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Emily invites you to take a look that the new beers that have arrived in Lenexa. Be the first to receive notice of all new arrivals in Lenexa or Prairie Village by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or our RSS feed. Cheers!
Updated November 11, 2011 7:30 p.m. CST
Now available in Prairie Village are sampler packs of Brewery Ommegang’s four favorites, BPA, Abbey Ale Dubbel, Hennepin and Three Philosophers. Also just in, St. Feuillen Speciale and Gift Pack, Omer Traditional Blond Ale and Unibroue Ephemere Cassis. Celebrate life with a new Belgian brew.
Updated November 1, 2011 6:45 p.m. CDT
 PLENTY OF PUMPKINS!
The official first day of Autumn is September 23, but the fall season is already upon us. Oktoberfest and other heavier, fuller-bodied beer have multiplied on the shelves at both Rimann Liquors locations.
Also released by endeavoring breweries during the fall season are a plethora of pumpkin ales. These brews are wide-ranging, though, typically mild in bitterness, malty, and and a pack a good dose of spice. Nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ground ginger and other pumpkin pie spices are used to balance the pumpkin flavor.
These brews are very limited and when they sell out, they are out! Here is a selection of the ones we have in stock, and they vary by store and availability:
- Hoppin' Frog Double Pumpkin Ale (22oz)
- O'Fallon Pumpkin Beer
- Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale
- Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
- Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale
- Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale
- Woodchuck Pumpkin Cider
Updated September 20, 2011 6:24 p.m.. CDT
BRAD'S BEER REVIEW
By Brad Hargrave
Green Flash "West Coast" IPA
San Diego, California
With great fanfare, San Diego's Green Flash Brewing Company has brought its hop-forward beers to Kansas City. Founded in 2002, Green Flash specializes in brewing assertive and distinctive beers, such as West Coast IPA: an award-winning beer whose wide acceptance has helped define a category. California in general and San Diego in particular have become famous for their aggressive, heavily hopped, citrus driven IPAs and Green Flash’s West Coast IPA is one of the flagship beers of this popular regional variation on the style.
West Coast IPA pours a light, clear amber body, with a creamy off-white head. Rings of lacing decorate the glass with a spidery web. A pungent hop aroma wafts from the glass with big candied grapefruit notes initially and piney, resiny, citrusy, aromas in the background. Melted caramel upfront, with notes of grapefruit pith, tree sap and orange peel, before a powerful, piney, spicy, citrus fruit-filled hop bomb detonates, leaving an oily bitterness on the fiish. The body is sticky and medium to full, with hop intensity biulding with each sip. Over the top bitterness and dominant citrus character make West Coast IPA liquid gold for hop fiends. The IPA novice should steer clear, this one’s for the pros!
Updated August 23, 2011 6:10 p.m.. CDT
MARY & MARSHALL
ON THE ROAD IN SEARCH OF
“THE BEST BEER IN PORTLAND”
After traveling to central Europe earlier this year and experiencing the many good wines, beers and foods in Vienna, Prague and Munich, Mary and I are on the road again, this time we will be in search of “The Best Beer in Portland”. The state of Oregon is home to 95 brewing companies that operate a total of 124 brewing facilities. Fifty three of those breweries are in the Portland metro area, more than any other city in the world. It is the largest craft brewing market in the U.S. We will have many beers from which to choose.
Our search for the “Best Beer” (obviously a very subjective choice) is inspired in part by our late friend, Michael Rudd, a native of London who eventually settled in Kansas City. As a young man, Mike, together with a good friend and drinking companion, set out on a long journey through England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in search of the “Best Beer in The U.K.”. That always seemed to be a worthy adventure and one which we strive to emulate in the Pacific Northwest.
Of course there will be many other distractions in a city known for rose gardens and a delightful summer climate. Not the least of these will be fine cuisine and the world-class wines of the nearby Willamette and Rogue Valleys. We will do our best to experience as many good meals and exemplary wines as possible, so we can report back to you.
Mary and I invite you to join us vicariously on our journey. We will be posting our progress on Rimann Liquors Facebook page as well as sending out tweets for those of you who follow @rimannkc on Twitter. We are looking forward to our adventure and finding “The Best Beer in Portland”.
Munich, Germany May 2011
Cheers!
Marshall
Updated August 8, 2011 7:45 p.m.. CDT
BRAD'S BEER REVIEW
By Brad Hargrave
Magic Hat #9
"Not Quite Pale Ale"
Burlington, Vermont
#9 is the flagship beer from Magic Hat, a fast growing brewery from Burlington, Vermont. Magic Hat produced over 150,00 barrels of beer last year (even more than Boulevard), making it one of the 10 largest craft brewers in the US. The brewery's success has been due in large part to the wild success of #9, one of only 3 year-round beers the brewery produces and by far its best selling product.
