New Belgium gets reel again, plus: beer-fest news, Crane’s Grapefruit Gose, Boulevard’s Tropical Pale Ale and a week of events

Kansas City is one of the most successful stops on New Belgium’s Clips Beer and Film tour. So it’s no surprise that the 16-city fest, which doubles as a fundraiser for BikeWalk KC, is coming back to Theis Park on Thursday, June 9. (Last year’s Clips drew 2,300 people to the park and raised $17,500 for BikeWalk KC.)

Clips is all-ages and free to attend. From 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., you’ll be able to buy 3-ounce samples for $1.50, or 12-ounce pours for $6. (All of the proceeds go to
BikeWalk KC.)

What’s slated to be on tap?

Abbey Belgian-Style Dubbel Ale, Citradelic Tangerine IPA, Film Noir Imperial Stout, Juicy Mandarina IPA, Hof Ten Dormaal Collaboration Golden Ale, Rampant Imperial IPA, Heavy Melon Ale, La Folie Sour Brown Ale, Transatlantique Kriek, Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Slow Ride Session IPA and Snapshot Wheat Beer.

Six bucks for a pour of La Folie or Transatlantique Kriek is not a bad deal at all. Plus, this is your only oppourtunity to drink Film Noir. The films, shown on an inflatable screen, celebrate New Belgium’s 25th anniversary. And who doesn’t like a chance to drink good beer and watch movies outside?

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Beer festival season is upon us. Starting with the Parkville Microbrew Festival on Saturday, April 30, it’s busy weekends for breweries for many weeks. The following weekend (Saturday, May 7), KC On Tap returns to Berkley Riverfront Park. And Hopfest tickets are on sale now for the Saturday, May 21, Waldo beer festival.

Big Rip (216 East Ninth Avenue, North Kansas City) is celebrating its third birthday from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, with the third-annual Get Ripped Brew Fest. Look for local breweries (Crane, Double Shift, Martin City, Green Room, Ninja Moose, Torn Label, etc.), distilleries (S.D. Strong, J. Rieger) and wineries (Amigoni) at this year’s fest. Tickets cost $30.

Tickets are on sale now for the Westport Beer Festival (in the street in front of McCoy’s). This year’s is Saturday, June 11, from 5 to 9 p.m. The Strong Ale Festival, held in the same place, was one of my favorite festivals of 2015. And it’s always good to drink in the streets of Westport. Tickets cost $35 in advance ($40 on the day). The fest is a fundraiser for AIDS Walk KC.

And the Festival of the Lost Township returns to Raytown September 17. It’ll go head-to-head with Overland Park’s High Plains Brewhoff.

CRANE BREWING NEW RELEASE
Crane Brewing’s Grapefruit Gose is out now in bottles and on draft on both sides of the state line. The salty and sour German-style beer (4.1 percent ABV) is brewed with magnum hops and pilsner and wheat malt, with a three strain of lactobacillus and saison yeast. Looking forward to drinking this in the warmer months.

Thursday, March 31
You can get a crack at the Grapefruit Gose at Pig and Finch (11570 Ash, Leawood), which is hosting a five-course beer dinner with Crane Brewing starting at 7 p.m. On the menu: Apricot Weiss, Saison, Farmhouse IPA and Farmhouse with Brett, which is damn good.

Smokin’ Guns BBQ (1218 Swift Street, North Kansas City) puts together a New Belgium beer dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 per person (or $40 for a couple). Make a reservation at 816-221-2535.

Taste Odell beer from 5 to 7 p.m. at Gomer’s (1606 West 75th Street).

Martin City Brewing Co. makes the trip to North Kansas City, stopping at Grain to Glass (1611 Swift Street, North Kansas City) from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and that gets you a MCBC pint glass and samples of five beers.

Founders has reached LFK. Lawrencians, get your fix at Fatso’s Public House & Stage (1016 Massachusetts, Lawrence), from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., or do a tasting at Mass Beverage (3131 Nieder Road, Lawrence) from 4 to 6 p.m.

Friday, April 1
Crane Brewing will be pouring at the ninth annual Smokin on Big Creek BBQ and Steak contest in Pleasant Hill at the Cass County Fairgrounds.

Waldo Pizza (7433 Broadway) taps Martin City Brewing Co.’s Hardway IPA and Black IPA.

Saturday, April 2
Kegs and Eggs (633 North 130th Street, Bonner Springs) is sold out. You can probably snag a ticket on the secondary market, though. It’s an adult Easter egg hunt — and some of those eggs can be redeemed for prizes or money.

Sunday, April 3
It’s opening day at the K. That means Craft & Draft is open. Some of the beers on tap to start the season: Martin City Belgian Blond, Crane Grapefruit Gose, Duvel, Lagunitas IPA, Mother’s Three Blind Mice, Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin and Boulevard Crown Town Ale and Tropical Pale Ale.

Monday, April 4
Boulevard’s new Tropical Pale Ale taps at Burg & Barrel (7042 West 76th Street, Overland Park) at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 5
The Tropical Pale Ale roll out continues with a stop at Barley’s Brewhaus (16649 Midland Drive, Shawnee) at 5 p.m. Boulevard brewmaster Steven Pauwels will be there to talk about the new beer, so go learn something.

Wednesday, April 6
The taps at the Bar (6101 Johnson Drive, Mission) belong to Boulevard this evening, starting at 5 p.m. Of course, Tropical Pale Ale will be there along with Hibiscus Gose, Ginger Lemon Radler and Tasting Room White IPA.

Get a Tallgrass Explorer Series glass with your beer tonight at 6 at Flying Saucer (101 East 13th Street).