Ad Astra Ale

This ale is the first brewed in Kansas since pioneering days. The name "Ad Astra comes from the Kansas State Motto - Ad Astra per Aspera, Latin words meaning "To the Stars through Difficulties". We've blended Pale, Caramel, and Munich malts for a rich amber beer. The hops balance this malty sweetness, and we've chosen Northern brewer and Fuggles hops for their flavor.

O.G. - 13/1052

Hops - 24 IBUs

Big Sea E.S.B.

E.S.B. stands for Extra Special Bitter. These are the most flavorful of the English Bitters. We used Pale Ale Malt, Crystal Malts and Victory malt to give this beer a firm malt foundation and a light amber color. The Hop level is towards the high end, nearly equaling that of the Copperhead. We have chosen to use English Fuggle hops for a classic English aroma. This beer was made to commemorate the works of poet Langston Hughes, whose autobiographical book "The Big Sea" was published in 1940. Hughes made his home in Lawrence from 1902-1915. (see .<a href="http://www.kansashistory.us/langstonhughes.html">Langston Hughes in Lawrence, Kansas:Photographs & Biographical Resources</a>. for more information) Bronze Medal Winner, Extra Special Bitter or Strong Bitter, 2007 Great American Beer Festival

O.G. - 15.0

Hops - 50 IBUs

Cameron's Treehouse IPA

This IPA, or RyePA as some may suggest, uses a significant quantity of flaked rye to contribute a soft, dry mouthfeel to counterpoint its aggressive hopping. Sizable quantities of Sterling and Simcoe hops are complimented by a subtle maltiness that holds its own while allowing the hops to shine in this copper colored ale. 15.8ºP/1063 Hops . 61 IBUs One of the founding fathers of Lawrence, Hugh Cameron would later come to be known as the .Kansas Hermit.. An abolitionist, free stater and early suffragist, Cameron spent much of the last 40 years of his life as a recluse, only coming out of his cave (in the literal, not figurative, sense) every four years to make a trek by foot to the Inauguration in Washington D.C.. It.s said that an unrequited love during the Civil War may have caused Cameron to eschew cutting his hair or shaving for the last 40+ years of his life. Cameron died in 1909 in the treehouse he built and spent the last two years of his life living in. A plaque commemorates Cameron and this treehouse at Fifth and Louisiana Street.

Copperhead Pale Ale

Silver Medal Winner 1997 World Beer Championships - India Pale Ales. This flavorful beer is made in the style of the India Pale Ale Style originally manufactured in Great Britain for their colonies in India, but with an American twist. The harsh travel that the beer had to survive required a strong, hoppy beer. The Hops and the high level of alcohol helped buffer the beer through its long travels. Made with flavorful and full bodied Pale Ale malt combined with a touch of caravienne for color and carapils for body, the rich flavor of this beer is matched and enhanced by a very generous portion of Centennial and Cascade hops. The Cascades give this beer its distinctive floral aroma and a uniquely American character.

O.G. - 14.5/1058

Hops - 48.5 IBUs

Ironman Imperial Stout

The Imperial Stout style originated in Great Britain where the early Industrial Revolution was allowing brewers to achieve much greater levels of production. This greater production capacity led to a healthy export trade. Under the name "porter" and later "stout", strong, hearty, dark beers were shipped of to the chilly Northern Europeans. The reasons for the strength of these beers were probably twofold. First, the colder climates up north made a strong, warming beer more desirable and second, the long sea voyage was far from the ideal condition for handling beer. The high alcohol levels, high hop levels, and in some cases, an active secondary fermentation during shipment, helped to stave off infections in the beer. As far as the second reason goes, this was already a practice in use for shipping India Pale Ales. The beer came to be known as "Imperial" Stout due to it's popularity in Russia where the Empress Catherine the Great commissioned a British brewery to supply the Imperial Court with the strong ale. Our Imperial Stout brewed to an Original gravity of 19.5 °P using 10 different types of malt, which combined, weigh 1,465 lbs. That works out to 3.4 lbs per gallon of finished beer or almost 4/10ths of a pound in every glass. The dark malts give a roasty flavor and dark color, caramel malts add sweetness and a full body. Three different hop varieties also add their own complexity (and about 78 IBUs). The bittering hop is Magnum. The early aromatic hops are Northern Brewer. The later aromatic Centennial. The final hop addition is a dry hop with a generous dose of Mt. Hood hops for a fine aroma The Ironman is named for one of our favorite regular customers, Walt Hull, who is a local blacksmith.

O.G. - 19.5/1078

Hops - 78 IBUs

Oatmeal Stout

Silver Medal Winner 1997 World Beer Championships - Oatmeal Stouts. Our classic dark beer. Full body and a well rounded flavor comes from a foundation of seven different grains. The oats add a special silky texture that complements the roasted malts. The rich malty flavor is spiced with plenty of Northern Brewer and Fuggles hops for balance. Enjoy this perennial Free State Favorite by itself or as a blend with one of our other beers.

O.G. - 15/1061

Hops - 42 IBUs

Old Backus Barleywine

Bronze Medal Winner 1997 World Beer Championships - Barleywines. Yes that's Backus not Bacchus. Barleywines are an English style ale of great strength. Originally these were referred to as "Old Ales" presumably because of the lengthy conditioning time that these beers require. Eventually they became known as Barleywines in no small part because of their near wine strength. Some Barleywines are actually cellared away like wine and some tastings of barley wines have shown continued flavor development over periods as long as 25 Years! Our Barleywine has been aging since February, 1997, the longest conditioning time of any beer that we've ever made. The huge amounts of both hops and malt that go into this beer necessitate a long conditioning period to mellow its intense flavors. The Old Backus contains just over 2,000 lbs of malt and 55 lbs of hops. the Original gravity is 25.6 P/1092 which contributes to an alcohol content of 8.4% by wt. and 10.5% by vol. The bitterness level is 150 ibu. This is a tremendously complex beer that should be savoured slowly and in moderation. It will continue to change with age as it is served unfiltered and is continuing to mature. The Barleywine is named after Richard Backus - an old friend to the Brewery.