On to the Tasting Notes:
#9 pours a light amber body with a creamy white head. The aroma is a mild bouquet of light malt and fresh apricot. Soft. That's the word that best descibes Magic Hat #9. Its just so soft and approachable. The aroma is a mild bouquet of light malt and fresh apricot. On the palate, apricot is there and so is a light sweetness, but it does not taste artificial nor does it overwlem the rest of the flavors, like I assumed it would. That is the pifall of many fruit beers: fruit qualities have a tendency to dominate the light malt and hop character of the brew, leaving a "beer" with no real beer flavor. That is not the case here, #9 has a noticeable bready malt character and a crisp hop note. Balance and drinkability are its strongpoints, making it an excellent session beer on a hot Summer day.
Updated July 7, 2011 3:10 p.m. CDT
 LUKE LIKES LOCAL BEER IN LENEXA!
Weston Brewing Company, just 45 minutes north of Lenexa in Weston, Missouri, has a vivid history that dates back to 1842. Established by a German immigrant, the early brewery went through numerous owners and incarnations, including a stint selling what they claimed to be “‘medical beer’ that cured stomach and other intestinal ailments” to circumvent Kansas’ prohibition law in 1880. The United States Supreme Court decided in 1887 against the brewery and the United States Brewers’ Association on this practice and the brewery moved to the Missouri side of the river. In 1901 the brewery was reincorporated as the Royal Brewing Co. and was promoted as the “oldest brewery west of the Hudson River”. One of Kansas City's first baseball teams was sponsored by the brewery in the early 1900’s. Today the Weston Brewing Company operates on the same site producing beers reflecting the brewery’s rich tradition.
Drop Kick Ale American Amber/Red Ale (6 Pack)
Brewed in the style of tradional British ESBs, this beer has crisp malt aromas and biscuty grain notes with a hint of hops on the finish.
Created through collaboration with the Kansas City Soccer Foundation, a donation of $2.00 "kicks back" to the KCSF for every case sold. It is also Kansas City’s only local beer on tap in the Members Club at Livestrong Park, home of the Sporting KC soccer team.
 Prototype Version 1.0 Stout (22 ounce)
This Irish-style dry stout is rich and malty. Staying true to the style, East Kent Goldings was used to bitter and flavor and Irish Ale yeast to ferment.
Flying Monkey Amber Ale (6 Pack)
Three years after ceasing operations in Olathe, Flying Monkey has been revived at Weston Brewing Company!
Malt lends a light nuttiness and toasted grain aroma to give this beer its pleasant thirst-quenching quality without overloading on the hops.
SunRyes Ale Rye Beer (6 Pack)
A distinct summer beer that offers complex golden malts and a smooth finish.
Jesse James Wheat Ale (6 Pack)
Slight yeast aroma with citrus and coriander higlights. Smooth and refreshing.
The Weston Brewing Company furthermore does it part to keep things local by donating spent grain to area cattle operations!
Updated June 29, 2011 4:39 pm CDT
CELEBRATE AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK MAY 16-22, 2011
 BRAD'S ACBW REVIEW
By Brad Hargrave
Left Hand Milk Stout
Longmont, Colorado
Milk Stouts (aka Sweet or Cream Stouts) are an English style of beer that first appeared in London in the late 1800’s. The early brewers touted the health benefits of the milk sugar in this beer (no real health benefits…sorry). But adding milk sugar to beer does have other benefits. As it turns out, the yeast used to ferment beer is unable process milk sugar so instead of being converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide, milk sugars remain in the beer adding a rich, creamy mouthfeel and a touch of sweetness.
On to the Tasting Notes:
Left Hand Milk Stout pours a deep, dark brown body with a fluffy tan head. Milk chocolate aromas delight the senses immediatly. Flavorwise, milk chocolate sweetness adds the unique character that defines the Milk Stout style, but what makes Left Hand's version so good is the roasted barley notes that add just enough bitterness to balance things out. Smooth, creamy and clocking in at a modest 5.2% ABV, Left Hand Milk Stout is a session beer for dark beer lovers. Add a scoop of your favorite ice cream for a real treat!
