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Tap List | Lawrence Beer Co. Gets Brewing

Patio Pale Ale on Border Brewing's new patio Border Brewing is marking its last week before moving down the street to larger facilities. (Pete Dulin I Flatland)
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3 minute read

Lawrence Beer Company (826 Pennsylvania St., Lawrence, Kansas) is coming to the Warehouse Arts District with beer and a band for its debut. This new 15-barrel, two-vessel brewery and restaurant kicks off its grand opening with a performance by ska punk band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones on August 25th. Tickets are $10.

In preparation for the event, Lawrence Beer Company’s president Matt Williams and head brewer Sam McClain joined Ska Brewing CEO Dave Thibodeau and brewer Joe Hull at Ska’s headquarters in Durango, Colorado, in late July. They brewed a summer Saison, a dry saison brewed with rye.

Matt Williams, Adam Williams (no relation), Brendon Allen and chef Ken Baker, former owner-operator of Pachamamas, co-founded LBC. McClain, a native of Abilene, Kansas, moved from Chicago to Kansas City to be closer to family.

“Sam cut his teeth brewing at the amazing Half Acre Beer Company in Chicago for five years, including commissioning their new production facility,” Matt Williams said. “He spent the last year working at Boulevard before joining Lawrence Beer Company. Sam’s background at Half Acre will lend itself to a focus on American Ales and IPA categories, but we definitely will play with seasonality and variations and all sorts of styles. ”

Williams has worked with breweries across the country for nearly a decade.

“I love the creativity, passion, and community-focused culture,” Williams said. “I’ve seen what works and what hasn’t worked in the industry. I identified our amazing Warehouse Arts District in Lawrence as a great potential location. We jumped in full force.”

Lawrence Beer Co. logo

Lawrence Beer Co. will focus on a taproom-centric model. (Courtesy of Lawrence Beer Co.)

LBC won’t “be a regional brewery with large distribution and packaging.” Rather, it will focus on a community-oriented taproom model. And drinkers should keep an eye out for additional collaborations in the future.

“Several others are in the works soon after opening,” Williams said. “With all the talent and creativity out there, it just makes sense to get together and see what we can come up with.”

Zona Rosa Hosts Ninth Annual UNICO Microbrew Fest

Kansas City’s Northland gears up for a brewfest just in time to counter hot summer days. The Kansas City Chapter of UNICO National, an Italian-American service organization, hosts the ninth annual UNICO Microbrew Fest in Zona Rosa (8640 N. Dixson Ave.) from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, August 12th.

“It is one of the oldest [beer] festivals in KC. The pre-sale [price] makes it an affordable brewfest compared to the others in town,” said David Schumacher, a local homebrewer.

Schumacher brews under the name Schubrew. He is a member of the local homebrewing group Missouri Mashers that pours samples of homebrewed beer at area festivals. Missouri Mashers will share beer samples at UNICO Microbrew Fest. Some nationally distributed craft beer brands are also available.

This event, which includes food vendors and free live music, is open to the public. Beer sampling tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the gate.

Double Shift's Guava Lamp

Double Shift’s Guava Lamp is a new groovy addition to its lineup. (Courtesy of Double Shift)

Tap Notes

Double Shift Brewing Company (412 E. 18th St.) released Guava Lamp (7.1-percent ABV), a kettle-soured beer, for its second anniversary last weekend. The beer was hopped with Citra, Mosaic and Galaxy hops for a tropical aroma. Mango and pink guava were added for deeper complexity and tropical fruit sweetness. The brewery also released Anniversary IPA (7.8-percent ABV, 48 IBU), a beer with an aroma of tropical fruit, berry and fresh grapefruit with distinct qualities of malt sweetness and pine resin.

The middle of your week just got better. Torn Label Brewing Company’s taproom (1708 Campbell St.) is now open from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays. The taproom’s other hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Miami Creek Brewing Company (14226 NW County Road, 14001, Drexel, Missouri) will release DC/DC (double coffee/double chocolate imperial milk stout, 12.7-percent ABV) in late July.

Red Crow Brewing Company (20561 S. Lone Elm Road, Spring Hill, Kansas) will have Nora Jane Blood Orange Wit available by the end of July.

Kansas City Bier Company (310 W. 79th St.) released Mischuper last week. “Mischsuper is a blend I invented a couple years ago,” said Karlton Graham, head brewer at Kansas City Bier Company. “It is part Pils, part Helles and part Doppel Alt. Whenever I make some, it becomes almost the only beer employees will drink for a while.”

This beer blend has a “super clean bitterness with the nose of both noble and citrus hops,” Graham said. “The Helles gives it a gentle malt backbone to go with it.”

