Tap List | McCoy’s Watermelon IPA is in the Works

New breweries and summer-inspired beers are on the menu for the seventh annual Westport Beer Festival. Piney River Brewing, Stem Ciders, Dogfish Head Brewery, COOP Ale Works, and Uinta Brewing are all first-time participants in the festival (4057 Pennsylvania Ave.). The festival, from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 24, is a benefit for AIDS Walk.

Summer session beers are the focus at this fest, which will feature more than 35 craft breweries and several local distilleries: J. Rieger & Co., Union Horse, Pinckney Bend, and Tom’s Town will pour samples.

“We focus on lighter, easy-drinking summer styles of beer that delight the novice and experienced beer drinker,” said Randyl Danner, beer/beverage director of McCoy’s and The Foundry. “McCoy’s will pour Strawberry Ginger Shandy, which is our popular shandy with fresh juiced strawberries, and our 20th anniversary beer, the Watermelon IPA made with Newcomb’s IPA and fresh watermelon juice.”

McCoy’s food tent will sell and serve smoked pulled pork sandwiches, burnt end mac-n-cheese, house-made brats and other beer fest fare. Representatives from Sporting KC will also make an appearance at the festival. Tickets are $35 advance, $40 at gate.

Boulevard’s Love Child No. 8 will be the latest release in the series. (Courtesy of Boulevard Brewing Co.)

Welcome to the World, Love Child No. 8

Boulevard Brewing Company released the eighth iteration of its Love Child blended sour ale to the greater Kansas City area yesterday on draft and today in 750-ml bottles.

“With each release of a Love Child blend, it’s not our intention to reproduce the character of the previous year’s blend, but rather to offer a blend of the very best sour beers we have on hand,” Ambassador Brewer Jeremy Danner said.

Love Child No. 8’s blend includes Flanders-style red aged in previously used red wine barrels (41-percent), Belgian-style golden ale aged in previously used red wine barrels (53-percent), and Love Child No. 7 blend aged in previously used red wine barrels (6-percent). The tart flavor profile is reminiscent of sour cherries and green strawberries.

Boulevardia Adds Event at Voltaire

Boulevard Brewing Company and The Free State Brewing Co. present an intimate three-course dinner on Saturday, June 17, inside the Boulevardia festival grounds at Voltaire. The $80 ticket includes dinner, with each course paired with one Boulevard beer and one Free State beer, and general admission to Boulevardia on Saturday. Representatives from both breweries will talk about their beer.

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— Pete Dulin writes about food trends for Flatland and is the author of the “KC Ale Trail.” Follow @FlatlandKC and #TapList on Twitter for more food news and trends.