KC Activity #6 – Boulevard Beer Hall
2534 Madison Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108
Cost: $
Atmosphere: Spacious, friendly, relaxed
Good for: Beer snobs, parties, happy hour
Features: Patio, photo booth, gift shop, foosball table.
Pro Tip: With a patio, board games, snacks and tasty beer, the Beer Hall is perfect for a Sunday Funday.
Boulevard Brewing Company began in 1984, after owner, John McDonald, returned from a trip in Europe. He had been inspired by the complexity and variety of Belgian beers, and wanted to reintroduce great, diverse beer to the U.S. In 1989, Boulevard brewed the first batch of Pale Ale, and the company hasn’t stopped growing since.
Last year, the new, 20,000 square foot Boulevard Beer Hall and Tours and Rec Center opened. The bottom floor houses the tour center and extensive gift shop, while the top floor is a spacious beer hall. Filled with rows of picnic tables, it draws from traditional German biergartens. It’s an awesome place to grab a flight of beer (they have 24 on tap!) and a pretzel dog while you hang out with friends.
Saturdays are probably the busiest and it can be hard to find a spot to sit, but late Sunday afternoons are perfect. My boyfriend, Q, and I shared a flight of their summer beers – American Kolsch, Ginger Lemon Radler, Noble Prize and Tropical Pale Ale. All four were great and the perfect refreshment on a warm summer day.
The people who work at Boulevard are very knowledgable about the different beers, and friendly, too. The bartender asked how our days were going, and seemed to genuinely care about our answers. He was also quick to recommend a few new options they had on the menu, which were great.
The hours at the Beer Hall are my only complaint. It closes at 9pm on Thursday through Saturday (8pm the rest of the week), so get there earlier in the night for your Boulevard fix. xx, Libbie.
