Month: May 2015

May 23, 2015

New Belgium Clips Beer and Film Review & Pictures

A lot of people knew about New Belgium Clips Beer and Film event as evidenced by the amount of people that were there. Combined with the perfect weather, this event was a little too small for the Kansas City crowd. Enough space to put your blanket, but waiting in line for tokens and then beer took up to an hour. Tokens are great, but when there’s only one location to get them it can be frustrating. The timing was too small, as well. With just two hours before the film began, there was a lot to take in. Boulevardia had the right idea by having multiple locations for tokens and spreading their festival over three days.

The event itself was enjoyable. Although a bit too “hipster” for my taste, I get what kind of crowd they were trying to entice and there were a lot of them there. Bicycle valet, food trucks, postcards to send, an old-timey interactive display, a bubble movie set, and beers, of course, were all perks of the event at Theis Park. New Belgium knows how to make beer, so there were no disappointments there. Their Film Noir, a festival only release, was as they described – a Milk Dud in a cup and I like Milk Duds. They were also serving canned beers and sours.

I appreciate the event. It’s something unique to do outside the same, old (yet still fun) beer festivals Kansas City has multiplied in over the last few years. I arrived at 6:50pm, but would recommend getting there even earlier. Cans were being sold to early birds at 6:30pm and it gives you more of an opportunity to check out everything before the crowd arrives.

Here are the pictures:

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May 19, 2015

Double Shift is Opening and Hiring

Double Shift Brewing Company has announced they will be opening on Saturday, July 11th. You can’t open a brewery without a little help, though, and that’s why Aaron Ogilvie, founder and head brewer, needs some people who are interested in the beer industry. Double Shift is now hiring for an Assistant Brewer, a Taproom Manager, and Servers to help with their brewery in the Crossroads. Send your resume to aaron@doubleshiftbrewing.com.

When Double Shift opens in July, they’ll open with a pretty solid selection of beers perfect for the hot, summer day. Hayloft Saison is their traditional take on the classic farmhouse style, Heavy Weight Double IPA will be knocking you out with 127 IBUs and a 10.7% ABV, and a midwest twist on American Pale Ale – 18th Street Pale Ale is brewed with a heavy dose of Kansas Wheat. They’ll have space in their facility to add barrels to barrel-age and sour beers, but that will be further down the road.

For more information on Double Shift Brewing Company, visit their website or follow them on social media: Twitter or Facebook.

Ogilvie spoke at the Brewbound Brew Talks event on Monday at Boulevard Brewing Company. Other speakers include Michael Crane and Steven Hood with Crane Brewing, Jon Poteet with Central States Beverage, and Simon Thorpe with Duval Moortgat USA. The event was intended for people in the beer industry, but was open to anyone. It was a great way to socialize, learn, and make new connections. Pictures are below and visit our YouTube page to see videos of the whole thing.

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May 7, 2015

Beer Me!

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

Thursday, May 07

Gordon Biersch Leawood typically does something every Thursday, but they haven’t updated their calendar, yet.
KC Bier Company will be at Fidel’s Cigars at 5pm for a Cigar & Beer Tasting.
Torn Label makes its way to the Northland. Join brewer Rafi Chaudry tonight at Grain to Glass as he serves a few beers including a brand new beer, Tongue Lash which is a sour with hops. There will also be Leap of Faith and House Brew on tap. Starts at 6:30pm.
Flying Saucer continues their weekly Rare Beer Night with Uinta Brewing Company at 7pm.

Friday, May 08

Celebrate Spring the German way! Maifest at Bier Station starts at 4pm. Urban Chestnut will be served and the first few pours get to keep the dimpled mug!
Torn Label will be a the Nelson-Atkins Museum for Young Friends of Art Happy Hour beginning at 7pm.

Saturday, May 09

Are you on Beer Tasting KC? I get that question a lot, and yes, I am. They’re having a Spring Cookout at Smithville Lake. Bring a dish and a bottle to share. Dogs and kids are welcome, but no kegs or BBQ smokers. It starts at 10am.
Torn Label gets around. They’ll have a Tap Takeover at The Lone Elm Taproom inside the new Whole Foods starting at 11am.
KC Bier Company’s Biergarten Hog Roast begins at 11am. The Local Pig will smoke an entire hog and there will be live music from 2pm until 9pm. Also, they’ll tap their Bavarian Barrel at 1pm.
Another Maifest event – KC Bier Meisters will celebrate with a party at 2pm. They’ll be serving their latest Friendship Brews (session style beers) and will have the club’s jockeybox available. Make sure you let them know through their Facebook if you plan on attending.

Sunday, May 10

Bicycle Sundays at Big Rip continue. Get $1 off your first drink by riding your bicycle to the brewery. They’re open from noon until 5pm.
KC Bier Company Trivia at 1pm.

Monday, May 11 – Beginning of American Craft Beer Week

75th Street Brewery Home Brew Competition Wort sign ups starting at 10am. Last time, they ran out within 5 minutes so make sure you’re online right at 10am to get signed up. They’ll also be releasing their Red Eye Rye.
Sierra Nevada Spiegelau IPA Glass Night at Beer Kitchen featuring Hop Hunter IPA at 4pm.
Barley’s Brewhaus Leawood will be tapping New Belgium La Folie at 4:30pm.
Closer to Barley’s Brewhaus Midland? They’ll have Schlafly Dry Hopped Farmhouse tapped at 4:30pm.
And the third Barley’s Brewhaus on 119th? They’ll have a Breckenridge Beer School for $15 starting at 6pm. Sample some of the best beers Breckenridge has to offer and also learn about the history of Breckenridge Brewery.

