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The taproom at Miami Creek Brewing Co. is about to get a host of new options. (Courtesy of Miami Creek)
Published November 7th, 2017 at 8:07 AM
Owner and brewer Will Reece established Miami Creek Brewing Company (14226 NW County Road 14001, Drexel, Missouri) one year ago on the family farm. He has plans to expand by obtaining a winery permit and introduce new products. We caught up with Reece to chat about what’s he learned, and what’s next for his Missouri brewery. Hint: it’s not just beer.
Reflecting on the first year, what do you know now that you wish you knew before opening?
“We learned a lot in our first month open for business, and there was a learning curve. We didn’t expect the number of customers we received and had to add a couple guest taps and additional cooperage to handle the demand. We were still brewing on a small one-barrel system and hadn’t converted our seven-barrel system to electric yet. Hindsight being 20-20, I would have had more beer, more cooperage, and our 7-barrel system up and running before opening.”
Will Reece has a host of things in the works for Miami Creek Brewing Co. (Pete Dulin | Flatland)
Tell us about your most popular beers.
“Nutty Belgian, a Belgian Tripel brewed with walnut syrup, has been a big hit. It is limited since it is reliant on our walnut tree tapping and sap collection in mid-winter. Strawberry Rye, Honey Pale Ale and our Farmhouse Wheat were hits this summer along with our Lavender Saison. DC/DC, Double Coffee/Double Chocolate Imperial Milk Stout, while pretty limited, seems to be a crowd pleaser. Butternut Brown Ale has been a big hit this fall. I’m looking forward to the release of our barleywines and Pumpkin Pecan Imperial Stout.”
What are your plans for 2018?
“We are in the homestretch for getting our winery permit. This will allow us to also produce wines, ciders and meads that will feature locally-grown ingredients. With interest from a few liquor stores, grocery stores, restaurants and taprooms, we are starting to shop for a distributor that is willing to handle our craft products. We are hoping by mid- to late-2018, we’ll also get an opportunity to start brewing with some Missouri-grown and malted grain, as well as incorporating more locally grown hops into our creations.”
What interests you in producing fruit-based products like cider and mead?
“We have roughly 250 fruit trees here on our farm. Most of these are apple varieties that were grown in the early days of this country for cider production by our founding fathers. We’re hoping for our first apple harvest next year. Along with apples, we have a few pear, peach, nectarine and plum trees. In my early days of brewing and winemaking, I made quite a few fruit-based wines and ciders. I’m excited to start doing this again.”
Touring Taps provides mobile beer taps. (From left to right:) Matt Madison, Corey Boddicker, Adam Ligon and Josh Madison. (Courtesy of Touring Taps)
Touring Taps Brings Brew to You
Matt Madison, his brother Josh Madison, their cousin Adam Ligon and Corey Boddicker co-founded Touring Taps in summer 2017. Using a van, the guys bring the mobile beer taps to events. Ligon developed the initial business concept. With an upcoming wedding, he wanted to provide craft beer for guests via a box trailer outfitted with beer taps.
“Adam, Matt and I explored the logistics,” Boddicker said. “It appeared to be too expensive, and we shelved the idea. Later, we found the van for sale on Facebook. It made an appearance at a birthday party. People loved it, so we decided to create a business and start renting it out.”
Clients order a keg(s) of beer of their choice from a liquor store. Touring Taps has poured beer from Boulevard Brewing, Martin City Brewing, Stockyards Brewing and other local craft breweries, as well as domestic macro beers. Wine and mixed drinks are also available from the van.
The van was formerly used by Crown Distributors in Salina, Kansas, and still displays a red Coors logo.
“The color scheme and logo gives it a really cool vintage look,” Boddicker said.
Next year, Touring Taps plans to adapt its business for more indoor events by converting deep freezers into refrigerators with faucet towers and customizing them for a professional appearance.
“We will still use the van, weather permitting,” Boddicker said. “We are pursuing a liquor license that will allow us to sell by the pour at events around the metro area. We are also planning on adding additional vans with more capacity. Our vision is to have a fleet of vans that can service any size event.”
Boulevard Brewing’s City Market Cider makes its debut this month. (Courtesy of Boulevard Brewing Co.)
Tap Notes
Boulevard Brewing released its first cider, City Market Cider. The cider uses juice from Jonathan and Fuji apples sourced from Sibley Orchard & Cider Mill in Sibley, Missouri. Fermented with a house English ale yeast strain, the cider is crisp and dry with subtle sweetness from added apple juice.
Martin City Brewing Company releases Radical Candor Double IPA (8.9-percent ABV, 79 IBUs) this week in limited quantities, six-packs and draft.
During KC Craft Beer Week through Nov. 12, BKS Artisan Ales (633 E. 63rd St., Suite 120) will release new beers on tap and in bottles and cans. Look for announcements on the Facebook page and website throughout the week.
More beer release information listed below in the calendar.
Boulevard Brewing’s Imperial Stout Aged in Jamaican Rum Barrels. (Courtesy of Boulevard Brewing)
Tuesday, Nov. 7
The Foundry at McCoy’s (424 Westport Road) hosts a Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, 90 Minute IPA, and 120 Minute IPA draft vertical, and will tap a keg of World Wide Stout at 6 p.m.
