Kansas City Craft Beer Week 2015

KC Craft Beer Week 2015 is June 13-21

Get your drinking caps on because we've got another big week ahead of us, KC! The Kansas City Craft Beer Week is back for the second year--running from June 13-June 21. Like last year, the week is book-ended by two of the biggest beer events of the year--the Westport Beer Fest on June 13 and Boulevardia Taps & Tastes on June 20. Of course, these are far from the only great events scheduled for the week.

As of today, I count over 50 events for next week. It's not all just tap takeovers and beer dinners either--our local watering holes are pulling out all the stops with unique events including a Giant Jenga tournament, brewers reading mean tweets about themselves, and a yoga & beer detox at the end. I'm going to highlight just some of the standout events in this post, but as usual, we've got all of the events listed with details on our KC Beer Calendar.

KCCBW Standout Events

Festivals

Westport Beer Festival
Saturday 6/13 - 5p-9p

The Westport Beer Festival is back again for its 5th year. This is one of the best beer fests in KC and probably the best value. If you buy your tickets online, they're only $30. They're $35 at the door the day of. Considering the beer lineup, and the low cost, this is one event that you can't afford to miss.

The event lineup includes most of the KC area breweries, along with some great regional and national breweries. This includes some amazing breweries like Jolly Pumpkin, Perennial, Prairie, and Pretty Things among many others. I've got a full listing of breweries and the beers they're bringing at the bottom of this post.

The event is held on the streets at the heart of Westport. I really can't imagine a better setting for a beer festival. Seriously, go buy your tickets now! 

Worlds of Fun All-American BBQ & Brew Festival
June 13/14 & June 20/21 - 1p-7p

This is a shiny new mini-festival for Kansas City. The festival costs $25 (not including the Worlds of Fun entry cost) and the cost gets you 12-4oz beer samples from 6 breweries along with BBQ samples at each brewery table. Breweries that will be there are KC Bier Co, Tallgrass, New Belgium, Summit, Public House (Rolla), and Torn Label. All of the BBQ samples are paired with the beers available by the parks Executive Chef Kevin Williams. They're also going to have two bands playing at the fest from Noon-4p on June 13.

Considering this fest would set you back about $60 if you combine the park entry fee with the beer festival tickets, I wouldn't say it's one to go out of your way specifically for. But, if you were looking for an excuse to go out to Worlds of Fun (and let's be honest, who isn't look for an excuse to go out there?) then get out there and get yourself some craft beers and BBQ while you're there! Pro-tip: Oceans of Fun & Worlds of Fun are one park now (i.e., a ticket for Worlds of Fun gets you into Oceans of Fun now). Craft beer--BBQ--Lazy River--Win. 

Boulevardia Taps & Tastes
Saturday 6/20 - 4p-7p

This festival needs no introduction being the most sought after fest in the city. The tickets sold out within 15 minutes of going on sale again this year back in February. If you managed to actually get your hands on some tickets, I'm fairly certain you don't need any updates from me on what's happening at the fest! 

Special Events, Tastings & Dinners

Founder's KBS Brunch @ Grinders Stonewall - Sunday 6/14 - 10a

Grinder's Stonewall is tapping a keg of KBS at 10a during their Sunday brunch time. What's better than eggs benedict, a waffle station, and 11% ABV Imperial Stout for breakfast? Not much, my friend, not much. First come, first serve until the keg runs out. 

Left Hand Pictionary Tournament @ Tapcade - Sunday 6/14 - 1p

Tapcade is hosting a couple of fun events during KCCBW including this Pictionary tournament sponsored by Left Hand Brewing Co. They'll be tapping Good JuJu, Twin Sisters, and Introvert from Left Hand. If you buy a Left Hand beer, you also get to keep the glass! 

Stone Craft Beer Tasting Class w/ Nate Sellegren @ Bier Station - Sunday 6/14 - 3p

Nate from Stone is coming in to Bier Station to lead a tasting class. The event is free, but you have to RSVP to the Bier Station Facebook event ahead of time. There are limited spots available, so go sign up right now if you want to attend. This should be an excellent learning opportunity along with a fun time. Nate never disappoints. 

