Tap List | Callsign Update & Beerded Man Kitchen Debut
Jason Fritz runs Beerded Man’s Kitchen inside Colony KC. (Pete Dulin I Flatland)
Published October 31st, 2017 at 6:00 AM
Callsign Brewing (1447 Gentry St., North Kansas City, Missouri) plans to arrive in January or February of 2018, according to co-founders Steve Sirois and Morris Loncon. Sirois and Loncon signed a lease for their building, a former tire patch manufacturer, in May of this year.
“We fell in love with the building as soon as we looked at it,” Sirois said. “It resembles an old aircraft hanger. Right now, we are in the process of remodeling.”
Sirois and Loncon, who served together in the Air Force Reserves, have been homebrewing for six years. They expanded on their initial five-gallon system as they upgraded equipment and even built a small-scale, 1.5-barrel brewery in Sirois’ basement.
“We came up with the Callsign Brewing concept after a crash of a military aircraft that occurred in 2013,” Sirois said. “It was an aircraft that both Morris and I had flight time on. We were brewing an IPA and decided to name that beer we were brewing after the callsign of that aircraft.”
During brewing, the men discussed the many people in the service they knew that never made it home.
“Morris suggested that we name our beer after the callsigns of aircraft we have lost as a personal tribute to the men and women that died for our country,” Sirois said.
Callsign Brewing plans to have eight beers on tap at first and expand to a dozen taps within a year. Sirois and Loncon have 26 different beers in their repertoire.
“We are in the works to have an annual beer fest event, where all profits will go to the Gary Sinise Foundation,” Sirois said. “His foundation helps disabled veterans. We will not only honor fallen military, but also fallen police officers and firefighters.”
Callsign Brewing also plans to give a portion of profits to help soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Prime Pairing: Beerded Man Kitchen Is Open Inside Colony KC
Colony KC (312 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri), co-founded by Zach Henderson and Drew Cobb, is home to a coffeehouse, taproom and nanobrewery, Colony Artisan Ales. Now you can add restaurant to the list.
In September, Jason Fritz, a former Cerner employee, established Beerded Man’s Kitchen as a separate business within the space.
“Our friend wanted to open a food truck and couldn’t find the right food truck that he wanted,” Henderson said. “We needed a food option and said he should open up his kitchen in our space.”
The grill offers fried snacks, sandwiches with fries, a loaded burrito, salads and specials. The dishes provide a substantial meal to complement the selection of craft beer on tap made by Colony’s head brewer Rodney Beagle, as well as other featured regional breweries.
The popular half-pound pork belly burger combines delectable morsels of pork belly with ground beef. Fritz tops the burger with house bacon jam.
“My bacon jam is made with bacon, caramelized onions and garlic, maple syrup and apple cider vinegar,” Fritz said. “It’s sweet and savory.”
Try pairing the pork belly burger with Phantom Power, a harvest ale akin to an Oktoberfest-style beer. A classic yard beer is also a crisp, light alternative to wash down the rich burger. Another standout is the meatless Philly made with four types of bell peppers, onions, and American cheese, and served with a Sriracha-laced sauce and fries. Pair it with an IPA on tap.
Tap Notes
Fringe Beerworks (224 SE Douglas St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri) released Gypsy Porridge (6-percent ABV, 48 IBUs), a dry-hopped unfiltered Oatmeal Pale Ale. On Halloween, the brewery releases Pumpkin Pie Wheat.
KC Craft Beer Week runs Nov. 4 to 12. Celebrate and support local craft beer.
Border Brewing (406 E. 18th St.) has Pecan Brown Ale, made with roasted pecans, on tap.
This Week
Tuesday, Oct. 31
It’s Fright Night at Kansas City Bier Company (310 W. 79th St.). Their Halloween Scary Movie-thon features two Halloween-themed movies and specials, such as spooky truffles, popcorn and $2 KC Kolsch on draft.
Wednesday, Nov. 1
International Tap House (403 E. 18th St.) hosts trivia, sponsored by Urban Chestnut Brewing. Grand prize features tickets to the brewery’s Wolpertinger festival.
Grain to Glass (1611 Swift St., North Kansas City, Missouri) celebrates the Day of the Dead with a Grateful Dead costume contest, tunes and beer specials on Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale.
