Kros Strain Brewing | La Vista, NE

Beer Trip: Kros Strain Brewing in La Vista, Nebraska

During a recent work trip to the Omaha area, we had the opportunity to hit another great brew spot. Kros Strain (named after its founders!) has multiple locations throughout the Omaha metro, but we ventured to their larger location in La Vista where the actual beer production takes place - and we were not left disappointed.

The Brewery

*Super neat lighting fixtures throughout featuring barrel bottoms.*

Located in a strip shopping area, Kros Strain is located alongside a variety of local businesses and even one other brewery (that we hope to try next time). The giant outdoor patio and large windows that showcase countless barrels used for their barrel-aged brews make this place tough to miss. With our visit nearing the holidays, it was fun to see the festive decorations that also lit the way.

Upon entering Kros Strain, you’re entranced by its tall ceilings, unique lighting, and a large mural wall featuring bright colors. The main area features both high and low-top tables, as well as a small bar where you place your order that seats about 6. Atop the bar were some fun hop-inspired chandeliers that really brought the entire space together. Branching off to each side of the main taproom you’ll find additional seating spaces, both of which were closed during this visit for other private events. At the back of the room, you’ll find a huge TV, their rotating beer lists, and a giant window giving you a glimpse into the production facility. For a random Thursday evening in the suburbs, the place seemed to be fairly hopping.

The Beer

We were in a bit of a shock to find that Kros Strain featured not ten, not twenty, but 33 different beers on tap! This was perhaps the greatest number we’ve seen in a brewery. The menu was broken out by beer style, including Easy and Light, Seasonal, Hoppy, Malty and Roasty, and Sour - but it was clear that they have style preferences with 9 being IPAs and another 11 being some type of barleywine, aged brew, or farmhouse style.

With limited time to visit, we opted for a flight that included four, 5-ounce pours, and featured beautiful color variation. We started with the Fairy Nectar IPA, their signature brew and known flagship, followed by the Cabana Crusher Orange Wheat (their take on a Blue Moon). A unique try was the Koala Tears, an incredibly sour brew that was described by the brewtender as an “Arnold Palmer” of sorts. Though these three weren’t favorites for us, we appreciated the diversity in the flavor palette. The best brew of the trip was actually a seasonal rotator, the Inflatable Snowman. This holiday lager featured notes of cinnamon and was jolly red in color to boot.

Food, Merch, & More

Kros Strain does not offer a kitchen and with no restaurants in the adjoining strip, it makes it a bit tough to hit at the dinner hour. Thankfully, they were featuring a rotating food truck during our visit and we really enjoyed the Philly Cheese Steak egg rolls from Haven Express. If you’re not feeling a beer, Kros Strain features “Slosh Pups,” a frozen alcoholic drink of sorts - and they also featured one N/A Stella Artois.

The merchandise section is where Kros Strain really stands out. The variety and sheer number of items available were uncanny in the best way. Whether you want glassware, hats, beanies, shirts, sweatshirts, Hawaiian shirts, flannels, dog collars/leashes, bandanas, koozies, stickers, or tap handles - they’ve got you covered! They also feature a large selection of both bottled and canned beer available for to-go purchase.

With an awesome interior, a spacious exterior, friendly staff, an insane amount of merchandise, and more beer than you can shake a stick at, Kros Strain needs to be on your list to visit. With another location in Omaha, we’ll have to consider popping into that one next time.

Cheers!

Morgan

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