Date Night: Breweries and Wine

Brick River Cider Co., which opened last March, is the first cidery in Kansas City. It is surrounded by other great breweries in the Crossroads but stands out because of its offerings. You might think you were headed to a winery based on the “semi-dry” and “semi-sweet” descriptions for the ciders, but don’t be fooled. These ciders are high on flavor but low in alcohol content, which means you can have more than one! Each one averages around 5% ABV. My husband and I each ordered a flight of four to try, and we enjoyed them all! The Homestead, which is one of the flagship ciders, was a clear favorite. Brick River also has a good food menu. We shared a Texas flatbread (with pulled pork to start and liked it so much that we ordered a second one. We look forward to trying some of the other menu items on our next visit. Highly recommend!

For a great tour, head to J. Rieger & Co., a local distillery. Even if you aren’t a fan of liquor, or even alcohol, this tour is worth the time and money because this place has a fascinating history. Originally founded in 1887, the company was the largest mail order whiskey house in the U.S. prior to Prohibition in 1920. It boasted a customer base of more than 250,000. But Prohibition, sadly, forced its closure. Almost 95 years later, in 2014, the brand was relaunched—and it is well poised to be here in 95 more years. Not only does J. Rieger & Co. have top-notch distilled whiskey, gin and vodka, but also a beautiful facility, featuring the swanky second-floor Monogram Lounge (which overlooks the distillery production floor) and the basement Hey Hey Club with a speakeasy vibe. Both serve food and drinks. The spot also offers the Electric Park Garden Bar, open seasonally and featuring an outdoor food truck and bar, lounge seating, fire pits and a swing set table. To top off your visit, be sure to experience the 40-foot slide that will deliver you back to the main level once you are finished on the second floor. It’s a fun—and fast—way to avoid the stairs!

North Kansas City, just north of downtown KCMO, has a vibrant food and drink scene, and one of our favorite places for both is Sail Away Wine. This wine tasting bar and eatery is the first of its kind in the KC area and offers around 70 wines to try. From all over the world. A free wine passport allows you to sample as many wines as you like from the tasting machines and keeps track of the amount you spend. Samples range from $1.40 to more than $10, depending on the wine and the size of the pour. Each wine offers three different sizes of pours. In addition to wine, the establishment has a great food menu. The star is the flatbread. Each one we have tried has been delicious! And on Mondays, they are buy one, get one free! The menu also has meat and cheese boards, salads and small plates. In addition to food and wine, Sail Away has live music on Tuesdays and trivia on Sundays.

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives in the Northland with her husband. They love to explore Kansas City and try new restaurants and activities. Check out her Facebook page, Out & About in KC.