beer.

People say they enjoy Kansas City. Find out why.
User avatar
chrizow
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 17157
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2003 8:43 am

beer.

Post by chrizow »

i know many forumers enjoy a nice cold brew now and again (meaning now...and again and again and again).

i thought i would start a beer thread.  i am sort of getting into craft beer (e.g. by creating a beeradvocate.com account and reading up on beers), and i know this is not an uncommon interest. 

discussion topics: 

* great places for craft/micro/import beers in the KC area.
* preferred liquor stores.
* your favorite KC (or midwest) brews.
* your favorite beers in general, and why. 
* etc. 

the general consensus seems to be that 75th st Brewery and Barleys are the best places to sample a wide selection of craft beers.  also, the South KC Royal Liquor and Gomer's locations seem to be the Beer Geek Stores of Choice. 

i admit i've never been to 75th or Barleys, but Waldo Pizza is a great place to sample great beers with their amazing pizza. 

has anyone here taken the Boulevard tour?  how is the $20M expansion coming along? 

right now i am imbibing a Boulevard Bully! Porter from a Boulevard pint glass.

mmmkay.  discuss.
LenexatoKCMO
City Center Square
City Center Square
Posts: 14667
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Valentine

Re: beer.

Post by LenexatoKCMO »

chrizow wrote: iright now i am imbibing a Boulevard Bully! Porter from a Boulevard pint glass.

mmmkay.  discuss.
You lucky bastard - I knew I should have installed that office fridge. 

* great places for craft/micro/import beers in the KC area.
Its a little further afield but Free State still makes the highest quality brewpub beer in the area in my opinion

preferred liquor stores.

In addition to those you have listed - Lukas Discount has one of the best selections in town (especially if you are looking for a highbrow keg) but who the hell wants to go through the 119/metcalf bermuda triangle  :puke:  I hear they have a new one at 135 and state line but I have not been out to see if the selection is as good. 

* your favorite KC (or midwest) brews.
I always thought that Boulevard's highest quality product was their stout - especially if you can find it on tap. 

* your favorite beers in general, and why.

I have always been partial to the Samual Smith's products.  I tend to be a sucker for anything british or german in style as long as it doesn't have fruit or wheat in it. 
mean
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 11233
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2003 9:00 am
Location: Historic Northeast

Re: beer.

Post by mean »

Ahh, beer! I happen to be a massive unapologetic beer snob, and I know know bahua is as well. In fact, we both brew our own and swap them back and forth. Another local brewing friend of mine is working on a local brewing & beer blog which should be up soon (www.hotbreak.org -- nothing there yet). Just FYI for you beer lovers.

* great places for craft/micro/import beers in the KC area.
As far as craft/micro/import brews in KC goes, aside from the brewpubs, there's not much on tap. KC's tap selection is a sad story. Mostly selections from my nemesis to the east down I-70. The only Belgian-style tap I'm aware of is Unibroue Maudite at Grinder's. Other than that, there's only spotty showings of midrange brews on tap like Sam Adams seasonals and, of course, Boulevard's brews. But most places only carry Boulevard Wheat, which for a wheat beer is pretty good, but it is my least favorite Boulevard beer. I much prefer their dry stout, but it is almost unbearable in bottles when you compare it to the draught version. Their American-style pale ale and porter are both highly drinkable, if not fantastically amazingly crazy good.

* preferred liquor stores.
I don't like Royal much, myself, as they aren't consistent. The one down south has a good selection, but the one on SW Blvd, while a huge store, has an absolutely shitty selection and is pretty much all mediocre Mexican beer. I tend to shop at Gomer's, they always have a good selection no matter which location.

* your favorite KC (or midwest) brews.
Some of my fave regional brews (in no particular order):
Boulevard Stout & Pale Ale
Schlafly Pale Ale
New Belgium 1554 & Abbey Ale
Pony Express Rattlesnake

* your favorite beers in general, and why.
Belgian beers, hands down. There is nothing as strong and flavorful as Belgian-style beers. Some favorites:
Ommegang, Belgian dubbel-style (brewed in NY state). Best value for money! 750ml bottles are less than $5! Beer this good should not be so cheap!
Unibroue Terrible, Belgian strong dark ale (brewed in Canada). Beer doesn't get much stronger, darker, and flavorful than this.
Unibroue Trois Pistoles, Belgian strong dark ale (brewed in Canada). Not as as strong as Terrible but with a more complex malt character, with fine wine-like aftertaste.
Val Dieu Trippel, Belgian trippel-style (brewed in Belgium). Expensive but delicious! Is this really 9% beer? Fruity flavor profile, almost like apple juice, but of course there's no fruit in it.

