KCRag Forum

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

This is a whiskey town. Leave the brewpubs to Denver.

Are they closing the Johnson County spot as well?

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

when?

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.

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.

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

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

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!