When we first moved out here in '07, our friends & family back in Portland thought we were crazy. "There's nothing out there!" "What are you going to do? It's so flat!" "It's just corn fields!" Anyone who has gone running or biking in Kansas City will tell you: it's not flat. And, though there may be corn fields outside of the city, I dare any Portlander to tell me that Portland isn't also surrounded by crops and dairy farms.
I will admit, though, that I thought for sure moving out here meant the end of craft beer in my life and the beginning of learning to love Bud Light and backward baseball caps. Man was I wrong. Living here, I can get beer that isn't available in the NW. To name a few: Bells, O'Fallon, Schlafly, Southern Tier, Founders, Boulevard...
Sure, we don't get Dogfish Head or Stone or AleSmith or Deschutes or Lagunitas or Russian River... yet.... But it's been amazing to watch the craft beer scene here explode just since our arrival here. Several factors are, I'm sure, to thank for it - Boulevard's smokestack series (and the limited editions), Flying Saucer's entry to KC, Barley's tuning in to new and seasonal beers, Derek Bean moving from O'Fallon to MoBev to assist with new accounts and distribution channels... Kansas City seems to be where Portland was about 10 years ago, back when I just started getting into craft brew (and a nod to Deschutes, Bridgeport, and New Old Lompoc for getting me on my way). In terms of craft beer, it's an exciting time to be in Kansas City.
So anyway.. we're off. I doubt I'll post during our trip, but you never know. I can guarantee, however, that I'll post when I get back about something interesting or relating to Kansas City. I hear there was a tasting at my favorite Portland bottle shop of Boulevard's BBQ and Saison-Brett recently. Verrrrrry interesting.
Aint nothin wrong with the backward hat! Have a great trip.
ReplyDeleteCentral States picked up Lagunitas and it should be here (MO) around the time you get back. And hopefully they'll be distributing bombers and six-packs, unlike with Southampton where we still don't get their good stuff.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip!
Wow, good timing — you just missed that godawful heat wave they had. My friends from Texas who just went out there to visit my old roommate weren't so lucky. They thought they were getting away from 106-degree heat, and instead they took it with them.
ReplyDeleteThat Pelican screen shot brings back great memories. I loved that place. I still have dreams about the plate of oysters I got there. Have fun!