Tap List | Colony Handcrafted Ales Set to Open

Stockyards Brewing and Kelly’s Westport Inn Collaborate on Irish Ale

Last April, Kelly’s Westport Inn general manager Nick VanSant approached Stockyards Brewing owner Greg Bland and head brewer Micah Weichert about brewing a one-time release beer. County Clare Irish Red Ale, brewed in honor of Kelly’s 70th anniversary, will be released from 7 to 9 p.m., on Thursday, Aug. 31st, at the famed Westport bar (500 Westport Road). The draft-only beer will also be available at Stockyard’s taproom (1600 Genessee St., No. 100).

“I chose Stockyards because I wanted to partner with a young local brewery,” VanSant said. 

Kelly’s Westport Inn, founded by Randal Kelly, is now operated by his sons, Kyle and Pat, and Kyle’s children, Mitch and Colleen Kelly. The beer’s name is a nod to the Kelly family’s roots in County Clare, Ireland.

Bland and Weichert ordered malt from Irish Malting Company to produce the naturally red Irish ale.

“It’s a light pale ale malt,” Bland said. “We didn’t know until later that the malt company is about two hours away from County Clare, near the Kelly’s family home.”

Even though Kelly’s celebrates its official anniversary on Oct. 28., the beer is being released this month. While supplies of County Clare last, a portion of taproom sales of the red ale will be donated to the HALO Foundation. The Kansas City-based nonprofit provides housing, healing and education to at-risk and homeless children at the local, national, and global level.

Stockyard’s distributor North Kansas City Beverage will work with area bars and restaurants that want to serve the beer. A portion of keg sales will also be donated to HALO.

“We have 15 barrels of County Clare ready and another 15 barrels in fermentation,” Bland said. “Originally, we only planned on making maybe five barrels. Then we realized this could be a big fundraiser for HALO.”

A keg of County Clare Irish Red Ale will also be available at Normal Human for September’s First Friday. See the week’s events below for details.

Colony brewer Rodney Beagle has a custom Louisville Slugger mash paddle for brewing beer. (Pete Dulin | Flatland)

Colony Handcrafted Ales is North Kansas City’s Newest Brewery 

Colony (312 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri), a coffee shop and taproom, will officially open its doors at 1 p.m. on Sept. 2. The grand opening will offer food, live music, special beer releases, and an incentive for the first 50 people in line: a limited edition 16-ounce refillable growler.

Colony’s co-owners Zach Henderson and Drew Cobb hired veteran homebrewer Rodney Beagle as their brewer last spring and filed a brewery application in late July with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Now that construction of the brewery is complete, the taproom will serve several of Beagle’s specialty beers, including Coffee Kolsch, Peaches and Cream Ale, Hazy IPA, Cherry Limeade Gose, and Saison.

Working as a professional brewer is a fulfillment of Beagle’s dream. He use a 55-gallon setup that requires brewing multiple batches in a day to create the desired production volume. While working on a batch of Coffee Kolsch last Friday, Beagle reflected, “I can’t believe it’s been just over a year since we started the process to establish the brewery. It’s surreal and crazy.”

Fall Releases and Tap Notes

Rock and Run Brewery and Pub (110 E. Kansas St., Liberty, Missouri) has canned its Bleach Blonde Pale Ale. Cans will be available beginning Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Rock & Run and select retail outlets.

Boulevard Brewing’s Collaboration No. 7 Oak-Aged Lager (6-percent ABV, 16 IBU) was brewed as a collaboration with Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company and Creature Comforts Brewing Company. The beer was released on draft on Aug. 21 and in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles on Aug. 22. Dry and citrusy, Collaboration No. 7 was “briefly aged on French oak staves that impart fruit, spice, toast and tannins similar to aging in a fresh (virgin) French oak barrel,” according to ambassador brewer Jeremy Danner. The lager was also bottle-conditioned with champagne yeast to produce effervescent carbonation.

Red Crow Brewing Company (20561 S. Lone Elm Road, Spring Hill, Kansas) has pushed up release of Anne, a German Alt, to Sept. 1. The fall seasonal beer will be on tap through mid-November.

