Tap List | Parkville Microbrew Fest Preview

Come rain, snow, wind or sunshine, the 15th annual Parkville Microbrew Fest, scheduled for April 28, is one of greater Kansas City’s longest-running outdoor craft beer spring festivals. Craft brewers, representatives, and attendees don weather-appropriate apparel and gear to sample beer, listen to live music, and enjoy the outdoors at English Landing Park (8701 McAfee St., Parkville, Missouri).

Founded in 2004, the festival predates many of the craft breweries that have opened in Kansas City over the past five years. The original festival featured a mere eight local breweries and attracted around 200 guests. Now, more than 70 breweries and homebrew clubs attract more than 3,000 attendees for the one-day fest, according to the festival website.

The brewery roster includes new local breweries, such as Strange Days Brewing Co., Casual Animal Brewing Co., and 3 Trails Brewing Co. (slated to open this year). Based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Fringe Beerworks will have its Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Wheat and Doc Myers’ Snake Oil Black IPA on tap.

Colony HandCrafted Ales will serve Zoltar (10.5-percent ABV, 89 IBUs), a “festival-only Imperial Coffee Stout made with Post Coffee,” according to brewer Rodney Beagle. Cinco Wheat (5.5-percent ABV, 18 IBUs) is a seasonal “guacamole-inspired Wheat Ale with flaked maize, cilantro, lime and salt added.”

Calibration Brewery, also based in North Kansas City, Missouri, will serve Compared to What Scottish Ale, Beast in Me Brown Ale, Whole Lotta Love Grapefruit IPA and I Never Knew You Raspberry Cider.

Regional breweries making an appearance include Piney River Brewing Co., Logboat Brewing Co., Gella’s Diner and Liquid Bread Brewing, and Walnut River Brewing. Homebrewers will be represented by Johnson County Brewing Society, Missouri Mashers Homebrew Club and other clubs.

Head to the website for the full brewery lineup, ticket information, and details.

Wakarusa Brewery is expanding its hours to include Thursdays. (Contributed | Wakarusa Brewery)

Tap Notes

Wakarusa Brewery (710 Main St., Eudora, Kansas) begins regular Thursday hours this week. The brewery is now open every Thursday and Friday from 4 to 11 p.m. (happy hour runs until 6 p.m.), Saturday from 1 to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 9 p.m. The brewery releases its Irish Red Ale this week.

Martin City Brewing Company (500 E. 135th St.) has a new Beer Club. Free to join, club membership includes a 2-for-1 tap pass valid at MCBC’s Kansas City locations, advance news on upcoming events and details on special releases, and $15 off its Kansas City beer shirts.

Strange Days Brewing (316 Oak St.) has the second “episode” of its Episodes Pale Ale on tap featuring Eureka hops.

New Axiom Brewing Company (949 NE Columbus St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri) is making steady progress on the build-out of its brewery and taproom. Head brewers Mac Lamken, Devin Glaser, Sean Householder and Joe Migletz, director of taproom operations, are behind the project.

“New Axiom is continuing to build every day. The floors were finished last week, walls are going up, the walk-in is up, and overhead doors are in,” Lamken said.

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Calibration Brewery (119 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri) has I Never Knew You Raspberry Cider and Mojito Cider on tap. Black Licorice IPA is nearly tapped out. Is This Love? Satisfy My Soul Traditional Cider will be available sometime this week. All ciders are 5.7-percent ABV.

Barley Bus is a transportation company that specializes in tours and tastings at breweries, wineries and distilleries in Kansas City and the surrounding area. The company recently added a Brews, Blues & BBQ tour that includes a trip to Martin City Brewing, Kansas City Bier Company, and BB’s Lawnside BBQ. Another new package tour is available for the Weston Wine Festival on May 19.

Whalez Candles has officially opened for business. Owner Matt Wiley began testing his concept in late 2017 for handcrafted candles housed in select craft beer cans and bottles. He delayed the business launch while focusing on family matters, but now sells the candles at select beer festivals and online.

Wiley said he will donate 10 percent of all his monthly proceeds to Saint Jude Hospital in honor of his mother’s passing with cancer in January.

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Weston Brewing Company (500 Welt St., Weston, Missouri) has released Root Sellers Cucumber Ginger Beer on tap at its restaurant and pub. The beer was inspired by a popular Jamaican drink.

Tickets are now on sale for Hip Hops Hooray Beer Fest on Aug. 11, 2018. The event will have beer from local breweries and homebrewers, a DJ spinning hip hop, and appetizers. Turning Point and Rettsyndrome.org will receive a portion of proceeds.

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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.