Flying Saucer Beer Dinner with Stephen Beaumont - Sunday 6/14 - 6p

This is going to be an epic beer dinner. Stephen Beaumont is one of the World's premier beer writers, and he's coming to KC to team up with the Flying Saucer and Chef Matt Arnold of the Webster House to craft a five course beer dinner. Stephen will be talking at the dinner and leading the group through all of the pairings. The food and beer parings are going to be kept under wraps until the event, but I'm sure they'll be amazing given who's putting the dinner together.

Tickets for the dinner must be purchased in advance and will be $65 for the general public and $55 for UFO Beerknurds. Call (816) 221-1900 to reserve your tickets. 

Sours & Stouts Tappings @ Westport Ale House - Monday & Tuesday - 6/15-6/16 - 6p

Ale House has got some outstanding beers lined up for KCCBW. They're going to be tapping half the beers on Monday and half on Tuesday. The beer tapping will start at 6p, and consist of the following:

Monday
Boulevard Love Child 5
Jolly Pumpkin 10 Saison
Petrus Aged Pale Ale
Martin City Big Boy
Stone IRS '14

Tuesday
Founders KBS
Sierra Nevada Narwhal '14
Perennial Hopfentea
Prairie Ales Elizabeth
2nd Shift LSD

Ursa Minor Imperial Brown Release Party @ McCoy's - Tuesday 6/16 - 4p

I'm sure you're all familiar with McCoy's Imperial Stout Ursa Major that they release every year on the Winter Solstice. Well this year, to mark the start of summer, McCoy's is also brewing Ursa Minor--an Imperial Brown Ale. If Ursa Major is any indication, this new brew will be excellent. Go check it out, and get yourself a specialty Ursa Minor glass while you're at it. 

Founder's Skee-Ball Tournament @ Up-Down KC - Tuesday 6/16 - 5p
Skee-Ball Tournament while drinking KBS and Centennial IPA? Yes, please! Get to Up-Down by 4:30 the day of to get registered for the tournament.

Two Brothers Giant Jenga Tournament & Wobble Glass Night @ Tapcade - Wednesday 6/17 - 6p

Another fun event from Tapcade. Two Brother's will be in with their Wobble IPA that will come in a special wobble glass that you get to keep. To top off the wobbling, they're going to have Giant Jenga matches going on! Might I venture a suggestion--wear closed-toed shoes. Those 2x4s hurt when they land on your feet. 

Brewers Read Mean Tweets @ Bier Station - Wednesday 7p

If the people reading mean tweets about themselves on Jimmy Kimmel is any indication, this event should be hilarious. Bier Station is bringing in brewers from around town to read off mean tweets and terrible Untappd reviews about their breweries for our pleasure!

Rafi from Torn Label and Danner from Boulevard loving the Internet.

Sierra Nevada Beer Masterclass @ Tapcade - Thursday 6/18 - 6p

Another awesome event at Tapcade with Brewmasters Steve Dresler & Scott Jennings from Sierra Nevada's California and North Carolina breweries. $10 gets you a tasting of 6 beers that the brewmasters will talk you through. You also get a Sierra Nevada a pint glass, and a taster glass to keep. You have to get tickets in advance for this event--you can buy them here.

Beat the Brewmasters @ Char Bar - Saturday 11a

If you missed tickets to the Sierra Nevada Masterclass at Tapcade, you can catch the brewmasters at Char Bar again on Sunday so you can challenge them in games and shoot the shit with them. They'll have Sierra Nevada Nooner, Pale Ale, Kellerweiss, Hop Hunter and Torpedo on tap. 

KCCBW Detox with Torn Label and the Yogi Beer Project @ Liberty Memorial - Sunday 6/21 - 10a

If you've had enough of KCCBW by Sunday morning and need a detox, how about some free yoga and beer on the Liberty Memorial lawn? (Yes--the best way to detox from drinking beer all week is to drink beer while doing yoga. Don't question, we're professionals!) This is a free event hosted by Torn Label and the Yogi Beer Project. Not sure what could be better after a week like this one is going to be.