O.G. - 22.95/1092

Hops - 70 IBUs

Stormwatch Ale

This dark brown, hoppy ale takes the IPA style into unfamiliar depths of color. Amarillo hops provide the hoppy flavors and aromas of an India Pale Ale complemented by subtle chocolaty roasted notes from the dark malts. The malt bill is very close to that for Copperhead but with the addition of some dark roasted malt for color and flavor. The Amarillo hops are a potent American variety with a distinctive flavor and aroma.

O.G. - 14.8/1059

Hops - 46 IBUs

Wheat State Golden

Being located in the biggest wheat producing state in the nation, a refreshing wheat beer is a must-brew. The Wheat State Golden is usually our lightest beer. It is fashioned after the Kolsch beers made around Cologne. It is traditionally brewed in the Alt Style like our Ad Astra Ale and has about 25% wheat malt. There is just a touch of caramel malt to add the golden color, and the rest is pale malt. The Golden is lightly hopped with Yakima Perle for bittering, and Hallertau Hersbrucker hops for aroma.

O.G. - 11.75/1047

Hops - 20 IBUs

Prairie Fog Ale

This medium amber ale gets its inspiration from the famous Steam beer of Anchor Brewing Co. and its iconoclastic proprietor of Midwest origins, Fritz Maytag. Steam beer is a term now trademarked by Anchor and therefore protected from use. No one knows for sure how Anchor’s flagship beer acquired it’s name, but one theory involves the fog of steam and condensation that would rise from the coolship of the brewhaus as the wort was cooling in the damp San Francisco air. Because the original brewery did not have the requisite refrigeration to ferment their lager yeast at the proper lager temperatures, the beer was fermented at ale temperatures. Beers employing this technique have come to be known as California Commons, an homage to the beer’s origins. Prairie Fog Ale likewise employs a lager yeast fermented at a warm, ale-like 65ºF (a full 15ºF warmer than the lagers we produce). The resulting beer is medium bodied and balanced, with just enough hop character to blend with the caramel notes of the malt. The increased fermentation temperature results in a bit of fruitiness indicative of an ale, with the clean profile of a lager in the finish. This interpretation uses some of the classic woody and minty Northern Brewer hops that Anchor employs in its signature beer along with some Czech Saaz hops that lend a subtle spiciness.

O.G. - 13.4/1.054

Hops - 39 IBUs

Old Stormy

A distinctive quality of Old Ales is that they undergo an aging process (often for years) on their yeast, contributing to a rich and often sweet oxidation character. Back in August of 2009 we aged a batch of Stormwatch Ale without it’s usual dry-hop addition and without carbonation. We then transferred the beer to various oak barrels, some originally used for wine, some for bourbon. Rather than blend the barrel-aged beer back together, we’ve chosen to keep each keg of old ale separate and allow the full expression of each individual barrel to shine through. The resulting beer is unique and complex, with notes of caramel, cherries, plums, coffee, vanilla, bourbon, and wine. Medium bodied and deep mahogany in color, Old Stormy has matured into a beer that only hints at its previous incarnation, Stormwatch; with decidedly less hop character and a greater emphasis on sweet, malty flavors. Old Stormy is a great ale to weather the winter storm season. Served at cellar temperature on the back bar. Bottom Line: A slightly sweet, malty, medium bodied, deep mahogany ale aged for no less than three months on a variety of barrels.

O.G. - 15P/1.060

Hops - 46 IBUs

Josiah Miller IPA

Josiah Miller was an anti-slavery man born and raised in the South Carolina. In the 1850s Miller migrated to Lawrence after receiving a law degree at the University of Indiana and started the publication of Kansas Free State, an anti-slavery newspaper. In 1857 he was elected probate judge of Douglas County and was a member of the first state senate in 1861. As chairman of the judiciary committee, Miller suggested the motto on the state seal, Ad Astra per Aspera. Miller was interned at Lawrence’s Oak Hill cemetery upon his death in 1870 due to complications from an amputated leg. The IPA that bears his name employs a blend of 5 malts and some unmalted oats that add some silky qualities to the mouthfeel. Columbus and Crystal hops provide bitterness and some flavor. A relatively new hop variety called Citra, with tropical fruit and citrus aromas and flavors, provides the amazing finish of this IPA.

O.G. - 14.6/1.058

Hops - 68 IBUs

ABV. - 6.3%

Paper Moon IPA

his Bohemian Pilsner takes its name from the beautifully filmed 1972 Black and White classic, Paper Moon. The film starred the precocious Tatum O’Neal and her father Ryan. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance at the young age of 10 years old. Scenes of the film were filmed at the Historic Midland Hotel and Wilson State Bank Building in Wilson, Kansas. Otherwise known as the Czech Capital of Kansas, Wilson saw large numbers of immigrants from Czechoslovakia in the 1870's who came to work on the railroad. It’s conceivable that those workers would have consumed a brew similar to that of this Bohemian Pilsner, a style that originated in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia and gave birth to the world’s most popular beer style. This lager was brewed with ample quantities of Czech Saaz and Slovenian Celeia hops to counterbalance the golden pilsner malt. Dry-hopped with these same hops, Paper Moon Pils is a clean, medium bodied and dry lager with a nice hoppy finish.