nightlife
King of beers
On a college budget, cheap beer is the norm; but sometimes, a change of pace is nice.
By Kris Belden
Kansan staff writer
Assistant brewer Richie Backus explains the various equipment used to brew beer at the Free State Brewery, 636 Massachusetts St.. The restaurant gives tours at 2 p.m. every Saturday. Free State is the only brewery legal- operating in Kansas.
Being notorious connois-
y mission: to find the best beer in Lawrence—a town dominated by college students.
seurs of cheap beer, most students never look beyond commercial beers. I decided to spend a day doing just that.
I had no difficulty gathering a panel of beer tasters to aid me in my task. It seemed everyone was willing to sacrifice their Saturday afternoon to sample the city's finest barley and hops.
Beer, Anchor Stream Beer, and Foster's Lager.
With the terms of our study defined, let the beer hopping begin.
It was 1:15 p.m. We decided to start at the Free State Brewing Co. We ordered samples of the day's beers.
Before I took my first sip, Richie Backus, assistant brewer, approached our table to invite us on a brewer's tour. We were game.
Free State, the only operating brewery in Kansas, prides itself on being a small, craft-oriented brewery. It brews its beer on the
--premises in German old-style. Free State uses more malt and more hops in the brewing process than many commercial breweries. Varying the kind and amount of grains in each mixture creates different beer tastes and colors.
Free State brews two or three times each week. Beer is ready to serve after aging 10 to 14 days. All of Free State's beer is pumped from three refrigerated 450-gallon serving tanks directly to the bar.
One panelist, Carrie Katz, Wilmette, III., senior,
abandoned the tour before it ended.
invoice you to the bar for it. "I'm going to go order a beer," she said.
Within ten minutes we rejoined her — and the tasting began.
When I got back to the table, my fellow panelists had drank half of the Cyclist drink. The Cyclist is a concoction of Wheat State Golden beer and lemonade. In Europe, the Cyclist is commonly served to athletes. It proved to be a panel favorite. Its glass was also the first one to be emptied. We loved it. In fact, we rated it second among all beers tasted that
★★★★★ " After a ten-mile ride. I'd defi-
ninitely come in for a Cyclist." Katz said. We rated it six out of six stars.
The drink also seemed to be a customer favorite. Many of the people sitting around us used Cyclists.
"I like a beer you can drink like it's water," said Gina Constantino, Olathe resident.
After the Cyclist, we sampled the Oatmeal Stout, a
seven-gram, hefty-bodied dark beer.
★★★ Our panel delivered a split decision.
Comments differed from, "It's wholesome, and it puts hair on your chest," to "It's like drinking a loaf of bread." Overall, we determined that the beer was malty and indeed quite strong.
Some of the customers liked the Oatmeal Stout because of its full taste.
"I tried to find a beer to replicate the taste of London pub beers, and this is the closest I've found," said Bob Laffler, Lawrence resident. "Most commer-ral pubs in London are to be the least offensive, and they've lost their taste."
Next, we tasted the Wheat State Golden, Free State's most popular beer. The Wheat State Golden was brewed to have a light taste and a slightly tart
finish. It was the closest thing to commercial beer that the Free State served. Weliked it.
★★★★★ Five out of the six of us liked Wheat State Golden because we were use to drinking beers that tasted like it.
--smell of the beer was much stronger than the added
pemer taste
-
4. Astra Ale next. The ale won third place at last year's Great American Beer Festival, a national beer tasting competition in Denver. It is a medium-bodied beer with a rich amber color.
★★★ Our panel of judges again delivered a split decision. Those who liked it enjoyed the malty taste and heavier body. Those who did not like the beer complained of a strong after-taste.
Last, we sampled the Pepper beer.
The Pepper beer had a Wheat State Golden base. Late in the brewing process, brewers added two kinds of pepper wrapped in cloth to the beer, removing the cloth when the desired
★★★ After digressing into lyrics from rap musicians Salt-n-Pepa, we tasted the beer and decided we liked it. The pepper took away most of the aftertaste. Aftertaste was one of our panel's main concerns.
Our second beer tasting destination was Henry's T'Bar and Grill, 3520 W. 6th St. Only four of the original six beer tasting parallels made it to this level of the beerhorn.
We sampled a "Black and Tan,"a drink served in a
Continued on Page 6.
music
Omega features Bands and fans in 'Green Eggs and Ham Jam'
By Kristi Fogler Kansan staff writer
If you are looking for good local music, stay in town this weekend.
The gates will open at noon, and the jam begins at 1:30 p.m. and continues late into the night. Bands scheduled to play include Which Doctors?, Salty Iguanas, Lonesome Hounddons and more, including five acoustic acts.
The "Green Eggs & Ham Jam" will be held Saturday, Sept. 12 at the PotatoFish Farm, in Douglas County, Texas. The event will feature 15 Lawrence bands.
Yewmeeinepete Productions, the sponsor of the show, is the creation of Mike Sarowiak, Leawood senior, and Dave Tamasi, Leawood senior. This will be Yewmeeinepete Productions' debut show.
