Boulevard Brewing Co. and Vine Street Brewing Co.
Collaborate to Honor National Baseball Hall of Fame Legend
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (October 18, 2022)
Boulevard Brewing Co. is excited to announce the official launch of its newest brew in collaboration with Vine Street Brewing Co.: the Buck O’Neil Barrel-Aged Saison. The ale is a chardonnay barrel-aged saison with a crisp, light flavor featuring notes of fruit and accentuated by hops. It is a beer to be savored with an ABV of 9 percent. In line with Vine Street Brewing’s dedication to Kansas City’s rich cultural heritage, this beer will serve to honor the late first baseman and manager of the Kansas City Monarchs, Buck O’Neil.
“We are thrilled to be teaming up with our friends at Vine Street Brewing Co. to honor an incredible Kansas City legend,” said Bobby Dykstra, vice president of sales at Boulevard parent company Duvel Moortgat USA. “Donating the proceeds from Buck O’Neil Barrel-Aged Saison to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is one small way we can give back for everything they’ve done for our community.”
A Negro Leagues Baseball legend and National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Buck O’Neil was the first African American coach in Major League Baseball and an integral part of Kansas City history. In honor of this rich history, Boulevard and Vine Street will donate 100% of all Buck O’Neil Ale proceeds to the Negro League Baseball Museum,
“Vine Street Brewing Co. is humbled and honored to collaborate with Boulevard and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to commemorate Buck O’Neil, a true American treasure,” said Kemet Coleman, co-founder of Vine Street Brewing. “Buck’s incredible story and legacy continue to strengthen Kansas City’s heartbeat with his talents and ability to bring people together. Buck O’Neil Barrel-Aged Saison offers us a sacred chance to inspire our city. We could not have asked for a better opportunity to pay homage to such an essential pillar of our community.”
To celebrate Buck’s historic induction into the Hall of Fame this past summer, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum will host the “Thanks A Million Buck” gala on Saturday, November 12th, at its museum with an amazing evening of food, drinks, and music in celebration of Buck’s Hall of Fame career. Proceeds from the gala, where the “Buck O’Neil Ale” will be sampled, will go to support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the completion of the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center, that will be housed in the Paseo YMCA, the historic landmark where the Negro National League was established in. To learn more about the gala, visit nlbm.com/upcoming-events/ the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America, which O’Neil helped establish.
“The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is excited about this historic collaboration with Boulevard Brewing Company and Vine Street Brewing Company to honor Buck O’Neil and celebrate his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame,” said Bob Kendrick, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president. “I know that Buck would be thrilled about this recognition and the support that it is generating for his museum. He would be equally excited about the opportunity to shine light on the Vine Street Brewing Company, a great new addition to Historic 18th & Vine.”
The limited-release beer will be available in bottles beginning the first week of November 2022. It is a one-time drop and once retailers are out, there will not be additional deliveries (get it while you can!). It will be available for purchase throughout the Greater Kansas City Area, in retail stores where Boulevard is sold.
100% of the proceeds from the Buck O’Neil Barrel-Aged Saison will be donated to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
About Boulevard Brewing Company
Boulevard Brewing Company is the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. Their beers are available in 47 states and 11 countries. Learn more at boulevard.com, or find them on social at facebook.com/Boulevard, twitter.com/Boulevard_Beer and instagram.com/Boulevard_Beer.
About Vine Street Brewing Co.
Vine Street Brewing Co. is on a mission to craft beers fermented in the spirit of Jazz and Hip-Hop, remixing ales and lagers in the Historic 18th & Vine District. Opening soon, Vine Street Brewing Co. will be the first Black-owned brewery in Kansas City, focusing on bringing craft beer to many communities. Learn more at vinestbrewing.com, or find them on social at facebook.com/vinestbrewing, twitter.com/vinestbrewing, and instagram.com/vinestbrewingco.
About Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America. The privately funded, 501 c3, not-for-profit organization was established in 1990 and is in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri’s Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. The NLBM operates two blocks from the Paseo YMCA where Andrew “Rube” Foster established the Negro National League in 1920. To learn more about the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, please visit nlbm.com.