Kansas City (2023)

BKS is, sadly, a little removed from I70. You'd have to convince her by Highway 71, and then it'd be ~10 mins south to 63rd Street / BKS. If you make it there, about two blocks past is Brookside Wine & Spirits. It's got a solid beer selection. There is a Mike's Wine and Spirits another 1-2 miles down 63rd as well.

Alma Mader is a bit closer to I70. There is a Royal Liquor on Southwest Boulevard on your way back to I35 from Alma Mader. I haven't been to this store much though.

Best store? I don't tend to frequent the suburbs (Lee's Summit, Independence) which you'll be driving through in MO. That knocks down my ability to recommend significantly. Unfortunately, nothing is coming to mind along the I70 corridor in KC, MO.

If it behooves you, you could turn off I70 to head down I35 and catch K10 to Lawrence. If you're headed to Mass street in Lawrence, this probably doesn't make any sense. Up side to this route is you'll be within a few minutes of Tipsy's on Johnson Drive. Perhaps 3-4 minutes south of I35.

I don't frequent Lawrence much anymore. I've been to Free State Brewery several times, but that's about it. Seems like they've had several breweries open up over the years. One I recall being most impressed with (when reading tap lists a year or so ago) was a few blocks east of Mass street / downtown. I can't recall the name though.

P.S. may be trading places for a weekend. I'm still convincing the girlfriend to go to Side Project she actually said yes, just have to find the time in a busy weekend.

 

@swid that is awesome and so kind of you. The only thing that may trigger the misses more than going 10-minutes out of the way to pickup some beer, is stopping by to pickup from a fellow BeerAdovocate . I did it once on a couples trip to Boston/Cape Cod and I learned my lesson. While she tolerates my hobby, she is not complicit in it. Haha, thanks though. I will definitely check out some of the Lawrence spots you mentioned.

 

I could always use a trip to Alma Mader, and if I happened to have KC Bier in my possession to pass off, well that's just a weird coincidence

 

FWIW, stopped into Mike's Wine & Spirits in Westport yesterday and they had some singles of past KC Bier limited releases. Carolator was one of them, failing to recall the other (some sort of Bock). Didn't check dates. Would be a good way to pick up a few limited offerings from KC Bier and then a standard 6 pack of a flagship / seasonal.

Those beers were on the bottom shelf of the room temp beer storage aisle, little over halfway down the aisle on the right side. Figured I'd be descriptive so you can be in and out quick, should you be able to convince the wife into making a stop.

@Affinity

 

@Harrison8 appreciate this so much!!

 

Thanks for the recommendations BA'ers. I was able to try some Alma Mader & KC Bier Co. Premiant is a very good beer. We also found a honey hole in Lawrence with OWA SP that my friends and I finished in the same evening. All in all a great trip. Thanks for the recommendations!!

 

OWA must have just released a batch in the metro area. I picked up the last Special Reserve at Mike's during that visit the other week. Hadn't seen it for awhile, granted, I don't really hunt whiskey much anymore.

Would love to find OWA 107.

Glad your trip went well!

 

Honestly I would put Premiant up against any pilsner in the country. It’s the best in the Midwest, at least.

 

How come no one talks about Premiant? It's so good.

@Harrison8 the honey hole in Lawrence is Cork & Barrel Wine & Spirits if you ever get out that way.

 

KC isn't well represented on the forums, which doesn't help. On top of that, it just reads like hype if the same couple users mention the same beer (especially a lager). Premiant was featured in Craft Beer & Brewing, and received a nearly perfect score.

Social media groups for local craft beer fans rave about Alma Mader and BKS Artisan Ales. Two local favorites. The fact that Alma Mader has doubled down on being 'the' local lager place and invested in a new Lukr Freedom facet to go alongside their Lukr side-pull says a lot about how seriously they take producing and serving quality lagers.

 

Vine Street Brewing is opening June 30th. First Black owned brewery in Missouri.

Feel like I've heard about this brewery since the start of the pandemic. Had a collaboration they did with Crane, and enjoyed it. Happy they're finally opening up and bringing some local beer to 18th & Vine neighborhood.

Now if we could just get 39th Street Brewery through permitting....

 

Alma Mader Brewery started a run club. Thursday nights at 6:30. Two distance options: 2 miles and 5 miles.

Any other KC area breweries have a run club?

 

Pathlight started a run club as well. Hosted Monday's at 6pm.

 

I’m heading to KC tomorrow. Mostly doing BBQ for my wife, but hitting Boulevard and Alma Mader on Sunday!

Was in KC in 2016 and did Boulevard and Bier Station (RIP) then. It was a great time.

We’re also doing Q39 and Joe’s. Any suggestions BBQ-wise?

 

Both are great BBQ options! Joe's does everything well. Q39 does as well, offers sublime burnt ends.

Other notables: Slap's (most any meat), Char Bar (Womp plater), Harp's (thick brisket) and Wolfpack (new hype).

FWIW, Wolfpack seems to be getting the most hype here lately. What I tried there I enjoyed, but wasn't over thrilled with. It's the newest trendy BBQ spot though. Their spicy BBQ sauce is up there with Night of the Living BBQ.