Local craft breweries, wineries and distilleries
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If August is the Sunday of summer, then what's late July? It sure feels like we’ve hit a high point as far as climbing temperatures go — the result of a “heat dome” over much of the Southwest and central U.S. ☀️
In any case, Kansas Citians seeking relief from the blazing hot sun might find shelter in one of the small wineries, breweries or distilleries listed below.
Late July brings summer traveling, too, or perhaps an influx of friends and relatives visiting from out of town. Of course, Kansas City has a lot to offer in the way of large-scale breweries. 🍻 Boulevard — and its lovely brewing space on Southwest Boulevard — comes to mind. (Shout-out Tank 7.)
KC is also home to the J. Rieger & Co. and Tom’s Town distilleries in East Bottoms and Crossroads, respectively. 🍸 But if your group wants to hang out in more intimate digs, we’ve devised a collection of five smaller alcohol purveyors.
This is by no means an exhaustive list — lucky for us, Kansas City is one of the fastest-growing “craft beer destinations in the country.” Cheers to that!
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Crossroads seems to be the poppin’ destination for crushed grapes and distilled spirits, and Kansas City Wineworks totally lives up to the hype. 💫
As a favor to us all, the winery and tasting room served up boozy to-go slushies amid the chaos of the pandemic. The drinks came in soft plastic pouches, each attached to thin, crispy breadsticks wrapped in plastic. 🥖 Snacks are a must-have if you’re imbibing (and hydration is key).
Guests can still take bottles to go, such as the signature semi-dry 2019 Crossroads White Blend or the Crossroads After Dark, a dry red with vanilla notes and a 50/50 fusion of Chambourcin and Norton grapes.
In September, check out the East Crossroads Field Day, and play bar games at eight different Crossroads locations, including KC Wineworks. 🏆
📍 Kansas City Wineworks: 1829 McGee St., Kansas City, Missouri
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Speaking of popping bottles, Vine Street Brewing Co. will soon celebrate its opening as the first Black-owned brewery in Kansas City. 🍾
Located in one of the historic limestone buildings at 2000 Vine Street — across from the City Workhouse Castle — the brewery sits at the edge of Kansas City's 18th and Vine district, allowing for a creative junction of Black art, music and craft brews.
Musician Kemet Coleman and brewers Woodie Bonds and Elliott Ivory have worked hard to make their dreams a reality, designating their brewery as “a steward of the city’s rich cultural heritage and potential, as well as an appealing safe space that welcomes all.” 💖
Vine Street Brewing already has an assortment of eye-catching merch available for purchase, including tie-dye and rainbow-themed t-shirts, plus tote bags, hats and embroidered patches. 🌈 The brewery has partnered with several local microbreweries and recently teamed up with Boulevard to collab on the malty, fruity Street Sign Stingo, now pouring at Boulevard’s Beer Hall while supplies last.
📍 Vine Street Brewing Co. (coming soon!): 2000 Vine St. Building 2A, Kansas City, Missouri
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Lifted Spirits Distillery
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If you’re searching for innovation and experimentation, consider giving Lifted Spirits Distillery a try. The Crossroads staple is known to walk on the wild side, even listing “tinkering with tradition” as one of its strong suits. Honestly? Same.
Take the freshly-bottled-for-summer Jalapeño & Herb infusion vodka, for example, with classic notes of mint, herb and green pepper, and unusual notes of sandalwood, palo santo and hay. 🌿 Imagine all that with a little lime juice and simple syrup. 🍸
Although, perhaps parts of the Lifted Spirits experience stick to convention. Guests can try the distillery’s take on Absinthe Verte, the first-ever absinthe distilled in Kansas City. In the tasting room, it’s prepared in the traditional way, using a brouilleur — or “scrambler” in French — to drip ice-cold water into glasses of green liquor.
For $4, you can take a tour of the distillery, “uncovering the creation process of intricately beautiful spirits.” Lifted Spirits was originally a stable for the Smith Brothers Steam Bakery, and the second floor of the building stored feed and bedding. 🐴 As always, history has a hand in KC culture.
📍 Lifted Spirits Distillery: 1734 Cherry St., Kansas City, Missouri
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To swirl and sip the vino at Amigoni Winery is to be a sophisticated human. 🍷 Yet the vibe inside the old Daily Drover Telegram Building is approachable and unpretentious. You may recall that the winery was featured on "Queer Eye" seasons three and four, when the Fab Five came to Kansas City. ⭐
Located in the historic Stockyards District, Amigoni uses traditional European grape varietals to create its Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays and Viogniers. 🍇 And those are just a few available for purchase and tasting.
The winery utilizes grapes from the northern portion of California’s Central Valley to create some of its wines, but also harvests from its own vineyard, just 60 miles east of town in Centerview, Missouri.
Amigoni does much of its own production, too — crushing, fermenting, barrel-aging and bottling the whole-cluster fruit at its facility in West Bottoms. 🏭 The first grape vines grew in Michael and Kerry Amigoni’s backyard in Leawood, Kansas. Pretty charming, right?
📍 Amigoni Winery: 1505 Genessee St. Ste. 100, Kansas City, Missouri
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What’s better than cold beer? Cold beer with a cause. 🍺 Pull up a stool at Casual Animal Brewing Co. and participate in the microbrewery’s “give back tap,” which it calls Local Motive. Every two months, the Local Motive beer changes and $2 of each pint sold goes to a different local nonprofit.
Casual Animal has a solid snack menu, but customers are welcome to bring in food or have orders delivered to the space. On Thursday evenings, you can enjoy tacos, elotes and tetelas courtesy of Tacos Valentina, a pop-up shop that operates in different spaces, including Casual Animal. 🌮 Additionally, you can fill up a 25-ounce “crowler” for $9 — instead of using glass, the microbrewery pours these in recyclable aluminum cans, so you could theoretically take one to the pool. 🌊 The casual animal is also an accommodating one.
In the spirit of Kansas City — and especially Crossroads — you may notice the extensive taproom art, all done by Kyle, Casual Animal’s head brewer, who worked as a graphic designer in a past life. Do you ever stop being a graphic designer? Nah.
Also, there’s a guava mango sour on tap right now. 🥭 It’s called Gazoontight.
📍 Casual Animal Brewing Co.: 1725 McGee St., Kansas City, Missouri
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Today's Creative Adventure email was written by Emily Standlee.
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More Adventures in Kansas City
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A Community Conversation on Reproductive Rights
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As Kansans prepare for an Aug. 2 vote on whether the state constitution guarantees a right to abortions, what are your questions? Join the Kansas City Media Collective tonight, Tuesday, July 26 at 6 p.m. for an online conversation about the many implications of the outcome of Kansas' Aug. 2 vote on abortion access.
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Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens
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The Festival of Butterflies returns to Powell Gardens now through Aug. 7, open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Catch a glimpse of butterflies native to the Midwest and "winged wonders" from Madagascar. Enjoy a number of events for nature enthusiasts of all ages, including after-hours celebrations with live music.
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Photo Credits:
1. Kansas City Wineworks
2. Vine Street Brewing Co.
3. Lifted Spirits Distillery
4. Amigoni Winery
5. Casual Animal
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