The Beer Store

Jared Allen's Closing

This is as shocking as a dude with a drinking problem opening a bar in the first place. I say good riddance, I wasn't going to go there anyway.

Jared Allen is gone from Kansas City, and now so is his namesake restaurant and bar.

Jared Allen’s Sports Arena & Grill closed Wednesday, less than two weeks after working partner Chuck Tabor said he would stick with it and try to make it work.

Now maybe we can get a Derek Jeter's Taco Hole on Southwest Boulevard.

Also of note in the article, it seems that the Peanut downtown has lost their liquor license for 45 days for unlawful sale to an intoxicated person. I blame the hot pickle.

Drunk Trolley

This sounds like a fabulous idea.

“From 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. a series of mini buses and trolley cars will run from Seven downtown to the entertainment district to 18th and Vine, the Martini Corner, Westport, the Plaza, Brookside and Waldo and end up in the parking lot at Lew’s.

“It will be a continuous shuttle. You pay $10 for a wristband that allows you to pop on and pop off as much as you want that night. In addition, all the bars will provide security and run drink specials at different times for people wearing wristbands.”

..

From Tuesday through Sunday, George’s trolleys will run day shifts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. out of Union Station to the Steamboat Arabia, the Kansas City Museum, the Negro Leagues and Jazz museums near 18th and Vine and Liberty Memorial. An all day pass will cost $8 (children under 10 free).

“What this does is it puts the trolleys back on the street in Kansas City,” George says. “There are none now, but we’re going to bring in a fleet of trolleys to support this.”

One downside is that they still need to suck at the taxpayer's teat to get started. But I must say, I do agree that it would help tourism. I've long thought there should be some sort of trolley going from Bartle Hall to the Sprint Center and from River Market to Crown Center. Conventioneers could get around to some of KC's sights. Convention folk could get their wristband free with their downtown hotel room (the hotels would pay a fee for their guests to use the trolley). We don't need no stinkin' expensive light rail. I know light rail is nice and all but we could buy everyone in KC a brand new car for the price light rail would cost. We could implement the trolley/bus scheme in months for a fraction of the price and it could sustain itself through user fees not taxes. Let's get this done and shut the hell up about light rail. Plus, who hasn't wanted to vomit off of a trolley? NO ONE!

Hat tip to The D.

Need a Break from the Wife? Enter the "Man Cave"

Here's the peculiar beer link to the peculiar beer story...

Man Cave

Rollin on OE

Shortly after I took this picture, I declared Olde English 800 the greatest beer in the world.

Yet Another Reason to Drink Wine

A recent study found the average American walks about 900 miles per year. Another study found Americans drink, on average, 22 gallons of wine a year. That means, on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the gallon.

Kind of makes me proud to be an American.

Beer Menus

I sure wish we could figure out a way to monetize the KC Beer Blog. It seems a dude in New York figured out a good way. He has come up with a website that compiles all of the bars in Manhattan's beer menus.

A tip of the pint, then, to Will Stephens, who at 23 has been drinking legally for only two years, yet has created BeerMenus.com, a growing compendium that lists 263 beer menus and 1,386 different beers from pubs around Manhattan and, now, Brooklyn.
As Florence Fabricant noted in today’s Dining In section, the site, which went live on April 24, is deviously simple to use. You can search for a pub, a beer or a neighborhood. Each pub listing includes an address, phone, hours and Google map. The list of beers includes the brewery, alcohol by volume and price per bottle or glass. Click on the name of a beer and you are then taken to a list of pubs that sell it.
The idea for the site grew out of frustration. Mr. Stephens was tired of his job as a paralegal. An avid home brewer, he was also tired of getting stuck in bars with mediocre beer. His favorite, 90 Minute IPA from the Dogfish Head brewery in Milton, Del., was not exactly easy to find. His older brother, Eric, was having no better luck finding his first choice, Arrogant Bastard, made by the Stone Brewing Company.
“Too often we’d go along with our friends and be unhappy with the beer selection,” said Will Stephens, from his apartment in Williamsburg. “We’d go out of our way” to find pubs with good beer.