Updated May 22, 2011 1:30 pm CDT
 BRAD'S ACBW REVIEW
By Brad Hargrave
Avery Hog Heaven
Dry-Hopped Barleywine
Boulder, Colorado
In 1996 Avery began to brew their flagship IPA. However, at that time it did not sell well. People called to have the beer picked up saying it had gone bad or that something was wrong with it. They just didn’t know what hops were, much less what they tasted like. In 1998 Adam brewed a 10% ABV, 100+IBU, dry hopped…thing (the only Brewers Association style definition that came close was Barley Wine) as a home brew and all his friends said you must sell this at the brewery. After the reaction to Avery's IPA, Adam was skeptical anyone would know what to make of it. He actually said “when pigs fly people will buy this beer” hence the artwork on the bottle and the name Hog Heaven. Long story short, Avery couldn’t make enough of it to satisfy demand, people went crazy for it. And an important lesson was learned: you brew what you love and believe in, not what you think other people will like.
On to the Tasting Notes:
The beauty of Hog Heaven is in its simplicity. Hog Heaven is brewed with one hop (Columbus) and two malts (Two-row barley and Caramel 120L). Consumed cold, this brew drinks like a Double IPA; huge, dank aromas and flavors of pine resin and prickly, green hops. Allow your Hog to warm and it drinks more like a Barleywine; the warmth releases the aromas of the caramel malt and shows the malty, candy-like backbone. Hog Heaven is designed to satisfy even the most zealous hop devotees. Is it a Barelywine or is it a Double IPA? Who cares?
Updated May 21, 2011 11:00 an CDT
 BRAD'S ACBW REVIEW
By Brad Hargrave
Boulevard Pilsner
Kansas City, Missouri
Take a quick look at the lagers that fill the shelves of most liquor stores and you might think they were always focused on calories and carbs not enjoyment, marketing campaigns and "cold activation", not ingredients. But that is not the case. America in general and Kansas City in particular has a long and proud if forgotten tradition of making flavorful, all-malt lagers. I say all-malt because most of the lagers we are familiar with today replace much of their malted barley with large amounts of rice and corn syrup. Boulevard Pilsner is out to change that. It is brewed with 100% malt, real hop character, and is unpasteurized. As the folks at Boulevard like to say, "It’s the taste of tradition."
On to the Tasting Notes:
Boulevard Pilsner pours a clear golden body with a creamy white head. It has a bright toasty malt aroma with notes of floral hops. The flavor is classic pils: lightly toasted malt with a floral, grassy hop flavor. Bitterness is low, but sufficient for balance. Mouthfeel is spot on. Its the kind of beer that satisfies your thirst and exercises your taste buds without weighing you down. So next time you find yourself reaching for one of your usual big name lagers, give Boulevard Pilsner a try instead. You'll be glad you did!
Updated May 20, 2011 1:30 pm CDT
 BRAD'S ACBW REVIEW
By Brad Hargrave
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid Ale
Petaluma, California
When Lagunitas decided to add a new year-round bomber to their portfolio back in 2009, they wanted to make a huge Double IPA. Just one problem: according to Lagunitas founder Tony Magee, "I figured out if we used whole flower hops in the brew kettle, there would be so many we wouldn't be able to pump it out. It would be like straining soup." So they had to do something a bit unorthodox. Hop Stoopid is brewed with no whole flower hops, no hop pellets, no traditional hops at all. It instead uses liquid hop extract produced by natural carbon dioxide extraction of hops and hop oils, which are the distilled oils of the hop flower. Brewing purists can say what they will about the use of such ingredients, but I'll tell you what, this is an amazing IPA. On to the Tasting Notes: Hops Stoopid pours a cloudy peach body, with a thinning white head. Assertive resiny hop aromas and bright citrus notes pop from the glass. Intense citrus continues on the palate with more tangerine than grapefruit and a sweet, rich orange character similar to Grand Marnier. The hops turn resiny and oily on the finish, sticking to the tongue. Hop oils really stay with you, an effect of this beer's unique hopping perhaps? Bitterness is quite high, while the body is medium to full with a sticky feel.
Hop Stoopid is a really drinkable IPA. The alcohol is almost untraceable, though you do taste all 102 of those IBUs. Between the great mouthfeel, high drinkability and pungent hop flavor this is one of the better Double IPAs on the market. With a price tag below $4 for a 22oz bomber, its a darn good deal too.
Updated May 19, 2011 12:55 pm CDT
 BRAD'S ACBW REVIEW
By Brad Hargrave
Free State Ad Astra Ale
Lawrence, Kansas
Founded in 1989, the same year as Boulevard Brewing, Free State was recently named one of the Best Brewers in the World by Rate Beer. They celebrated this recognition by bottling their beer for the first time in 2010 and spreading the love. Ad Astra, an Amber Ale, is their flagship beer and has been immensely popular in our stores since its release. The name "Ad Astra" comes from the Kansas state motto, "Ad Astra per Aspera," Latin words meaning "To the stars through difficulties."
