Tap List | 5 Black Friday Beer Releases You Need To Know About Alternative to Holiday Shopping
Published November 8th, 2022 at 1:30 PM
Above image credit: Four Washed in Black variants Servaes Brewing Co. will release during Black Friday. (Courtesy | Servaes Brewing Co.)Black Friday, when shoppers brave long lines in search of holiday gifts, has become the day that many breweries release their blackest of beers – big stouts.
So far, we’ve found five local breweries that are throwing Black Friday stout release parties for your drinking pleasure.
Cinder Block Brewery in North Kansas City will be opening early for the annual release of their very popular Black Squirrel. The beer is a big 12% ABV barrel-aged Russian imperial stout. It’s got flavors of dark chocolate, coconut, vanilla and oak. While Cinder Block will be bottling this beer and selling it to go, there’s a two-bottle limit to ensure it can reach as many people as possible. The event starts at 11 a.m.
Just a few blocks away Big Rip Brewing Co. will be releasing Room 237. Like Black Squirrel, Room 237 is a barrel-aged stout, albeit a milk stout instead of a Russian imperial stout. Customers will be able to place a pre-order for the beer starting on Thanksgiving with pickup starting on Black Friday. Big Rip will have additional bottles in the taproom on Black Friday as well. The brewery will also be selling a limited amount of specialty glassware along with the release of Room 237.
In addition to the two release parties in North Kansas City, City Barrel will be launching Stout Week on Black Friday. The brewery will release a new barrel-aged stout every day between Black Friday and Dec. 1. Details on the beers being released will be available in the coming days.
In Kansas, Servaes Brewing Co. in Shawnee is throwing a massive party that includes eight barrel-aged beers. The Washed in Black barrel-aged imperial stout will come in six different variations. In addition, Servaes will be releasing two barrel-aged versions of their sour witbier Like Butterflies. The brewery will also welcome in Jane Valentine Cakes ‘N Cookies and A Craft and a Prayer pop-up shops.
Pathlight Brewing, also in Shawnee, will be releasing Blix. This 14% ABV barrel-aged imperial stout will come in three different versions. The brewery will release the original base beer as well as a coconut variant and coffee variant. The beers have been aging in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for the past two years. Pathlight will be selling mixed four-packs that include two originals and one each of the coconut and coffee variants. You’ll also be able to purchase individual cans of the original beer only. All three will also be on tap.
Be sure to follow your favorite breweries on social media for even more release information as we get closer to Black Friday!
Beer Releases
Rockcreek Brewing Co. — 5880 Beverly Ave., Mission, Kansas — has one more Halloween-themed beer in its arsenal before turning to holiday brews. They just released Sleepy Haller. This 6.6% hazy IPA is loaded with mandarin notes on the nose and grapefruit/citrus flavors from the Hallertau Blanc and Vic Secret hops.
Strange Days Brewing — 316 Oak St., Kansas City, Missouri — just released a brand new pilsner. Krassen Pils is a 5.4% ABV German-style pilsner hopped with Hallertau Blanc. This beer is about as classic a beer as you’ll get. It’s clean, crisp and plenty flavorful.
East Forty Brewing — 1201 W. Main St., Blue Springs, Missouri — wants you to take a mental trip to New Zealand with their newest beer. Kia Ora is a 5.8% ABV pale ale hopped with Strata, El Dorado and Nelson Sauvin. This blend gives the beer lots of tropical and citrus notes. It finishes dry and crisp leaving you wanting another sip.
City Barrel — 1740 Holmes St., Kansas City, Missouri — is getting into the holiday spirit by releasing one of its most popular IPAs. Their Christmas IPA just made a triumphant return with a brand new hop blend for this year. The brewery used Simcoe, El Dorado and Strata hops to produce flavors and aromas of pine, berry and citrus. This year’s version comes in at a modest 5.8% ABV.
KC Bier Co. — 310 W. 79th St., Kansas City, Missouri — released their seasonal Schwarzbier. This black lager comes in at 5% ABV and uses lots of roasted malts to give this beer flavors of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee. It was then lagered for several weeks using a yeast strain straight from a German monastery brewery. This helps give the beer a clean and crisp finish.
Beer Events
Friday, Nov. 11
Transport Brewery — 11113 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas — is giving back to teachers with a teacher and school appreciation day. To say thanks for all their hard work, Transport is offering teachers and school personnel a deal to buy one, get one free on all beers. You’ll also be able to get $10 crowlers to go. If you want to hang out on-site, you’ll be able to get food from 451 Pizza from 3:30-9:00 p.m.
Red Crow Brewing — 1062 W. Santa Fe St., Olathe, Kansas — is kicking off the holiday season with a holiday food drive. You can get 10% off your drink tab with the donation of a non-perishable food item. The food drive will run from Nov. 11 through Nov. 20. The start of the food drive also coincides with the release of Red Crow’s popular seasonal Margaret, an old ale.
Saturday, Nov. 12
Cinder Block Brewery — 110 E. 18th Ave., North Kansas City, Missouri — wants to switch gears just a little bit with their Fall Cider Fest. While there’s plenty of beer to be had, this event will feature six experimental fall cider flavors. Cinder Block will also have two cider cocktails available. The purchase of a flight allows you to enter to win two cases of cider. To pair with the drinks, Cinder Block will be selling caramel apples from Happy Apples, a local Missouri farm.
Crane Brewing Co. — 6515 Railroad St., Raytown, Missouri — has teamed up with the crew from Vine Street Brewing for Friendsgiving with Vine Street Brewing. The two will release a collaboration barleywine while offering up a potluck style dinner cooked up by chefs Shanita and Chad Tillman. Each chef will prepare a different menu. In addition to the beer release and potluck, there will be games and coloring for the kiddos. Tickets are $55 and limited so be sure to buy them ASAP.
Callsign Brewing — 1340 Burlington St., North Kansas City, Missouri — is throwing Pints for Veterans in conjunction with Habitat For Humanity. During the event, $1 from every pour will be donated to Habitat for Humanity’s Veterans Build initiative. The initiative helps Veterans with home repairs, home ownership, and volunteer and job opportunities. There are currently 19 Veterans projects that need help with funding and this event will help.
Alex Andujar is a former beer sales rep turned personal trainer. When he’s not training clients you can find him trying new beers at many of Kansas City’s great local breweries.