Anyway, there's some stuff to try if you haven't before. Believe me, I've thought about the possibilities of a Belgian beer bar downtown... ;)
"It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that has brought upon him the character of heretic." -- Ben Franklin
User avatar
QueSi2Opie
Bryant Building
Bryant Building
Posts: 3864
Joined: Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:05 pm
Location: Hangin' with the cons, crazies, and crackheads on 11th & Grand.

Re: beer.

Post by QueSi2Opie »

Great places for craft/micro/import beers in the KC area

BREWPUBS
1.) River Market Brewing Co. (City Market)
2.) Power Plant Brewery (Parkville)
3.) 75th Street Brewery (Waldo)
4.) McCoy's Public House (Westport)
5.) Free State Brewery (Lawrence)
6.) High Noon Saloon & Brewery (Leavenworth)
7.) Amerisports Pub (KC North)

O'Malley's 1842 Pub in Weston is suppose to start brewing their own soon.  

Has anyone been to the Blind Tiger Brewery in Topeka?  Does St. Joe have any brewpubs? 

BREWERIES & MICROBREWERIES ONLY
1.) Boulevard Brewing Co. (Westside)
2.) Pony Express Brewing (Olathe)
3.) Great Plains Brewing (Olathe)

IMPORTS and/or DRAFT (No particular order)
1.) Barley's Brewhaus - draft (JOCO)
2.) Waldo's Pizza - bottles (Waldo)
3.) Old Chicago - bottles (Chain - everywhere)
4.) Maggie's Attic - in store only (Weston & Kearney)
5.) Charlie Hooper's - combination (Brookside)
6.) The Dish - bottles (Liberty)

Still waiting for the Yardhouse Restaurant to open near the Speedway...

Preferred liquor stores

1.) Lukas Liquors (Overland Park)
2.) Riverside Red X (Riverside)
3.) Maggie's Attic (Weston & Kearney)

Favorite KC brews

1.) 8-Ball Cream Stout (River Market Brewing Co.)
2.) Steamboat Stout (Power Plant Brewery)
3.) Possum Trot Brown (75th Street Brewery)
4.) Boulevard Wheat (Boulevard Brewing Co.)
5.) Red Light Raspberry (McCoy's Public House) - Normally I hate sweet beers, but this is good.

Favorite beers in general

1.) Guinness (Ireland)
2.) Estrella Galicia (Spain)
3.) Smithwick's (Ireland)
4.) Harp (Ireland)
5.) Samuel Adams (United States)
6.) Negra Modelo (Mexico)
7.) Bass (England)
8.) Newcastle (England)
9.) Murphy's (Ireland)
10.) Boulevard (United States)
11.) Monty Python Holy Grail Ale (England)
12.) Ace Pear (United States)
The Pendergast Poltergeist Project!

I finally divorced beer and proposed to whiskey, but I occassionally cheat with fine wine.
User avatar
WSPanic
Supporter
Posts: 3817
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:57 pm

Re: beer.

Post by WSPanic »

* great places for craft/micro/import beers in the KC area.

-Unfortunately, the downtown/midtown area doesn't have a great selection of places that have a huge variety. Most places do carry the standards - Boulevards, European Import standards (Guinness, Newcastle, Harp etc.) and usually a Fat Tire thrown in. I know a lot of people think Fat Tire is overrated, but as far as a good, amber ale go - it's hard to beat in my book. 

I was fortunate enough to work at Old Chicago when it first opened in Lenexa back in '95 or so. It was a great beer experience that really opened my eyes to the world of good beer. I haven't turned back since.

* preferred liquor stores.

-Gomers on 39th
-Westport Liquor

I choose those based on quality of experience more than anything else. The selection down here seems relatively standard.

* your favorite KC (or midwest) brews.

