Boulevard collaborates — and then collaborates some more, Zipline launch parties and more beer events

Lots of collaboration news from Boulevard this week. When the Chipotle Cultivate Festival returns to Penn Valley Park on July 23, Chipotle Mexican Lager — a collaboration among Boulevard, Arizona Wilderness and Cigar City Brewing — will make its KC debut. You’ll be able to get it only at the one-day festival, as was the case with last year’s Cultivate Farmhouse Ale.

Boulevard is also joining forces with several local breweries serving at this year’s Boulevardia Taps & Tastes beer festival on Saturday, June 18, to make Boulevardia Berliner Weisse. In on the team are 75th Street Brewery, Crane Brewing, Kansas City Bier Co., Martin City Brewing Co. and McCoy’s. Credit Boulevard spokeswoman Julie Weeks for the concept, says ambassador brewer Jeremy Danner. Brewers from those six establishments met at Boulevard two weeks ago for a roundtable discussion on what to make. (This follows last year’s Show Me Sour collaboration with St. Louis’ Side Project.) Several ideas were thrown out during the brainstorming session, but the consensus landed on a citrus Berliner Weisse.

Danner says the idea was to make a beer that would be refreshing and enjoyable during a hot Kansas City summer. He says the brewers will reconvene on March 19 for a brew session.

Here’s how Danner describes the beer on Boulevard’s blog: “With a malt bill composed of pilsner and wheat malt, our collaboration beer will feature subtle bittering with Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops and additions of orange, lemon and lime peel at the end of the boil, during whirlpooling and at the conclusion of fermentation. We’ll employ our house lactobacillus strain for fermentation in our oak foeder resulting in a crisp, tart beer that’s incredibly flavorful and fruity while being super refreshing and ideal for a Midwest summer day.”

Look for the Berliner Weisse throughout the three-day festival, June 17-19.

Finally, the release date for Collaboration No. 6, a still-to-be-determined blend of Boulevard’s barrel-aged beers and Firestone Walker’s recipes, has been pushed to December. Danner writes that an October release date was too “aggressive.”

“Those extra couple of months in the barrels will allow the Firestone Walker recipes that will be executed in Kansas City to live up to the high standards established by Matt [Brynildson] and his brewing team in Paso Robles,” he explains.

Danner tells The Pitch that when Brynildson was in KC for Firestone Walker launch events, he went to Boulevard’s caves to taste barrel-aged beers with brewmaster Steven Pauwels. The eventual results might not be easily classified, but Danner says he wouldn’t be surprised to see a blend that includes Belgian quad, stout and barleywine.

Next up on Boulevard’s schedule: April releases of Tropical Pale Ale and Hibiscus Gose.

Zipline is here
Launch events for Nebraska’s Zipline Brewing’s entry into the Kansas City market are getting under way. It starts Monday, March 21, with tap takeovers at Waldo Pizza (7433 Broadway) and the Flying Saucer (101 East 13th Street) at 5 p.m. and the Rusty Horse (6325 Lewis Street, Parkville) at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 22, Zipline moves to Long-Bell Pizza Co. (3385 Southwest Fascination Drive, Lee’s Summit) from 6 to 8 p.m. Zipline does a meet and greet at Grain to Glass (1611 Swift, North Kansas City) from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Screenland Crossroads (1701 McGee) taps IPA, Kolsch and Alt at 6 p.m. Sample some Zipline at Hy-vee (310 Southwest Ward Road, Lee’s Summit) from 4 to 6 p.m.

Get to the Foundry on Wednesday, March, 23, to meet Zipline’s crew and sample Copper Alt, NZ IPA, and Oatmeal Porter from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Zipline also hits Grains & Taps (224 Southeast Douglas Street, Lee’s Summit) at 6 p.m. and returns to Waldo Pizza (1543 Northeast Douglas Street, Lee’s Summit) at 5 p.m.