Tuesday, May 12

2Rare2sdays at Martin City. We’ll update with the beers when that info becomes available.
Bombers and Bottles at Barley’s Brewhaus 119th. Specialty bomber and bottle releases featuring Arcadia Barrel Shipwreck Porter and Hebrew St. Lenny’s.
McCoy’s releases their Maibock and for $8, you get a 16oz pour in a commemorative glass (while supplies last).
At 4:30pm, Barley’s Midland will welcome Deschutes and their Deschutes and Ladders game. They’ll also have 2014 The Abyss Imperial Stout on tap.
Rimann Liquors Prairie Village Beer Tasting from 4:30pm until 6:30pm. We will update when the information becomes available.
Tapping of COOP Ale Works DNR, F5, and Native Amber will take place at 5pm at Barley’s Leawood.
It’s a reunion at 75th Street Brewery at 5pm. Join several past brewers for a meet and greet along with tastings of the current Breweries’ beers.
Grain to Glass will hold a tasting of Wheat, Wit, and Weiss beers from 5pm until 7pm. Four samples of the best examples of American Wheat, Belgian Wit, and German Weissbiers will be served in a Spiegelau glass you get to keep.
Jester King Tasting Session at Bier Station at 6pm for $40. A very limited selection including La Petit Prince Farmhouse Table Beer, Noble King Hoppy Farmhouse Ale, Commercial Suicide Oaked Farmhouse Mild, Mad Meg Farmhouse Provision Ale, Ambree Farmhouse Amber Ale, and Snörkel Farmhouse Ale Brewed with Oyster Mushrooms and Sea Salt. Each pour will be 4oz.

Wednesday, May 13

IPA Day at Barley’s 119th. Starting at 4pm, get some Odell Tree Shaker, Martin City Black Rye IPA, Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, and COOP F5.
Cellar Release #1 at 75th Street Brewery. They’ll release The Bearded Traveler: A Belgian Tripel in Chardonnay Barrels.
Mother’s Night at Barley’s Leawood starting at 4:30pm. They’ll tap Mother’s Raspberry Imperial Three Blind Mice.
Special tappings of New Belgium La Folie 2014 and 2015 plus a special keg of Oscar Worthy Stout – a soured Oscar dry beaned with fresh roasted coffee at Barley’s Midland.
Pete Dulin will be at Rimann Liquors of Lenexa to sign his popular KC Ale Trail book. From 4:30pm to 6:30pm, meet the author and get your book signed.
Cider season is upon us and Screenland Crossroads will be hosting a Gumption Launch Party. Prepared to be amazed starting at 6pm, as Screenland introduces Woodchuck Gumption to the Kansas City area.
Flying Saucer Keep the Glass Night with Nebraska Brewing Company. As always, it starts at 7pm.
Want to learn to homebrew? Grain to Glass will offer a Homebrewing for Beginners class at 7pm.
KC Bier Meisters will host a social at KC Bier Company beginning at 7pm. Meet up with fellow bier lovers and talk about beer, the Royals, or anything else!

May 5, 2015

Boulevard Brewing Releases & Events

Not brand new beers, just new for the year and how it’s distributed, Heavy Lifting and Hibiscus Gose hit kegs this week. Hibiscus Gose was also released in bottles for 2015. First released in 2014, this Gose is a sour, slightly salty beer that receives coriander and sea salt during boiling. Boulevard then steeps dried hibiscus flowers at the end to create a vibrant pink hue. With its beautiful pink color, it’d make a great Mother’s Day gift for the beer-loving mom.

More a fan of their Smokestacks? Barley’s Brewhaus Shawnee will be celebrating American Craft Beer Week all next week and on Thursday, May 14th, they’ll have a Boulevard Smokestack Vertical Night. Saison-Brett 2014 and 2015, Imperial Stout 2013 and 2014, Rye on Rye 2013 and 2014, Foeder Projekt, and Love Child No. 5 will all be served beginning at 5pm.

On Monday, May 18th, Brewbound will be hosting Brew Talks in Boulevard’s Muehlebach Suite. Brew Talks provides craft brewers, distributors, and retailers the opportunity to come together to socialize and discuss the business side of craft beers. Simon Thorpe, president of Duvel Moortgat USA, and John McDonald, founder of Boulevard, will be speaking as well as a few others who have not been announced. It’s a free event, however donations are encouraged and go to The Animal Rescue Alliance (TARA), an all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping homeless pets in the Kansas City Area.

And, of course, Boulevardia is next month. Volunteer opportunities are now open, however Taps & Tastes volunteer opportunities are not open to the public. When you volunteer with Boulevardia, you receive a free t-shirt, free admission on the day of volunteering, a free ticket for entry to the festival on another day, and plenty of thanks from a grateful Boulevardia nation. I volunteered last year, and it was one of the better volunteering experiences I’ve had. I highly recommend it.