"We are not publishing the order of the bands," Sarsawald said. "This is a chance for people to see those bands they like and to be exposed to those which they would not otherwise have a chance to see.
Sarowski said the audience would not know the order in which the bands would be playing.
The point of the show was to have
the widest cross-section of Lawrence mus i c available."
Rextrom said people attending the concert should bring camping gear, plenty of water, flashlights and sports equipment. Food and alcohol will be allowed in the gates and also will be available for purchase.
billed as a benefit concert, Sarowski said all proceeds would go to the Lawrence Salvation Army, Campus Enviros Group and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Sarowski said he hoped that more than a thousand people would show up for the show.
The show is also being
Burt Rexton, an employee at Seventh Heaven in Kansas City, Mo., where tickets are being sold, said the show would go on, rain or shine.
Tickets for the weekend music jam are on sale in advance in Kansas City, M.o., and Manhattan for $10. Tickets will be $12 at the gate. For more information call Weinemepte Productions at (913) 823-1820.
comedy
Source: DR. SEUSS FROM THEN TO NOW
Rextrom said fires and litter would not be allowed.
Second City brings 'SNL' comedy to Union
By Kristi Fogler
The Second City National Touring Company will stop in Lawrence this weekend to perform its traditional live comedy skits a la "Saturday Night Live."
Kansan staff writer
The company, whose performances are studied.
sponsored by Student Union Activities, will perform at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday at the Kansas Union Ball-
Selenke is on the special events committee at SUA, and it was her committee that booked The Second City. Selenke said this show was an unique opportunity for students to see first-rate comedy at very reduced ticket prices.
for its satire of current events and improvisational skits. The Second City, which started in 1950, is based in Chicago but has five compa-
nies engaged throughout the United States and Canada.
Last year University of Kansas students and the public saw The Second City perform at the ball room. D a r c y Selenke, Denver, Colo. sophomore.
cess of last year's show prompted SUA to bring the company back.
"This year there are brand new people, brand new skirts and brand new comedy," she said.
Selenke said new material was developed during nightly improvisation sessions in Chicago and then refined into polished skis
The company is known nationally
which were performed on tour.
"It's very timely humor and first class satire," said Selenke, who saw last year's show.
The Second City National Touring Company (left to right): Top row.
Aaron Rhodes,
Jimmy Doyle. Bottom row: John
Hildreth, Nancy
Fugitives, this is as close as you'll get," she said of the company's comedy style.
Schmid, Kyle
Sonhiro, Kira
Kotender-Krugh,
John Theis, Nia
Vardialosand and
The Second City has been the steppler for many former "Saturday Night Live" cast members Mar-
TracvThorpe.
Akroyd, Gilda Radner and John Belushi. Both famous alumnus include Bill Murray, Rick Moranis, Shelly Long and Robert Klein.
Tickets are still available at the SUA box office in the Burge Union and will be available at the door. Cabaret seat is $7.50 for students and $15 for non-students, and general admission seats are $6 and $10 respectively. Each show will seat 600 people.
Real KU Life begins on the weekend.
calendar
Nightlife
Benchwarmer's
1601 W. 23rd St.
Tonight - Chris Daniels and
the Kings
Friday - The Samples
Saturday - The Waxed Tadpoles
Sunday - That Statue Moved
Friday- The Urge & Which Doctor $4 cover Saturday- Bagdad Jones & Maestro Subgum and the Whole $4 cover Margo- The Urge
Wednesday - The Johnny Reno Band $4 cover
The Bottleneck...737 New Hampshire
Tonight - The Face Healer & Head Candy $4
cover
Brass Apple...3300 W.15th St
Features 10 TV's with satellite dish & Monday
Night Football
Congo Bar ... 520 N. 3rd
Friday and Saturday - Mostly Boots
Dos Hombres...815 New Hampshire
Tonight - Jeff & Jeff
Saturday - Chris Seegan
Down & Under ...801 New Hampshire
Tonight - Busker Soundcheck $4 cover
Friday - Brain-Candy with Naked Ace $4 Cover
Gusto...925 Iowa
Tonight, Friday and Saturday - TEK No Garage
Wednesday - Bud Dingman and Guests, comedian
Henry T's Bar & Grill ... 3520 W. 6th
Karaoke every Thursday night
Hockenbury Tavern ...1016 Massachusetts
Tonight - The Which Doctors $3 cover
Friday - LA Ramblers $3 cover
Saturday - Chubby Smith and His Orchestra &
Friday - LA Rampers $3 Cover
Saturday - Chubby Smith and His Orchestra &
Master Cylinders $3 Cover
Sunday - Acoustic Open Mike
Jazzhaus 926 1/2 Massachusetts
Tonight, Friday and Saturday - Ida MacBeth
Johnny's Tavern ...401 N. 2nd
Friday and Saturday - Lonnie Ray and the All-
Stars
Just A Playhouse...806 W. 24th Friday and Saturday - Broken English
The Yacht Club ... 530 Wisconsin
Karaoke every Tuesday night
Movies
Movie listings beginning Friday, September 11 through Thursday, September 17
Calendar continues, Page 6.