A taste of the Southwest comes to KC

St. Louis isn't the only area sending new beer to Kansas City. Next up for us, a new friend from the southwest: Santa Fe Brewing, the oldest and largest microbrewery in New Mexico. In addition to some tasty brews, they're also sending their owner, Brian Lock!

Brian will join us at The Foundry around 7:30 tomorrow (Wednesday, Nov. 14) to mingle and to enjoy some beers (there may be some giveaways, too...). What beers? I'm glad you asked. We'll have the Java Stout, IPA, and Chicken Killer Barley Wine.

I've had a few of their beers, their Pale Ale, Nut Brown, and Hefeweizen - all very good - but none of the three that will be available tomorrow. So that's pretty exciting. Here's a closer look at tomorrow's offerings, in case you didn't feel like clicking through the links above. (Don't worry, I'm not judging.)

IMPERIAL JAVA STOUT 

This is the kind of beer that gives the word "stout" a reputation. Extra generous quantities of barley malt, followed by vigorous fermentation leaves this "imperial" heavy weight with 8% alcohol A.B.V. and a body as full as chocolate bread pudding. A complimentary and complex array of bitter notes comes form potent American hops, earthy British hops, black-roasted malts and, of course, coffee. Santa Fe Brewing Company uses only top-quality ingredients like organically grown East Timor coffee beans blended with New Guinea coffee beans, locally roasted by O'hori's Coffee House. Its heavenly flavor and aroma can't be beat or imitated.

HAPPY CAMPER I.P.A. 

A classic beer for those beer lovers who love their hops, Happy Camper IPA will take the Pepsi Challenge (or IPA challenge, as we say in New Mexico) against any other pretenders to the throne. Was it divine providence that made this beer the king of the IPA world? Was it a tireless pursuit of glory? No, this IPA has a top-secret recipe to thank for its success, and this meticulously formulated combination of several different hops combined with a very specific brewing process give Happy Camper IPA a spicy, citric, and floral infusion of hop character, which is masterfully counterbalanced with the full-bodied maltiness characteristic of the Santa Fe Brewing Company’s distinctive beers. 

AWARDS:
2012: Bronze Medal, IPA Category, AMERI-can Beer Festival
2012: Gold Medal, American-Style Strong Pale Ale Category, North American Beer Awards
2012: Third Place, Summer Brew Category, Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest

CHICKEN KILLER BARLEY WINE 

Chicken Killer Barley Wine is the revolutionary beer that will someday define America's unique Barley Wine style. It is brewed with twice the ingredients of the Santa Fe Brewing Company's other beers, and only half the usual amount of liquid is extracted from these ingredients. This makes one substantial beer. At over ten percent alcohol, Chicken Killer is actually as substantial as wine, but this is not to say that it is difficult to drink. On the contrary; be careful with this one. The flavors of the beer are at first as overwhelming as the intense Santa Fe sun. But in the same way our sun gives us the unrivaled brilliant colors of Santa Fe, the potency of Chicken Killer gives us the remarkable spectrum of flavors that can be found in no other beer, in no other city. If you did not have the opportunity to try last year's vintage, come try this year's! 

AWARDS:
2012 Silver Medal, American-Style Strong Ale Category, North American Beer Awards
2011 Silver Medal, NM State Fair
2007 Silver Medal: Barley Wine Ale, N. American Beer Competition
2007 Silver Medal, NM State Fair
2000 Bronze Medal, NM State Fair
1999 Best of Show NM State Fair
1991 Best of Show NM State Fair

I'm getting thirsty just reading about them. They may not be everybody's thing, but I love me a good coffee stout. It's getting to be good weather for both coffee stouts and barley wines, and IPAs are always appropriate. Santa Fe is coming strong with their offerings. Swing on by The Foundry tomorrow at 7:30 to partake the beers and give Brian and Santa Fe Brewing a warm welcome to Kansas City!