Our Big Fat American Craft Beer Week List 2015

If there is one week this year to cancel any plans you may have, this is it.  

Beginning Monday May 11^th American Craft Beer Week kicks off across the country and locally there is no shortage of events to look forward to during the week.  To help commemorate this glorious week of celebrating craft beer, your favorite local restaurants, bars and bottle shops have planned some special events including tastings, rare tappings, beer dinners, tap takeovers and limited releases among other things.

The week is jam packed with over 80 events across the Kansas City area and will feature events including a Jester King Brewery Tasting, a Boulevard Brewing Company Vertical Tap Takeover and HopFest Craft Beer Festival.  For the third year in a row we have compiled our Big Fat American Craft Beer Week List below in order to help you dig through all the details and help plan your week with things you actually want to do.

Cheers!

Monday - May 11

75th Street Brewery - Red Eye Rye release and home-brew competition sign-up

Barley’s 119^th – 6pm - Breckenridge beer school - $15/person

Barley’s Leawood – 4:30pm - New Belgium La Folie tapping

Barley’s Midland – 4:30pm - Schlafly Dry-Hopped Farmhouse tapping

Beer Kitchen – 4pm - Sierra Nevada Spiegelau IPA Glass night featuring Hop Hunter IPA

Cinder Block Brewery - Year-round beers $3 all night and year-round growler refills $10

Free State Brewery – 7pm-9pm - "What's that Smell" beer school with brewer Geoff Deman - $25/person

Flying Saucer – 7pm – Urban Chestnut Night

Tank Room - Samuel Adams tap takeover - Potbelly Porter, the Sphinx Belgian sour blonde, Rebel Rouser double IPA, Rebel IPA, Boston Lager and Summer Ale

Westport Ale House - American craft pints for $3.50 through Thursday, May 14

Tuesday - May 12

75^th Street Brewery – 5pm-7pm - Brewer reunion with past 75th Street brewers

Barley’s 119^th – 6pm - Specialty bomber and bottle release - featuring Arcadia Barrel-Aged Shipwreck Porter, Deschutes Jubel 2015, He’brew St. Lenny’s, and Nebraska Black Betty

Barley’s Leawood – 5pm - Coop Ale Works release party

Barley’s Midland – 4:30pm - New Belgium La Folie 2014 and 2015 vertical and a keg of Oscar Worthy Coffee

BD’s Taproom – 6pm - 4 Hands brewery of the month kickoff party - with president and owner Kevin Lemp, featuring Single Speed American Blonde, Divided Sky Rye IPA, Pyrus Saison, Alter Ego Black IPA, Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout and Bona Fide Imperial Stout

Bier Station – 6pm-10pm - Jester King tasting

From Bier Station “OK, Jester King Brewery fans: tickets to our 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, beer tasting with Shelton Brothers Missouri LLC go on sale 8 p.m. sharp Tuesday, May 5, at the Brown Paper Tickets link below. First click, first serve. 40 tickets total available, two-per person max.” http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1586294

Cinder Block Brewery - Geeks Who Drink trivia night

Cork & Barrel 9^th St – 7pm – Free State Sampling

Cork & Barrel 23^rd St – 5pm – Free State Sampling

Flying Saucer – 7pm - Nebraska Brewing night

Free State Brewery – 6:30pm - Free State Cherry Stingo firkin on the brewery's front porch

Fox & Hound – 5pm-8pm – Santa Fe Night

From Fox & Hound “Join us Tuesday, May 12th for some solid Santa Fe Brewing Company action at Fox & Hound Overland Park!  Brewery Rep Pat Thomsen will be on hand to walk you through the SF Experience with these amazing beers available Black IPA, Freestyle Pilsner, Happy Camper IPA and Java Stout.”

Flying Saucer – 7:30pm-10pm – Midwest Craft Beer Trivia Bowl

Grain to Glass – 5pm-7pm - Wheat and Wit beer tasting - comparing in the new Spiegelau wheat glass (you keep one) - $20/person

Lukas Liquor Overland Park – 4pm – Free State Sampling

McCoy’s – 4pm - Maibock release party with a commemorative mug

Pig & Finch – 7pm – Mother’s Beer Dinner

From Pig & Finch “Join us May 12th at Pig & Finch for a delicious evening with Mother's Brewing Company!  The amazing chefs have prepared a spectacular 5 course dinner all centered around pairings of Mother's Brewing beer!  Make your reservations NOW by getting in touch with Pig & Finch! This is an #ACBW event you will NOT want to miss!”