On to the Tasting Notes:
Ad Astra pours a dark copper body with a creamy off-white head. While sweet malt aromas are prominent, its level of hop aroma are surprising given the dark color of this beer. The palate is a balancing act with green, floral, earthy hops lending just enough bitterness to provide balance to malty flavors of toffee, caramel and fresh baked bread. Medium body, modest carbonation and a dry finish make Ad Astra an ideal pick for an everyday drinker to keep stocked in your fridge. Pick up a sixer at either Rimann location where our party shops also have the matching Free State pint glass to drink it in!
Updated May 18, 2011 4:10 pm CDT
 BRAD'S ACBW REVIEW
By Brad Hargrave
Ommegang Hennepin Farmhouse Saison
Cooperstown, New York
Boulevard's Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale is one of the most popular beers we sell. Its complex, rustic flavors have struck a chord with beer lovers here in Kansas City and all across Boulevard's distribution network. But despite its popularity, few people seem to know much about the other beers in style category it represents so well: Saison. The Saison style was developed by farmers (hence the term Farmhouse) in the Wallonia region of Belgium. These beers can vary quite a bit, but they tend to be light in color, moderately hoppy, and dry on the finish, with floral aromas and spicy yeast notes. The Ommegang Brewery of Cooperstown, New York is famous for their highly acclaimed Belgian-style beers and Hennepin is one of their best. Rated the 7th best Saison in the world by Beer Advocate, Hennepin is an excellent example of this traditional beer style and a perfect choice for Tank 7 fans looking to branch out.
On to the Tasting Notes:
Hennepin pours a light, hazy yellow body with a white crown of tiny bubbles. Aromas of lemon, damp hay, and green apple form an intriguing bouquet. The flavors are precisely balanced between tart green apple, orange zest and lemon peel, spicy clove and coriander-like yeast notes, and a grassy hop character. Its crisp, dry body makes this a beer I could drink all day, everyday. It is a well crafted, refreshing, and tasty treat with layers of nuance that give it enormous replay value. Hennepin Saison is a true example of quiet greatness. It doesn't have palate wrecking levels of IBU destruction, it isn't a beer that knocks you out of your seat after the first sip. Its appeal lies instead with balance, simplicity and grace.
Updated May 17, 2011 4:25 pm CDT
KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
New Planet Gluten Free Beers
Fort Collins, Colorado
This week's blog is a two-fer, a pair of excellent new beers from all-gluten-free brewer New Planet out of Fort Collins, CO. To earn the gluten-free label, New Planet has pledged to keep all wheat, rye, barley and associated ingredients out of their beers.
3R Raspberry Ale
5.0% ABV
The 3R Raspberry Ale is brewed from sorghum, corn, raspberry puree, orange peel, hops and yeast. The beer has a sweet, ripe raspberry smell to go with its soft-pinked-tinged golden color. The raspberry flavor itself is sweet rather than tart, floating on a light sorghum base. If you've never had a gluten-free beer before, this is a great beer to start with: the flavors of the ale are all well-integrated, and the raspberry keeps it from becoming harsh. It's a well-done fruit beer and would be great for outdoor grilling.
Off Grid Pale Ale
5.0% ABV
The Off Grid Pale Ale is brewed with sorghum, brown rice extract, molasses and all the hops you could hope for in a pale ale. It has a golden color and grassy-grapefruit hop nose. The hops and the sorghum work together in this beer to amplify the bitterness of the hops, so that this comes across on the tongue as closer to an IPA than a pale ale. It's bright and citrusy and grassy and worth trying for any hophead, whether confined to a gluten-free diet or not.
New Planet also offers a light golden ale made predominantly of sorghum and corn. I think this is a brewery to keep track of - they're pushing gluten-free beers into new territory. It's exciting to have them here in Kansas!
Updated May 10, 2011 1:55 pm CDT
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
New Belgium Somersault
Fort Collins, Colorado
Style: American Blonde Ale
with apricot and ginger
ABV: 5.2%
The Somersault is New Belgium's brand new Summer Seasonal. It's a bright golden color with lots of carbonation and a bright white head.
The scent is redolent of pale malts and spicy warm hints of apricot, banana, clove and ginger.
Flavor-wise, this beer starts with a very citrusy hop bite, somewhere in the grapefruit to navel orange range. The malts follow, pale and biscuity, run through with hints of honey and caramel. The beer isn't as sweet as this description makes it sound - it's well-balanced, quite dry with a lovely touch of bitterness from the hops.
