Tag: Torn Label

February 23, 2017

HopCat Grand Opening

HopCat has chosen Kansas City to open their twelfth location and they’re opening this Saturday with a Grand Opening all-day party.

HopCat derives its name from the hepcats of the jazz scene in the 1940s. You can see the love of music throughout the first floor with commissioned works of art that focus on some of the greatest musicians. Each floor has a different, unique style, just like each of their current 12 locations are different to accommodate and adapt to each city. So while they may be a chain, if you visit another location it won’t be quite the same as the KC one.

The beer selection is phenomenal. Tyler Goebel, HopCat’s Beer Program Manager, has hand selected each of the 100 taps on the first floor and 30 local taps on the second floor patio area. They’ve built a reputation with breweries, small and large, that they have great beer knowledge and will serve it properly. Two exclusives to Kansas City will be on tap this Saturday: COOP Ale Works Hot Chocolate DNR, available in the Oklahoma City area only except this keg and Brickway Brewery‘s Barrel-Aged Epic Blackout Stout, a 17% stout with only 3 kegs in existence and HopCat will have one. Other breweries that will have beers tapped include Crooked Stave, Founders, Moonlight Meadery, Crane Brewing, Torn Label, and Lagunitas. They plan on having collaborations with local breweries and doing small and large tap takeovers for several breweries.

Their food menu includes elevated pub food that’s made fresh and incorporates beer in a lot of the dishes. Their “Crack Fries” are battered in light beer before sprinkled with black pepper seasoning and have been named in Food Network’s America’s 10 Best French Fries.

With all that food, there’s bound to be waste, but HopCat is pretty big into sustainability. About 90% of what would normally go in a landfill is either composted or recycled. It’s a key point in all their locations, but they had some extra help in Kansas City from Bridging the Gap training employees how to be more sustainable.

Their Grand Opening will be this Saturday, February 25, starting at 11am. They are located at 401 Westport Rd, in Old Westport, Kansas City, Missouri 64111. Free crack fries all day for everyone but the first 200 guests get a card good for a free order of the fries every week for a year, rare beers on tap, giveaways, and a happening time!

We have a ticket for two to their VIP Grand Opening on Friday, February 24, a HopCat can-shaped glass, and a free Crack Fries for a year card to giveaway so visit our Facebook page for details. Follow HopCat on their social media for updates and other cool stuff: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Thanks to Chris Knape, Joe Prate, and Tyler Goebel for taking the time to take us on a tour and share the information with us.

Here are some photos of HopCat. They were still adding the final touches, so we’ll be going back to get more once they open.

Hop Cat

« ‹ of 11 › »

June 17, 2016

Passport to Kansas City Fun

A fun, new way to experience Kansas City’s drinking scene is upon us in the form of a passport! The Passport Program, which started three years ago in Denver and has branched out to 11 additional cities this year, is a program that tells you to say hello to adventure and goodbye to routine.

For $20, you get a booklet that includes 31-Two for One Drink Coupons at Kansas City area breweries, wineries, distilleries, and bars (full list below). I’ve only been to 1/3 of the places in the booklet, so it will definitely be an adventure to try some new places and hang out at some old favorites. There are still some booklets available, but Denver sold out, so get one before Kansas City sells out, too. Coupons are good now through Labor Day.

Passports can be bought online by clicking here or picked up locally at Urban Provisions and Torn Label.

We are also giving one away. Go to our Facebook to see full details on how you can win one!

Full list of Passport locations:

Amigoni Urban Winery

Barrel 31

The Big Rip Brewing Co.

Ça Va

Cinder Block Brewery

Crane Brewing

District Pour House + Kitchen

Double Shift Brewery

Doughnut Lounge

The Drop Bar & Bistro

Krokstrom Klubb & Market

MO Brew

Reserve at the Ambassador

Tom’s Town Distilling

September 22, 2015

High Plains BrewHoff 2015 Recap

One of the many great events from this past Saturday was the High Plains BrewHoff in Brew Lab‘s Old Downtown Overland Park parking lot. I had planned on attending more events during the day, but I had a small injury in the morning and could only get to the BrewHoff. Below you’ll find a quick recap and some pictures from the event.

It was a good time overall with a lot of great, unique beers. It had the same bad/good things as last year. Bad: kids, event space too small/too many people. Good: the beers, free snacks, water stations, good bands, it was free. See my review for last year here.

They did try to expedite the entry by having a VIP line and letting people in 30 minutes early Although a line didn’t start to form until about 12:45pm, by 2pm there was still quite a line. They did also try to discourage children (and Broncos apparel) by posting on their Facebook, but there were still quite a few kids (and one Broncos hat).

I love the spirit of the homebrewers. There’s so much creativity and passion that goes into each beer and it’s
refreshing to be at the type of event where the server knows what they’re talking about. Many tents had entertaining setups, from a Craftsmen toolbox keezer to a group of Fuzzy Helmets.

There weren’t as many homebrewers that were in the process of going legit as last year. Crane, Red Crow, Torn Label, and Double Shift all had a tent last year and are either already open or within a month of opening. BVH Brewery (Twitter, Facebook, Untappd) will be spending 2016 promoting their beers at several events while working on getting a permanent location. Mount Anderson Brewery (Untappd) is in talks with Missouri Hy-Vees to start selling 22oz bottles of their beer. They’ll be brewing and bottling just outside of Peculiar, MO.

Speaking of Mount Anderson, their beers and brewery did really well as far as voting went at the event. They took first for Best Beer with their Vanilla Milkshake Porter (well deserved). Click here to see all the winners on High Plains BrewHoff’s Facebook.

High Plains BrewHoff will hold their third BrewHoff next year on Saturday, September 17.

High Plains BrewHoff

« ‹ of 2 › »

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!