Big Rip tears it up Saturday with first anniversary party
If you’re looking for a smaller craft-beer experience, Big Rip Brewing Co. (216 East Ninth Avenue, North Kansas City) is throwing an anniversary party from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
“It should be a good fest,” says Josh Collins, who founded the brewery with Kipp Feldt. “It’s designed to be a super-laid-back festival where, if you want to try a beer, you’ll be able to try that beer. You may not have to wait in line to do it. If you want to talk to brewers about their beer, you’ll be able to do it because there’s only going to be about 15 people for every brewery.”
Breweries joining Big Rip’s “Get Ripped Brew Fest” include the High Noon Saloon, Rock and Run, Green Room, Tallgrass, Cinder Block, 23rd Street, 75th Street, Weston Brewing Co., McCoy’s, Defiance Brewing Co., S.D. Strong Distilling, and KC Bier Co.
What’s on tap: Cinder Block is unveiling one of the IPAs in its Hop Maven series. McCoy’s is bringing a hop-filled imperial IPA. Green Room is sharing a cask ale with Kahlua oak chips and vanilla beans. And KC Bier Co.’s offerings include its new Pilsner and seasonal weizenbock.
Big Rip is also making something special: a banana-cream ale (5 percent ABV). “It’s a vanilla cream ale base loaded up with banana chips,” Collins says. “It is always our lightest one, but it’s easy-drinking session beer, especially in the summertime. Right now, I think we’re up to 60 vanilla beans per batch, because we don’t use extract on it.”
Every beer on tap at Big Rip is coming from the brewery’s new four-barrel brewing system.
“We’re finally hitting our stride and not sure where we’re going to put all of this beer because our cold room is too small for the new system,” Collins says. “So we’re getting ready to build a new one.”
A limited number of tickets are still on sale ($25 for “Mug Club Members,” $35 for everyone else). Expect a tailgate atmosphere with a big tent, the Three Dollar Band, a taco special from El Burrito Loco, and a full-sized sampler glass that resembles an aluminum can.
