The Inaugural Beer Mile North American Classic Is Announced
The race will feature North America's fastest beer milers, including Corey Bellemore, Elizabeth Laseter, Chris Robertson, and more.
Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Presents the Beer Mile North American Classic in The Grove on July 11 in St. Louis.
On Friday, July 11, 2026 runners, beer enthusiasts, and spectators from across North America will gather in The Grove in St. Louis, Missouri for one of the most unique athletic events in the country: the inaugural Beer Mile North American Classic Presented by Urban Chestnut Brewing Company.
Hosted outside Urban Chestnut’s Grove Brewery & Bierhall, the event combines competitive running with beer chugging in a high-energy spectacle that is equal parts athletic challenge, community celebration, and summer party. Participants will race through the classic beer mile format: drink a beer, run a quarter mile, and repeat three more times.
The event will feature open community heats for first-timers and casual participants alongside elite races showcasing some of the top beer mile athletes in North America. Spectators can expect fast racing, loud crowds, and an electric atmosphere unlike a traditional road race.
Elite Competition
The Chug Zone at Urban Chestnut will be the epicenter of the elite beer mile world. Reigning World Champions Corey Bellemore and Elizabeth Laseter headline a field that includes two former World Champions (Chris Robertson and Melanie Pozdol).
Women will have a 90-second head start over men. Men and women will compete head-to-head for $12,000 in prize money, and an additional bonus for a world best for a road beer mile.
Bellemore has been untouchable for over a decade, holding the current beer mile world record with a time of 4:27. Can he chase down the gritty Laseter (5:56 personal best) and aggressive Pozdol (6:17 personal best) with a 90-second handicap?
Locally, all eyes will be on St Louis’s William Purifoy. Can he make the US Team (Top 4), with a field that includes American Record Holder Chris Robertson, World Classic Medalist Andrew Benkovsky, and sub-5-minute beer milers Bud Lightning and Hayden Bunnell?
More Details & How to Register
The Beer Mile North American Classic will take place Saturday evening, July 11, outside Urban Chestnut Brewing Company in The Grove. Registration is currently open, and spectators are encouraged to attend. Participants must be 21 + years of age to compete. Gluten free and NA options are available.
- For more information and registration details, visit: Beer Mile North American Classic Registration
- Follow updates on Instagram at: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company
At the center of the event is Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, whose longstanding commitment to St. Louis community gatherings and thoughtfully crafted beer makes it a natural fit for the beer mile experience.
“This event is about bringing people together in a way that feels uniquely St. Louis,” said organizer Jaci Wilson. “Urban Chestnut has built such a strong culture around community, gathering, and great beer, and the Beer Mile North American Classic feels like a perfect extension of that energy. Whether you’re racing competitively or just showing up to cheer people on, it’s designed to be fun, welcoming, and memorable.”
Participants will receive a race shirt and koozie and all four race beers, Urban Chestnut’s flagship brew, Zwickel. The evening will also feature a DJ, food from Grove favorites, and a lively post-race celebration in the Bierhall.
The beer mile has grown rapidly in popularity over the last decade, blending endurance running with drinking culture in a format that is both competitive and highly accessible. The event invites participants of all backgrounds to take part in a race experience centered on camaraderie, challenge, and celebration.
About Urban Chestnut Brewing Company
Urban Chestnut Brewing Company is an unconventional-minded yet tradition-oriented American brewery founded in 2010 in St. Louis. UCBC’s award-winning artisanal, modern American beers and classically-created European styles are brewed and served at its two locations - Midtown Brewery & Biergarten and Grove Brewery & Bierhall. In addition, UCBC products are available where people gather, dine and shop across the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area and select areas throughout the Midwest. For more information, visit UrbanChestnut.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Media Contacts
Jaci Wilson | Dogtown Running Club
314.495.0554
jaci.c.wilson@gmail.com
Amelia Rodgers | Urban Chestnut Brewing Company
amelia@urbanchestnut.com
Elite Athlete Contact: Nick MacFalls, Producer Beer Mile World Classic
nick@beermileworldclassic.com
650-444-3700