyone’s name — their kids’ names, what’s going on in their lives. You’ll often find her standing at a table just talking with people, not because it’s her job, but because she genuinely cares. That sets the tone for everything.
I think about a moment I witnessed not long ago — a dad out on our patio, teaching his young son how to play chess. Nobody planned that. Nobody programmed it. It just happened because we created a space where people feel comfortable enough to slow down. That’s what Crossroads is. That’s what we’re here for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crossroadsbrewery.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossroadsbrewery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crossroadsbreweryMO/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/crossroads-brewery
