Hop Along the JoCo Ale Trail

A Guide to Johnson County’s Brewery Scene

_{Originally published on City Lifestyle; updated July 2022.}

Johnson County, Kansas, has an incredible local brewery and beer scene in what has been dubbed the JoCo Ale Trail. With the recent opening of Tall Trellis in Olathe, there are now 11 breweries on the Ale Trail, with two additional stops set to open in 2022. This trail was first devised by the team at Lost Evenings Brewing Company, as means to highlight and promote the breweries in the area.

While unofficial, it’s a great way to explore Kansas City and the perfect excuse to hop around JoCo and sample some local brews. It may not be a walkable trail, but don’t let that slow you down. And who knows — maybe one day there will be an official guide or tour! In the meantime, use the hashtag #jocoaletrail to keep up-to-date with what’s happening on social media!

Breweries on the trail span from Gardner to Overland Park. Each brewery is unique in its own way, from the beers brewed, the space for enjoying, to how they got their start. Check out the list below and get ready to take flight on your next beer adventure.

About this Guide

Each has one or two recommended beers, most of which come from an owner, brewer, or manager (aka one of the experts). Along with a beer rec, there’s a quick bit about the space and some of what the brewery may have to offer. For all happenings at each establishment, check their websites or social media. Before visiting, be sure to double check hours of operation as not all breweries are open seven days a week. Be sure to share your adventures online and #drinklocalbeer!

Coming Soon: Friction Beer Co (Shawnee, KS) and Stockyards Brewing (second location coming to downtown Overland Park).

ExBEERiment Brewing

Beer Rec: Validation (cream ale) and Analysis (wheat)

About the Brewery: ExBEERiment is the newest addition to the ale trail, bringing craft beer to the Gardner area! The space is science lab meets taproom and brewery. Visitors can order off of the ‘beeriodic table’ which features at least 10 house beers. In addition, they have liquor/spirits, gluten-free beers, and non-alcoholic beers available. If you opt for a flight, be prepared for beakers of (delicious) brews!

ExBEERiment is family-friendly, offering a few snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and games. While their food menu is limited, they encourage you to bring in outside food (and there a few options along the strip). Stay up to date on social media for fun events like Pups N’ Pints, Family Bingo, and half off growler fills (perfect for taking some to go!)

925 E Lincoln Ln, Gardner, KS 66030

Red Crow Brewing

Beer Rec: Amber Dawn (amber) or Margaret (old ale) (Mistie Roberts, owner) 

About the Brewery: Get ready to the meet the ladies when you visit Red Crow Brewing! Every beer on the menu is named after an influential woman in the lives of the owners and staff, adding meaning to the brews. Fan favorites are Isabelle, a Belgian blonde, and Louise, and IPA. The entire space is family-friendly, and the patio is dog-friendly. Owner Mistie and the rest of the team have been working to create a welcoming space, both inside and out.

The menu has gradually expanded over the past few months. In addition to beer, you can find house made batch cocktails, gluten free beers, and non-alcoholic beer. If you get hungry, be sure to grab a bite from the house food truck, The Casual Foodie. The Casual Foodie has made Red Crow their home base, offering lunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday. The menu includes everything from snacks and bites to burgers, sandwiches, and tacos — something to pair with every brew!

Keep tabs on Facebook for fun events, including family-friendly bingo, trivia, and yoga in the taproom! 

1062 W Santa Fe St, Olathe, KS 66061

Tall Trellis Brew Co.

Beer Rec: coming soon!

About the Brewery: The newest stop along the ale trail, Tall Trellis is bringing brews of all kind to west Olathe. Tucked in hillside just off K-10 and Cedar Creek Parkway, makes for easy access to both beer and coffee. Stop by in the morning for a cup of locally roasted coffee and a pastry. Or come later in the day to enjoy one of the 24 beers on top. While their house options are currently limited as they begin to increase brewing operations, all the beer served is local or regional (including some from this list!) Not only serving as a drink stop, Tall Trellis is a hop yard. Visitors can sit among the hops, which grow up in vines before filling in, creating a natural wall (and eventually one of the key ingredients for some house beers).

