Brewpubs

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Highlander
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Brewpubs

Post by Highlander »

Does KC have any actual brew pubs now that 75th Brewery has closed that are not chains? I know there are a couple downtown like Gordon Biersch but that's a national chain. I know there are a couple where food is an afterthought but I was thinking of something at the scale of Wynkoops in Denver or Free State in Lawrence. It seems for a city that likes beer as much as KC, and of KC's size, there should be several.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by kboish »

Imperial, Calibration, Green Room, McCoys, Martin City Brewery, and Weston Brewing all have restaurants.
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Highlander
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by Highlander »

kboish wrote:Imperial, Calibration, Green Room, McCoys, Martin City Brewery, and Weston Brewing all have restaurants.
Actually, I think KC is a bit "underbuilt" in this regard. That's not a particularly impressive list - fledgling operations, places not known for food that excels, and places that are a bit far afield. I would think a Free State type place would be a huge hit in the Crossroads or downtown. I am just wondering if there is pent up demand in this genre?
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by grovester »

Imperial has excellent food, far better than anything at Free State. I agree about scale though, all our places are smaller.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by kboish »

Highlander wrote:
kboish wrote:Imperial, Calibration, Green Room, McCoys, Martin City Brewery, and Weston Brewing all have restaurants.
Actually, I think KC is a bit "underbuilt" in this regard. That's not a particularly impressive list - fledgling operations, places not known for food that excels, and places that are a bit far afield. I would think a Free State type place would be a huge hit in the Crossroads or downtown. I am just wondering if there is pent up demand in this genre?
Imperial does have excellent food, but I agree and think there is definitely room for more. PnL is a perfect location for some local brewpub type operation, but I'm sure Gordon Biersch has a non-compete. The old rivermarket brewery location is ripe for a comeback.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by rxlexi »

Brewery Emperial and McCoy's have this reasonably well covered, I think. Both have good beer and good to very good food at reasonable prices, nice patios, etc.

I'm not sure that the "brewpub" genre is as desirable as it once was - there are too many places that serve both solid food and local/interesting beer (from other specialty breweries). I'm thinking places like Beer Kitchen, Westside Local, Farmhouse, Char Bar, Brown & Loe, etc. etc.

RE: Free State - I agree and would certainly love to see a Free State, Flat Branch, or Tallgrass brewpub in PnL!
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by earthling »

Yeah, craft beer from all over mixed with local seems to be the trend now, not brewpubs. Has been for a while. But would be good for each major area of metro to have one and when you include chains KC isn't really lacking for its size.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by swid »

rxlexi wrote:I'm not sure that the "brewpub" genre is as desirable as it once was - there are too many places that serve both solid food and local/interesting beer (from other specialty breweries).
The craft beer scene has definitely moved away from brewpubs in favor of taprooms - virtually every new brewery has a taproom open from day 1 at this point.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by kboish »

swid wrote:
rxlexi wrote:I'm not sure that the "brewpub" genre is as desirable as it once was - there are too many places that serve both solid food and local/interesting beer (from other specialty breweries).
The craft beer scene has definitely moved away from brewpubs in favor of taprooms - virtually every new brewery has a taproom open from day 1 at this point.
True. Plus it is more common/fiscally expedient to just partner with a food truck than to operate your own kitchen.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by DaveKCMO »

Highlander wrote:
kboish wrote:Imperial, Calibration, Green Room, McCoys, Martin City Brewery, and Weston Brewing all have restaurants.
Actually, I think KC is a bit "underbuilt" in this regard. That's not a particularly impressive list - fledgling operations, places not known for food that excels, and places that are a bit far afield. I would think a Free State type place would be a huge hit in the Crossroads or downtown. I am just wondering if there is pent up demand in this genre?
free state excels in the food department?
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by Highlander »

DaveKCMO wrote:
Highlander wrote:
kboish wrote:Imperial, Calibration, Green Room, McCoys, Martin City Brewery, and Weston Brewing all have restaurants.
Actually, I think KC is a bit "underbuilt" in this regard. That's not a particularly impressive list - fledgling operations, places not known for food that excels, and places that are a bit far afield. I would think a Free State type place would be a huge hit in the Crossroads or downtown. I am just wondering if there is pent up demand in this genre?
free state excels in the food department?
I actually like the food at Free State. I use to go to Lawrence on business from time to time and my Houston based colleagues always enjoyed it too. I really like the scale of the operation, I think that is what KC doesn't have; A large scale brew pub in a central location like Wynkoops or Free State. Gordon Biersch is the only thing close. From the comments, however, it sounds like the brewpub concept is falling out of favor.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by rxlexi »

I really like the scale of the operation, I think that is what KC doesn't have; A large scale brew pub in a central location like Wynkoops or Free State. Gordon Biersch is the only thing close.
As mentioned, I think McCoy's especially, and Brewery Emperial to a lesser degree (size/scale/more hipster) fit this description quite well?

Agreed that a large, Gordon Biersch-esque brewpub run by a local team would be ideal in PnL or Xroads.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by beautyfromashes »

This is a whiskey town. Leave the brewpubs to Denver.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by grovester »

Are they closing the Johnson County spot as well?
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by DaveKCMO »

StrangerThings wrote:Btw, I should have been more clear. Gordon Biersch is closing.
when?
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by beautyfromashes »

I know I'm a broken record, but, get Hofbrauhaus. Would be fairly unique in the US and you could turn Live! into a great Octoberfest area.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by earthling »

P&L seems to be a bit too heavy with beer houses. House of Blues would be a good replacement for that spot. Mass appeal enough but not the 'theme' crap of HRC. HoB actually books touring music.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by earthling »

Didn't realize AEG had an exclusive agreement, but not surprising either.
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by DaveKCMO »

worth mentioning that AEG is doing the booking for The Truman...
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Re: Brewpubs

Post by kboish »

StrangerThings wrote:There is already a new tenant for the GB space. Will be announced this week.... stay tuned!
Is it Local? You gotta give us some sort of hint!
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