KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City's robust beer community is navigating an uncertain future as business losses mount during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"50% of our business went away overnight," Steve Holle, founder of K.C. Bier Company said.
Like other breweries, its off-site revenue disappeared when restaurants and bars closed.
Now, there's too too much beer in storage.
"We have a bunch of kegs in the cold room we can't sell," Holle said. "As time goes on, those go out of date and we'll have to dump those."
Their tap room reopened last weekend, bringing a measure of much-needed relief.
"Sales were good, " Holle said. "We have reduced seating capacity. We did relatively well, so we're hopeful."
At Martin City Brewing, their curbside pickup service has helped their bottom line.
"Can sales have been great," CEO Matt Moore, who expressed appreciation for his patient clientele, said. "Package beers have been great. We're anxious for draught sales to pick back up. ... 90% is overwhelmingly good. Everyone's trying to do the best we can in these times."
At Crane Brewing in Raytown, the bar and tap room aren't open, but they've converted the bar into a beer general store, selling suds curbside in an successful effort to help steady the business.
"It's been a roller coaster from the get go," co-founder Chris Meyers said. "It was pretty scary. The biggest stressors were taking care of our employees and what to do. Luckily, the community has been incredibly supportive."
Still, concern remains in the Kansas City beer community.
"I don't know how long the social distancing standard will continue,," Holle said. "Secondly, I don't know how comfortable people will be going forward into large crowded groups."
Fortunately for the Kansas City area, the city has a united band of brewers, navigating uncharted territory together.
"We're all lending a helping hand where we can and (will) do so for the foreseeable future," Moore said.
The goal is to continue serving their trademark hops for many years to come here in KC.
