Tap List | J. Rieger & Co. Debuts 2023 Straight Rye Whiskey Timed With 816 Day

For the past couple of years J. Rieger & Co. has distilled and released its Straight Rye Whiskey as a limited release. This year’s release coincided with 816 Day.

The new version of the rye is a special one. Rieger’s master distiller Nathan Perry was able to work with the legendary distiller, Dave Pickerell. The rye features a grain bill of 96% rye and 4% barley. It was aged for six years in their historic rickhouse.

The resulting rye has deep, complex aromas and flavors. On the nose, you’ll notice notes of freshly baked bread and caramel. You’ll also get a little orange blossom and fresh cut grass. Up front, you’ll get flavors of cinnamon, five spice, toasted cedar and salted sunflower seeds. Those flavors soon melt into chocolate-covered cherries, spicy fruit jam and buttered popcorn at mid-palate. The finish features notes of sage, mint and a bit of toasted coconut. This year’s version comes in at 100 proof (or 50% ABV).

The rye is already garnering attention after winning a couple of medals. It took home the gold medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition as well as the 2023 ASCOT Awards. It also scored 94 points at the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

The limited release is only available in Kansas and Missouri so make sure to snag it before it disappears until next year! 

Beer Releases

BKS Artisan Ales — 633 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, Missouri — has two new brews for you this week. First up is Rollin’ With The Flow. This 6.2% West Coast IPA features different brewing techniques and hops making every batch different. This version was dry-hopped with Mosaic, Strata and Amarillo. Also available is KC Wide Open (41st Annual). The beer is brewed every year to help kick off the KC Wide Open disc golf tournament. This year’s version of the 7% hazy IPA features Citra, Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin hops with the addition of Waimea hop kief.

Strange Days Brewing — 316 Oak St., Kansas City, Missouri — is at it again with another new release. Off In The Distance is a new hazy IPA. This 7.5% double dry-hopped IPA features Mosaic, BRU 1, Amarillo and Centennial hops. The aromas and flavors of this beer are piney, dank and resinous. However, you’ll get notes of peach and orange marmalade.

Alma Mader Brewery — 2635 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri — has a slightly upgraded version of their Small Oasis available. The new version of this juicy pale ale is loaded with Citra, Strata and two different lots of Mosaic hops. There are tons of juicy and ripe fruit notes such as passion fruit from aroma to flavor. The 5.8% pale ale has a soft mouthfeel making it a very easy beer to drink.

Red Sash Brewing Co. — 406 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Missouri — just released Charlie Don’t Surf. This new beer is a tropical IPA with an ABV of 7.5%. As the style of beer suggests, the beer is loaded with tropical fruit flavors such as mango and peach. It’s got a nice citrusy finish that leaves you feeling refreshed after each sip.

Beer Events

Saturday, Aug. 26

BKS Artisan Ales — 633 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, Missouri — is calling all yoga lovers. The brewery will be hosting Yoga at BKS starting at 11 a.m. The hour-long class taught by Danielle Wallace is open to all skill levels. All you have to do is bring your mat and decide where you want to set up — inside or outside. The class costs $10 and also gives you $1 off your first pour when the class ends.

Strange Days Brewing — 316 Oak St., Kansas City, Missouri — has a fun and unique event planned. They’re throwing a Brewery Scavenger Hunt that will test your skills in solving riddles. The answer to each riddle will be a brewery that will have the next riddle for you to solve. The first team to correctly guess all clues in order will win a grand prize that will include something from all participating breweries. Tickets are $10 per person and includes a free beer. There can be a max of four people per team with a max of 10 teams.  

Sunday, Aug. 27

Casual Animal — 1725 McGee St., Kansas City, Missouri — partnered with KC Pet Project to help save the kittens. They are throwing a Kitten Party to help the 400+ kittens currently in KC Pet Project care. During the event, which takes place from 2-5 p.m., you can sign up to foster kittens, donate items off the KC Pet Project Amazon wish list or bring your own items to donate. While there won’t be 400 kittens at the brewery, KC Pet Project will have some kittens on hand for photo ops and lots of cuddles.

Fields & Ivy Brewery — 706 E. 23rd St., Lawrence, Kansas — is hosting their final Yoga on Tap of August. Led by Head and Heart Health & Wellness, the class is open to everyone. The class will last one hour and includes a free beer. Tickets do not require advance sign-ups and will run $15 at the brewery. Please make sure to bring your own yoga mat.

Crane Brewing Co. — 6515 Railroad St., Raytown, Missouri — has its monthly Sip ‘N Stretch yoga event on tap. As always it’ll be led by Teri Cartwright from Way of Life yoga. The class is open to people of all skill levels and will last an hour. Tickets are $15 and include your first beer.

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.