I'll go out on a limb and guess that he has had his own Stables experience. If you're going to New York this summer, check out BeerMenus.com.

It's a Different Kind of Bar, Charlie Brown

This afternoon saw my first-ever visit to The Peanut, at 51st and Main just south of the Plaza. Ward Parkway and I decided to enjoy some pints and order their "famous" super-jumbo chicken wings. I'd heard rumors of the size of the wings at The Peanut, but I was not prepared for how big they actually were (I'm sure there's a dirty joke in here somewhere, but I'm not feeling it). W.P. ordered twelve of the wings, which I'd assumed would be a mere appetizer. I was mistaken. Between the two of us, we only managed to finish EIGHT of them. Seriously. Big. Wings. Ostrich, perhaps?

In glancing around the room, W.P. noted that, "it looks like some of the customers from the Peanut's original Grand Opening are still here..." Lots of old-timers!

The best part about the trip to the bar was the bartender. He was a gruff man, with a serious grasp on the lunchtime crowd. I think he was the only person working the bar AND the floor, and doing everything with a pretty pleasant attitude. We counted, at one time, 33 people under his watchful eye. He was careful to make sure everyone had food and beer.

A mother and her two kids, I assume--but they could very well have been kids she was babysitting--walked into the bar. It sounds like the start of a joke, but there really isn't a joke here. The bartender didn't miss a beat and asked the kids if they wanted some matches to play with. Hilarious! I mean, shouldn't a bar have some spare coloring books on hand? The mom replied that they'd probably be just as happy with a beer. Can you dig that?! These kids are gonna be some warped 3rd graders (next year)...

There were several "NO SMOKING" signs posted around the bar on the walls, but there were ash trays out for people to use. There was also a lone guy at the end of the bar smoking away. I guess the new smoking ban didn't affect him much. Nobody seemed to notice (or care for that matter).

A Peanut fan named "Crockett" had this to say (about what he claims is) KC's oldest bar:

"The Peanut offers a look back into how bars used to be. Especially on Main street. Serving up some of the best BLT's and chicken wings (ah, the wings are the best) anywhere, The Peanut is a must visit for any one visiting KC. The beer is cold, the food is excellent and the ambiance fits every walk of life."

So grab your children and head to The Peanut! (But bring your own coloring books unless they like to play with matches.)

More from the Saucer

Wes met me this evening over at The Flying Saucer. It was his first time because he was too full to come on Monday. Wes was, to Michelle the waitress and whoever the bartender was, the first to order a Young's Double Chocolate Stout float. Wes thought it was fabulous, I thought the bitterness of the beer wasn't overcome by the sweetness of the ice cream.

While we were in there, as anyone who is in the Twitterverse would know, we were screwing around on the Internet. Wes was trying to look up what TKC said about his Mi Cocina post. I clicked on his site from my bookmarks and KC Live (which I was hooked up to for Wi-Fi) has declared Tony's Kansas City pornography. I found it funny. Luckily we were able to read his post in my Google Reader.

Anyway, when you go to The Flying Saucer, ask to sit in Michelle's section and tell her The KC Beer Blog sent you.

Mi Cocina has CLOSED?!

Ward Parkway and I were walking through the Plaza yesterday evening, when we saw that Mi Cocina was closed up tighter than a duck's ass! It was especially unnerving as it was "Cinco de mayo." There should have been a hoard of people eating tacos that evening, but NO. There wasn't a soul -- nor un hombre, una mujer, un mesero, una mesera. NADIE. Nobody!

Unable to find anything of substance on the internet, I called the Plaza customer service office to see what I could learn. They said that at of the end of April, Mi Cocina had closed its doors permanently at the end of its lease. Too bad. I really think they had the best margaritas in the area... Wonder what will take its place??? I'm pulling for a Buffalo Wild Wings, personally. Either that or something "local." Anything local would be alright with me. But if that doesn't work out, a BWW would certainly suit me fine.

Please bow your head now, as we take a moment of silence in remembrance of Mi Cocina--the best darned Mexican joint this side of Guadalajara.

Plaza Happy Hours

The following information was gathered from the Plaza website.

