Flying Monkey Beer

I’ve wanted to take a tour of the Boulevard brewery since I moved to Kansas City in ’05. So finally, I went online to make a reservation, and found out that all the tours are booked until June!
So, to hold me over until then, I decided to take a tour of the Flying Monkey brewery in Olathe. And I’m really glad I did.
Pony Express Brewing Co. used to be operating where Flying Monkey is now. Flying Monkey has been around since 1996, when they began operating in Merriam. In October 1998, a flood wreaked havoc on Merriam and left Flying Monkey brewery sitting under about five feet of water. The losses were huge, and Flying Monkey was unable to fix the damage. So, Pony Express began handling the actual production of the Flying Monkey beers.
Flying Monkey now owns the brewery, but continues to bottle Pony Express beers. It’s a small brewery, only producing five beers, but this is the only facility in Kansas with bottling capabilities. Flying Monkey has four regular beers: Flying Monkey Amber Ale, Four Finger Stout, Flying Monkey Wheat and Mac’s Beer. Now, I’m not a beer connoisseur, but I do love beer, and I know good, solid beers when I taste them. The Amber Ale is my favorite — it pours a nice golden color, and it’s a bit sweet and very smooth. Yummy.
The Flying Monkey brewery opens up its doors on the first and third Saturdays of every month. Be there at noon, and you’ll have the chance to sample the beers before the first tour, which begins at about 12:30. The tours only last about 15 minutes, but the guide, Robert, is thorough. And funny. And he certainly knows his stuff (ask him when he first started brewing his own beer — he’ll tell you it was before he was even of age). After the tour, you’ll return to the bar area for more samples. And these samples don’t come in disposable cups filled only halfway. You’re served actual pints in real glasses. And you’re invited to stay as long as you’d like — when I called about tour times, Robert told me that I could stay until 3 p.m. if I wanted, when the tours wrap up.
Definitely stop by Flying Monkey Brewery if you’re in the area. It’s worth your time to try these locally made craft beers. No reservations needed. (And full pints? Beat that, Boulevard.)