BKS Artisan Ales (633 E. 63rd St., No. 120) now has its building occupancy and fire permits. If they pass health inspection, they will begin brewing and have beers ready 45 days out. Check Tap List for more updates.

Boulevard Collaboration No. 7 is out on shelves now. (Courtesy of Boulevard)

This Week

Tuesday, Aug. 29

Michael Crane and Dan Simmons of Crane Brewing Co. will serve samples, 5 to 7 p.m., at Grain to Glass (1611 Swift St., North Kansas City, Missouri)

Boulevard Brewing Co. Beer Dinner at HopCat (401 Westport Road) unites beer and tacos. Try a shrimp taquito with avocado salsa paired with Tequila BA Lime Gose, beef barbacoa and mole sauce paired with Love Child #8, a barrel-aged blended Flanders-style Red and Belgian-style Golden Ale, and two other courses.

Wednesday, Aug. 30

Martin City Brewing is a featured brewery during happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. at Grinder’s Stonewall (10240 Pflumm Road, Lenexa, Kansas). Try Radical Candor, Apposite, Hardway IPA, or the new fall seasonal Fallback American Brown.

Logboat Brewing Company from Columbia, Missouri, will have its Snapper, Bobber, Flyby, and Shiphead beers on tap at Screenland Armour (408 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri) for the screening of “The Endless,” as part of the Arts and Crafts Film & Beer Festival.

Border Brewing Company (406 E. 18th St.) re-releases its Ribbon Cutter IPA. Brewed with coriander and finished with raspberry, the beer has a tart, hoppy and fruity flavor. While at the taproom, check out the new patio.

Flying Saucer Kansas City (101 E. 13th St.), celebrate the release of Torn Label’s 31 Heroes with a special glass. Starting at 6 p.m., buy the beer and keep the glass for an additional cost.

Thursday, Aug. 31

Kelly’s Westport Inn (500 Westport Road) releases its County Clare Irish Red Ale, a collaboration beer brewed with Stockyards Brewing. The beer celebrates Kelly’s 70th Anniversary. All proceeds from the ale benefit HALO, a local organization that serves homeless youth and children in Kansas City and around the globe.

Ruins Pub (1715 Main St.) hosts a five-course beer dinner at 7 p.m. devoted to Crane Brewing’s beers. Meet the brewers and enjoy a Trailsmith Saison and hors d’oeuvres before dinner. Pairings include Grapefruit Gose with rainbow crab salad, and Farmhouse IPA with Brett, paired with grilled rack of lamb, herbs and caramelized shallots.

Grain to Glass (1611 Swift St., North Kansas City, Missouri) has Belgian beers available for its Thursday tasting series ($15) from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Taproom at Crane Brewing (6515 Railroad St., Raytown, Missouri) releases Jalapeño Saison, a saison with jalapeños and pineapple, and Green Hatch Chile Ale, a Farmhouse IPA blended with Kumquat Weiss and Hatch green chile peppers. This beer won the Judges Choice Award at the Iron ChileHead Competition. Chef Tito of the American Fusion food truck will be on site.

Colony Handcrafted Ales (312 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri) opens for a preview before the grand opening. Enjoy live music and brewer Rodney Beagle’s fresh beers will be on tap.

Dress up for the Festbier Tapping Party at Kansas City Bier Company (310 W. 79th St.). Wear your lederhosen, and gather at the beer hall from 6 to 9 p.m. for contests, games, prizes and food specials. Head brewer Karlton Graham presents a special tapping toast at 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 1

Barley Bus will pick up and drop off guests at Grains & Taps (10 SW Third St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri) on a four-hour tour of three breweries that include beer samples and a tour guide.

Leinenkugel’s KC (1323 Walnut St.) begins the Countdown to Oktoberfest at 5 p.m. with food and drink specials, live music, games, and discounted Oktoberfest tickets for their October Seventh Oktoberfest celebration.

Saturday, Sept. 2

Colony Handcrafted Ales (312 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri) celebrates its grand opening at 1 p.m. Food, live music and special beer releases will be available. The first 50 guests receive a free 16-ounce limited-edition refillable growler.

Sunday, Sept. 3

Fringe Beerworks (224 SE Douglas St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri) now offers “Sunday Funday,” with deep discounts on selected crowler fills each week.

— 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.