Beer Trip: Kansas Territory Brewing Company in Washington, Kansas
Growing up in central Kansas, we love experiencing the small-town restaurants and bars that often are the heart of the community. For Washington, that place is Kansas Territory Brewing Company. Based on our visit, it was easy to see why.
The Brewery
For a brewery of this size, the atmosphere at Kansas Territory rivals that of anywhere we have encountered. This place perfectly imitates an old western town, both inside and out. The indoor space feels like a saloon with barn wood accents, vintage hand tools on the back wall, a full-sized horse wagon, and buffalo nickels embedded into the bar top. There are tons of tables and chairs available, as well as an 8-person bar.
While the inside is impressive, the outdoor courtyard takes this place to the next level. There is a huge, brick-paver patio with multiple buildings surrounding it, all newly constructed to look like they are straight out of a western movie. There are tables and chairs sprawled about, as well as a few corn hole games for entertainment. While it was a hot day when we stopped in, and most people sat inside, the patio started to fill up as soon as the sun went down. They have big hopes of turning the compound into much more than a brewery, and they’re off to a great start with their whiskey building already distilling whiskey on a small-batch scale and their gazebo hosting the occasional wedding. We were told that one structure is set to become a cigar lounge, featuring some of the owner’s gun collection. It will be awesome to come back and see what has changed a couple of years from now.
The Beer
You will find 10-12 brews on tap when stopping into Kansas Territory, with three of them considered flagships that are widely distributed across the region. The menu during this trip included multiple lagers, a wheat, a Radler, and a stout. They typically also have some kind of IPA, but it happened to be out on this day. Their beers tend to be on the lighter side as far as ABV goes, with only 2 brews topping the 6% mark. Our favorite part of the beer list is the prices, where you can get a pint for only $3 or a mug for $4! Did we mention that they pour everything in a frosted glass? This is a true hometown bar.
We last visited Kansas Territory when they were located downtown, and have been drinking their flagship beer for years. Unfortunately, a couple of our favorites like the Pineapple Life Coach don’t taste quite as good as we once remembered - but there were still a few solid options that stood out. The Locomotion Stout has been around since the beginning and is still a top choice. This one has a lot of roast and is on the smoother side, so it’s perfect for coffee drinkers. The other one to note is a rotator known as Benny’s RJW, named after a local who always drank it. This lager is a jalapeño beer with just the right amount of heat to get the kick, but it doesn’t linger in the mouth as a lot of other pepper beers do. Our vote is that this one should become a permanent staple!
Food, Merch, & More
Kansas Territory has a full food menu featuring salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas, as well as multiple steak options. The Cattleman’s Burger with the beef tallow fries is our recommendation! They have a smaller liquor selection, as well as wine and mixed drinks featuring their own whiskey. Judging by the orders from the locals around us, their cocktails seemed to be quite popular. If merchandise is your thing, there is a nice display inside the front door featuring shirts, hats, glassware, and stickers. They even have 24-packs of their flagship beers to go!
We are certainly glad that we returned to Kansas Territory to see what this place has become. Whether you are in the area or need a destination to check out, this place is worth the visit.
Cheers!
