Tap List | Beer Is For Lovers KC Area Breweries Plan Valentine’s Day Celebrations

The AFC championship game was heartbreaking for Kansas City sports fans. While many local breweries were hoping to host watch parties for another Chiefs Super Bowl victory, they’ll instead be celebrating Valentine’s Day.

What better way to mend a broken heart than with beer and chocolate?

To help, we’ve compiled a list of some of the special events taking place throughout the weekend and on Valentine’s Day itself.

The fun kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 10, with a partnership between BKS Artisan Ales and Heirloom Bakery. They’ll be offering a beer and dessert package with two different options. You can indulge on-site, which includes five eight-ounce pours of BKS beers plus five bite sized desserts from Heirloom Bakery. If you want to save the treats for Valentine’s Day, they’ll have a takeout option that includes five 16-ounce beers plus five desserts. Preorders are recommended to ensure they have enough desserts.

Saturday will have your heart exploding with cuteness with an event being put on by Border Brewing Co. in the Crossroads. They will be hosting a fundraiser for Valentine’s Second Chance Animal Rescue, a 501(c)3 foster-based animal rescue here in Kansas City. The event will feature all sorts of entertainment such as a raffle and a puppy kissing booth. Who needs a significant other when you have beer and puppies?

As for the big day itself, there are several events going on around the metro area.

Over in Shawnee Transport Brewery is celebrating love with a Valentine’s Day Beer & Chocolate Pairing. Tickets for the event are $50 and include two flights of five beers each, five chocolates each and two commemorative tasting glasses. Tickets are first come, first served and beers/chocolates can be taken to go if you wish.

Looking for something a little more substantial? You’ll want to attend the Valentine’s Day Flights & Bites being put on by Boulevard Brewing Co. at Chicken N Pickle’s Overland Park location. Just $40 will get you a flight of four Boulevard beers each paired with a tasty bite from Chicken N Pickle. In addition to the flights and bites, your ticket includes one full beer of choice.

If you’re looking to go all out you’ll want to head over to The Mill Room at East Forty Brewing in Blue Springs. They’re partnering with local Blue Springs restaurant Le Cafe Bleu for a full sit down dinner. They’re offering a five course dinner with two drinks per person. They’ll also have live music playing throughout the dinner. As a special parting gift, you’ll be able to take home the floral centerpiece at your table. Tickets, including tax and tip, are $255 per couple. Tickets will be sold through Feb. 9 or until sold out, whichever comes first.

If none of these events suit your fancy, you can check out a few more Valentine’s Day happenings in the beer events section below.

Beer Releases

Pathlight Brewing — 11200 W. 75th St., Shawnee, Kansas — dropped a surprise snow day beer. To celebrate winter they released Kodiak, a 6.5% ABV porter. This beer truly emphasizes the malt, resulting in flavors  chocolate and sweet caramel. It’s the perfect beer to warm up with after all that pesky shoveling.

Rockcreek Brewing Co. — 5880 Beverly Ave., Mission, Kansas — is getting worldly with the release of their Tmave 13. While not necessarily a new beer, this 5.4% ABV Czech dark lager isn’t released often but is Rockcreek’s most popular lager. You’ll get flavors ranging from cookie dough to molasses in this light and crisp beer.

Boulevard Brewing Co. — 2501 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri — has a new dessert beer available. Cinnamon Bun Ale is a 9.5% ABV imperial brown ale. The beer was brewed with cinnamon and vanilla to mimic the flavors of the ever delicious bakery treat.

Red Sash Brewing Co. — 406 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Missouri — just put out their latest limited release beer, This Sh*t Is Bananas. This is unlike any porter you’ve ever had. This dark beer was brewed with peanut butter and banana like the classic sandwich. It may sound like a weird combination, but it’s delicious. The beer comes in at 8.8% ABV so be sure to sip it slowly.

Strange Days Brewing — 316 Oak St., Kansas City, Missouri — brewed a beer to make your brunch that much better. Cosa Mimosa, a hazy IPA, was brewed with juicy hops and orange juice, making it a perfect beer to pair with those pancakes. This IPA comes in at 7.8% ABV and is a limited release so be sure to try it ASAP.

City Barrel — 1740 Holmes St., Kansas City, Missouri — took one of their delicious sours and made it even better. They took their 18 month aged golden sour base for their beer Foundation and added in black currant. The end result is Black Currant, an 8% ABV barrel aged wild ale with black currant. You’ll get lots of jammy and earthy fruit flavors in this sour ale.

Beer Events

Friday, Feb. 11

Fields & Ivy Brewery — 706 E. 23rd St., Lawrence, Kansas — is hosting a special Valentine’s Dinner Date Night. Taking place on both Friday and Saturday night, the dinner will feature five courses paired with four different beers plus roses and chocolates. Tickets are $75 per person including tip with seatings at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Servaes Brewing Co. — 10921 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas — has an early Valentine’s Day celebration planned. Lover’s Flight: Self-Guided Beer & Caramel Pairing will do exactly what the title says. You’ll be able to try four different Valentine’s Day inspired beers with four different caramels from Kansas City Caramels. Pairings are limited so be sure to arrive early.

Cinder Block Brewery — 110 E. 18th Ave., North Kansas City, Missouri — may not be giving out chocolate or roses, but they’ve got something better. They’re celebrating the annual release of Heartbreaker, a 5.5% ABV semi dry cider with pomegranate, and throwing a party for it. In addition to the cider being available on tap and to go, the taproom will feature both live music and tarot card readings from 5-8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 12

KC Bier Co. — 310 W. 79th St., Kansas City, Missouri — is having their 8th Anniversary Parking Lot Party! The event will feature 20 different beers. The $20 admission cost will get you a tasting glass plus eight tokens which can be used for beers or food. The event will be held outside so be sure to dress warm.

Red Crow Brewing — 1062 W. Santa Fe St., Olathe, Kansas — is getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit with two different events. Come in early for their family-friendly Valentine’s Day bingo event. It’s free to play, but the brewery does ask that you arrive around 11 a.m. Once that’s done stick around for their Blooming Bud KC Pop-Up event. If you’re in need of flowers for your significant other, here’s an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Grab yourself a beer while picking out some flowers for your loved one!

Sunday, Feb. 13

Crane Brewing Co. — 6515 Railroad St., Raytown, Missouri — has a delicious event planned. Crane has partnered with the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri and InnovateHer KC for the Galentine’s Day Beer & Cookie Pairing Extravaganza. The event will feature Crane beers paired with your favorite Girl Scout cookies. Members of InnovateHer will be at the brewery to mingle with you while you enjoy your pairings.

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.