Through Nov. 9, Cinder Block Brewery & COOP Ale Works host a Rose Brooks Center donation drive and raffle at International Tap House (403 E. 18th St.). Donate needed items for a raffle ticket and receive half-off of the first Cinder Block or COOP beer, plus be entered in the grand raffle prize of tickets to a Chiefs game. Winning raffle ticket will be drawn on Nov. 9th, and you must be present to win. Needed donation items include full-size shampoo and conditioner, diapers/pull-ups, pet toys, bed pillows, twin sheets and blankets, cold and flu medicine, and full size body and face lotion.
Colony Handcrafted Ales (312 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri) releases Rainbow Road: Raspberry Sherbet Berliner Weisse. It’s the first in the series of four sherbet-inspired beers: raspberry, lime, orange and rainbow. Vision Quest Carrot Cake Cream Ale (6-percent ABV) will also be tapped. Brewed in collaboration with Dragonfly TeaZone, the beer has lactose sugar, carrots, cinnamon, ginger, walnuts and cloves added from Dragonfly’s carrot cake tea blend.
Rock & Run Brewery and Pub (110 E. Kansas St., Liberty, Missouri) releases Draft Punk (6.3-percent ABV, 66.2 IBUs), a hoppy Hefeweizen with apricots. Loaded with fruit and hop flavors, it exhibits classic Hefeweizen esters and phenols.
Wednesday, Nov. 8
Martin City Brewing’s Alchemy Coffee Stout, Radical Candor Double IPA, and Hard Way IPA are featured during happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30 at Johnny’s West (721 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, Kansas).
International Tap House hosts trivia at 6 p.m. with Bur Oak Brewing Company from Columbia, Missouri, and taps its barrel-aged Clyde’s Cream Ale and Tractor Fire (Boone County Brown with chipotle peppers).
During KC Craft Beer Week, meet Aaron Justus, Ballast Point Brewing Company director of brewing, and BKS Artisan Ales co-owner, Brian Rooney, who are college buddies from the University of Kansas. The two brewers will be at Bier Station (120 E. Gregory Blvd.) at 5:30 p.m. Ballast Point beers on tap include Sculpin, Blackberry Sour Wench, Piper Down Scottish Ale and Victory At Sea.
Martin City Brewing Co.’s Radical Candor is an Imperial India Pale Ale. (Contributed)
Thursday, Nov. 9
The Martin City Brewing five-course beer dinner at Ruins Pub (1715 Main St.) includes tempting pairings such as Alchemy Coffee Stout with shrimp and cheddar grits, and Bourbon Abbey Ale with beef tenderloin, classic creole sauce and whipped au gratin potatoes.
Boulevard Brewing’s Tours & Rec Center (2534 Madison Ave.) Hop Quiz will be guest-hosted by Tours & Rec Ambassador Kyle and feature general trivia on craft breweries. Tickets ($9 advance, $10 walk-up) include two draft beers.
Bier Station hosts a rollout party for Abraxas from Perennial Artisan Ales. At 5 p.m., Bier Station will tap 2017 Abraxas, Vanilla Abraxas, and Coffee Abraxas. 2017 Abraxas bottle sales (one per person) begin at 6 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10
The Vinotopia four-course beer dinner ($40, tip and tax included), hosted by Cinetopia Overland Park 18 (5724 W. 136th Terrace, Overland Park, Kansas) and Boulevard Brewing Company, features brewer and barrel aging pro Tim Farrell. Farrell will guide guests through the pairings and answer any beer or brewery-related questions. RSVP by calling 913-402-9300.
International Tap House (403 E. 18th St.) pours 4 Hands Brewing City Wide all day on Nov. 10 and 11 and donates all proceeds to the Veterans Community Project.
Saturday, Nov. 11
Miami Creek Brewing Company (14226 NW County Road 14001, Drexel, Missouri) releases its Cherry Barleywine (11-percent ABV, 81 IBUs) on tap. Brewer Will Reece’s base barleywine recipe is fermented with tart cherries from Tubby Fruit Orchards in Belton Missouri. During the weekend, Miami Creek will donate $1 of each pint sold to USO Missouri to honor and support veterans.
Sunday, Nov. 12
Tickets are required to attend the bottle release party from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Boulevard Tours & Rec Center (2534 Madison) for Boulevard Brewing’s Imperial Stout Aged in Jamaican Rum Barrels. Tickets ($35) provide entry to the party, which includes samples of the new beer, classic reggae, ska and rocksteady spun by Boss Hooligan Sound System, Jamaican snacks from Kansas City classic Sankofa Café and a four-pack to take home.
Monday, Nov. 13
Boulevard Brewing releases its latest Brewhouse One series, Imperial Stout Aged in Jamaican Rum Barrels (14.6-percent ABV). Public sales ($24.95/limit two four-packs per transaction) begin at 8 a.m. at the Tours & Rec Center (2534 Madison). The line begins at the southwest corner of the building by the Tasting Room doors. The Beer Hall will be open and offer five-ounce bottle pours of this featured beer for $4.
KC Bier Company (310 W. 79th St.) launches a book drive through Nov. 19 in support of Reach Out and Read Kansas City. Bring new children’s book donations and receive a complimentary beer.
— 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.
