Tap List | The Cosmic Alignment of Beer and Tacos Just like Peas and Carrots

Not very many people know this, but the story behind the taco is a truly magical one. 

The taco, or more specifically the corn tortilla, has its roots in Mexico before the Spanish conquest. Though there is some debate about exactly where it came from in Mexico, there’s a general consensus that the tortilla was invented by soaking corn kernels in lime solution.

The end result? A magical corn-based dough that, when heated up, gently and perfectly nestles toppings like carne asada (grilled steak), rajas con queso (chili peppers and cheese) or cochinita pibil (slow roasted pork).

Why am I talking about tacos during this week’s Tap List? I’ll answer this question with some questions. Why do we dip our fries in ketchup? Why put barbecue sauce on brisket? Why include bacon in a BLT? The short answer: some combinations are truly legendary, perhaps even cosmic. 

This week, the Kansas City area should prepare itself for the cosmic alignment of tacos and beer. Tacos Del Barrio will be posted up at Crane Brewing Co. — 6515 Railroad St., Raytown, Missouri — this Saturday from 12:30 to 7 p.m. Rockcreek Brewing Co. — 5880 Beverly Ave. Mission, Kansas — also is hosting the Taco Tank food truck this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Beer Releases

Alma Mader Brewing — 2635 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri — has released two new brews for your sipping pleasures. Tides Turn (5.8% ABV) is a citrusy, West Coast pilsner. A portion of the sales from this beer will be donated to the Kansas City Pink Boots Society. Dripping in Orange (8% ABV) is a New England-style DIPA with tangerine and orange marmalade flavor.

3Halves Brewing Co. —110 E. Kansas St., Liberty, Missouri — is offering Zeus, an orange creamsicle milkshake IPA clocking in at 6.5% ABV. This delicious, creamy beer is made with farm-to-table Madagascar vanilla from SAVA Trading Co. and Mandarina Bavarian hops!

Double Shift Brewing Co. — 412 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Missouri — just dropped Pesta Pale Ale, a super crushable brew clocking in at 5.5% ABV. This beer, which is made with Kanook hops, is a collaboration between Kansas Hop Co., Double Shift and Fox and Pearl.

Cinder Block Brewery — 110 E. 18th Ave., North Kansas City, Missouri — just dropped their collaboration with the Pink Boots Society called Broken Nail Pale (4.8% ABV), an American pale ale brewed with a blend of hops, 2-row malts, and Victory malts.

Smoke Brewing Co. — 209 S.E. Main Lee’s Summit, Missouri — just released FORE! FORE!, a Belgian quad (11.8% ABV) that boasts of plum and chocolate.

Wind Shift Brewing — 3421B N.W. Jefferson St., Blue Springs, Missouri — collaborated with Grains & Taps — 10 S.W. 3rd St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri — to bring you a Sour New England IPA. This sour which is now on tap.

Inclination (7.2% ABV) is a sour beer aged for a year in charred, American oak, and then conditioned with red currant and hibiscus flower. This sour, which was made possible by the wonderful people at 3 Trails Brewing Co. — 111 N. Main St., Independence, Missouri — boasts of citrus, oak and floral notes!

Beer Events

Thursday, April 1

It’s April Fools’ Day, but Not Lost Brewing Co. — 229 S. Main St., Ottawa, Kansas — isn’t messing around this Thursday. Not Lost is hosting Vinyl Night this Thursday 6 – 8 p.m. The Ampersand Vinyl will be curating the music for your listening pleasure, all while you peruse their vinyl selection.

Friday, April 2

The SRB band will be performing this Friday at Limitless Brewing — 9765 Widmer Road, Lenexa, Kansas — 7 – 9 p.m. So, bring your lawn chair, buy some delicious beer, sit back and enjoy your Friday evening in style. 

If you love jazz, then you do not want to miss Evan Kappelman this Friday 6 – 9 p.m. at Lost Evenings Brewing Co. — 8625 Hauser Court, Lenexa, Kansas. Kappelman is an accomplished jazz musician from the Kansas City area who has played at Carnegie Hall. Beer and jazz rarely join forces like this.

If you like the show “Friends,” head over to Outfield Beer Co. — 10953 Kaw Drive, Edwardsville, Kansas — this Friday 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. They’re hosting a trivia night dedicated specifically to the hit television show. 

Apex Aleworks — 4356 S. Noland Road, Independence, Missouri — is hosting live music this Friday 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. Jam Sandwich will be playing rock music from the ‘80s to the 2000s. Happy hour starts at 6 p.m. There will also be a standup comedy show at 7 p.m. before the live music starts at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 3

East Forty Brewing — 1201 W. Main St., Blue Springs, Missouri — is hosting live music this Thursday 6 – 9 p.m. The Burney Sisters, a Columbia-based Indie group, will be performing so don’t miss it.

KC Rukus will be performing at Apex Aleworks — 4356 S. Noland Road, Independence, Missouri — this Saturday 7 – 11 p.m. If you’re into classic rock, blues and country music, then this is definitely the place to be  Saturday night.