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Tap List | Mean Mule Distilling Launches New One-Of-A-Kind Spirit Local Breweries Primed for St. Patrick's Day Parades

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Above image credit: Mean Mule Distilling Co.'s tasting room offers a variety of agave-based spirits. (Courtesy | Mean Mule Distilling Co.)
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4 minute read

This week at Tap List we’ve got something a little different for you. In a nod to Kansas City’s burgeoning distilling industry, we’re bringing you some pretty cool news from Mean Mule Distilling Co.

If you’re unfamiliar with Mean Mule, they’re located at 1733 Locust St. in the Crossroads neighborhood of Kansas City and produce agave-based spirits. The taste is very similar to tequila without actually being tequila. Their latest spirit, however, is one-of-a-kind.

Mean Mule Distilling Co.’s “new wave” agave-based gin.
Mean Mule Distilling Co.’s “new wave” agave-based gin. (Courtesy | Mean Mule Distillery)

Mean Mule’s “new wave” gin is a 90-proof spirit “so unique it stands in a category all its own as the first known vapor distilled, gluten-free agave gin produced by the first and largest American agave distillery.”

Just like their other products, Mean Mule’s gin starts with a base of 100% Blue Weber Agave grown in Jalisco, Mexico. Cardamom, coriander, lemon zest, persimmon, and white pepper was then added to create those gin-like characteristics. The folks at Mean Mule describe the resulting product as “warm and moody, a little dirty, earthy, floral, sweet and smooth.”

Mean Mule officially launched the gin on Feb. 28. It’s currently being distributed to select restaurants and retailers throughout Missouri, Kansas and New York. Of course, you can also find it at their tasting room in the Crossroads.

Beer Releases

Pathlight Brewing — 11200 W. 75th St., Shawnee, Kansas — is at it again with another weekly release. This week sees the release of Stay K, a 7.2% ABV tropical IPA. Using a blend of Sabro, Motueka, Bru-1, and Amarillo hops, this beer has plenty of coconut, melon, pineapple, and citrus. If you’re staying put for spring break, this is the perfect beer for your staycation.

Transport Brewery — 11113 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas — has released a new wheat beer just in time for spring. Lord Chandler’s Peach Wheat is the brainchild of Transport brewer Chandler Crew. Modeled after one of his favorite beers, this 5% ABV wheat ale has lots of juicy peach flavor from the addition of Mackinaw peaches. Clean, crisp and perfect for patios.

Rockcreek Brewing Co. — 5880 Beverly Ave., Mission, Kansas — put out a new New England IPA called Carnival (7.2% ABV, 55 IBU). This IPA has aromas of tropical fruit and melon with flavors of white grape, citrus and mango. It’s their first experiment with a hop-like compound called Phantasm in addition to Vic Secret, Citra and Columbus hops.

Fringe Beerworks — 224 S.E. Douglas St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri — put out some new beers as part of their new Smoothie Sour series, Smash-O-Rama. Each of these beers is 4.2% ABV and 12 IBUs. This first round includes five different flavors — green apple, mango pineapple marshmallow, pink guava, pina colada and mixed berry. Each beer is lightly tart and loaded with tons of fruit.

Brew Lab’s Berry Bourgeois.
Brew Lab’s Berry Bourgeois. (Courtesy | Brew Lab)

Brew Lab — 7925 Marty St., Overland Park, KS — recently introduced their newest beer, Berry Bourgeois. This 4.6% ABV hybrid beer is part kettle sour, part saison. You’ll get some classic farmhouse flavors you normally get with a saison with a bit of black raspberry tartness.

BKS Artisan Ales — 633 E. 63rd St., Kansas City, Missouri — has two new releases this week. The first is the 2022 release of their Pink Boots IPA (6.5% ABV). A portion of the sales from this beer will be donated to the Kansas City and national chapters of the Pink Boots Society. The second is their Hop Salad Double IPA (8.6% ABV). This beer uses a “hop salad” consisting of Citra, Mosaic and a few experimental hop varieties including the new experimental hop 528-101-62.

Torn Label Brewing Co. — 1708 Campbell St., Kansas City, Missouri — just released one of their most popular seasonal beers, Lup Sup. While it’s not a new beer, this highly acclaimed DIPA has flavors of peach, lime and cantaloupe leading to a slightly sweet finish. This beer is so easy drinking you’d never guess it’s 8.1% ABV.

Casual Animal — 1725 McGee St., Kansas City, Missouri — collaborated with Cinder Block Brewery on a new beer. Cosmic Chameleon is 7.3% black IPA. The duo used experimental hops and yeast in this beer resulting in a slightly roasty, slightly fruity, but totally delicious brew.

Beer Events

Friday, March 11

Border Brewing Co. — 512 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Missouri — is channeling their inner Seattle for their upcoming You’re The DJ series. The theme of the week will be grunge music. Think bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Come ready to drink good beers and rock out to classic 1990s era rock.

Saturday, March 12

Snake Saturday returns to North Kansas City, Missouri. This massive St. Patrick’s Day celebration takes place all over the city. You’ll be able to find special deals at various bars, restaurants, and breweries including Big Rip Brewing Co. and Cinder Block Brewery.

3 Trails Brewing Co. — 111 N. Main St, Independence, Missouri — is part of this year’s Zombie-Leprechaun Bar Crawl. Each of the seven stops around Independence, including 3 Trails, will feature drink specials. Once the crawl is over, 3 Trails will be hosting an after party at the brewery that will feature live music and prizes.

Emerald Isle Pub Crawl will be making its way around the downtown business district of Lee’s Summit. The pub crawl will feature several stops including three breweries — Fringe Beerworks, Grains & Taps, and Smoke Brewing Co.

Servaes Brewing Co. — 10921 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas — is celebrating Pi Day a couple of days early. Their Pi Day Self-Guided Pie & Beer Pairing event will feature five pie-themed beers. You’ll be able to do a self-guided pairing that’ll feature pies such as banana caramel mini pie and white chocolate lemon tart from Add to the Beauty Bakery.

Lost Evenings Brewing Co. — 8625 Hauser Court, Lenexa, Kansas — has partnered with Frosted KC Bakery to put on a Beer & Cookie Pairing event. The event will feature four different beers each paired with a different cookie. Tickets are $18. In addition to the beer and cookie pairing, Frosted KC will be on site selling cookie cakes, St. Patrick’s Day cookies and more.

Sunday, March 13

Limitless Brewing — 9765 Widmer Road, Lenexa, Kansas — is hosting the annual Fostering Hope .1k Fun Run. The event is a fundraiser for the KCK Angels — an organization dedicated to supporting local foster families. There is a $50 donation which includes a tee shirt, entry to the run and a free beer. After the run Limitless will have live music from 2-4 p.m.

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.


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