Bier Station
There’s a reason most local geeks will tell you Bier Station is their favorite spot in town. This Waldo institution has an impeccably chosen list, solid grub and a great patio. Most importantly, it functions as the de facto town hall for the KC beer community. 120 E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 816-548-3870, bierstation.com. Lunch to evenings daily.
Waldo Pizza
Waldo Pizza is an old-fashioned pizza parlor with a weekday lunch buffet and beer list that’s far deeper than you’d ever expect, with heavy hitters from across the region and plenty of sought-after one-offs from the locals. 7433 Broadway St., Kansas City, Mo. 816-363-5242, waldopizza.net. Lunch to dinner daily.
Flying Horse Taproom
It took three years for Brookside Wine & Spirits to get Flying Horse Taproom open next door. The time was well spent, as this former gas station is now home to a nice little patio, great wings and a beer list that’s always got a few happy surprises. 600 E. 63rd St., Suite 100, Kansas City, Mo. 816-444-0772, flyinghorsetaproom.com. Lunch to late Tuesdays-Sundays.
Charlie Hoopers
For more than 30 years, Charlie Hoopers has been Brookside’s neighborhood bar and grill, a neon-lit pub that’s as much a community center. The vibes are straight out of Cheers, but the beer list has kept up with the times. It often includes sought-after IPAs from Toppling Goliath and Boulevard’s Hold the Pancakes made with vintages of imperial brown ales and imperial stouts aged up to 24 months in bourbon, rye and maple syrup-filled whiskey casks. 12 W. 63rd St., Kansas City, Mo. 816-361-8841, charliehoopers.com. Lunch to late night daily.
Taprooms: BKS and KC Bier Co.
