Month: October 2014

October 30, 2014

Beer Me!

Beerfests, special tappings, networking, swap meets. Here’s where you can say, “Beer me!” this week.

Thursday, October 30

Barley’s Brewhaus continues their anniversary celebration with a collaboration with Odell. All Barley’s locations will tap their collaboration at 5pm.

Friday, October 31

Barley’s Brewhaus concludes their month-long 19th anniversary celebration with $3 pints, mugs, and tulips all day at all Barley’s locations.
It’s Halloween! Don’t drink too much; there’s a lot to do tomorrow!

Saturday, November 01

Learn to Homebrew Day!
Cinder Block and Grain to Glass are teaming up to show people how to brew. Brew in the parking lot of Grain to Glass then take your wort is in the carboy, take it to Cinder Block and pitch it with their Chico yeast. Runs from 10am until 4pm.
Apex Brew Wares in Independence is having a Homebrew Day, too. Brew with them or just watch and learn. Their offering 10% off brew ingredients for those brewing that day. Runs from 11am until 5pm
Lastly for Learn to Homebrew Day, KC Nanobrews is having a Homebrew Demonstration starting at 2pm.
Free event at the Uptown Shoppes. The Pitch is having their annual Crafts and Drafts with over 75 craft vendors and over 25 craft beer vendors. KC Bier Co, 4 Hands, Crane Brewing, Boulevard, and Tallgrass are all slated to be there. Runs from 11am until 6pm.
- We will be at this event handing out buttons and taking lots of pictures. Say hi if you see us!

Sunday, November 02

Set your clocks back for an extra hour of drinking beer today!
Chiefs play the Jets at noon.

Monday, November 03

Flying Saucer has expanded International Stout Day to a week that starts today. Founders will be on tap with KBS, Imperial Stout, and Breakfast Stout.

Tuesday, November 04

It’s Election Day! Go vote!
Flying Saucer will have 4 Hands Bonafide 2012 & 2013 on tap for International Stout Week.

Wednesday, November 05

Flying Saucer’s International Stout Week continues with Oskar Blues Ten Fiddy. It’s also Glass Nite.
Big Rip Brewing Company’s Beer Dinner at Webster House finally takes place. After a delay because of baseball, enjoy delicious foods that are paired perfectly with the brews from Big Rip. Chefs’ creations such as duck confit with drunken goat cheese mousse, sesame braised bok choy, savory bread pudding, ice cream cake with snickerdoodle crust and toasted marshmallow creme (drool) will be served with corresponding beers. Starts at 6:30pm, $45 per person not including gratuity and tax.

Beer Me! is a weekly event post where we let you know what’s going on beerwise in the Kansas City area. If there’s something we missed, please comment below or email us and we’ll add it to the list. Get home safe and get a taxi or have a designated driver!

October 29, 2014

Learn to Homebrew Day

Everyone has to start somewhere. Saturday is Learn to Homebrew Day. It was established by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) in 1999 to encourage homebrewers to introduce their non-brewer friends and family to the wonderful hobby of homebrewing. Learn to Homebrew Day has since become a worldwide one-day celebration including demonstrations, events, tastings, educational efforts, and contests. Whether you’ve been homebrewing for a while or have never touched hops in your life, there’s an event for you on Saturday.

Events for Learn to Homebrew Day:

Grain to Glass, 1611 Swift St, North Kansas City, 64116, is partnering with Cinder Block Brewery, 110 East 18th Avenue, North Kansas City, 64116, to help homebrewers with their next brew. Once you brew your wort in the parking lot of Grain to Glass, take it to Cinder Block to pitch it with their Chico yeast. 10am – 4pm. Event details.
Apex Brew Wares, 4380 S Noland Road, Independence, 64055, is hosting a demonstration in their parking lot from 11am until 5pm. They welcome you to bring your own rig so you can join in on brewing. Event details.
KC Nanobrews is also having a homebrew demonstration. From 2pm until 7pm, learn with some of the best homebrewers in Kansas City. Event details.
Not necessarily for Learn to Homebrew Day, but The Pitch is having their annual Crafts & Drafts at the Uptown Shoppes, 3600 Broadway, Kansas City, 64111. Over 25 beer vendors will be in attendance, so you can ask them how they got started with brewing.

If you don’t feel like getting out or brewing yourself this Saturday, celebrate by drinking a beer!

October 28, 2014

New Beer Releases

Boulevard, Big Rip, and 4 Hands all have new beer releases. A mix of the seasons as we have a Nutcracker Ale, Amber Ale, Wheat Wine, and Pumpkin Porter all being released.

Boulevard Brewing Company is releasing their popular Nutcracker Ale today, but it will taste slightly different than in previous years. Although the ale was dry hopped, it was not dry hopped with wet hops this year. This should eliminate the green characteristic and really bring out the holiday spices. Another release today from Boulevard is their Smokestack Seasonal Harvest Dance Wheat Wine. This beer has a fruity aroma with sweet malt notes and the flavor has a complex blend of sweet, bready malt, vanilla, oak, and a slighty vinous backnote.

A few more coming soon releases from Boulevard are their collaboration with Odell Brewing – Silver Anniversary Ale and another addition to their Backroads Beer Series – Last Splash.

Big Rip Brewing Company released their very first Amber Ale last week. T.H.i.C. Amber Ale was released just in time for their Ripper Halloween Party last Saturday. At 5.6% ABV, it’s a nice keep-your-pace beer.

4 Hands Brewing Co is releasing their Imperial Pumpkin Porter, ILL Repute, to their markets tomorrow. It’s their 3rd collaboration with Schnucks Markets, which is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year. It’s an 8.5% beer that is brewed with pumpkin, nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Update- A few more releases:

Cinder Block released their Rough Cut Lager and a Cherry English Cider. The Lager is a full bodied, crisp continental lager with an ABV of 6.5% and 21 IBUs. The Cider is made with Michigan Tart Cherries and has an upfront barrel note with the taste of cherries to finish. 6% ABV with a smooth, drinkable mouth-feel, makes this cider a bit dangerous.

KC Bier Company will be releasing their Winterbock mid-to-late November. It’s slated to be at the 4th Annual Westport Strong Ale Fest on November 15.

October 27, 2014

It’s National American Beer Day

The best kinds of beers are made right here in Kansas City. Let’s celebrate National American Beer Day by drinking some of those local brews. A few of our local breweries are closed today (stop in tomorrow, though), but there are still several that are open. Rock & Run, 75th Street, Martin City Brewing, Granite City, and Cinder Block will all be celebrating the holiday by serving their locally made beers.

Over 2,500 breweries across the United States produce more than 6 billion gallons of beer annually, making it the most popular alcoholic drink in the U.S. The American Lager is the most common style of beer produced by the bigger breweries of America. Beer styles originating here include American Pale Ale, Pennsylvania Porter, American IPA, Steam Beer, Amber Ale, Cream Ale, and Cascadian Dark Ale.

Don’t feel like drinking tonight? Here are some recipes that use beer as an ingredient. Chili, beer cheese soup, beer can chicken are all great fall weather food to help you observe National American Beer Day!

Another beer holiday, International Stout Day, is next week.