Brewhouse One Series: MO’ BBQ

MO’ BBQ – Barrel-Aged Smoked Quad

A Smoked, Spiced, Barrel-Aged Toast to Kansas City 

“Hey Siri, what is Kansas City best known for?” 
 
“When people are asked what Kansas City is best known for, here are the top five things that typically come up: 
1. Barbecue – KC-style barbecue is legendary, known for its slow-smoked meats and thick, sweet tomato based sauce. Several popular joints are often mentioned. 
2. Jazz Music – The city played a crucial role in the development of jazz, especially during the 1920s and 1930s. The historic 18^th & Vine District and the American Jazz Museum celebrate this heritage. 
3. Fountains – Kansas City is sometimes called the “City of Fountains,” with more than 200 fountains scattered throughout the metro, second only to Rome. 
4. Sports – The Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC and the Kansas City Current are big-time sources of pride. 
5. Boulevard Brewing Company – One of the largest specialty brewers in the Midwest, Boulevard has helped define the city’s craft beer scene. 

Kansas City’s barbecue legacy is legendary. Our barbecue is an art form steeped in smoke, sauce, and storytelling. With more local joints than you can count, and a deep cultural connection to fire and flavor, it was only a matter of time before the city’s two most flavorful institutions teamed up. Right on cue, MO’ BBQ enters the scene. The latest release in our Brewhouse One series: an 11.8% ABV bourbon barrel-aged Belgian-style quad infused with smoked malt and a blend of bold, barbecue-inspired ingredients. It’s a beer that could only happen here, and only in partnership with the new Museum of BBQ, a first-of-its-kind destination created to honor and explore America’s rich barbecue culture. 

Founded by author, journalist, AND certified barbecue judge Jonathan Bender, the Museum of BBQ is a celebration of smoked meat as a uniquely American experience, with Kansas City prominently at the center. “We want to be a gateway to Kansas City barbecue just as Boulevard has been a gateway to beer for so many in KC and beyond,” said Bender. Located in  Crown Center, the museum invites locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in the smells, sights, and stories of BBQ. When Jonathan reached out to Boulevard to explore a partnership, we saw an opportunity to create something even more delicious: a beer that tastes like Kansas City barbecue feels. 

“Jonathan had worked with Boulevard in the past when he was a journalist, so we already had a relationship,” said Greg Garrity, Boulevard Innovation Brewer. “Like most of our BH1 beers, we get word internally about rad concepts that are either interesting or top of mind, and this one checked every box.” Greg and our resident barrel-aging expert Quinn Reeder met with Bender and his partner, Chef Alex Pope, and got to work dreaming up a beer that could channel the essence of KC BBQ. The result? A unique blend of barrel-aged Bourbon Barrel Quad blended with a fresh quad 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. 

“We all like the idea and 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?” says Garrity. We knew we wanted something authentic to Kansas City, both in concept and execution. Pope smoked the pilsner malt in-house to provide just the right depth, while our own brewing team experimented with balance. “We had Jonathan and Alex come out to our barrel warehouse,” said Reeder. “They picked out the lot of aging Bourbon Barrel Quad they liked the best, and that same day we spent hours blending and tweaking. We really landed on a beer where one aspect isn’t outshining the other, it showcases the barrel, the beer, and the BBQ equally.” 

Smoked beers can be polarizing, but this one bridges the gap between subtle and bold. “I love smoked beers,” said Garrity. “And I also love Kansas City barbecue, burnt ends, smoked chicken, the hottest barbecue sauces, all of it.” The plan was to have a beer that could sit on that table and still hold its own. And it does. Whether you’re pairing MO’ BBQ with a plate of ribs, some sharp cheese, or just a quiet evening, it’s a rich, spiced, smokey pour with the heart and soul of KC. 

MO’ BBQ will be available in limited quantities exclusively at the Boulevard Tours & Rec Center. Have a glass in the Beer Hall, or take home a 4-pack from the bottle shop, and celebrate the meeting of two KC legends, barbecue and beer, united at last.