Enjoy food trucks at Tall Trellis on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (check their social media for updates and trucks). Snacks, including flatbreads and tacos, are available to order through the taproom. Tacos are available as a part of their taco Tuesday deal. Visit on Wednesdays for half price bottles of wine and charcuterie snack boards. They also host live music and have some yard games available, making a place for the whole family!

25600 W Valley Pkwy, Olathe, KS 66061

Limitless Brewing

Beer Rec: JoCo Juicy Hazy IPA (Emily Mobley, owner)

About the Brewery: This Lenexa stop is beer focused and community centered. Owner Emily, and the team at limitless, love the community of people they have created who visit the brewery. They are focused on being involved in and providing for their community. Limitless achieves this by holding community events and sharing their passion for brewing. Most recently, they’ve invited the community to the city council hearings regarding development of their new space.

Visit on the weekends for live music, a perfect pairing with a cold drink during the summer nights. Other events include trivia nights, car shows, and bourbon tastings. They also invite out local food trucks for some tasty treats and host a monthly “Sunday with a Pourpose” where they donate a portion of sale sot a local non-profit. Find Limitless near 95th and Pflumm, tucked into the warehouses in the area. Stay tuned though – they have a new location coming soon to 95th and Dice Ln coming soon!

9765 Widmer Rd Lenexa, KS

Lost Evenings Brewing Company

Beer Rec: Down the Pub English Mild (Patrick Davis, owner)

About the Brewery: Lost Evenings opened their doors mid-pandemic but just celebrated one year of being open! They get credit for penning the JoCo Ale Trail, so much so that they’ve had a map made (it can be seen in the taproom!) One perk of the taproom is that it’s large, which owner Davis says makes it great for parties, events, and group happy hours. Lost Evenings does have a happy hour, including all day on Sundays! Other weekly events include live music every Friday. Check them out on social media to stay up-to-date on musicians, new beers, and other events!

Find Lost Evenings at the Northeast corner of 87th and Pflumm.

8625 Hauser Ct, Lenexa, KS 66215

Pathlight Brewing

Beer Recs: Trailridge & Pogo’s IPAs (Beth Harris, operations manager)

About the Brewery: Pathlight strives to offer a beer for everyone, so their menu includes a variety of styles. Brewers David Harris and Tanner Vaughn are passionate about high quality beers that meet everyone’s taste, and they work to make sure the customers experience that passion too. While they have a menu that highlights IPAs, they offer lagers, saisons, and slow pours. The past year has seen Banker’s House (Amber) and Lief (Saison) grow in popularity, according to Beth. 

Also of note is Pathlight’s Wild Barrel Program. Head brewer Tanner develops the flavor profiles for these beers that barrel-age for at least a year before conditioning in a bottle or keg — the result being a not-your-average sour. They are just starting to release the first of these in the taproom, so keep an eye out for these unique beers! While they may not have a kitchen in house, you can find a local food truck in house every Friday and Saturday. They love getting to partner with other local vendors, including Sandhills and Rock Creek!

11200 W. 75th St. Shawnee, KS

“The entire Johnson County brewing community has become something that we are so proud and excited to be a part of.”

—Beth Harris, Pathlight

Transport Brewery

Beer Rec: Casa Lager, with lime (amber ale) (Christie Merandino, operations manager)

About the Brewery: Transport may be brewing in a 100 year old building, but they have created a taproom that is warm and inviting. The space is both kid and dog friendly, and the alley room has an assortment of board games to add to the experience. The tap list rotates monthly, but with three brewers on staff – who each have their own style – there’s always a variety of options on tap. The Car Hop cherry lime Berliner weisse and Squires Stout (brewed with local coffee) are two favorites that can often be found on tap.

While they do offer a variety of snacks, you can find a local food truck at the brewery on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Celebrate Taco Tuesday with a rotating food truck and $10 beer + tacos (with options to-go as well). They have also just recently added a few outdoor tables for patio seating. Transport also utilizes the space surrounding the brewery, and holds a yearly Oktoberfest, complete with German food, märzen beers, stein holding, and polka music! Other events and festivals include Maifest, bingo, and paired dinners.