Complete Westport Beer Fest Brewery & Beer Lineup

4 Hands Brewing Co.
-Contact High
-Send Help
-Opus

75th Street Brewery
-Yardbird’s Saxxy Golden
-Raspberry Wheat
-Red Eye Rye
-Lost Hope Double IPA

Amerisports
-Half Court Light
-Knock Out Blond
-Draft Choice Special IPA

Bell’s Brewery
-Oberon
-Oarsman
-Wild One

Border Brewing Co.
-Campfire Porter
-Patio Pale Ale

Boulevard Brewing Co.
-Love Child #5
-Saison-Brett
-Hibiscus Gose
-80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer

Breckenridge Brewery
-Breck IPA
-SummerBright
-Barrel Aged Ophelia-Mezcal Barrels
-Avalanche
-Agave Wheat

Broadway Brewing
-11 Point IPA
-Broadway Porter
-Broadway Honey Wheat

Bur Oak Brewery
-Trail Bender Wheat
-Boone County Brown
-Sacred Sun Saison
-Lily Ale

Cathedral Square
-Hail Mary
-Abbey Ale

Cinder Block Brewing Co.
-Block IPA
-Rivet Rye
-Weathered Wit

Defianace Brewing Co
-Thrasher
-Willy Nilly
-Happy Feet

Deschutes Brewery
-Pine Drops
-Twilight
-Foray

Empyrean Brewing Co.
-Mango Imperial IPA
-Super Nova Summerfest
-Saison

Firestone Walker
-Pivo Pils
-Easy Jack

Founders Brewing Co.
-Rubaeus
-All-Day IPA
-Dirty Bastard

Free State Brewing Co.
-Wheat State Golden
-Stormchaser
-Cloud Hopper

Goose Island Beer Co.
-The Ogden
-Sofie
-Goose IPA

Gordon Biersch Restaurant & Brewery
-Sommerbrau
-Hefeweizen
-Golden Export
-Crystal Rye Bock

Green Room Burgers & Beer
-Papa Louie’s Old Country Promise
-Papa Louie’s Andi’s Ale
-Baby Quad

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
-Calabaza Blanca
-Bam Bier

Kansas City Bier Co.
-Hefeweizen
-Dunkel
-De Bauer

Left Hand Brewing Co.
-Great Juju
-Milk Stout Nitro
-Twin Sisters

Lagunitas Brewing Co.
-Hop Stoopid

Martin City Brewing Co.
-Belgian Rye Blonde
-City Saison
-Robb’s Red IPA
-Apposit

McCoy’s Public House
-Peach Wheat
-Ginger Shandy
-Rye Pale Ale
-Hefeweizen

Mother’s Brewing Co.
-Skip Day
-Imperial 3 Blind Mice w/ Raspberries
-Doozy

New Belgium Brewing Co.
-Slow Ride
-Snapshot
-Skinny Dip

North Coast Brewing Co.
-Puck
-Le Merle
-Scrimshaw
-PranQster

Odell Brewing Co.
-Loose Leaf
-St. Lupulin
-Brombree-Blackberry Gose

Brewery Ommegang
-Witte
-Game of Thrones-Three Eyed Raven
-Game of Thrones-Fire and Blood

Perennial Artisan Ales
-Saison de Lis
-Hommel
-Philly Taco

Prairie Artisan Ales
-Prairie Ale
-Birra

Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project
-Meadowlark
-Fluffly White Rabbits
-Lovely St. Winefride

Rogue Farms
-VooDoo #4 Lemon Crueller
-7 Hop
-American Amber

Root Sellers Formidable Fermentables
-Row Hard Root Beer
-Pedal Hard Ginger Beer
-Himmel & Erde Carrot Apple Ale

Samuel Adams
-Pigs in a Blanket
-Thirteenth Hour
-Oaked Dunkeweizen

Santa Fe Brewing Co.
-Free Style Pils
-Happy Camper
-Chicken Killer

Schlafly Beer
-Raspberry Hefeweizen
-Hard Apple Cider
-Belgian Golden

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
-Hop Hunter
-India Farmhouse Ale
-Kellerweiss
-Nooner

Stone Brewing Co.
-Go To IPA
-Pale Ale

Tallgrass Brewing Co.
-8-Bit Pale Ale
-16-Bit Double Pale Ale
-Halcyon

Torn Label Brewing Co.
-Monk & Honey
-Tongue Lash
-KC P’Ryed
-Alpha Pale Ale

Two Brothers Brewing Co.
-Monarch White
-Dog Days Dortmunder
-Sidekick

Urban Chestnut
-Zwickel
-Schnickelfritz
-Pierre’s Wit

Woodchuck Hard Cider
-Gumption
-Summer Time
-Hosation