810 Zone 816.268.9663
Monday-Friday 4-6, Monday-Thursday 11-close
• half-price appetizers
• Specials on wells
• domestic drafts & bottle specials

Baja 600 816.931.6600
Sunday-Thursday 3-6
• $1 off house margaritas
• half-price domestics
• $2 specialty appetizers — chicken taquitos, California rolls, espinaca con queso, & nachos grande

Brio Tuscan Grille 816.561.5888
Sunday-Friday 3-6
• $1 off domestics
• $4 martinis

Figlio Italian Restaurant 816.561.0505
Monday-Friday 3-6, Saturday & Sunday 2-6
• half-price appetizers
• $2 well drinks, house wines, & domestic draws
• ask for the daily drink special
• daily $2 chef special

Fred P. Ott’s 816.753.2878
Monday-Friday 4-7
• $3 appetizers
• $2 domestic draws and well drinks

Granfalloon Bar & Grill 816.753.7850
Monday-Friday 4-7
• $1.50 domestic draws
• $2 well drinks
• $4.50 appetizers

Kona Grill 816.931.5888
Monday-Friday 3-7, Monday-Thursday 10- close, Friday & Saturday 11-close
• selected half price appetizers, pizzas & sushi rolls
• $2.75 lady margaritas & bud light drafts
• $3.75 cosmos & $5.75 sake bombs

McCormick & Schmick’s 816.531.6800
Monday-Friday 4-6
• $1.95 appetizers

The Melting Pot 816.931.6358
Sunday-Friday 4-6
• half-price cheese and chocolate fondue or $3.75 per course per guest
• discounts on select bar drinks

M&S Grill 816.531.7799
Monday-Friday 4-6, 9-11, Saturday & Sunday 3-6
• $1.95 select food menu

O’Dowd’s Little Dublin 816.561.2700
Monday-Friday 4-6
• Specials on 20oz draws
• half-price appetizers

Re:verse 816.931.7811
Sunday-Thursday 2-7
• half-price domestic bottles, domestic draws & well drinks
• select half-price wines & small plates

Tomfooleries 816.753.0555
Daily from 4-7
• 1.75 domestic draws
• $3.25 margaritas
• $2.50 call liquors
• $2.95 select food menu
Daily from 9-close
• 1.75 well drinks
• daily drink specials

Uno Chicago Grill 816.931.1599
Sunday-Friday 4-7, 10-midnight
• $1.99 & 2.99 select appetizers
• select draft specials

Flying Saucer

Alright, I must warn you, I have had a beer or two before typing this one out. I got over to the Flying Saucer in the Power and Light district at 13th and Wyandotte right before it was to open for the first time. I joined about 12 single guys in line, ok not really a line, more like an open source queue. The wait was about 3 minutes before the doors opened. I hadn't been this excited for an opening since Wrigley opened the gate for the bleacher seats last time we were there.

I sat down at a booth, being the first ever to sit in a booth at a KC Flying Saucer (all the other dudes went to sit at the bar). The booths were a much more attractive option since they were by the open garage door style windows. I ordered a Bell's Oberon to start things off. At the Flying Saucer the seasonal type beers are listed on the menu as Bell's Rotator or Boulevard Rotator or, well you get the idea. Luckily for me, Monday is Pint Night which means that all marked pints are only $2.75. In the case of Bell's and other breweries this is quite the markdown because they are regularly $4.75 or $5.00.

I must say my waitress, Michelle was the greatest. Her little German outfit really flattered her, plus she was nice to the weird dude with menus, phones and other electronic equipment strewn across the table. I was still waiting for Wes, Black & Tan, Buttery Nipple and Abbey Ale to show up. So I was in a booth all by my lonesome. I ordered some dinner, a French dip.

When Michelle brought my sandwich, I was a little disappointed in its size, kind of like how any date of The D's is disappointed by the size (but then again, dudes tend to be picky). But, it was quite tasty and the Guinness au jus was really quite tasty. The fries were wonderful. I was full by the time I finished the sandwich, which I didn't really think would happen (much like The D's dates).