Also this week …

Wednesday, March 16
Martin City Brewing Co. throws a tap takeover at Bier Station (120 East Gregory Boulevard), bringing eight beers, including Mr. Vacation Brandy Barrel–Aged Barleywine, Big Boy Bourbon Barrel–Aged Imperial Stout, Shunned House Brett IPA, Apposite Belgian-Style Pale Ale with Brett, Monk in Mexico Belgian Quad Aged in Tequila Barrels, Belgian Blond, Hard Way IPA and Black Rye IPA. Get there at 4 p.m. and meet the owners.

Thursday, March 17
New Belgium taps a keg of Whiskey Barrel–Aged Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout at Charlie Hooper’s (12 West 63rd Street) for Kansas’ first NCAA Tournament game.

Green Room Burgers & Beer (4010 Pennsylvania Avenue) taps its Irish-style Dry Stout and kettle-soured Golden Ale with Blackberries for St. Patrick’s Day. Amerisports (3200 North Ameristar Drive) releases Draft Choice Special IPA, a 7.5 percent ABV unfiltered IPA. I’m told it has a passionfruit aroma.

Grain to Glass (1611 Swift, North Kansas City), taps Schlafly Extra Stout, Boulevard Irish Ale and Magner’s Irish Cider from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. And you’ll get to learn about the history of Irish brewing.

Friday, March 18
Michael Crane’s tasting tour continues with a stop at Village West Discount Liquors (11010 Parallel Parkway) from 4 to 6 p.m.

Stone IPA Madness goes down at Bier Station (120 East Gregory Boulevard) from 4 to 7 p.m. Get a taste of Defiance at Rimann Liquors (15117 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 19
Two of my favorite things — beer and cheese — come together for a pairing class at Bier Station (120 East Gregory Boulevard) at 3 p.m. For $25, you get a flight of four beers and cheeses. Register at brytos.com.
Start your morning with Saison yoga at Crane Brewing Co. (6515 Railroad Street, Raytown) at 10 a.m. Classes cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Check-in starts at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 20
Got a beard? Clean it up at Bier Station (120 East Gregory Boulevard) with Chop Tops Beer & Beards from 1 to 5 p.m. Stop by for a seminar on taking care of your face rug and a complimentary consultation.

Monday, March 21
The latest Beerology at Grinder’s (417 East 18th Street) goes down tonight with Crane Brewing.

Two more of my favorite things: smoke and fire. It’s not a beer event, but it’s worth mentioning. Char Bar (4050 Pennsylvania) throws a five-course dinner featuring Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve cocktails and the option to buy a bourbon-soaked cigar at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 22
It’s Bell’s night at the Riot Room (4048 Broadway) at 6 p.m., and the takeover continues here Wednesday night at 6.

Grinders High Noon (206 Choctaw Street, Leavenworth) partners with Martin City Brewing Co. for a five-course beer dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 23
Get happy-hour prices on drafts of Uinta and meet the brewery’s CEO, Steve Mills, at Bier Station (120 East Gregory Boulevard) from 4 to 7 p.m. Stick around for YMCA Night with Urban Chestnut as the St. Louis brewery donates a half-barrel of Schnickelfritz Hefeweizen for a fundraiser for the Cleaver YMCA. All of the proceeds from that keg, plus a percentage of all taps, benefit the Cleaver YMCA from 6 to 10 p.m.

Barley’s Brewhaus (16649 Midland Drive, Shawnee) does an imperial stout vertical with 2013 and 2014 Boulevard Imperial Stout; 2014 and 2015 Deschutes the Abyss; 2014 and 2015 Oskar Blues Ten Fiddy; 2014 and 2015 Founders Imperial Stout; and 2014 and 2015 Stone Imperial Stout. It starts at 4:30 p.m.

Crane Brewing hosts Girls Pint Out tonight at the brewery (6515 Railroad Street, Raytown).

Happy Gillis hosts a beer dinner with Uinta Brewing. Featured beers include: Pale Ale, Biere de Mars, Port O’ Call, Detour Double IPA, Sea Legs Baltic Porter and a mystery after-dinner drink. Tickets cost $65 plus tax and gratuity. Call 816-471-3663 for reservations.