Category: Events

November 6, 2014

Beer Me! November 06 – November 12

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

Thursday, November 06

It’s International Stout Day. Try Big Rip‘s Magic Hour Chai Milk Stout (almost out), Martin City‘s Bourbon Barrel aged Big Boy Imperial Stout, 75th Street‘s Muddy Mo’ Stout, or a Boulevard Dark Truth Stout.
Flying Saucer celebrates the Stout by having special tappings all week long. Tonight it’s Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast, Amager/Mikkeller HR Frederickson Vaesel Brunch Evil Twin Even More Jesus & Even Less Jesus.
It’s Thirsty Thursday at the Boulevard Dry Goods Store. Bring your dog or find a new furry friend as KC Pet Project will be there. Beer Paws will also be there handing out some biscuits and there will be samples of Bob’s 47 for the humans. 5pm – 7pm
Grain to Glass is holding an Intro to Micro class at their shop in North Kansas City. Learn the basics about yeast and bacteria as they relate to improving the quality of brews. 6:30pm – 8pm, Free

Friday, November 07

Flying Saucer continues with their Stout Week with tappings of Perennial – 2013 Abraxas, 2014 Sump, and 17.

First Friday at Boulevard Brewing Company. 12oz pours of anything from their tap room for $4, mini birthday carrot cupcake matched with a 4oz pour of Pale Ale for $3, free samples of their Silver Anniversary Ale. Celebrate with them from 11am – 7pm

Saturday, November 08

Last day of Flying Saucer’s Stout Week. Firestone Walker Parabola 2014 and Velvet Merkin will be tapped.
Greater Topeka Hall of Foamers Competition begins at 10am.
Boulevard is having a Pub Crawl in Westport. Riot Room, The Foundry, Kelly’s, Harpo’s, Westport Ale House, Preservation Market, Harry’s Bar & Tables, Buzzard Beach, and Green Room Burgers & Beer are all on the path. Tickets are sold out.
The Bunker KC Kickoff Powered by PourMeABeer goes from 4pm until 6pm. This beer tasting event promotes a new entrepreneur program for military veterans. Support a good cause and drink some beer! Tickets are $25 online and $35 at the door.

Sunday, November 09

Chiefs play the Buffalo Bills at noon.

Monday, November 10

Barley’s on 119th is hosting a Beer School with Boulevard’s John McDonald and Odell’s Wynne Odell. The beer list includes Boulevard/Odell Collaboration Silver Anniversary Ale, Boulevard Pale Ale, Boulevard Saison Brett 2014, Odell 90 Shilling, and Odell 180 Shilling. Other special guests include Jeremy Danner and Matt Shadid. $15 per person, tickets must be purchased in advance by stopping by Barley’s or calling 913-963-4099. 6pm – 8pm

Tuesday, November 11

It’s Veteran’s Day and KC Bier Company is honoring Active Duty Military members and Veterans with a Buy One Get One Free on their biers all day long.
Boulevard continues their Anniversary Celebration with a Collaboration Dinner with Odell. For $65 enjoy beers that are paired with delicious servings from Jax Fish House. Boulevard founder John McDonald and Odell founder Wynne Odell will both be in attendance to walk guests through the pairings and talk about their brewing histories. Reservations can be made by calling Jax Fish House at 816-437-7940.

Wednesday, November 12

Need more money for bier? KC Bier Company and Efficiency First Kansas City are hosting an Energy Social at the Brewery. Talk with energy experts and find out how to make your home/apartment/townhome/cardboard box more comfortable for the winter season and use less energy. Using less energy, you’ll spend less on utility bills and have more money to spend on bier! Hooray! 6pm – 8pm, Free

Learn the three basic off-flavors every brewer should know at Grain to Glass’ Beer Flavor ID Part 1 class. Familiarity with these will help you improve your beers and become a more knowledgeable beer connoisseur. They will also teach a proper “sensory aroma and tasting technique.” 6:30pm – 8pm, $15

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!

November 5, 2014

4th Annual Westport Strong Ale Fest

A week from this Saturday, over 30 breweries will be pouring some of their strongest ales between McCoy’s and Kelly’s in Westport. Beer KC presents the 4th Annual Westport Strong Ale Fest. Many brewers and brewery representatives will be chatting with guests while serving their product. A few notable brews: Boulevard Love Child No. 4 (on draft), Deschutes Black Butte XXVI, 4 Hands Ill Repute, Empyrean Nibbed in the Barrel Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Goose Island The Muddy, Free State Old Backus Barleywine, Mother’s Squashed Chocolate Pumpkin Porter, Southern Tier Crème Brulee, and KC Bier Company Winter Bock.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. Includes tasting glass and unlimited pours from participating breweries while supplies last. Limited to 800 people so wait lines should be short to nonexistent. Click here to purchase.