For the real fans of Transport, watch for the yearly enrollment into their Mug Club. Benefits include a personalized mug (that’s bigger!), access to special beers, BOGO Thursdays, and special events/access. According to Chrisitie, there’s something going on all the time, making them worth a visit time and time again! Keep tabs for upcoming events, festivals, and happenings at Transport! 

11113 Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66203

Servaes Brewing Company

Beer Rec: Like Butterflies (a sour witbier, of which is flavored with a variety of fruits); Like Butterflies – Rainbow Sorbet is the most popular variety, including raspberry, orange, lemon, lime, vanilla (Courtney Servaes, Owner/Brewer)

About the Brewery: At Servaes Brewing you won’t find a flagship beer, but rather base styles that head brewer Courtney Servaes plays around with to add variety and flavor to the menu. The result means that every visit is likely to include a new variation or adjunct (and flights are the way to go to try as many as possible!). While there may not be any flagships, something you will find at Servaes is their love of the community and supporting local organizations. Courtney has brewed several beers for non-profits, including the ACLU, the LGBTQ community, Shawnee Community Services, and the yearly release “Loyally in the Bond” in awareness of domestic violence. 

In addition, the expanding JoCo beer scene inspired the release of JOCO Loco, a margarita-based goes with with different fruits. Courtney has loved watching the brew scene grow in JoCo, saying “I remember having to drive a half hour to visit breweries … now you can stop by a brewery on your way home from the grocery store”! 

You can also find Aaron’s Craft Soda on tap or in cans, which are developed by Courtney’s son, Aaron. 

10921 Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66203

“You can stop by a brewery on your way home from the grocery store!”

—Courtney Servaes

Rockcreek Brewing Company

Beer Rec: Beverly Belgian Blonde

About the Brewery: Be prepared to Work Hard, Play Hard, DrinKC when you visit Rockcreek’s taproom. Rockcreek opened mid-pandemic with a selection of to-go beers. Over the past year, they have expanded their menu including offering mixed packs and seasonal taps. Just recently they expanded their patio, so there’s even more outdoor space to drink some Rockcreek brews! 

Snack options include local Charlson’s Popcorn and snacks. They often host food trucks on the weekends with tacos, grilled cheese, and BBQ being popular. On select days, outside food is welcome (check Facebook for details). Weekends also include occasional live music (a perfect patio pairing!). 

5880 Beverly Ave, Mission, KS 66202

Sandhills Brewing

Beer Rec: Junco (NEIPA) and Wren (Hazy Pale Ale) (Emily Hink, Taproom manager)

About the Brewery: Originally from Hutchinson, Kansas, Sandhills Brewery opened a taproom in Mission, Kansas back in 2019. When you go to Sandhills, you’ll notice the birds. Each beer is named for either a native bird or a bird that migrates through the state. Their menu features a variety of styles intended to “suit every drinker” regardless of if they want light and fruity or dark and malty. While they brew a range of beers, their specialities are oak-fermented brews and speciality beers. Their experimental brews can be found in the taproom and change weekly — use Untapped for the most updated offerings!

The taproom includes an outdoor patio, with both spaces making for a great place to meet up with friends or work solo. Emily Hink describes the atmosphere as laid-back, family-first, and positive. They strive to utilize local ingredients as much as possible, including native fruits, local honey, and Sandhill plums. Sandhills has even collaborated with other local breweries, including Lost Evenings!

5612 Johnson Drive, Mission, KS 66202

Brew Lab

Beer Rec: Rodney Reviewed Caramel Latte Milk Stout

About the Brewery: This Overland Park stop is a playground for craft beer lovers. In addition to being a brewery and taproom, Brew Lab offers the chance to learn the ins and outs of brewing with You Brew classes. These courses include brewing time, time with an instructor, ingredients, and supplies to create a recipe of your choosing. This is a truly unique experience, as they are the only brewery in Kansas to offer this!

Of course you can always just come for the beer Brew Lab has on tap. Their tap list is usually fairly extensive with a range of styles for light and fruity to dark and malty. Pair your drink (or flight) with a shareable snack, sandwich, wrap, or burger – they have a menu full of choices! Weekends often include live music and Tuesdays are for trivia and tacos. This stop is also nestled right in the heart of downtown OP, perfect for exploring or shopping! 

7925 Marty St. Overland Park, KS 66204