That’s big enough to share a beer with a friend but not quite big enough to feed a monk during lent. German monks would drink up to 5 liters a day!

“Three hundred or four hundred years ago, a group of Paulaner monks in Bavaria …started making a stronger beer, a double beer, called doppelbock,” Sorensen said. “The story goes the monks would give up eating and literally would drink this ‘liquid bread’ to sustain them through their Lenten fast.”—CNN

Here’s a story about an Iowa man who decided to live like a monk for lent in 2011—beer every day for 46 days!

Hooray for teams! Here’s our list of teams and their (unofficial) status. There’s still time to fill out your team and get a tankard. Register now!

Hilltamers 11!

The Short Bikes 8

Good Time Gang 8

Gastinger Walker Harden + BeeTriplett Buck 6

Dill’s Gills 5

Just stopping for one 5

Team Burns & Mac 5

Cancer Hammers 4

Flying Fredricksons 4

Brookridge 4

3 team members—Here Kid, Hold My Beer, Team Beer, Jane’s Posers, Beer Bears, Bike Stop

2 team members—UnderPressure, Andrews McMeel Universal, 3 Abreast, Pink Foxes, Cycling Buddies, Midtown’s Best

1 team members—Dread Pirates, Team Xanon, Rob the Realtor, SixPackShuffle, Helix, RIM Riders, LocalCycling

The 30 mile group will fly off to McCoy’s Public House in Westport for a small sample of their brews and some more goodies to keep you on your way. Then we stop at SPIN! Pizza for some delicious, cold gelato! BikeSource will be there to keep your bike rolling. The next stop will be with our friends at Family Bicycles! Check out the shop and claim some more snacks for the longer span of miles ahead.

Those who are going 60 miles will be taking Gregory to Blue River Road with a detour at the historic Trailside Center at 99th and Holmes. Not only does the Center have stories from the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails but it will welcome you with treats from Whole Foods Market! After that, you will be on to Martin City Brewing Company for a few samples of their wares to keep you hopped up for the ride back to Family Bicycles—those gracious people who are TWICE hosting us!

After that it’s all downhill—to Knuckleheads and the giant end party! There you can pick your lunch from the likes of Knuckleheads, Wilma’s Real Good Food and the Tamale Wizard and wash it down with Boulevard Beer! Don’t forget to sign up before May 6 to receive ALL the good stuff! Register here.

Jerseys are still available in limited quantities so hurry and reserve yours here.

Mary from Knucklenead’s will be firing up the grill with Italian sausage and burgers while Wilma’s Real Good Food will be offering up their signature chicken wings, meatloaf sliders fried mashed potatos and mac ‘n’ cheese. The Tamale Wizard will add some fire to your day with their world-class tamales, black beans and three choices of fresh salsa! Vegetarians – we’ve got you covered.

We have lots of options for you too! Remember your Tour de Brew KC packet comes with tickets for lunch and 2 beers– sign up today! it takes time to make all the tamales.

Only $75.00 with proceeds going to BikeWalkKC to help get more bike lanes and sidewalks!

Order here and see size chart. If you want a looser fit order one size up.

For a larger view, click here.
The jerseys are stout brown and golden ale colors with red raglan sleeves. Local vintage beer labels are in the wheels of the bike on the back.

“Designed with cycling per­for­mance and comfort in mind, this jersey fea­tures quick-drying durable fabric, an anatom­i­cal fit with extra length in the back for cov­er­age in the riding posi­tion, a long zipper for ven­ti­la­tion, an elas­ti­cized waist and sleeve cuffs for a secure fit, and three pockets in the back for storage.”

The party must go on! We have you covered…literally! If it rains, just do a shorter tour and come on back to Knuckleheads to pa-a-a-a-arty! Food and brew start at noon. Other festivities at 12:30, music at 2:00.

• Roasterie will pump you up in the a.m. with the bicyclers’ favorite jolt.
• 816 Bicycle Collective will check out your bike for last minute adjustments.
• Cool rest stops sponsored by Volker Bicycles, SPIN! Pizza, Family Bicycles, Martin City and Whole Foods Market! Wow!
• KC Sprints tests your mettle with roller bike racing!
• Sooth tired muscles with Gypsy Massage.
• Truly delicious falafel sandwiches, hummus, chips and baba ganoush from Yummy’s Choice. Proceeds benefit BikeWalkKC.
• Hamburger, hot dogs, chips and Boulevard Beer for riders and volunteers!
• Prizes! Awards for Bike Week!
• Feel like dancin’? Jam Session starts at 2:00.

Can you think of a better way to spend your Sunday?

The KC Star has Tour de Brew KC covered! Check it out!

Bike riders invited to pedal to party, learn about beer on way

On November 17, 1989, the first keg of Boulevard beer was sold to Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen just a few blocks from the brewery. John McDonald delivered that half-barrel of Pale Ale in his pickup truck. A handful of regulars looked on in amusement as the young upstart tapped the strange new brew.

John’s dream of a brewery started on his trips to Paris to visit his future wife. There he tasted great beers and noticed that the beers were locally made and had a local following. Unlike American beers, each one tasted different. Belgian beers became his favorite.

In 1988, John started construction of the brewery in a turn-of-the-century brick building on Kansas City’s historic Southwest Boulevard. A vintage Bavarian brewhouse was installed, and the first batches of beer were produced in the fall of 1989.

The timing was perfect. Boulevard was at the forefront of America’s taste switching from homogenous-tasting nationally distributed brews to Pre-prohibition style craft beers with a local identity.

In 2006, a major expansion adjacent to the original brewery raised Boulevard’s brewing capacity to approximately 600,000 barrels per year—a sizable increase from the 6,000 barrels contemplated in John’s original business plan. The new brewing and packaging facility is a model of sustainable urban architecture and engineering; a three-story, 70,000 square foot building housing a new, state-of-the-art 150-barrel brewhouse, packaging lines, administrative offices, and hospitality rooms.

Boulevard Brewing Company has grown to become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. Our mission is simple: to produce fresh, flavorful beers using the finest traditional ingredients and the best of both old and new brewing techniques. Boulevard beers, known for their full flavor, distinctive character, and unsurpassed quality, are currently available throughout [the midwest, south and western U.S.]”