Rimann Liquors – 4:30pm-6:30pm - Free State tasting

Wednesday - May 13

75^th Street Brewery - Cellar Release No. 1 - The Bearded Traveler Belgian tripel aged in chardonnay barrels

Barley’s 119^th - Special IPA releases - with Odell Tree Shaker, Martin City Black Rye IPA, Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, and Coop F5

Barley’s Leawood – 4:30pm - Mother’s Raspberry Imperial Three Blind Mice tapping

Barley’s Midland – 4:30pm - Deschutes Abyss 2014 tapping, plus Deschutes and Ladders drinking game

Burger Stand - Free State beer trivia

Cinder Block Brewery – 4pm - Lusus Naturae peach farmhouse sour ale tapping

Flying Saucer – 7pm – 4 Hands YFA Fundraiser

Grain to Glass – 7pm-10pm - Home Brewing for Beginners class - $50/person

Hank Charcuterie – 7pm-9pm - Free State beer dinner - with brewer Steve Bradt and brewery founder Chuck Magerl

Port Fonda – 7pm - Free State beer dinner - with brewer Geoff Deman, featuring Dirty Kanza Kolsch, John Brown Ale, Stormchaser IPA and Ironman Imperial Stout - $50/person

Rimann Liquors – 4:30pm-6:30pm - Free State tasting

Screenland Crossroads – 6pm-8pm - Woodchuck Gumption release party

Thursday - May 14

75^th Street Brewery – 5pm-7pm - Last Hope Double IPA Release

Barley’s 119^th – 6pm-10pm - Santa Fe Happy Hour

Barley’s Leawood – 6pm-10pm - Traveler Brewing Co. Patio Party

Barley’s Midland – 4:30pm-9:00pm - Boulevard Vertical Tap Takeover

From Barley’s “Boulevard Brewing Company Smokestack Vertical Night!  Featuring, Saison-Brett 2014/2015, Imperial Stout 2013/2014, Rye on Rye 2013/2014, Foeder Projekt, Love Child No. 5.”

The Belfry – 6pm-8pm - Girls Pint Out Presents New Belgium 2015 Lips of Faith

From The Belfry “KC GPO has been selected to join with other GPO Chapters across the country to celebrate NBB's Newest Lips of Faith Creation. Watch the evening's mixologist as they turn this brew into an amazing cocktail. As always this is a co-ed event.”

Bier Station – Prairie Craft Beer Week Taps

From Bier Station “American Craft Beer Week continues when we host taps from our favorite Oklahoma brewers, Prairie Artisan Ales.  Taps so far include 2nd Anniversary, Spaghetti Western (Grappa-barrel-aged), Prairie Bomb!, Prairie Somewhere.”

Burg & Barrel – 5pm-9pm - Free State Keep the Glass Night

From Burg & Barrel “Join Free State’s Seth Sanchez for a fun filled evening of craft beer. And keep the glass when you are done!”

The Foundry – 4pm-11pm - Sam Adams Tap Takeover

From The Foundry “The Foundry at McCoy's will be tapping several Boston Brewing Beauties, including Oaked Dunkelweizen, Thirteenth Hour Stout, Rebel Rouser, Potbelly Porter, The Sphinx, Summer Ale, Boston Lager.”

Flying Saucer – 7pm - Sierra Nevada Nibs of Steel Rare Tap Nite

Friday - May 15

75^th Street Brewery – 5pm-7pm - Double Firkin Friday

Barley’s 119^th – 6pm-10pm - Cellar Release Night – Featuring 2013 Barrel Aged Widershins Barleywine, Oskar Blues Barrel Aged Ten Fidy, North Coast Barrel Aged Old Stock and 2014 Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout

Barley’s Leawood – 5pm-10pm - Lagunitas Flight Night – Featuring Undercover Shutdown Ale, Barrel Aged Scare City, Waldo Triple IPA and Lagunitas IPA

Barley’s Midland – 4:30pm-9:00pm - Oskar Blues Tap Takeover - Featuring Death by Coconut Porter, Tickled Pink Raspberry Saison, Velvet Elvis Oatmeal Stout and Bolivia Newton John Coffee Stout.

Cinder Block Brewery – Firkin Friday - Try one of Cinder Block’s 2 firkins for $3

Flying Saucer – 7pm-10pm - Perennial Night

Sullivan’s Steakhouse – 7pm-9pm - Sam Adams Beer Dinner

From Sullivan’s Steakhouse “Enjoy the iconic flavors of Samuel Adams paired with our five-course menu by Executive Chef Wesley Boston - $60 Per Guest Excluding Tax & Gratuity.  For Reservations call (913) 345-0800.”

Saturday - May 16

75^th Street Brewery – 6pm-9pm - Cellar Release #2 and HopFest After Party

HopFest Craft Beer Festival - $40/person 2pm-6pm ($60 for VIP 1pm-6pm)

• 50+ Craft Breweries with limited edition beers made available to only HopFest!
• Souvenir HopFest Tasting Glass
• Unlimited Sampling
• Brewery & Distributor Reps On Site
• Food Trucks
• Home Brewer Competition
• Tented Beer Garden located one block east of The Well

Sunday - May 17

75^th Street Brewery – 10am-2pm - Hangover Helper – Bottomless Beverage Brunch

Tour De Bier - 7am, 9am, 10am (Depending on Route) – Starts & Ends at Knuckleheads Saloon

From Tour de Bike “The Tour de Bier KC, is a point to point bicycle tour of Kansas City’s breweries, historic brewing landmarks and other breweriana and is lauded as the ‘first of its kind in the region.’”

• Includes lunch & 2 beverages at end party
• Rest stops with food, limited beer tasting
• Roving support
• T-shirt for early registrants
• Maps with self-guided tour information
• Benefits BikeWalkKC