Two KC breweries win medals at the Great American Beer Festival
The Great American Beer Festival is America’s largest beer competition. At this year’s fall event, two KC craft breweries, Pathlight Brewing and Cinder Block Brewery, went home with medals.
According to Forbes, over 2,000 breweries from all 50 states entered 9,298 beers at this year’s competition. Beers were entered in 99 categories and judged over several weeks by hundreds of beer judges and experts from ten countries.
Cinder Block Brewery in North KC took home a silver medal for their Juicy Pils in the “Other Hoppy Lager” category.
“This beer is incredibly special to us as we’ve made tweaks throughout the year to try to perfect our West Coast Pilsner in hopes of making it the perfect craft beer, as well as paying homage to our city with the label itself,” a Cinder Block Instagram post reads.
You can find the silver medal-winning brew in the Cinder Block Brewery taproom and in six-packs to go. Keep an eye out for it at local restaurants and retailers.
Pathlight Brewing in Shawnee won a bronze medal for their Kha Point brew in the “Herb and Spice Beer” category. Kha Point is their Thai Rice lager.
According to the brewery’s Instagram, “Puffed Jasmine rice gives this a light (almost fluffy) body and crisp finish. Infusions of Thai basil, Lemongrass, and Galagal is our take on Tom Kha.”
And in more KC food and drink news: A wagyu meat market opens in Overland Park
Booth Creek Wagyu is a premium wagyu beef producer based in the Flint Hills just north of Manhattan, Kansas. The company raises, processes and distributes fullblood and American wagyu. Since 2020, Booth Creek has been growing rapidly, and recently opened a second wagyu meat market in Overland Park (13412 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park).
The meat market, located in the Deer Creek Woods shopping center, opened late August. The original Manhattan, Kansas, store is less than 20 miles from the Flint Hills ranch.
The 1,400-square-foot store will carry multiple grades of high-quality wagyu beef. In addition to steaks, the meat market will stock wagyu hot dogs, burger patties, ground beef, roasts and snacks like summer sausage, snack sticks and jerky. Booth Creek also ships its products nationwide.
“We are excited to bring wagyu to Overland Park and the Kansas City metro area,” says Booth Creek Founder and CEO Dave Dreiling. “Wagyu has a truly unparalleled taste as compared to traditional commercial beef. We look forward to helping educate the community not only on the different flavor profiles but also the overall health benefits of wagyu.”
Wagyu beef, originally from Japan, is world-famous for its marbling, which creates a very tender and flavorful meat. This rich, buttery beef has only been stateside since the late 1970s and has just recently gained popularity. Today, most wagyu in America are crossbred with angus or another breed called American wagyu.
Two new restaurants head to KC’s Power and Light District
Two health-conscious restaurants are headed to the Power and Light District come 2024.
HomeGrown and Modern Market Eatery are part of the Wichita-based Thrive Restaurant Group, and both are expected to open sometime next year.
HomeGrown, a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot, will be the Thrive Restaurant Group’s ninth HomeGrown restaurant, three of which are in the Kansas City area. The newest establishment will occupy the former Flying Saucer Draught Emporium restaurant (101 E. 13th St., KCMO).
Modern Market Eatery (1347 Main St., KCMO) is a fast-casual spot with a menu full of ethically sourced ingredients free from artificial flavors, trans fats, hormones, antibiotics and unnecessary additives. The eatery offers a variety of made-from-scratch lunch and dinner options, including grain bowls, salads, sandwiches and pizzas. Beer and wine will also be served.
“We eagerly anticipate the arrival of HomeGrown and Modern Market Eatery to the District in 2024,” says John Moncke, president of the Kansas City Power and Light District. “With nearly 1,000 residential units in the District and more on the way when Midland Lofts opens next year, we are very intentional about the experiences we are curating for our residents and millions of guests alike.”
