Tap List | KC Bier Co. Matriculates to Regional Brewery Status

Every snow day needs a hero. We need heroes to dodge brown sludge in parking lots, to take out the trash in subfreezing temperatures, to shovel snow from the driveway. And what better way to honor your snow hero than by offering them the gift of beer.

Tap News

KC Bier Co. has matriculated from “microbrewery” to “regional brewer” status, making it one of the top 3% of breweries in the United States in terms of production volume.

The brewery has announced it produced 16,526 barrels of beer in 2019, a 24% increase over the previous year, outpacing the 4% national average posted for all independent craft brewers.

“I’m very proud of our employees,” said Steve Holle, founder and managing owner of KC Bier Co., which is the city’s largest independent and locally owned brewery.

The Brewers Association (BA), the trade group representing the craft beer industry in the United States, reported that in 2018 just 230 of 7,346 breweries operating nationwide produced more than 15,000 barrels, which is the production threshold to be considered a regional brewery.

Holle was introduced to German-style beer as a student. KC Bier has focused solely on using German brewing methods and only using water, yeast and imported German malt and hops.

This achievement, for Holle, signals that Kansas City has embraced KC Bier’s commitment to authentic German-style beer. When asked about future plans, Holle said the company simply plans to make more authentic German beer in Kansas City. 

Tap Notes

KC Bier Co. makes authentic German-style beer, and it definitely shows. Their Hefeweizen (5.2% ABV, 13 IBU) is a flavorful Bavarian-style wheat ale with notes of honey, lime, and wheat. 

Boulevard Brewing Co.’s Phantom Haze Double IPA is a solid IPA clocking in at about 7.5% ABV (30 IBU). This hoppy beer has strong notes of grapefruit and pineapple.

Springfield-based Mothers Brewing Co.’s Chug Chug Suckle Suckle is a double New England IPA (10% ABV) with strong hoppy notes on the front end, followed by hints of citrus and ginger on the back end.

Awesomeness Batch #5 (8% ABV, 100 IBU) by Defiance Brewing Co. is a head-turning Double IPA with a medley of flavors, including kiwi, orange and grapefruit. 

This Week

Wednesday, Jan. 15

Head over to Flying Saucer Kansas City, 101 E. 13th St., this Wednesday for their Hopslam Release Event. Bell’s Brewery will be featuring their Hopslam Ale Double IPA (10% ABV, 70 IBU), a delicious IPA that is sure to quench your hoppy thirst. To top it off, there’s gonna be trivia! 

In Lawrence, Black Stag Brewery, 623 Massachusetts St., is releasing their Windmill Dunkel to the world. Get half-off on beer and wine, and enjoy some live music!

Thursday, Jan. 16

If you love art and beer, then you do not want to miss this! Casual Animal Brewing Co., 1725 McGee St., is hosting Coloring, Casually this Thursday starting at 5 p.m. Bring you colored pencils and paper, and get a dollar off their beer all night!

Saturday, Jan. 18

This Saturday from 6 – 9 p.m., Rochester Brewing and Roasting Co., 2129 Washington St., will be hosting an event called I AM CRAFT BEER. Enjoy some beer or coffee as fellow beer drinkers discuss diversity and inclusion within the beer community. 

Wanna go back to school? What if it’s beer school? Red Crow Brewing Co., 1062 W. Santa Fe St. in Olathe, is hosting a beer-tasting class this Saturday from 12-1:30 p.m. One ticket gets you four IPAs from four different breweries, a brief lecture on how to characterize various IPAs, two beers to-go, and food!

On Saturday at 1 p.m., KC Bier Co., 310 W. 79th St., will be hosting yet another tour of their facilities. For just $10, learn about one of Kansas City’s largest award-winning breweries, try some authentically brewed German-style beer, and get a souvenir glass!