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This show is all about the 15 Annual Midwest Beerfest www.midwestbeerfest.com
Joining me first is John McDonald founder and driving force behind what has become one of the earliest and most successful Craft breweries in the USA.
John McDonald
The Boulevard story begins in 1988, when founder John McDonald started construction of the brewery in a turn-of-the-century brick building on Kansas City’s historic Southwest Boulevard. A vintage Bavarian brewhouse was installed, and the first batches of beer were produced in the fall of 1989. That November, the first keg of Boulevard Pale Ale was delivered—in the back of John’s pickup truck—to a restaurant just a few blocks away.
In 2006, a major expansion adjacent to the original brewery raised Boulevard’s brewing capacity to approximately 600,000 barrels per year—a sizable increase from the 6,000 barrels contemplated in John’s original business plan. The new brewing and packaging facility is a model of sustainable urban architecture and engineering; a three-story, 70,000 square foot building housing a new, state-of-the-art 150-barrel brewhouse, packaging lines, administrative offices, and hospitality rooms.
Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to be the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, with full or partial distribution currently in 31 states and Washington DC. Since 1989 our brewery has remained dedicated to the craft of producing fresh, flavorful beers using traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Our selection of fine ales and lagers include the Midwest’s best-selling craft beer, Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer, our flagship Boulevard Pale Ale, and The Smokestack Series line of artisanal beers. We are proud to be Kansas City’s Beer. www.boulevard.com
One of three Beer Dinners at this years Midwest Beerfest will feature an array of fine brews from Boulevard paired with a great multi-course meal in the private dinning room at YaYa’s. Well tell you all about the beers, the menu and more.
2015 Midwest Beerfest is right around the corner. The Famous Beer Dinners are on October 2 and the Grand Tasting at Century-II is October 3…new time this year: 4-7:00 p.m. So many new and innovative things to do and see. Back again is the Midwest Wingfest with some great competitors. The beers are once again organized by region and we’ve added the highly prized import section back this year. New this year is the Food Truck Roundup…some great beer friendly food readily available.
You’ll be hearing more about the Beerfest in the next few weeks leading up to this FUN event!
In the second half I’ll be talking to Jon Cressler about The Wichita Wine Opener October 1st.
WHAT IS THE WINE OPENER / A TOAST TO WICHITA’S FINEST?
The Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation honors a select group of men and women from cities or regions across the country that are committed to professional growth through a guided fundraising and awareness 8 week campaign. These honorees exemplify strong leadership qualities, are active in their community and excel in their personal and professional lives. The honorees will enjoy many benefits throughout the campaign, primarily the knowledge that they are helping to better the lives of children and adults living with cystic fibrosis.
The Finest campaign begins with a kick off reception where the nominees will be introduced to other nominees, mentors, staff and special guests. Throughout the campaign, Finest honorees will have the opportunity to network at various Foundation events. The Wine Opener will be held on October 1st with over 15 tasting and 20 wine tasting stations, many auction items secured by our candidates, along with great music. The campaign will culminate with the Finest finale celebration one week later where we will announce the Finest Title Winner at a private luncheon among their peers. This honors the honorees accomplishments as a CF Foundation ambassador. Learn more, donate or purchase tickets here!
The Details:
Date: October 1, 2015
VIP Time: 6:00pm
Event Start Time: 7:00pm
End Time: 9:00pm
Location: Century II Exhibition Hall Balcony
Address: 225 W. Douglas,Wichita, KS
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week…is BEER
An array of fine brews from Boulevard 🙂
Join All Things Barbecue in welcoming Riedel, for an entertaining and educational wine tasting experience. Doug Reed will demonstrate how choosing the appropriate stemware can enhance your wine tasting and awaken your palate. The shape of a glass impacts not only the visual perception of a wine, but its bouquet and flavor, as well – profoundly informing overall enjoyment. Reed will show how the same wine can taste and smell completely different when served in assorted glasses. We will be tasting selected wines along with small bites prepared by Chef Tom Jackson in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, using Riedel’s new Veritas Wine Tasting Set (a $138.00 retail value) which guests will take home as a parting gift. The four glasses included in the set include the Oak Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir. 
Then Dave Haglund stops by to talk about the Old Cowtown Wine Mosey. Only at Cowtown could wine tasting and stagecoach rides make such a perfect combination. The Museum is hosting its 7th Annual Wine Mosey from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. Tickets are $50 per person, and they can be purchased 
Last but not least I’ll be talking to the winner of the Oldtown Farmer’s Market Annual Iron Chef Cookoff competition. I’ll been judging Saturday morning at the market along with Denise Neal of the Wichta Eagle, Jason Fabres of Taste & See and my wife Beth from AIWF Wichita. The competitors this year are returning champ Chef Ben George; Intrust Bank Arena, Chef Travis Russell; Public at the Brickyard, Chef Stephanie Hand; Whole Foods Market, and Chef Paul Freimuth; Hyatt Harvest Kitchen.
If you love the taste of barbecue but worry about cooking the perfect steak or if you’re a whiz with burgers but want to grill other foods or if you harbor aspirations of presenting your own smoked brisket to a panel of trained judges, then this book is for you. BBQ Brian has spent more than a decade smoking and grilling foods, competing against other pit masters and learning from some of the best in the business. And not only does he regularly win awards for his barbecue and House of Q BBQ sauces, but he’s now one of the most sought-after teachers around. Why? Because he tells a great story, makes learning fun and easy and freely shares his recipes and his love of good food. Grilling with House of Q is part handsome cookbook, part instruction manual and part story collection. The result is that rare volume that entertains and becomes your go-to for delicious, no-fail smoked ribs, shrimp tacos, pulled pork and pit beans—or burritos, mac ’n’ cheese and baklava—all prepared on your grill and all eagerly anticipated by friends, backyard neighbors and barbecue judges. 
Blend: 65% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon
SMG and INTRUST Bank Arena are pleased to introduce Wingapalooza on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at INTRUST Bank Arena. The one-of-a-kind event will feature Wichita-area restaurants and chefs showcasing their best wings. Wingapalooza will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the main arena floor and will include all-you-can-eat wings, The Samuel Adams Beer Garden featuring select local craft beer options, and entertainment and music from a live DJ. Fans will have the opportunity to sample unique chicken wing recipes from the more than 20 restaurants and local chefs who will be showcasing their culinary flare and craft and competing for the best chicken wings in Wichita. Participating restaurants and chefs will vie for two awards at the event: a People’s Choice Award (Lord of the Wings) and a Judge’s Choice Award. 