-I don't think McCoy's gets enough credit locally. I'd put their beer up against 75th st or RiverMarket any day. One thing that 75th st has that no one else seems to be able to do right is cask conditioned beer. It's naturally carbonated and uses no co2. Served warm. Hands down the smoothest brew in town - no matter what they have going. You must try this.

-I also think that Boulevard Pale is one of the best beers you can buy. Great hoppy pale. I hear it's loosely based on Sierra Nevada Pale - who along with Anchor Liberty - I think are hands down the best pales around.

* your favorite beers in general, and why.

-Pales, Browns, Ambers, Hefeweizens - just because. I'll drink almost anything though. I'm not a big fan of (and I know this is bad) German style/skunky lagers. Just don't like the whole Heineken/Grolsch taste thing.
 
* etc. 

-I've been brewing beer with a good friend of mine for 7 or 8 eight years now. Anyone else doing this around here. It's a good time. Unfortunately, KC has a severe shortage of brewery supply shops. There used to be a great place at 63rd and Oak called Schmitty's - great guy, very helpful. I've now been forced out to Olathe and the Home Brew Pro Shop. There's one on SM Pkwy - Bacchus and Barleywine I think - they were not too friendly or helpful.

Anyway - great thread. And - I agree with Lenexator - Free State is the best area brewery. Great selection, imagination and execution all around. And they're cheap.
If it doesn't have street-level retail, it's an abortion.
mean
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 11233
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2003 9:00 am
Location: Historic Northeast

Re: beer.

Post by mean »

I get most of my brewing supplies online, but when I've bought local it's been from Bacchus and Barleycorn and I've had several pleasant experiences there. WSP--if you like Liberty Ale you should try Schlafly's Pale Ale (not American Pale Ale, altho that's good too). I found them to be deliciously similar.

I forgot to mention McCoy's IPA as a favorite...man, that is one hell of an IPA. It's so hoppy it's almost painful.
"It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that has brought upon him the character of heretic." -- Ben Franklin
User avatar
staubio
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 6958
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2003 11:17 am
Location: River Market
Contact:

Re: beer.

Post by staubio »

mean wrote: Unibroue Maudite at Grinder's.
So, for the sake of my pride when ordering this next week to try it, help me with the pronunciation.  It sounds awesome.

Uni-brow (Frau's girlfriend) Mod-ite?
User avatar
Tosspot
Mark Twain Tower
Mark Twain Tower
Posts: 8041
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:00 pm
Location: live: West Plaza; work: South Plaza
Contact:

Re: beer.

Post by Tosspot »

Frau Farbissina wouldn't hear of it.
Image

photoblog. 

until further notice i will routinely point out spelling errors committed by any here whom i frequently do battle wit
User avatar
WSPanic
Supporter
Posts: 3817
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 4:57 pm

Re: beer.

Post by WSPanic »

you should try Schlafly's Pale Ale (not American Pale Ale, altho that's good too). I found them to be deliciously similar.
I tried it about 2 or 3 months ago - I must've had a bad batch or something because I really didn't like it at all. I would hope my hatred of all things St. Louis wouldn't cloud my judgement when it comes to something as important as beer.

Another great pale you can sometimes find around town is Odell's. Not as hoppy as Liberty or Boulevard - but it's so smooth. I love their 90 Shilling as well - great dark ale.
If it doesn't have street-level retail, it's an abortion.
User avatar
KCMax
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 24051
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 3:31 pm
Location: The basement of a Ross Dress for Less
Contact:

Re: beer.

Post by KCMax »

I think Moe's is very underrated and I'm surprised Duff hasn't been mentioned yet.

Image
SAVE THE PLAZA - FROM ZOMBIES! Find out how at:

http://twitter.com/TheKCRag
mean
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 11233
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2003 9:00 am
Location: Historic Northeast

Re: beer.

Post by mean »

staubio wrote: So, for the sake of my pride when ordering this next week to try it, help me with the pronunciation.  It sounds awesome.

Uni-brow (Frau's girlfriend) Mod-ite?
Close, I believe the correct pronunciation is Uni-brow Mow-dee (pretty much silent 't'--it's French ooooh!)
"It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that has brought upon him the character of heretic." -- Ben Franklin
User avatar
chrizow
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 17157
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2003 8:43 am

Re: beer.

