Boulevard launches BBQ beer to help new museum tell Kansas City’s smoky story
May 15, 2025 | Startland News Staff
It’s a beer that could only happen in Kansas City, said Greg Garrity, teasing Boulevard Brewing Co.’s just-announced bourbon barrel-aged Belgian-style quad — a brew infused with smoked malt and a blend of bold, barbecue-inspired ingredients.
Crafted in collaboration with the recently opened Museum of BBQ at Crown Center, the MO’ BBQ release is the latest in Boulevard’s Brewhouse One series, a line of small-batch beers that are brewed with ties local businesses and organizations.
A Beer Hall BBQ launch party is set for 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. May 22 at the Boulevard Tours & Rec Center, featuring samples of MO’ BBQ, a BBQ pork special with classic sides, and a sauce bar curated by the Museum of BBQ.
The barbecue special will be supplied by Boulevard’s new kitchen. Four-packs of MO’ BBQ will also available for carryout from the Tours & Rec Center for $19.99.
Click here to check out the beer hall’s new kitchen menu.
The MO’ BBQ Barrel-Aged Smoked Quad will be available exclusively at the Boulevard Tours & Rec Center starting May 22, while supplies last.
“For this entry to Brewhouse One, we knew we wanted something authentic to Kansas City, both in concept and execution, and there was nothing that spoke to that more than a partnership with the Museum of BBQ,” said Garrity, innovation brewer at Boulevard. “From there, we got into the specifics: How will we smoke the malt, what kinds of wood will we use, are we going full-blown brisket or are we going for a kiss of smoke? We really landed on a beer where one aspect isn’t outshining the other — it showcases the barrel, the beer and the barbecue equally.”
The project was a natural fit for the Museum of BBQ, which invites locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in the smells, sights and stories of BBQ, said Jonathan Bender, a barbecue aficionado and former journalist who founded the first-of-its-kind destination alongside Chef Alex Pope.
“We want (the museum) to be a gateway to Kansas City barbecue just as Boulevard has been a gateway to beer for so many in KC and beyond,” Bender said.
Click here to learn more about the Museum of BBQ.
The goal behind MO’ BBQ: craft a beer that tastes like Kansas City barbecue feels.
MO’ BBQ Barrel-Aged Smoked Quad from Boulevard Brewing Co.; photo courtesy of Boulevard Brewing Co.
With help from Boulevard’s resident barrel-aging expert, Quinn Reeder, the teams dreamed up an 11.8% ABV blend brewed with smoked pilsner malt, dark Belgian Candi Syrup, brown sugar, molasses, and a complex array of seasonings: star anise, celery seed, and cracked black peppercorns.
Chef Pope even smoked the pilsner malt in-house to provide just the right depth, while Boulevard’s brewing team experimented with balance.
Click here to learn more about the MO’ BBQ release.
“Whether you’re pairing MO’ BBQ with a plate of ribs, some sharp cheese or a quiet evening, this ale is a rich, spiced, smokey pour with the heart and soul of KC,” Boulevard said in a press release.
Featured Business
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Cafe Cà Phê returns to the West Bottoms with second location for KC’s popular Vietnamese coffee shop
A Cafe Cà Phê satellite location inside 12th Street Post in the West Bottoms is the perfect step for continuing the mission of Kansas City’s only Vietnamese coffee shop, shared founder Jackie Nguyen. Just shy of the one year anniversary of its Columbus Park space, Cafe Cà Phê celebrated the grand opening of its new…
She wanted to bring her favorite foodie magazine to KC; her mother’s sudden death put this publisher’s plans on the back burner
Lauren Cook’s passion for Edible Communities magazine drove her appetite to revive it in Kansas City, she shared, but an unexpected life change has her hoping to hand the publisher’s apron to someone else. Cook purchased the license to publish the city-specific food magazine — each independently run by publishers in metros across the country…
Digital Sandbox alum earns new round of funding — this time for sports tech; Meet the latest batch of just-funded startups
From making the college admissions process easier for students to summarizing books and podcasts using artificial intelligence, the latest startups to join Digital Sandbox KC are a great example of the creativity of this region’s entrepreneurs, said Jill Meyer. The four newly selected companies are expected to receive up to $20,000 in project funding and…
Her red sauce is dynamite but Ragazza’s owner gives the chef title to her Italian heritage
Family is baked into the core of Laura Norris’ restaurants, she shared, from the Italian recipes served at Ragazza in Westport to the brother-sister duo running the new Enzo Wine Bar and Bistro together in the River Market. She opened Ragazza, which now sits at the corner of 43rd and Main streets, in 2013 and…