I ordered another beer, something English called the Hobgoblin. It was a pretty good beer, nothing I would go out of my way for, but very nice and had a distinct taste to it that American pale ales don't have. Finally Buttery Nipple and Abbey Ale showed up. I was beginning to think Michelle was thinking I was a really weird guy who likes sitting in a booth by himself.

Buttery Nipple scanned the menu for something of the wheat varietel. Luckily for Nipple, the Flying Saucer menu has beers sorted by varietel so you can pick a beer by what you like. Abbey Ale really disappointed me by picking Peroni to drink. Not that there is anything wrong with Peroni, but when confronted with a bitchin' beer menu you shouldn't select Peroni.

Apparently while I was taking a couple of days off last week there was quite the party. A party so wild that Abbey Ale maintains that anal sex isn't sex (she's single dudes), a position that Bill Clinton would be proud of. You have to love girls with a Wichita State education.

After the Peroni incident (which incidentally, Abbey Ale didn't like and Michelle took it back, no charge), I was put in charge of picking out beers for Abbey Ale. I hooked her up with the Bell's Oberon first. When she finished that we asked for a sample of some Breckenridge Avalanche. The Flying Saucer is great because they will take back a bad beer, the Peroni, and let you have a one ounce sample of whatever beer you would like to try. So Abbey tried the Breck and thought it was a little watery (I don't know what she smokes while she's at work, but it ruins her taste buds). I then had her try an Abita Turbodog. She loved that and got a full size one.

In the meantime I had ordered myself a Rogue Dead Guy Ale. Again, with the $2.75 Pint Night special, quite the bargain. It was a really nice night outside, the weather was great. We watched a dude, a little high on Cinco de Mayo, puke outside of his taxicab. It was quite the site. The service at The Flying Saucer was so great that they took pitchers of water out to the street to wash the puke out of site of diners and guests.

Abbey Ale's boss came by, another Wichita State grad, and talk centered around single chicks trying to find dudes. While Buttery Nipple is technically a dude, he is somewhat qualified to speak for women. This kind of left me with no insight left to give. Abbey Ale was going out with her slutty friends this week to learn to flirt, apparently she gets nervous around dudes. Buttery Nipple questioned why she never seems nervous around him and, long story short, she thought he was really a chick, therefore no nervousness.

I finally had to leave and get home to the family. I can't stress enough how great of a waitress Michelle was. She wasn't even judgmental when I said I need a XXL t-shirt when I joined the Beerknurd club. Seriously, you all need to go to the Flying Saucer, it is surprisingly affordable in the most unaffordable part of town and it is friggin' fabulous.

The "Dick and Jane" series for Irish-catholic families

These learn-to-read books, made Wes Port the man he is today.

PBR Coffin

This made my day. Now I know what Wes' coffin will look like. I would go with a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale bottle coffin.

Flying Saucer Beer Menu

After some extensive research (Ok, Coreyo sent me a link, you caught me) I have found the KC Flying Saucer's beer menu. My heart broke a little when I didn't find anything from Dogfish Head. I had braced myself for that possibility since it isn't available anywhere in Missouri (stupid 3 tiered liquor distribution system). I'm going to have a major conflict in my life when I have to drink a Bud Light to get my name in the ring of honor.

Pint Price Around the World

You going to Iceland next week and want to know how much a pint is going to set you back? Well I have the site for you, Pintprice.com. It's an open source site so you can help them out by putting in the price you paid.

Hat tip to The Club for Growth.

Howl at the Moon Holiday Event

Click here for additional Howl Happy Hours and Specials.

So THAT'S why there's ICE in the urinal...

I had no idea.  This totally explains it!  (Thanks D.C. for the scoop!)


Dear Wes and Bull:

It was nice to have you and your friends at City Tavern.  I'm surprised a bunch of old pub
crawlers like yourselves had never encountered ice in urinals before.  The ice is there for
two reasons.  First, the slow drip of the ice keeps water in the line, which keeps odors
from coming back into the restroom.  Second, you got it...  It is the little boy peeing in the
snow thrill, which is our gift to our male customers, just as the flowers in the ladies room
is theirs.  Hope to see you again soon.

All the best,

D.C.
The City Tavern