The most interesting thing with this beer is right at the swallow and the aftertaste. The Somersault is brewed with apricot and ginger, but the apricot and ginger only make an appearance right at the end, where they help give the beer a touch of warm fruitiness. If I hadn't known about the apricot, I think I would have attributed the fruit to the malts and yeast - it's there, but it's faint, and it's blended in marvelously well.
Overall, this is an excellent beer for sitting on the deck and grilling on lazy Summer afternoons. It's cooling, fizzy, light and flavorful, without the sugary sweetness found in many other fruity beers. This is a great addition to New Belgium's catalog: enjoy!
Updated April 19, 2011 4:55 pm CDT
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
Odell Myrcenary
Fort Collins, Colorado
Style: Double/Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.3%
Myrcenary gets its name from myrcene, a chemical component in the essential oil of hop flowers. Odell chose the hop variety with the highest a mount of myrcene to ensure a bright, rich flavor. True to what you'd expect in a beer named after one of its most necessary chemical compounds, the hops get shown off to the best and highest of their capacities in this beer.
This brew has a bright, sunshiney, citrus-pine nose floating over a bright golden amber beer with an eggshell-colored head.
When drinking this beer, the hops hit in waves. They begin sharp, biting at the tongue, before moving into a more round, reinsous feeling. The flavor shifts from pine and resin to bright, grapefruit-y citrus and back into pine again. All of this flavor comes in strong, smooth mouthfeel. The malts come through in the feel of the beer alone
- they provide the backbone against which the hops can shine, but stay otherwise firmly out of the way.
Overall, this is a dedicated hophead's dream beer. The experts agree:
Beer Advocate gave it an A, and RateBeer has given it 97 points.
Updated April 7, 2011 3:00 pm CDT
LIPS OF FAITH
James Harrington is all smiles about the three new “Lips of Faith” series bombers from New Belgium that arrived in Prairie Village this week.
Starting with the Dunkel Weiss, this beer was envisioned by one of New Belgium’s brewmasters as a Dunkelweiss rediscovering a Hefeweissbier through a Belgian brewer’s lens. It opens with sweet clove, chocolate and banana notes that give way to a warm finish with a peppery tingle across the palate.
The 2011 La Folie Wood-Aged Sour Brown Ale is a Flanders-style brown ale that was fermented 1 to 3 years in French Oak before being bottled. This beer offers sour apple notes with a dry effervescence and earthy undertones.
Le Terroir is a dry hopped sour ale with flavors of peach and mango from the Amarillo hops. The name refers to the environmental conditions that affect the brew…the terroir of New Belgium; the wood barrels, temperatures, humidity and vibrations.
Updated March 25, 2011 4:50 pm CDT
KIM'S BEER REVIEW
 By Kim Funari
Bridgeport Café Negro
Coffee Infused Porter
Style: American Porter
ABV: 5.5%
IBU: 30
This is a great dark beer, medium-bodied and laced with the flavor of freshly-roasted coffee. For the connoiseurs, the coffee flavor in this particular beer runs towards coffee
beans (think chocolate-covered espresso beans, sans chocolate), rather than the more clearly mocha flavors typical in most coffee-infused beers.
This beer has more than just coffee flavors, however. The malts carry a strong roasted flavor with a touch of sweetness, and there's a soft hint of bitterness from the hops. Altogether, this beer has an excellent balance of flavors, which, combined with a silky-smooth mouthfeel, make for a great drinking experience.
Fans of the Schlafly Coffee Stout and the Dieu du Ciel Péché Mortel should be sure to give this beer a try. It's creamy and warming on a cold rainy night.
Fair warning: the caffeine in the coffee does, in fact, work.
Updated March 8, 2011 7:15 pm CST
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
Bridgeport Kingpin Double Red Ale
Style: American Double Red/Amber Ale
ABV: 7.2%
IBU: 65
Bridgeport Brewing Co., out of Portland, Oregon, is best known for its IPA, which has won a slew of awards for its bright floral-citrus character and sturdy malt backbone. The Kingpin is one of this brewery's newest beers, a fantatsic red ale out just in time for St. Patrick's Day.
This beer pours a bright copper-red color with a bit of foamy, cream-colored head on top. The smell is predominantly sweet malts with just a hint of herbal bitterness on top.
