Tap List | Oktoberfest Is Coming … Sooner Than You Think Brewing up Oktoberfest plans and celebrations

While the scorching heat might suggest otherwise, fall is right around the corner and local breweries are ready for it. A handful of breweries have already started announcing plans for Oktoberfest events.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Oktoberfest, it’s an annual multi-week festival that originated in Germany. Despite what the name might lead you to believe, Oktoberfest usually happens in mid-September. In typical beer culture style, the idea caught on like wildfire and is now celebrated worldwide.

Due to the pandemic, many Oktoberfest events were canceled last year, so breweries are raring to go this year.

Transport Brewery will be hosting its third annual Oktoberfest event from Sept. 23-26. Over the course of four days, Transport will host two oompah bands, five different food trucks and a stein holding competition for starters. If that’s not enough, they’ll be releasing a couple of different German beers.

Dubbed Kansas City’s biggest Oktoberfest celebration, the KC Oktoberfest put on by KC Bier Co. will be back Oct. 1-2. According to the KC Oktoberfest website, more than 11,000 people attended the fest in 2019.

The event, which takes place at Crown Center, will have multiple stages with polka music from five different bands, games and competitions and a marketplace featuring local vendors. While there will obviously be plenty of traditional German beer, there will also be wine, seltzer and plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. For more information and to buy tickets, you can visit the KC Oktoberfest website.

Still a little leery of large crowds? You can find an Oktoberfest-style beer from just about every local brewery out there. Many have been released already with many more still to come!

Beer Releases

Limitless Brewing — 9765 Widmer Road, Lenexa, Kansas — is jumping on the Oktoberfest train with Marzen (5.9% ABV), a lager. This malty beer is sure to make you feel like you’re visiting Germany.

Lost Evenings Brewing Co.— 8625 Hauser Court, Lenexa, Kansas — is working for the weekend with two new beer releases. For those dark beer lovers, be sure to try Muddy Paws, a sweet stout coming in at 5% ABV. If you want something lighter go with the Squad Goals, a 5.3% strawberry blonde ale.

Servaes Brewing Co. — 10921 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas — knows you love pizza and beer. That’s why they teamed up with Old Shawnee Pizza for their newest release In Pizza, We Crust. This 5% pub ale was brewed with a unique ingredient — cooked pizza crusts — to give it an extra malty touch.

Pathlight Brewing — 11200 W. 75th St., Shawnee, Kansas — is bringing you a taste of Belgium with their newest beer, Namur. This 5.3% Biere de Garde was brewed in collaboration with Rockcreek Brewing Co. of Mission, Kansas. It’s a classic Belgian beer highlighted by being slightly funky but with an element of spice.

City Barrel — 1740 Holmes St., Kansas City, Missouri — is at it again with yet another new beer. City Barrel returned to the root of IPAs and brewed a classic West Coast IPA dubbed Afterglow (7.1% ABV). This beer features Mosaic, Simcoe, and Centennial hops, all privy to the West Coast style.

Sandhills Brewing — 5612 Johnson Drive, Mission, Kansas — took their Belgian-style Saison, Swift (5% ABV), and gave it a little upgrade. They aged it in their foeder, resulting in a beer with oaky aromas and classic Saison characteristics.

Apex Aleworks — 4356 S Noland Road, Independence, Missouri — just released a new beer brewed with Alana Broyles of the popular ElevenThreeKC blog. Their Ooo Bae is a 6% ABV lager with a purple tint that’s slightly sweet and slightly spicy.

Beer Events

Friday, Aug. 13

Apex Aleworks — 4356 S. Noland Road, Independence, Missouri — is starting your weekend off with a night of laughs. The next Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic event kicks off at 6 p.m. with $2 off beer flights. The comedy begins at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 14

KC Bier Co. — 310 W. 79th St., Kansas City, Missouri — is hosting a fundraising event for Heart’s RMHC Charities. From 3-6 p.m., $1 from every beer sold will be donated to the charity.

Outfield Beer Co. — 10953 Kaw Drive, Edwardsville, Kansas — wants your family’s collective brain power for Disney Trivia Night. From animated classics like “Peter Pan” to superhero movies like “Iron Man,” they’ll be testing the whole spectrum of Disney movies.

Sunday, Aug. 15

Red Crow Brewing — 1062 W. Santa Fe St., Olathe, Kansas — is hosting an event aptly titled Pucker Up For Pups in conjunction with Melissa’s Second Chances. You’ll be able to meet several of their available dogs and adopt one you love. Red Crow will also be releasing a special beer for the event.