Post by chrizow »

i haven't tried any of the KC brewpub's beer, but i do love me some Boulevard.  Boulevard seems to do fairly well with the beer geeks online as well (e.g. at beeradvocate.com) which i think is pretty awesome since Boulevard churns out beer in a much higher volume than most craft beers.  i love their Bully! Porter and i recently picked up their fall seasonal, Bob's '47, which i am looking forward to drinking tonight. 

Blvd Wheat was my "gateway beer" into quality beers, but now i don't care for it that much.  Blvd Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Schlafly Oatmeal Stout, 1554, etc. are my favorites.  when i buy beer, i always peruse the micros, but nearly always stick with Blvd or Schlafly.  i need to branch out. 

i like to buy beer at the Berbiglia store in Raytown, because the beer selection is good and it is close to home. 
User avatar
Beermo
Penntower
Penntower
Posts: 2427
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2004 9:55 am

Re: beer.

Post by Beermo »

staubio wrote: So, for the sake of my pride when ordering this next week to try it, help me with the pronunciation.  It sounds awesome.

Uni-brow (Frau's girlfriend) Mod-ite?
grinders also has this belgian beer in the bottle that is awesome. it's called (i forgot), anyway i call it pink elephant because there is a big sign behind the bar with a pic of a pink elephant advertising it. anyway they have a light and a dark version. skip the light and go with the dark version, it's called "nocturne". it is 8.5 percent and very good. bring some money with you or your visa card. it's $5 a bottle.

i would also like to remind you downtowners that grinders has 2 for 1 slices of pizza and $1 pbr draws on sundays all day. they open at 12 noon and close at 11pm.
Why is corporate welfare better than public socialism?


Veritas Nihilum Vincet.
User avatar
warwickland
Oak Tower
Oak Tower
Posts: 4834
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:29 pm
Location: St. Louis County, MO

Re: beer.

Post by warwickland »

* great places for craft/micro/import beers in the KC area.

i'll also vouch for free state, especially in the winter. ive also been down to charlie hoopers a few times lately, drinking the schlafly ocktoberfest that they have on tap.

*preferred liquor stores.

gomers regular, berbiglia on main when im too lazy to go to gomers.

* your favorite KC (or midwest) brews.

goose island ipa, new belgium tripple, and boulevard bully! porter are my current top three regionals in no particular order. i guess new belgium isnt "midwest" but its *sort of* regional.

* your favorite beers in general, and why.

hoegaarden belgian wit is probably my favorite beer (at least right now). its really tasty, a perfect belgian wit. as it gets colder, that will definitely change, however. i like chimay products, dead guy ale (and other rogue brews), and a lot of schlafly offerings as wel (the winter ESB comes to mind!) and a whole lot of other beers that im too lazy to write.


hey chrizow,

have you been to the new columbia brewpub? i forgot the name, but i walked over to it one night last month and didnt like the "dance club" vibe of it and left without trying the brew. i was also in flatbranch, with their weird new "pirate" theme...and tried the oil change? stout and enjoyed it well enough.
Last edited by warwickland on Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
LenexatoKCMO
City Center Square
City Center Square
Posts: 14667
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Valentine

Re: beer.

Post by LenexatoKCMO »

warwickland wrote: [hoegaarden belgian wit is probably my favorite beer (at least right now).
Oh wow, the sweet stuff.  I would sooner just chew bubble gum for that flavor.  I think Hoegaarden single handedly turned me off wheat beer for life.  I guess thats why its great that we are getting such a big selection of beer in the states these days - different strokes for different folks. 
mean
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 11233
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2003 9:00 am
Location: Historic Northeast

Re: beer.

Post by mean »

Beermo wrote: grinders also has this belgian beer in the bottle that is awesome. it's called (i forgot), anyway i call it pink elephant because there is a big sign behind the bar with a pic of a pink elephant advertising it. anyway they have a light and a dark version. skip the light and go with the dark version, it's called "nocturne". it is 8.5 percent and very good. bring some money with you or your visa card. it's $5 a bottle.
I believe you refer to Delirium Tremens and Delirium Nocturnum, both high quality Belgian ales (actually from Belgium--Brouwerij Huyghe) that I would strongly suggest trying. If you can find Delirium Noel, it's dark like Nocturnum but even better (imo).
"It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that has brought upon him the character of heretic." -- Ben Franklin
User avatar
warwickland
Oak Tower
Oak Tower
Posts: 4834
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:29 pm
Location: St. Louis County, MO

Re: beer.