Flavor-wise, this beer is a balanced combination caramel and biscuit-y type malts and a piney, herbal hop bite. The hops don't create a strongly bitter flavor so much as they lend a sharp mouthfeel to the ale - a good, sharp hop bite is my favorite calling card in a red ale, and I enjoyed it here. The mouthfeel is the highlight of this beer: the sharpness of the hops comes in combination with a rich, thick feeling from the malts and the high alcohol content. The combination of textures is complex and satisfying.
Overall, this is a great strong beer with enough alcohol for colder nights and enough hoppiness to bring in the warmer days. Fans of amber and red ales should definitely give this a try.
Updated March 1, 2011 7:15 pm CST
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
Great Divide Belgica
Style: Belgian IPA
ABV: 7.2%
Great Divide's Belgica is a hybrid of two styles: half Belgian Golden, half India Pale Ale. The combination features light pilsner malts, various American and European hops and a rare strain of Belgian yeast.
It's a bright golden color with a similarly sunny aroma of citrusy hops and a slightly sour undertone from the malts, with light carbonation and a faint bite of hops.
Flavor-wise, this is a wonderfully complex beer with lots to enjoy.
There's a hint of sugarcane up front, which is immediately followed by grapefruit-like hops and light malts. The malts combine with the alcohol to add enough sweetness to cut the sharpness of the hops. The result is a grapefruit flavor is bright and sunny without too much bitterness, making this beer accessible to the non-hopheads out there.
This flavor is packed into a heavy, slightly syrupy body which is smooth and warming.
This beer is great for being both recognizably Belgian in style while still maintaining an excellent hop profile. The Belgica is Great Divide's late-Winter/early-Spring seasonal, on shelves between now and sometime in April. Try some while it's available - with its sunny bright flavors and warming alcohol, it's a great way to get ready for Spring!
Updated February 15, 2011 4:55 pm CST
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
Goose Island Demolition Ale
Style: Belgian-Style Golden Ale
ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 7.2
IBU (International Bittering Units): 40
Goose Island's Demolition Ale is the brewery's tribute to the loyal customers who kept them in business when the mall surrounding their brewery in Chicago was being torn down. It's a complex, slightly sour Belgian Ale, ripe with complexity, and a great example of the style.
The Demolition Ale is a lovely cloudy golden color with peachy hints and a bright white, thin head of foam. The smell is redolant of pale malts with punches of lemons and bread, topped with notes of banana, clove and a touch of something that reminds me, at least, of bubblegum. It's complex and fantastic.
Drinking the beer begins with a hint of sourness - the hallmark of many lighter Belgian-style ales - before moving into the rich fullness of bready pale malts and bits of grassy, citrusy bitterness. The Demolition has a creamy mouthfeel that somehow manages to produce light hop bite on the tongue and a light prickle of carbonation. The aftertaste is all lemon cookie.
Beyond being a must-try for lovers of Boulevard's Tank 7, this is an excellent beer to try for those who are interested in trying out Belgian-style ales and sour beers. There is a definite sourness to the beer, but it's light enough to refrain from becoming overwhelming.
This is an excellent beer, warming enough to work in the cold winter months and a nice change from the porters and stouts that are so common this time of year.
Updated January 25, 2011 6:45 pm
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale
Style: American Red Ale/Scottish Ale
ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 6.8%
IBU (International Bittering Units): 67
Bear Republic out of Healdsburg, CA, is a hophead's dream brewery. Most of their brews - including oft-sweeter, malt-heavy styles - feature a hop-forward flavor profile. The Red Rocket Ale, best described in the brewery's words as a "bastardized Scottish-Style Red Ale," is one of the best examples of Bear Republic's unique style.
This beer is a cloudy but bright copper color with a finger or so worth of light tan-colored head. The scent is redolent of ruby red grapefruit-scented hops, backed up by the sweetness of apple and caramel-biscuit smelling malts.
Drinking this beer begins with a massive bite of hops on the tongue - it's strong enough to be a sensation as much as a flavor, bright, bitter and very sharp. Once the initial biting sensation wears off, the beer calms down into a profile of grassy and herbal hops with hints of citrus rind and pith on top. The malts are lying underneath the hops, coming through mostly in hints of almost syrupy, Scottish Ale-style sweetness. The malts disappear again in the aftertaste, which is a long and lingering hit of grapefruit-y hops.
Bear Republic's beers are not for the faint of heart. They're packed full of flavor and style, unapologetic in their strength and confidence. The Red Rocket is one of their best, so pick one up soon and enjoy!
Updated January 18, 2011 6:00 pm
KIM'S BEER REVIEW
 By Kim Funari
Epic Mayhem
Style: American Strong Ale
ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 6.2%
From New Zealand's Epic Brewing Company comes Mayhem, the Kiwi version of an American Strong Ale. It's a wonderful take on the style, bright and zingy without the heaviness that often accompanies the higher alcohol level in strong ales.
