Friendship Brewing finding its niche in Downtown Hannibal

HANNIBAL, Mo. — It took awhile for Friendship Brewing Company to have its official grand opening just across from the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum.

That’s because co-owner Brian Nolan wanted the former Mark Twain Brewing Company (and before that Murphy Motors) building at 422 N. Main to receive a little TLC.

“It needed a lot of maintenance and attention and a little love injected back into it,” Nolan said. “We’re not quite there. We consider the main floor was our was our phase one, and it’s pretty well completed. We still have a little more work to do back on the brew side. We are now working on the upstairs, the party room, and then the bar in the back.”

Nolan hosted a grand opening/open house Friday which also included the customary Hannibal Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. Friendship opened last fall and Sidekicks BBQ and Sweets moved in.

“We wanted to be open long enough to get a feel for how the building flows and operates, and have our staff have a comfort level both the beer side and the food side,” said Nolan, who owns Friendship with David Brewer. “We partnered with the great folks from Sidekick Barbecue. Their local family had a great start on a little business on their own before we arrived here. When we got here, much like our other breweries, we wanted to have a kitchen partner and they turned out to be a great fit.”

Nolan and Brewer purchased the building for a little more than $1 million during an online auction in 2022. It also has two bed and breakfast rooms upstairs.

The Hannibal location opened last fall and is the third for the company, who brews its beer in Flint Hill and has another location in Wentzville.

With multiple draft craft offerings, Nolan said he can’t choose just one. When asked about his favorite, he answered with “Do you have a favorite child?”

The grand opening celebration continues Friday evening with Stone Hill playing from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.