Post by warwickland »

LenexatoKCMO wrote: Oh wow, the sweet stuff.  I would sooner just chew bubble gum for that flavor.  I think Hoegaarden single handedly turned me off wheat beer for life.  I guess thats why its great that we are getting such a big selection of beer in the states these days - different strokes for different folks. 
:lol:

thats funny you reacted like that, because about 60 or 70% of my friends absolutely HATE it. the other 30% absolutely LOVE it. i know i can leave it in most of my friends fridges and it wont be bothered.  :D


i know the first time i tried a belgian wit, i was disgusted!  for some reason i kept trying them now and again, and now i freakin love the stuff.
User avatar
dangerboy
Global Moderator
Global Moderator
Posts: 9029
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 8:28 am
Location: West 39th St. - KCMO

Re: beer.

Post by dangerboy »

wspanic, I second the advocacy of McCoy's.  Definitely not pimped as much as it should be.  I know I'm *supposed* to fawn over Free State, but I find it to only be great and not earth-shattering.  I also have to represent for Flat Branch, but perhaps part of that is the great atmosphere and it's location only steps away from the MKT/Katy Trails...
User avatar
warwickland
Oak Tower
Oak Tower
Posts: 4834
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:29 pm
Location: St. Louis County, MO

Re: beer.

Post by warwickland »

i really don't know how i havent tried mccoys yet...i just dont know how thats possible. :?

i pimp free state because im absolutely obsessed with their brews. that really doesnt explain much i suppose. i dig the barleywine and the owd macs imperial, WHICH IS NOW OUT!!!!


they really need a small tap room in kc. crossroads comes to mind. boulevard needs a taproom downtown. schlafly has a seperate taproom. look at them, look *points at stl* it works wonderfully and 75th street brewery has a location in lawrence.

theres no excuse for people to be drinking AB products in kc, nope.
Last edited by warwickland on Thu Oct 06, 2005 4:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jason122
Parking Garage
Parking Garage
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2004 8:48 am

Re: beer.

Post by jason122 »

* great places for craft/micro/import beers in the KC area
75th street and McCoy's are probably my favorites, but the Powerplant in Parkville is really good too, and offers a little variety from the standard Hopps Co. offerings. They make a Belgian Whit in the summer that puts Boulevards ZON to shame...a great summertime beer, real refreshing after mowing the lawn! They have a great stout too.

* preferred liquor stores.
I've been going to Metcalf Discount Liquor recently (91st and Metcalf, by Whole Foods), and they have a real good selection of hard to find beers, better than Lucas I think, plus they have a few beer geeks on their staff and always have opinions on what's good and what's not. Good wine selection too, but that's another thread :)


* your favorite KC (or midwest) brews
I love Bob's 47, prob my favorite seasonal from Boulevard, there's a Double Bock that 75th St. makes thats real good too. My local fav is 75th's Muddy Mo Stout, a fantastic beer! I recently picked up a 6 pack of Smoke Stout from O'fallon Brewerey, a Missouri brewery, and it's really good. Won a gold medal at the 2004 GABF...definately worth a try if you see it. I've been seeing their beer around a few more places. They have a Weat that is good to, similar to Blvd, and Pumpkin Ale that's out right now, good and definately different.

* your favorite beers in general, and why
Sam Adams makes a seasonal called Chocolate Bock around the holiday season and it's quite possibly the best thing I've ever tasted. It's like $10 for a 2 pint bottle I think, but well worth it. Goose Island Hex nut is great, as all their beers are. 1554 is one of my favorites...the Samuel Smith beers are good too. And you can't ever go wrong with a pint of Guinness!

I've taken the Boulevard tour, was a few years ago though. Cool tour to go through, I've always enjoyed those kind of tours though. Plus you get free beer at the end. Buy a glass from them and they'll pour you a black and tan...

Great thread!

~Jason
Post Reply