Tap List | Local Breweries Score Big In Airport Deal The New KCI to Feature Several Local Breweries

Anyone who has flown through Kansas City International knows the current concessions are nothing to write home about. Food is hard to come by and drinks, especially local beers, are even harder to find. In fact, the only name brand kiosk is Starbucks.

All of that is about to change with the new airport now being built. Following a contentious debate, the Kansas City Council voted 9-2 in favor of Vantage Airport Group providing concessions for the new facility.

Vantage Airport Group will provide the new terminal with more local flavor for those traveling through Kansas City. On the food side, they’ll be adding in local favorites like Tay’s Burger Shack, Buffalo State Pizza, Poi-O, Pigwich and many more.

Things get even better on the beer front. While the current KCI has no brewpubs, the new building will feature four. There will be spots for Martin City Brewing Co., Boulevard Brewing Co., Vine Street Brewing, and Stockyards Brewing Co.

While being stuck in an airport is never fun, it’s always a little better when you know you can get some delicious local beers while you wait to board. 

Beer Releases

Strange Days Brewing — 316 Oak St., Kansas City, Missouri — is bringing the smoke with their newest beer. Wood Fired is a 5.2% helles lager brewed with cherrywood smoked malts. If you like the smell of barbecue joints around the city you’ll love the aroma of this beer. The flavor of this beer is the perfect combination of slightly smoky and slightly sweet.

Stockyards Brewing Co. — 1600 Genessee St., Ste. 100, Kansas City, Missouri — has a brand new beer for a very good cause. Rising Hope is a 6.5% hazy IPA with the delicious tropical flavors of passion fruit, guava, and orange. 100% of the proceeds from this beer will go to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation to help fund research for children battling cancer.

Boulevard Brewing Co. — 2501 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri — has a big beer that may or may not be legendary. Stuff of Legend is a brand new 11.8% imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels. The beer has flavors of chocolate and vanilla reminiscent of Oreo cookies with an added bonus of some bourbon qualities. Dessert in a bottle … yum!

Alma Mader Brewery — 2635 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri — has released their newest version of Mirror Line. This 8% New England style DIPA is brewed with pilsner malt and oats and hopped with Citra and Mosaic hops. The hops provide tropical flavors of mango and papaya while the malts provide a delicate mouthfeel.

Double Shift Brewing — 412 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Missouri — has a brand new sour beer called Quartz Portal. This 6% beer was brewed with blueberry puree, orange peel and a bit of lactose to help round out the sourness and give it a little sweetness.

Fields & Ivy Brewery — 706 E. 23rd St., Lawrence, Kansas — just released their latest beer, ‘55 Step Side. This 7.1% hop harvest ale is brewed once a year on the same day the hops are harvested, ensuring the hops are ultra fresh. This beer utilizes Kanook and Cascade hops from Kansas Hop Co., resulting in flavors of stone fruit, strawberry, and bubble gum.

Sandhills Brewing — 5612 Johnson Drive, Mission, Kansas — took their Oktoberfest beer up a level with their new release, 6.3% Oaktoberfest. Using the Oktoberfest as the base beer, they cold-conditioned this version in oak barrels. This resulted in light notes of caramel on the nose with the barrel conditioning lending itself to an oaky finish.

Beer Events

Thursday, Oct. 14

Lost Evenings Brewing Co. — 8625 Hauser Court, Lenexa, Kansas — wants you to get creative with delicious treats. In collaboration with Sweet Home Kansas City Designs, they’ll be hosting a Fall Cookie Decorating event. Tickets are $15 and include four cookies with icing to decorate and one 16-ounce or two 8-ounce pours of beer.

Friday, Oct. 15

Red Crow Brewing — 1062 W. Santa Fe St., Olathe, Kansas — is celebrating their sixth anniversary with a weekend full of events. The fun kicks off on Friday when they’ll be releasing their new birthday beer. Saturday will feature bingo with some big prizes plus live music later that night. Celebrate their actual birthday on Sunday with a Chiefs watch party where they’ll be giving away prizes every hour between noon and 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 16

Servaes Brewing Co. — 10921 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas — is channeling their inner Charlie Brown for their latest event The Great Pumpkin Day. They’ll be celebrating all things pumpkin with the release of four different pumpkin beers. Food will be available from Under 701 Mobile Cafe plus pumpkin treats from McLain’s Bakery.

Outfield Beer Co. — 10953 Kaw Drive, Edwardsville, Kansas — wants you to test your knowledge of classic rock with their latest trivia event. They’ll be hosting Music Bingo featuring ‘70s and ‘80s rock music. Your first bingo card is free with additional bingo cards provided with each full beer pour purchased.

Limitless Brewing — 9765 Widmer Road, Lenexa, Kansas — is getting smoky with their 3rd Annual BBQ Competition. Judging will take place in three categories — ribs, brisket and sausage. They’ll also have an open round where anything goes, so fire up those culinary ideas and get creative.

Sunday, Oct. 17

Stockyards Brewing Co. — 1600 Genessee St., Ste. 100, Kansas City, Missouri — has another rendition of their Sunday Service on the Patio. The Timbers will be gracing the stage at 4 p.m. Plenty of beer will be available along with food from Tamaleon.

Pathlight Brewing — 11200 W. 75th St., Shawnee, Kansas — is getting in on the brewery yoga trend with their event Namaste and IPAs. The entry level class will be led by Colleen Boveri of Seeking Solace Yoga Studio and last 45 minutes. Tickets include one full pour beer of your choice after the class is over.

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.