The new Visit KC Tap Tour book guides are available for sale ($7). Kansas City Bier Company is one of six breweries selling them, and one of 19 breweries that have a discount listed in the book. At KC Bier, save $2 off the first bier, and earn a stamp in the book.
Grains & Taps (10 SW Third St., Lees Summit, Missouri) has Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout on draft. It’s the first time in the 259-year history of Samuel Smith’s brewery that kegs have been shipped to the United States.
The KC Tap Tour is back for a second season. (Courtesy of Visit KC)
Thursday, Nov. 2
Helping Hops Nano-Brewfest, a benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, unites local homebrewers and KC breweries to raise funds for the nonprofit. Head to The Oliver Building (1321 W. 13th St.) in the West Bottoms for beer tastings, a silent auction and live entertainment. All ticket proceeds benefit LLS to help find a cure.
International Tap House taps Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, one of the first area taprooms to serve the beer on draft.
Screenland Armour (408 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Misosuri) collaborated with Cinder Block Brewery on Ragnarok, a hoppy, tropical-style pale ale, for the release of “Thor: Ragnarok.” The premiere party for the beer and film includes collectible color-changing glasses.
Thursday tastings from 5 to 7 p.m. at Grain to Glass focus on stouts. Try five samples of recent releases of stouts ($15).
The Taproom at Crane Brewing (6515 Railroad St., Raytown, Missouri) taps Guava Weiss and Guava Milkshake for its special Thursday tap series. Food available from KC Fooditude.
Meet and mingle with brewers, chefs, sponsors and donors at Bier Station (120 E. Gregory Blvd.) for Brew Ha Ha Socks and Hops, a fundraiser for Swope Health Services. Raffle includes a gift basket and tickets to the Nov. 11th Sock and Hops event. Kegs donated by Crane Brewing Company.
Friday, Nov. 3
Stockyards Brewing (1600 Genessee St., #100) hosts its second annual Movember Shave Party and Spirit Cowboy Smoked Imperial Pilsner beer release. Starting at 7 p.m., barbershop Buffalo Mane will shave the beards of beer fanatics and well-known brewing industry professionals down to the Movember mustache. The event supports men’s health through the Movember Foundation, which funds programs globally around prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Raffle tickets available for sale.
Saturday, Nov. 4
Miami Creek Brewing (14226 NW County Road 14001, Drexel, Missouri) celebrates one year in business with free pulled pork sandwiches and baked beans. Pineapple Sage IPA, Lemon Basil Saison, Butternut Brown Ale, and Imperial Coffee Stout will be on tap.
Grain to Glass hosts “Learn to Brew Day,” offering brewing demonstrations in the parking lot and indoors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grains provided to the first six volunteer brewers. Free copies of Zymurgy magazine available.
Kansas City Bier Company hosts a Bundesliga (German football) watch party and brunch from 8 to 11 a.m.
Boulevard Brewing Tours & Rec Center (2534 Madison Ave.) partners with KC Beard Balms for the Second Annual “Believe in your Beard” No Shave 2017 campaign. The campaign benefits Children’s Mercy for cancer research, prevention and education. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., KC Beard Balms will sell limited-edition BELIEVE Charlie Hustle t-shirts. Twenty-five-percent of the proceeds from each shirt sold benefits Children’s Mercy. Boulevard will donate all tips received to support this cause.
Sunday, Nov. 5
Sour Sunday shines the spotlight on highly coveted Cantillon beers with tap and bottle pours at Bier Station. VIP early admission at 11 a.m. requires a ticket. Public session begins at noon.
Abe and Jake’s Landing (8 E. Sixth St., Lawrence, Kansas) and Friends of the Kaw present the second annual Beers of the Kaw from 3 to 6 p.m. The event features breweries along the Kansas watershed and Kaw River to benefit Friends of the Kaw. Tickets are $20. Participating breweries include 23rd Street Brewing Company, Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, Blue Skye Brewery & Eats, Free State Brewing Company, First Street Brewing Company, Happy Basset Brewing Company, Kansas Territory Brewing Company and many more.
Monday, Nov. 6
For KC Craft Beer Week, Bier Station brings back its third annual Brewers Read Mean Reviews. From 7 to 10 p.m., hear brewers read the most vile, nasty, hilarious social media reviews of their beers. Strong language very likely. Torn Label Brewing co-founder Rafi Chaudry serves as emcee.
— 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.