Deschutes brings Base Camp to Kansas City next week
Deschutes Brewery is throwing a weeklong party in Kansas City next week. The Bend, Oregon, brewery is setting up its “Base Camp for Beer Fanatics” in KC, and coming with its traveling 25-foot-long, 16-tap beer-barrel bar, Woody.
Joey Pleich, Deschutes’ field marketing manager, says “Base Camp” is a reference to Deschutes’ flagship beer, Mirror Pond Pale Ale.
“People tend to find their base-camp beer, and they always find their way back to that beer,” Pleich says. But Base Camp is a way to introduce craft-beer lovers to Deschutes’ other offerings.
This is Base Camp’s fourth year, and Kansas City is the third stop on an eight-city tour. It’s also the second time that Deschutes has brought Base Camp to Kansas City. (The last visit was in 2012.) Pleich says a team of six from Deschutes, including a lead brewer, an executive chef and more, will be making the journey to KC. And they’re bringing Reserve Series beers: Mirror Mirror (barley wine), the Abyss (stout), Not the Stoic (Belgian quad), 25th anniversary Black Butte Porter XXV and draft-only beers (think nitros) that are made only at Deschutes’ pub.
“Every event we’re featuring something different,” Pleich says. “The ultimate purpose is to get people to know us and try some things that they haven’t in the past. We love KC. We love beer. And we’re here to celebrate that whole culture again.”
Here’s the schedule:
Monday, May 5
Cinco de Mayo Party at Bier Station
Deschutes kicks off the weeklong celebration of craft beer with a Cinco de Mayo party at Bier Station (120 East Gregory Boulevard) from 5 to 9 p.m. Look for a Deschutes-inspired menu, a tamale truck and lots of beer, such as Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Obsidian Stout Nitro and more. Oh, and Woody.
Tuesday, May 6
Hats Off to Homebrewers at Martin City Brewing Co.
Tuesday night is a salute to homebrewers. Deschutes is headed to Martin City Brewing Co. (500 East 135th Street), one of Kansas City’s newest beer makers. From 5 to 9 p.m., chat with brewers from both breweries and drink their craft beers in a commemorative snifter. “We wanted to find someone relatively new and was making really good beer,” Pleich says. They’ll also be giving away a few brewing supplies, including clone recipe booklets and bags of whole flower hops (supplies will be limited). There will also be a formal brewer Q&A, live music and small bites paired with beers. Tickets cost $30.
Wednesday, May 7
Beer Geek Bonanza at Barley’s Brewhaus
Barley’s Brewhaus (16649 Midland Drive, Shawnee) puts together a menu that will be paired with Deschutes’ lineup of hard-to-find brews (Abyss, Black Butte XXV) and standards (Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter) from 5 to 9 p.m. Also on the line – a pint glass – if you can answer some trivia.
Beat the Deschutes Brewery Brewer at Brass Rail Sports Bar
Game on. Challenge members of the Deschutes gang to a game of your choice from 8 to 11 p.m. at Brass Rail Sports Bar (4940 Northeast 81st Street). Also, Woody will be available for photos, and the Deschutes crew will be giving away commemorative pint glasses. On tap: Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Twilight Summer Ale, Chainbreaker White IPA and Fresh Squeezed IPA.
Thursday, May 8
Deschutes Farm-to-Table Beer Dinner in the Main Street Art Gallery at Anton’s
Deschutes breaks out Reserve Series beers Mirror Mirror and Not the Stoic for this private dinner at Anton’s in the Main Street Art Gallery (1610 Main). “Everything we do is farm-to-table,” Pleich says. “That’s why we partnered with Anton’s.”
On the menu:
First course – wild mushroom flan, baby greens, sherry cinnamon vinaigrette paired with Twilight Summer Ale
Second course – smoked Wester Ross salmon, pickled beet, sourdough, lemon creme paired with Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Third course – spit-roasted grass-fed Missouri beef, sweet potato, baharat, pomegranate molasses paired with Not the Stoic
Cheese course for dessert – manchego, fig, pickled mustard seeds, olive-oil biscuit paired with Mirror Mirror
Executive chefs from Anton’s and Deschutes will be in attendance and will discuss cooking with beer, pairing beers with food, and more. Tickets cost $75. The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m.
Thursday, May 8
Beef and Brew With Deschutes Brewery
Anton’s also throws a patio party from 6 to 10 p.m. with Woody, featuring Deschutes’ Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Fresh Squeezed IPA, Armory XPA as well as special beers that will be paired with beer.
Deschutes and Ladders at the Burger Stand
Lawrence gets in on the Deschutes action at the Burger Stand (803 Massachusetts, Lawrence). From 7 to 10 p.m., you can play the old-school board game and drink Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Twilight Summer Ale, Pinedrops IPA, Fresh Squeezed IPA, Mirror Mirror, Nitro Red Chair NWPA, and samples of the Abyss.
Friday, May 9
Build Your Own Kegerator at Lukas Liquors Superstore
Have you wanted your own kegerator? Deschutes will teach you how to build one at Lukas Liquors Superstore (7541 West 119th Street, Overland Park) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Deschutes is sending its experts to guide your kegerator construction and also offer samples of Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, Chainbreaker White IPA, Twilight Summer Ale, Fresh Squeezed IPA and more. Also look for commemorative pint glasses and for Woody to make an appearance.
Beer-lesque: Tastings & Tassels at Nica’s Lagniappe
Base Camp wraps up Friday night at Nica’s Lagniappe (320 Southwest Boulevard) with a night of comedy, variety acts and burlesque dancers hosted by Naughty Pierre. Deschutes’ beers will be incorporated into the burlesque show, and everyone will be given samples of Deschutes’ 25th-anniversary beer, Black Butte XXV, at intermission. The party goes from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets cost $5.
