Tap List | Remembering John Bryan & Draftcade Opens
John Bryan was a longtime fixture at the Boulevard Brewing Company and in the Kansas City craft beer community. (Pete Dulin I Flatland)
Published April 18th, 2017 at 6:00 AM
Kansas City’s craft beer community lost one of its most familiar faces last week. John Bryan died on Wednesday, April 12, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City following a massive stroke. JB, as he was known to many, was 52 years old.
A mainstay at beer festivals and one of the architect’s of Kansas City’s beer landscape, Bryan worked for Boulevard Brewing Company for 17 years. His career with Boulevard began as a truck driver and part-time salesman and ended with him as the director of the brewery’s Artisanal Division, where he helped launch the Smokestack Series. He recently became the Central Territory Sales Director for the Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Boulevard’s sister brewery, and, in that new position, was a fixture at beer events around the country.
Anyone who met Bryan and spent time with him likely parted with a story, as such JB was a beloved and respected figure in the world of craft beer. Numerous tributes and photos shared via social media attest to his generosity, wit, knowledge of beer, innate coolness and zest for life. Who else hosts a Moose Tacos tailgating party in honor of Royals’ player Mike Moustakas? More information about John’s life, the Bryan Children College Fund, and celebration of life services can be found here.
The taps are flowing at the newly opened Draftcade in Zona Rosa. (Pete Dulin I Flatland)
Draftcade ( 7250 NW 87th Street), an arcade bar concept, has opened in Zona Rosa with 60 craft beer taps and more than 75 arcade games, pinball games, and skee ball. Rotating beers on tap include Ommegang 3 Philosophers, Torn Label Brewing Alpha Pale Ale, Firestone Walker Pivo Pils, Crane Brewing Trailsmith, Lagunitas Aunt Sally Wild Ale, and plenty of other selections. The beer-friendly menu ranges from BLT tots to a smoked porter chicken sandwich to a maple glazed pork donut.
KC Bier Company (310 W 79th Street) conducts a one-hour brewery tour every Saturday at 1 p.m. The tour ($10) includes three samples and a 16-ounce souvenir glass.
Martin City Brewing Company’s Sideway, an Everyday American Ale, debuts this week in area liquor stores. Events listed below.
Fringe Beerworks (224 SE Douglas Street, Lee’s Summit, Missouri) has its Big Top Imperial Wheat (9-percent ABV, 15 IBU) on tap.
This Week
Wednesday, April 19
Martin City Brewing Company launches Sideway Everyday American Ale at Grinders Stonewall (10240 Pflumm Road, Lenexa, Kansas) at 5 p.m. with cans of Sideway and Radical Candor. The brewery also brings Sideway to Westport Ale House (4128 Broadway) at 6 p.m.
Class is in session at Grain to Glass (1611 Swift Avenue, North Kansas City). The “Beer Flavor ID” session ($40) presents ten flavor spikes with an explanation of possible causes and preventions. The class is two hours in length. Registration is required.
Join Beer Paws for a pop-up shop at Gordon Biersch‘s Maibock Tapping Party (100 E 14th Street) from 5 to 9 p.m. The event is also a benefit for the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.
Thursday, April 20
Head to The Other Place (16590 W 135th Street, Olathe, Kansas) at 4 p.m. for yard games and Martin City Brewing Company’s Sideway Everyday American Ale, Radical Candor, and Alchemy Coffee Stout. You can also find Sideway at Grinders Crossroads (417 E. 18th Street), 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 22
Lone Elm Tap Room (Whole Foods, 14615 W 119th Street, Olathe, Kansas) hosts a tap takeover with KC Bier Company from 2 to 5 p.m. On tap: Dunkel, Helles, Hefeweizen, Winterbock, Maibock (2016 and 2017), and Weizenbock (2016 and 2017).
As the winner of this year’s Bier Meisters Home Brew Scale Up Competition, guest brewer Joshua Boldt earned a brew day with KC Bier Company’s (310 W. 79th Street) head brewer Karlton Graham. Boldt’s prize-winning Dark Weizenbock, made with six malts including Wheat, Pilsner, and Munich, will be available at 2 p.m. at the brewer’s Bavarian Oak Barrel Tapping Party.
Celebrate Earth Day and National Park Week with Boulevard Brewing Company at its Beer Hall (2534 Madison Avenue). The brewery will conduct special sustainability-focused public tours, and Ripple Glass will be in the Tours & Rec Center spreading the word about glass recycling and handing out swag. Additionally, $1 from every can of beer sold in the Beer Hall will be donated to the National Park Foundation.
Science matters at Bier Station (120 E Gregory Boulevard), when they host the KC March For Science After Party/Earth Day Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the parking lot. Cinder Block Brewery, Torn Label Brewing Company, Uinta Brewing, and New Belgium Brewing will have featured beers on the Station’s tap wall. Each brewery donates a large keg to a different “green” cause. Bier Station will buy an additional, large keg from each brewery to help raise funds for Bridging the Gap, KC STEM Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Park Service. The event is free.
Sunday, April 23
Head to KC Bier Company (310 W 79th Street) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for beer and trivia. This fundraiser benefits The People’s Climate Movement and Kansas Sierra Club. Purchase a table for $100 (tables seat 10 people) or individual tickets for $20. Live music by Nicki Scruggs. Limited seating. Purchase tickets by calling 816-214-8691, or email pepper@kcbier.com.
Today and Monday, April 24, pop over to Boulevard Brewing Company’s Beer Hall (2534 Madison Avenue) for ZON Belgian-Style Witbier and keep the glass. For $14, get a 23-ounce gold rim Hefeweizen ZON branded glass and a full pour.
— 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.