Along with our visit to Cosentino’s, we stopped in the Flying Saucer because I saw they had Rogue’s Imperial Porter on tap. I’m a big fan of their brews, and apparently others are as well because it seems like everything they come up with wins multiple medals. The downside is that we would have to set foot in the P&L District, which is a wretched, wretched place. After a brief risk/reward analysis, we figured we’d survive a quick Sunday afternoon jaunt into the dark side.
The beer was worth it. It’s everything you love about a porter times 3. Big, robust flavors with the intense presence of malt sweetness and hop bitterness, but in great balance. A fantastic beer.
She had an Anchor Our Special Ale (2008) which was a nice, smooth, spicy counterpoint to the porter. If you’ve had this in the bottle, the tap version is even tastier with its hints of nutmeg and cinnamon coming through a bit more.
When we got home, we finally opened the bottle of Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad we had been sitting on for a few months. It pours a nice pale red, with a really oaky nose with some cherry in the background. There are lots of flavors present in the beer: bourbon, wood, caramel, vanilla, cherry, toffee…it’s like a beer for wine lovers. I thought it was fantastic. There are still a few bottles floating around here and there, but—in keeping with the wine theme—they go for about $15. Yeah, I know.
Oh – and McCoy’s has an outstanding Oatmeal Stout on tap right now. The beers there can vary greatly from batch to batch, but right now that beer is pouring beautifully.
4 comments:
So you think the P&L District is a "wretched, wretched place"? What don't you like about it, or what makes it so wretched in your opinion? I have been there once on a Saturday afternoon to watch a college football game. I found it to be nice. It was clean and everything was in order. We first went to Mcfaddens, which was full so we wandered out to the courtyard and sat down on one of the cushions, which were a nice touch. We then went to the mexican restaurant which was having an all you eat taco bar. Plus it had the game we wanted watch on the big screen. All in all it was pleasant trip to the P&L and I look forward to going back again. One other thing I liked is that they allow you take drinks from bar to bar.
I can see how it would be far more enjoyable on a Saturday afternoon, where grownups are out watching a football game. The place is far different at night, but that really isn't my issue. My problems with P&L mostly have to do with the fact that it is going to cost KCMO taxpayers an additional $4 million this year and potentially more than $10 million next year due to horrendously overblown tax revenue promises. They lobby against festival permits for other districts in town (you know, the ones with locally-owned businesses like Westport and City Market) while businesses around them close one by one. I could go on, but the bottom line? I hate spending my money there to line the pockets of an out-of-town company who is basically holding the city hostage.
McCoy's also has a coffee version of their Oatmeal Stout made with Broadway Coffee's beans. It's excellent! I found it much more enjoyable than Schlafly's seasonal Coffee Stout...
On the topic of Flying Saucer, they've got some really great seasonal stuff on tap right now - Southern Tier Cuvee #2, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, Avery New World Porter, and apparently they're expecting to get Sierra Nevada's Imperial Smoked Porter on tap soon... As far as bottles they've got Hopslam, Southern Tier Oat & Backburner Barleywine, Avery Mephistopheles, plus a few more I can't remember.
Side note - went to Grinder's yesterday and they have pitchers of Southern Tier UnEarthly IPA for $18.
Thanks for the update, LC! I did have the coffee stout with the Broadway toddy about a week ago, and I agree with your assessment. They made a batch a few months ago but they didn't put nearly enough coffee in it. That's certainly not a problem with this batch.
I forget about Grinders, but they do keep a nice rotation of beers. Guess I'll have to make my way down there soon.
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