This beer is a gorgeous cloudy amber color with a rim of white head and fountains of tiny, almost champagne-like bubbles. The scent is a gloriously sunny combination of grapefruit and piney hops with undertones of malty, almost caramel-like sweetness. It's the type of scent that can help replace thoughts of snowfall and cold, blustery winds with warmer memories of sunshine and leafy trees.
Taste-wise, this beer begins with a pleasant hop bite before sliding into a nice balance between notes of citrus and medium, lightly sweet malts. The bubbling carbonation helps give this beer a fairly light body for the alcohol level, making this an extremely refreshing, easy-to-drink beer.
With it's bright flavors and lack of aftertaste, this is a beer that would pair extremely well with food. Try it with fried chicken, a tray of hard cheeses, or a warming bowl of stew.
Updated January 11, 2011 5:00 pm
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
Dieu du Ciel Péché Mortel
Style: American Double/Imperial Stout with coffee ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 9.5%
Have a coffee-lover on your gift list and no idea what to get them? Or do you have a determined beer snob still to shop for, but find yourself not sure what they might like? Consider a Péché Mortel from Dieu du Ciel brewery in Quebec. This is one of the top-rated beers in the world. Beeradvocate.com gives it an A+. Ratebeer.com gives it a 100. I'd agree with both ratings: this beer is world-class.
The Péché Mortel (French for "mortal sin") is a pitch black brew with a mocha-colored, foamy head. It smells like a carafe of very fresh dark roast coffee made in a French Press. This is gourmet coffee, well-done and strong enough to stir itself.
The dominant flavor here is black coffee, the kind of coffee so good that it doesn't need cream and sugar to make it palatable. Underneath the coffee is a combination of roasted malts with a hint of smoke and bitter chocolate. This beer has a thick, almost syrupy mouthfeel (which is as it should be for the style) and a slight, but pleasant, alcohol burn on the way down (it is, after all, 9.5% alcohol).
This particular beer is less sweet than many imperial stouts, and the coffee flavor is easily the most pronounced I've ever encountered in a coffee stout. It's a fantastic, and fantastically different, rendition of the style. Enjoy one for yourself, or buy some for gifts.
And as a small, parting caveat emptor: the coffee works, by which I mean the caffeine works - don't drink it too late if you're strongly affected by caffeine. On the other hand, if you're planning on tailgating and are looking for a way to get your morning coffee in with your pregame beer, this is absolutely the way to go.
Updated Dec 14, 2010 5:20 pm
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
St. Feuillien Saison
Style: Saison/Farmhouse Ale
ABV: 6.5%
Especially of interest for those of you who enjoy the Boulevard Tank 7 Ale, Rimann's has something new for you to try: the St. Feuillien Saison Ale is now in stock, and it is well worth picking up a bottle or two to enjoy.
My first experience with the St. Feuillien Saison forces me to pass on something of warning to all of you out there: when uncorking, make sure you point it away from everyone in the room (as well as any windows, television or computer screens, fragile objects, etc.). When I popped the cork on my bottle (which had not been shaken or disturbed at all), it FLEW. It slammed into the ceiling roughly ten feet away before dropping to the ground another five feet past that. As an uncorking experience, it put every champagne I've ever tried to shame. It was impressive, to say the least.
This beer has a scent redolent of lemon peel, grass, and the slightly sour tang that always accompanies the Saison style of ale. It's a lovely golden blonde color with amazing carbonation and a tall, fluffy head of white. The head left lacing all the way down the glass.
Flavor-wise, this was a mass of pale malts and grains with hints of lemon, herbs like sage and rosemary, touches of clover honey and the funky sour notes that are the Saison's signature. To put it in hyper-poetic language: this beer tastes like a field in summertime - it would be a great way to chase of the winter blahs.
Try this beer as an aperitif before your next great meal, or with earthy or pungent cheeses like Fontina or Gorgonzola.
Updated Dec 7, 2010 4:45 pm
 KIM'S BEER REVIEW
By Kim Funari
Goose Island Mild Winter Ale
Style: American Mild Ale / Rye Beer
ABV (Alcohol By Volume): 5.6%
International Bitterness Units: 28
The Mild Winter Ale is Goose Island's Winter Seasonal brew. It's an American Mild Ale - a style of beer that is brewed to have a low bitterness level - meaning that the malts are the star of this show. It's medium coppery-auburn in color with a fantastically thick, creamy head of off-white foam. The beer is translucent, which allows the tiny carbonation bubbles to show through: it's almost like looking at a dark champagne.