At Green Room Burgers and Beer (4010 Pennsylvania Ave. Suite D), their one-barrel Papa Louie’s brewery has Papa Louie’s Cask Ale American Stout with dry hops, IPA, Pale Ale, and Peach Wheat on tap.

This Week

Tuesday, July 25

Hotdog! Finally, a hotdog and beer pairing dinner. Hopcat (401 Westport Road) and Lagunitas Brewing offer a welcoming beer of 12th of Never Ale to begin. The four-course dinner ($30) includes Pigs in a Blanket with Lil Sumpin’ Extra, smoked hotdog salad and Lagunator, chef’s pork and beans with Vintage Brown Shugga, and a “hot dog” éclair served with Dark Swan American Sour Ale and dark red wine grapes.

Kansas City Bier Company (310 W. 79th St.) taps Edelweiss (6.25-percent ABV, 13 IBU), an amber-colored, higher-alcohol version of its Hefeweizen with more banana and fruit aromas, and a sweeter finish.

The Big Rip Brewing Company (216 E. Ninth Ave., North Kansas City, Missouri) puts Franklin Road Coffee Porter back on tap. The popular porter hasn’t been on tap since January.

Wednesday, July 26

Border Brewing Company (406 E. 18th St.) throws a party for its new patio…on the patio. Patio Week runs through July 31st. Events are scheduled throughout the week, including today’s release of Ribbon Cutter IPA, a bags tournament July 27th, live music, and more. Ribbon Cutter is a fruity, hazy IPA brewed with raspberry and coriander.

At Handlebar Happy Hour, meet fellow cyclists and bike advocates at Boulevard Brewing Tours and Rec Center (2534 Madison Ave.). All proceeds from Ginger Radler can sales benefit the advocacy efforts of BikeWalkKC. Bike valet parking available. Boulevard provides a free koozie to those that ride a bike or use Kansas City BCycle.

Slurp on beer floats with ice cream from Betty Rae’s at Cinder Block Brewery (110 E. 18th Ave., North Kansas City, Missouri). The brewery will have special beer float pairings available in the taproom. Betty Rae’s will serve ice cream from their truck in front of the brewery. All ages welcome, 21+ for the beer floats.

Thursday, July 27

Tune into Honky Tonk Happy Hour at Boulevard Brewing Tours and Rec Center (2534 Madison Ave.). There will be $20 buckets of five cans and $10 pretzel platters. DJ Lorna Kay spins country records.

Grain to Glass (1611 Swift St., North Kansas City, Missouri) Thursday Tastings ($15) continue with Kölsch Kafeteria. Try five kölsch beers with an explanation of style.

SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza (6100 NW 63rd Terrace) hosts a tasting night for Cinder Block Brewery. Enjoy free samples of beer from Cinder Block, participate in a raffle, and save money on $2 Pint Nite.

Crane Brewing Company and Hereford House (5001 Town Center Drive, Leawood, Kansas) team up for a beer dinner ($46 per person, includes tax and gratuity). Tea Weiss, Trailsmith, Farmhouse IPA, and Grapefruit Gose are paired with dishes such as tuna carpaccio and chocolate truffle. RSVP at 913-327-0800.

Friday, July 28

Kansas City Bier Company (310 W. 79th St.) hosts a Christmas in July charity fundraiser with Dream Factory. Drink $4 Winterbock, play games, and hang out with “Summer Santa.” Candy cane sales raise money for the Dream Factory. Nicki Scruggs performs from 7 to 9 p.m.

Swing by Charlie Hustle (419 W. 47th St.) for Beer Friday. The retail shop will have Stockyards Brewing Co. on site to serve samples of its brews. Discount available on the Stockyards Brewing T-shirt from the Brewmasters Collection. Free event, ID must be shown to receive tasting.

Saturday, July 29

Smoke Brewing Company, Fringe Beerworks, and other downtown Lee’s Summit businesses are stops along the first annual Jennifer Ireland Foundation Pub Crawl. The event begins at 6 p.m., and pub crawl admission of $5 includes drink and food specials, guest appearances, live music, raffles, games and more. Dress in superhero gear for the “Be a Hero” theme. All proceeds go to local families fighting cancer.

Monday, July 31

Learn how to brew at Grains & Taps (10 SW Third St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri) in a beginning brewing class ($20) for those just starting out with homebrewing. The two-hour class covers the basic methods used to make homebrewed beer from a kit.

— Pete Dulin writes about food trends for Flatland and is the author of the “KC Ale Trail.” Follow @FlatlandKC and #TapList on Twitter for more food news and trends.


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