Tap List | Yippee Ki Yay, Kansas City!

Let’s face it. The holidays this year are going to be… different.

In normal years, the skies would be buzzing with families flying in and out of the Kansas City International Airport. The Country Club Plaza would be bursting with people doing their last minute holiday shopping. If grandpa wanted artisanal chocolate, then he’d get some, and I wouldn’t care if I had to climb over 38 people to get it!

This year, however, traffic is light, everyone is wearing masks, and KCI is, well, empty.

But here’s the thing. The beer scene in Kansas City can handle a moment like this. Sure, we’re still socially distant and wearing masks this December. But we’re doing it with a beer in one hand, candy canes in the other, all while sporting our ugliest sweater.

Speaking of holiday garb, grab your ugliest holiday sweater and head over to Callsign Brewing in North Kansas City, 1447 Gentry St. this Friday at 4 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the ugliest, most festive and most creative holiday sweater. Don’t forget to mask up.

Yippee ki yay, Kansas City! “Die Hard” feels like a Christmas movie, now more than ever. Happy holidays!

Beer Releases

Alma Mader Brewing, 2635 Southwest Blvd., has released two beers. New World Geography (5.0% ABV) is an Italian-style pilsner made with German malt and dry-hopped with Spalter Select, Ariana, and Tettnang hops. On Loop (8.0% ABV) is a New England-style DIPA, brewed with Citra, Mosaic and Hallertau Blanc hops. 

Boulevard Brewing Co., 2501 Southwest Blvd., is honoring traditional Belgian-style holiday ale. In a collaboration with Central Standard Brewing in Wichita, Boulevard is releasing Belgian-style Dark Strong Ale (11.5% ABV), made with figs, dates, tangerine peel, and dark sugar. This beer is available on draft and for curbside pickup!

3Halves Brewing Co. in Liberty, 110 E. Kansas St., is paying tribute to the locals and the USA. Liberty Lager (4.5% ABV) is an extremely crushable American lager made to commemorate the people of Liberty, Missouri. 

3 Trails Brewing Co. in Independence, 111 N. Main St., has released Tripel Bogey, a Belgian-style tripel made with Belgian malted barley clocking in at 9% ABV. This beer is loaded with tropical fruit flavor!

Grains and Taps Brewery in Lee’s Summit, 10 S.W. 3rd St., has released Automated Fuzz Burst (7.0% ABV), a New England-style IPA made with Mosaic, Simcoe and Amarillo hops.

Free State Brewing Co. in Lawrence, 636 Massachusetts St., has released Chocolate Milkstache (7.0% ABV, 17 IBU), a milk stout made with high amounts of fructose. The beer also comes loaded with chocolate and Vietnamese cinnamon.

Transport Brewery in Shawnee, 11113 Johnson Drive, has dropped Basic Breakfast Blonde (5.2% ABV, 18 IBU), a blonde ale made in collaboration with Encore Coffee!

Beer Events

Thursday, Dec. 17

Not Lost Brewing in Ottawa, 229 S. Main St., is having one final night of music and beer. Well, actually, it may not be their last night of music and beer, but it’s definitely their last one for 2020! Head over to Not Lost this Thursday 6-8 p.m. for a night of vinyl and tasty beer! The Ampersand Vinyl will be spinning records as you shop (for records!) and sip (beer!) to your heart’s content! 

Test your Holiday movie trivia this Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Red Crow Brewing Co. in Olathe, 1062 W. Santa Fe St. It’s totally free, and perfect if you’re looking to celebrate the holidays while social distancing. It’s the perfect setting to debate the merits of “Die Hard.” Grab your tickets ASAP!

Saturday, Dec. 19

Rockcreek Brewing Co. in Mission, 5880 Beverly Ave., is hosting Taco Tank, a Mexican street-style food truck this Saturday 3-8 p.m. Excellent Mexican food and beer pairings shall abound!

Apex Aleworks in Independence, 4356 S. Noland Road, is hosting live music this Saturday 7:30-10:30 p.m. Enjoy the live sounds of Blue 88 as they take you on a musical journey filled with blues, rock and jazz.