Hop Fest 2011 - Tomorrow!

Tomorrow marks the inaugural year for Hop Fest. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm thinking it will be run much better that the KC Beer Fest (Fail) of the past few years. This is mainly due to the cap on attendance as well as the possibility that The Well/Lew's may be purchasing the beer instead of relying on distributor handouts. (I have no way of validating this). I purchased a VIP ticket when the event was announced many weeks ago thinking I'd have the chance to sample some brews I may have never tried before. I hadn't heard anything referencing a bunch of VIP status brews slated for the event and was starting to get worried. Alas, I worry no more...check out the list posted on Central States Beverage's Facebook page. Many (most) of the list looks pretty standard, but there are a few special brews I can't wait to try...I guess that's the selling point for the VIP ticket. I've listed the "special' brews below. 


Will I see you up there? I hope so. What are you standing around for? You have Hop Fest tickets to buy!


VIP worthy brews at Hop Fest 2011:
Boulevard Test Sour Love Child #2 -keg
Southern Tier - Gemini, Imperial Blended Ale
Crispin - oak aged Pear and Apple Ciders - only eight in MO
Boulevard Hoppy Wheat - keg
Lagunitas Brown Shugga 2010 -keg
Troubador Magma -keg Belgian IPA
Monk's Café - keg Belgian Sour
Southern Tier - Oaked Aged Unearthly ( Imperial IPA)
Tallgrass - Velvet Roster (Belgian Triple)
Southern Tier - Jahva (Imperial Coffee Stout)
Tommy Knocker - Hop Strike (Black IPA)

Flying Saucer Fall Beer Festival - Brewfest Done Right

The Flying Saucer has announced its first annual beer festival and I'm going to go ahead and say what we're all thinking: Will it actually have enough beer? Yes, the KC Beerfest was a complete failure in that they ran out of beer an hour into the festival. The difference: that was benefitting a charity and this is benefiting private business...more over, this is perfect marketting opportunity. A poorly executed festival will bruise the checkbook a bit and that's motivation enough to do things right. I conclude that the beer will be flowing and put a much needed smile (or a buzzed smile) on all KC beer lovers faces. Anyway, I rant, I rant. Immediately open your outlook calendar, talk to your wife, or grab whatever typically reminds you of important events and get Sept. 11th blocked out for the day. See you there.

Brewfest - KC Beerfest

May 22nd is coming fast. The KC Beerfest only 4 weeks away and scheduled perfectly on the heels of the Parkville Microbrewfest. I feel as if I was warming up my taste buds for the next round. With a national/international lineup of Laquanitas, Bear Republic, Ommegang, Great Divide, Dieu du Ciel (Montreal), Karmeliet (Belgium), Mikkeller (Denmark), and of course Boulevard and Free State, I'll be in brew heaven...well, after I bribe St. Peter with a $25 fee to let me through the gates.

Of course, with brewers from all over the nation, we can only assume the distributors and reps of many labels will be running the tasting tents. Yes, I understand this is a "beerfest" and not a "microbrewfest," but I believe in having a reputable resource of knowledge providing the tasting of the brews. I'm not saying that all beer reps are lacking in the knowledge department, but there's something to show when a brewery has actually employees explaining the fruits of their labor. I'm not referring to the "John.Q. I know everything there is to know about this beer" rep, but the one who is more concerned with how the brew gets you drunk vs how it tastes, how it's made, how it's different.

I can hear my pal, Yum,Beer!, explaining to me, "Imbibiliciousness, you're being so negative." Well, I don't mean to be so negative, but as I peruse the list of expected tasting tent tenants and run across the likes of Ed Hardy Beer and Heineken USA, I can't deny the picture of a 23 yr old kid in the latest Affliction outfit trying to explain the subtle nuances of the latest bud water 55 commercial. When his counterpart female states, ''that's so hot right now," I give the stink- eye and move on.

All in all, the festivities will be great, the people will be friendly, and the brew will flow steadily. I look forward to posting some of the more personable/intimate tasting notes to the blog and to seeing all of you there...except when I give you the stink eye. Cheers!