There is not a micro brewry in the world that wouldn't love the revenue of the giants. That being said have you tried not your fathers rootbeer? Good stuff if you can get it.
If your in st.louis and want to see what old money looked like check out the Lemp mansion , before fallstaff brewery it was Lemp brewery and the mansion is one of the most haunted great homes in the U.S. And the most expensive of its day. It's now a top Restaurants in the area that gives tours of underground pool and movie theater. Many deaths and suicides in this house,I have been on 2 private tours of the house one time after midnight and must say I don't believe in ghost but this house scared the hell out of us on that night. Google Lemp Mansion and read some tails
St louis is a little far from where we will be but when I'm back in champaign that sounds like something id enjoy checking out sometime.
Three Floyds in Munster, Indiana would be an epic road trip for you guys. Amazing food and incredible beer. Contrary to Sota's thoughts....they make some of the best beer in the country but prefer to keep their operations small. Not all brewers are greed driven.