The scent of this beer is sweetly malty with hints of brown sugar, caramel, raisins, and brown bread. The brown sugar comes through strongly in the flavor of the beer, along with echoes of caramel and molasses, hints of spicy rye, and the slightest touch of coffee. It's light-bodied for a winter seasonal, and the hops are present only to make sure that this beer isn't diabetes-inducing sweet. In other words, there's no bitterness to be found - if you don't like the hoppy seasonal offerings out there, like the Boulevard Nutcracker or the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (or if you're just looking for something different), this is a great beer to try. The Mild Winter Ale is malty and fun and very easy to drink.
The thing that is the most interesting about the Mild Winter Ale in comparison to many other breweries' Winter Seasonals is the lack of spice. Many Winter Ales have strong clove, nutmeg and orange peel notes, spices intended to help warm the flavor of the beer. Some people really like the spices. Some other people don't. To put it another way, Goose Island has created a gourmet sugar cookie to everyone else's snickerdoodle. It's a simple ale, well-brewed, and easy to enjoy. It's also the type of beer that pairs well with food. Goose Island's website suggests pairing this beer with beef stew or sausage, and it would pair well with most any other hearty winter meal.
Updated Dec 2, 2010 3:20 pm
 Variety packs are a terrific way to try new and different beers and some of the brewers feature a variety of their beers in a single box that is great for parties or gift giving. Newly arrived in Prairie Village are the Chimay Sampler 3 Pack, The Samuel Smiths Selection Box and the Lindemans Gift Pack. Come in and get them while they last.
Updated Nov. 20, 2010 4:40 pm
 Twenty one years ago John McDonald, the founder of Boulevard Brewing Company sold the very first keg of Bouelvard Beer. In commemoration of that event and in tribute to their flagship Pale Ale, Boulevard has released "21st Anniversary Fresh Hop Pale Ale" pictured here with Rimann Liquors Managing Partner Andy Wingert. This limited-release beer is produced using malts from Great Britain and a blend of Cascade, Hallertau, Magnum, Styrian Bolding and Centennial hops. The result is a full-bodied malty ale with a good balance of hops. This is a small batch, limited quantity beer, so we urge you to act fast.
Updated Nov. 9, 2010 1:12 pm
 Three of the four year-round selections in Boulevard Brewing Company's popular Smokestack Series are now available in 12 oz bottles. Since their original inception several years ago these big, bold, distinctive beers from our hometown brewer have only been been offered in the large format, cork-finished bottles. Now the Double Wide IPA, Sixth Glass and Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale all come in the single serve, 12 oz bottles. Brian (aka Roy) reports that they are flying off the shelves in Lenexa and Prairie Village.
Updated Nov. 4, 2010 7:34 pm
 Steve's lastest beer find: Point "2012" Black Ale - Thousands of years ago the ancient Mayans of Central America developed a "Long-Count" round calendar that ends ominously on December 21, 2012. Some predict this symbolizes the end of time as we know it. Inspired by this mystery, Stevens Point Brewery of Wisconsin offers Point 2012 Black Ale to help contemplate this 'end of time' or perhaps a 'new beginning.' Dark rich roasty and complex, Point 2012 Black Ale is hand-crafted with Pale, Munich, and Roasted Malts with Cluster, Saaz, and Cascade hops for the robust flavor and finish. Enjoy -- while there's still time. Available in Prairie Village and Lenexa.
Beer Geek Information
Malts: Pale, Munich and Roasted
Hops: Saaz, Cascade and Cluster
Alcohol Content: 5.4% by volume
IBU's: 32
Updated Oct. 23, 2010 4:07 pm
 New arrivals in the Prairie Village store: Dirtoir Black Lager and First Growth Single Malt Ale are two of the brews in the limited availability “Chatoe Rogue” series from Oregon’s Rogue Ales. The Dirtoir is jet black in color with a tan head and medium to full bodied. Well balanced it has roasted malt flavors with a smooth bitterness and a long lingering finish. The Single Malt Ale is blonde ale with golden color and a rich maltiness. They are both very limited in availability and won’t be around for long.
Updated Oct. 9, 2010 8:25pm
 Just in time for the crisp autumn season we have a new Irish Hard Cider in both stores: Magners Irish Cider. Imported from County Tipperary, the cider is made from 17 different varieties of apples using the same methods the company started with in 1935. Not too tart and not too sweet, Mangers is an excellent addition to our cider selection.
Upadated Oct. 4, 2010 4:13pm
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