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Grain to Glass Hosts Picnique Belgique

Published by Pete Dulin on

Grain to Glass owner Jennifer Helber organizes and hosts Picnique Belgique, a Belgian-inspired beer festival held on Saturday, September 7, 5-9 pm. The festival has limited ticket sales to minimize lines at the taps. Award-winning homebrewers will pour Belgian-inspired beers. Beers from Boulevard Brewing and Duvel USA will also be on tap and served in a souvenir taster glass. Nosh on Belgian-inspired foods, starting with Belgian fries, along with a salad and main course. The meal concludes with a special dessert catered by neighbor Chef Tito’s American Fusion

Grain to Glass Picnique Belgique festival 2018
Scenes from Picnique Belgique 2018. Photo Credit: Grain to Glass

Guest speaker Keke Gibb, a microbiologist at Boulevard Brewing, will discuss the yeast evolution of saison and abbey beer styles, and Belgian yeast flavor production. Finally, winners of the Picnique Belgique homebrew competition will be announced and awarded after the speaker.

Picnique Belgique winners 2016
Winning homebrewers showing off their medals in 2016. Photo Credit: Grain to Glass

Guests may participate in a raffle of special Belgian beer items. Proceeds will help Michael Wells, a local homebrewer battling cancer, and his family. Picnique Belgique takes place both outdoors under a tent and inside the shop. Admission is $45 in advance, $50 day of the event.

Grain to Glass owner Jennifer Helber
Proprietor Jennifer Helber pouring from the selection of craft beers
on tap at Grain to Glass. Photo Credit: Claire Gibson

About Grain to Glass

Helber originally opened Grain to Glass, a homebrewing supply retail shop, in August 2012 when Greater Kansas City’s craft beer boom was on the rise. She moved the store from the River Market to North Kansas City in March 2014 where it continues to operate. 

Helber previously worked for nine years as a quality assurance sensory specialist and microbiologist at Boulevard Brewing. She established and equipped the brewery’s quality assurance laboratory. She also worked as a microbiologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. When it comes to homebrewing, Helber thoroughly understands the yeast and bacteria involved with brewing. 

Grain to Glass homebrewing ingredients and supplies
Grain to Glass carries over 50 malts and 30 hop varieties, by the pound or
pre-packaged in home brewing kits. Photo credit: Claire Gibson

Grain to Glass provides equipment, supplies such as milled grain and yeast, and classes for homebrewers. Helber is a key resource for newcomers to the hobby. 

“Our best-selling categories include brewing equipment, packaged craft beer, grains for brewing, draft supplies, and brewing ingredient kits that feature our own recipes,” Helber says. “Newcomers to the shop should know that we aim to help new brewers through customer service and classes. We also do weekly tastings on Thursdays to teach beer styles.”

Craft beer fans may also visit and drink beer in the modest taproom. Grain to Glass has a rotation of four beers on tap. The selection highlights beers that are local/regional, limited-release, and seasonal beers that are fun to explore. The shop carries a curated collection of craft beer, local wine from Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery, and cider.

Click here for store hours and turn-by-turn directions

Grain to Glass, 1611 Swift, North Kansas City, 816-472-0516


Pete Dulin

Pete Dulin is a Kansas City-based writer who covers food, craft beer, wine, and business. His work has appeared in Zócalo Public Square, NPR, Feast, The Kansas City Star, River Front Times, Visit KC, Flatland, The Boston Globe, Thinking Bigger, and many other publications. He is the author of Expedition of Thirst: Exploring Breweries, Wineries, and Distilleries Across the Heart of Kansas and Missouri, Kansas City Beer: A History of Brewing in the Heartland, and KC Ale Trail.

1 Comment

After six years in North Kansas City, Grain to Glass closes its doors · January 16, 2020 at 10:31 am

[…] parade festivities each year. Under their parking lot beer tent, they also hosted the annual Picnique Belgique festival. While based in North Kansas City, Helber “found the City very easy to work with, and it […]