Fields & Ivy Brewery + ‘Celebrating Kansas Breweries’ Book Tour Launch Event | Lawrence, KS
Beer Trip | Fields & Ivy Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas
When a Facebook event popped up about a new book featuring Kansas Breweries, we knew we had to make a special trip to Fields & Ivy Brewery for the book tour kickoff and signing! Having visited before (but not featured, yet!), we were excited to revisit the food and beer that’s offered here while also attending a special event.
The Brewery
Largest grain silo at a brewery in Kansas!
Fields & Ivy has a fantastic facility towards the outer edge of Lawrence. Pulling up, you are greeted with a large tank - we originally assumed it was a fermentation tank, but were quickly informed it is actually the largest grain silo at any brewery in Kansas! This silo, combined with a natural wood and metal paneling façade, gives the entire place a farm-like feel.
Once through the front door, the space is divided into 3 sections of seating. The bar area has 8 or so tables, along with a good-sized bar. The dining side features a dozen or so tables and is a little quieter, perfect for a family or business meeting. The third section is their outdoor seating - this area is quite large, with half of it under a covered roof and the other half open to the elements. The open area is adorned with Adirondack chairs, almost giving a ‘campfire’ feel. The high ceilings, big windows, and openness throughout all 3 spaces provide an awesome atmosphere.
Views of their brewing area from behind glass in the bar seating section
Bar seating with fun lighting
Quieter dining side
Bustling outdoor area both with covered and uncovered sections, as well as fun Adirondack chairs
The Beer
While Morgan is expecting a baby, Chris is quite literally drinking for two - but he doesn’t seem to mind.
Fields & Ivy has a wide range of beer options at any time in the year. With 16 selections to choose from, everyone is certain to find something of their style. On our most recent visit, they had offerings of fruit beers, IPAs, a porter, a wheat, and multiple saisons. We were told that roughly half of their beer stays on the menu as a flagship, while the other half rotates as it runs out.
With Lawrence only being a short drive from our home in Olathe, we have visited Fields & Ivy several times previously and can vouch for their quality. Many of the beers here tend to have a bold, distinguished taste that can either be ‘hit or miss’ depending on the individual’s tastes. One example is the Summer Sundown - this fruit beer has hit the spot for both of us on multiple occasions. The perfect raspberry taste is nicely combined with a faint, tart finish. If you enjoy a glass of rosé, this is the beer for you.
Their Sale Barn is another example of Fields & Ivy pushing the flavor limits with its heavy use of mixed spices. While these can sometimes be a bit much, this saison was really enjoyable. For us on the ‘miss’ side this trip, the Saison Summer was a bit heavy on the lavender; however, like previously mentioned, any individual who enjoys a soapier style saison would probably enjoy the light sweetness it provides.
Food, Merch, & More
In addition to the solid beer, Fields & Ivy is also a full restaurant. The menu has plenty of appetizers to then pair with a salad, tacos, or sandwiches; however, their wood-fired pizza seems to be the signature item. This was an easy choice for us, so pizza it was!
Delicious wood-fired pizza options, although the jalapenos were a bit too spicy for our liking!
Can’t go wrong with pepperoni
The merchandise section is situated just as you walk in and consists of plenty of shirts, hats, glassware, coffee mugs, and even a few jackets. We were also rather impressed with their to-go beer selection, which consisted of many of their flagship beers along with several limited release options.
‘Celebrating Kansas Breweries’ Book Tour Launch Event
The book release of ‘Celebrating Kansas Breweries’ by Michael J. Travis is what actually brought us to Fields & Ivy on this visit. Michael traveled the great state of Kansas over a 6-month period and documented every brewery within its borders! We were able to have a great conversation with him when picking up our copy and were even able to compare notes on some of our favorite breweries. Michael was able to identify several hidden gems that we will definitely be adding to our brewery list. His kindness and enthusiasm towards other beer-lovers was contagious - be sure to check out his book and explore the many brews Kansas has to offer!
We are very excited to give this a read!
Congrats to Michael on his new book release!
Michael was so kind as to sign our copy for us
Live music at the book launch was a fun touch!
