Fringe Beerworks | Lee’s Summit, MO
Beer Trip: Fringe Beerworks in Lee’s Summit, Missouri
We often get asked what our favorite taprooms are, or which areas in Kansas City are best for experiencing some great breweries. While the Crossroads typically gets all the attention, in our opinion Lee’s Summit can rival any part of town. Featuring several top-notch breweries, their heart of downtown is a hotspot for beer lovers - and our favorite of those is Fringe Beerworks.
An outdoor area you won’t soon forget!
The Brewery
Views of the bar when you walk in
There are few breweries out there that commit to a theme in the way that Fringe does. If you aren’t familiar, a “fringe show” is a nontraditional or experimental performance held outside of mainstream events - or, in this case, a circus. They latched onto the circus atmosphere, and it’s prevalent throughout their facility. Walking up feels like you’re stepping into a fun house at a carnival, as their small outdoor patio features a giant clown’s mouth around the glass overhead door.
Primary seating area
The welcoming committee!
Lots of games available
Through the front door you are greeted with a 10-person bar and 8ish tables or so along the side wall, made out of kegs. In this area you’ll find some fun show items, beer bottle chandeliers, a scary clown, and hand-painted signs of classic circus characters on the walls. If you keep walking through to the back, you enter an inconspicuous area nearly tripling the space that houses 10ish tables, a half dozen pinball machines, and ample board games to play. Feel free to bring your kids or dogs here (or both!), as they’re more than welcome.
Bonus area in the back
Tons of pinball machines
The Beer
The flight of Morgan’s dreams
Fringe maintains a full beer menu, with roughly 15 of their own brews and numerous local guest taps. Of their own batches, they keep two or three flagship taps and then rotate out the rest of the menu - but you’ll still see some repeat favorites back from time to time. The big thing we enjoy about Fringe is that they always have multiple unique beers on tap. While you can find some basic styles like an American IPA, milk stout, or Kolsch, you’ll also find cream ales, milkshake IPAs, and several traditional ales that offered new sensations for our taste buds.
As far as the beer quality goes, their brewer seems to tug at our heartstrings by using ingredients that are just to our liking. Their first and most popular beer, the Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit Wheat, is just one example. This one is very sweet with the perfect blend of citrus and fruitiness. We’ve sampled this one on many of our visits and it always hits just right! This latest trip featured their Apple Pie Milkshake IPA, which has a rich creaminess one would want, along with a crisp apple and cinnamon finish. Another brew worth noting is their Japanese rice lager, the Fan Dancer. This beer is super light, but with plum mixed in and a finish that somehow is both floral and tart. You really have to try it to experience how different this is! The last beer to mention is one of Morgan’s all-time favorites, the Calliope Caramel Cream Ale. She’s been dreaming of this beer ever since trying it a few years ago and describes it as “a caramel sundae in a beer.”
Food, Merch, & More
You won’t find a kitchen at Fringe, but they do allow outside food to be brought in. With the many surrounding restaurants in downtown Lee’s Summit, one could easily place an order to pick up without a hassle. If a snack will tide you over, they do have a display of gourmet pretzel sticks and a vending machine packed with candy bars and quick bites. Their drink selection doesn’t stop with just beer, as they also feature a full bar. Since our last visit, the merchandise selection seemed to have been reduced; however, they still have a few shirts and some stickers available.
More fun circus memorabilia