Participating breweries:

November 2, 2014

The Pitch’s Crafts & Drafts Pictures and Review

Some of the best breweries and crafters were all packed into the Uptown Shoppes on Saturday. Starting at 11am, you were able knock out some of your Christmas shopping or splurge on something for yourself in an Etsy-in-real-life setting, while drinking some fantastic drinks from Crane Brewing, Boulevard, 4 Hands, KC Bier Co, Tallgrass, Urban Chesnut, Cooper’s Hawk Winery, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Crown Royal.

The event was planned really well, although I didn’t see a lot of advertising for it, which kept the crowd down. Even when I left at 2:30pm, there were still enough parking spaces to accommodate the vendors and attendees. I appreciate it was a free event, but before going I was unsure if the beer would be free and/or if I should bring my own glass. When I arrived, the bar was set up for $6 a beer, so I figured I would walk around a little bit, take a few pictures, and head out. When I got back around to the beer area, the breweries had set up and started to serve their beers for free. They provided small, plastic taster cups that were tossed away in a trash bin. It would have been nice to have some recycle bins set up. Bridging the Gap often provides these at events for a small fee. The floor plan of the event was perfect. Enough room for lines at the brewery tables, aisles were big enough to easily get through, and even a lounge area set up with couches, tables, a DJ, and college football on TV.

The beers were amazing and were drinkable with little-to-no wait. Crane Brewing was the best with their Orange, Peach, and Braun Weiss beers that were a dream to any sour beer lover. It was nice to watch as patrons excitingly inquired about their location, when they are going to open, where they could buy bottles. Although a bit out of the way in Raytown, they will be the brewery to check out whether you’re a Kansas City native or just a visitor.

The other breweries brought good beers and mostly good attitudes. The people working the Boulevard and Urban Chestnut booths seemed like they didn’t want to be there at first, but warmed up a little as the day went on. While this is a beer blog, I did indulge in some wine and Whisky. Cooper’s Hawk Winery‘s table had several wines from Sangria to a Cabernet Zinfandel and a well setup booth. The gentlemen at the booth were friendly and enthusiastic. Crown Royal was giving away their new Regal Apple along with some few other favorites.

Great, free event with plentiful parking, an upbeat crowd, enough space to chill out, and the crafters were amazing. 9 out of 10. Can’t wait for next year!

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October 23, 2014

Beer Me!

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

Thursday, October 23

Martin City Brewing Company is having a Fundraising Event for Parker Adams tonight from 6pm until 8pm. Parker Adams was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer (stage four Neuroblastoma) so help support the Parker family and raise awareness for childhood cancer. Join them at the brewery for pizza and beer. They will be collecting donations at the door for dinner and drink tickets.

Friday, October 24

Royals play at 7:07pm. Several bars, breweries, and restaurants will have specials to celebrate the Royals.

Saturday, October 25

Grain to Glass is holding a Homebrewing for Beginners class. Beginning at 3pm attendees will learn the critical part of boiling, adding hops, chilling, sanitizing, and pitching yeast. You will also learn how to bottle a 5 gallon batch of beer. Each participant takes home beers for bottle conditioning at home. $50 for 3 hour class, supplies, and a $10 discount on equipment purchase at the end of class.
Rock & Run has their inaugural Rot and Ruin Dark Ale and Spirits Festival from 3pm until 10pm. Some great breweries, meaderies, and distilleries will be serving their products until 8pm. Screenland Armour will be bringing out their inflatable screen to show the Royals World Series Game 4. $55 for VIP tickets, $40 for regular tickets, and $5 food vouchers.
Big Rip Brewing Company hosts their second annual Ripper Halloween Party. Tickets have been sold out for a few weeks and for good reason – it’s the best Halloween Party in Kansas City! What better place to celebrate Halloween than in a place that celebrates it all year? There will be an open bar including liquor, wine, and their brews. They will be releasing their first ever Amber Ale that night. Cafe Italia will be catering with a Macaroni and Cheese bar with bacon, pulled chicken, sauteed onions, and other goodies. It’s a laid back atmosphere with games like Flip Cup, Beer Pong, and a Foosball table. They will also have the Royals Game 4 playing on the TVs in their taproom.

Saturday seems to be the party day. Luckily, each party will be showing Game 4 of the Royals.