December 28, 2016 in Food & Farming

Toast the New Year with local beer, wine and spirits

Ring in the New Year with holiday spirits from local breweries, wineries and distilleries, and learn about some of their sustainability practices.

No matter what you wish to sip, the metro area is a great place to fill your mug or glass. There is a wide variety of vineyards, breweries and wineries that offer tours, tastings and events during the holiday season and throughout the year.

For an eco-friendly experience, visit Jowler Creek Vineyard located 30 minutes north of downtown Kansas City. Jowler Creek is Missouri’s first green vineyard and winery. Owners Colleen and Jason Gerke utilize solar panels to power their winery, and a method of rotational grazing of Olde English Babydoll sheep to control weed and grass growth. Enjoy award-winning wines at the on-site tasting room open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

To tour a true “zero landfill” brewery, and taste beer from one of the largest specialty brewers in the Midwest, visit Boulevard Brewing Company. Located on Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, MO, the brewery has developed several environmentally friendly practices. The company is zero landfill, which means it recycles and composts most of its waste from organic materials to plastics and scrap metal. All broken bottles and other glass waste goes to Ripple Glass, which sends a portion of its final product back to the bottle manufacturer that makes Boulevard bottles. Ripple Glass was started by a few Boulevard owners. Beer box packaging is made from 70-100 percent post-consumer, recycled material. The brewery also has planted a green roof to reduce heating and air conditioning loads and lower energy consumption and installed solar panels to help produce energy. The brewery offers free public tours daily (except holidays) throughout the year.

If you want to take your pup along for a beer, try the Big Rip Brewing Company and its Bicycle and Dog Sundays when they offer a $1 off your first drink if you ride your bike and bring your dog.

Check with these local breweries, wineries and distilleries for upcoming tours and tastings.