This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

Fringe Beerworks is an independent, owner-operated craft brewery and taproom in historic downtown Lee’s Summit, founded by Mike Myers and Eddie Pease and opened in 2016 as the first brewery in the city’s history. Built around an all-electric brewhouse and a vintage circus-and-magic aesthetic, Fringe has since added a second “Fringe Beerworks North” location in Independence.

Description

Fringe Beerworks is a craft brewery and taproom at 224 SE Douglas Street in historic downtown Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Billed as an “all-electric brewery in historic downtown Lee’s Summit,” it pours its own house brews alongside a rotating, nationally recognized guest-beer selection in a taproom space.12 When it opened, Fringe was recognized as the first official brewery in the 151-year history of Lee’s Summit.3

The brand draws its identity from the co-founders’ shared love of magic and the aesthetic of old-fashioned, small-town circuses — the source of the “Fringe” name and the playful, vintage-sideshow visual theme. The Lee’s Summit taproom is part of the city’s revitalized downtown core (the Strother District), and the venue also features pinball machines.45

Fringe has since expanded with a second location in Independence, Missouri — listed as “Fringe Beerworks North” at 4354 S Noland Road — which was operating by early 2026.67

Ownership and history

Fringe Beerworks is locally owned and was founded by Mike Myers and Eddie Pease, longtime friends (reportedly friends for over 15 years before going professional) who developed the brewery concept in 2016. Myers serves as the brewmaster and co-founder; Pease, who has worked at a technology firm, leads day-to-day business operations. Both co-founders are reported to be from rural parts of Missouri and share a love of magic and small-town circus culture, which shaped the brewery’s name and aesthetic.43

Fringe opened in downtown Lee’s Summit around the turn of 2016–2017, becoming the first brewery in the city’s history and joining a wave of new downtown businesses — alongside Smoke Brewing Company, Long-Bell Pizza, and others — that drove the revitalization of historic downtown Lee’s Summit.3

The company later expanded to a second taproom in Independence (“Fringe Beerworks North”). A January 2026 KSHB report on Missouri craft-beer tax relief described the Independence location as having “recently opened” and quoted an owner identified as Myers on operations and pricing.7

[!note] Seed discrepancies corrected Intake seed listed founded 2019, address 225 SE Main St (alt. 224 SE Douglas), and a master phone of (816) 246-5990. Research corrects these: the concept/opening dates to 2016 (first brewery in Lee’s Summit history); the verified address is 224 SE Douglas St; and the verified phone is (816) 600-2552. The (816) 246-5990 number on file matches neither Fringe nor Smoke Brewing (Smoke’s verified line is (816) 525-2337) — see Verification status detail.

See also

  • lees-summit
  • Registry

Sources

Footnotes

  1. Fringe Beerworks — official website, fringebeerworks.com (accessed May 2026). Self-description as an “all-electric brewery in historic downtown Lee’s Summit,” taproom concept, and house/guest beer lineup. ↩

  2. “Fringe Beerworks,” The Strother District / Downtown Lee’s Summit business listing — https://www.strotherdist.com/fringe-1 (accessed May 2026). Verified address 224 SE Douglas St, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063; phone (816) 600-2552; website fringebeerworks.com; email fringebeerworks@gmail.com; social handles @fringebeerworks. ↩ ↩2

  3. “Lee’s Summit’s First Brewery, Fringe Beerworks, is Now Open,” Feast Magazine — https://www.feastmagazine.com/the-feed/kansas_city_news/article_75782f30-d770-11e6-9463-3f3f0bbea065.html (2016/2017). First brewery in Lee’s Summit history; founders Mike Myers and Eddie Pease; downtown revitalization context. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. “Meet Fringe Beerworks…Lee’s Summit…It’s a Circus!,” BrewView MO, March 1, 2021 — https://www.brewviewmo.com/2021/03/01/349232/meet-fringe-beerworks-lees-summit-its-a-circus-. Co-founders Mike Myers (brewmaster) and Eddie Pease; ~15-year friendship; founders from rural Missouri; magic/small-town-circus theme behind the “Fringe” name. (Cited from search summary; page returned HTTP 403 on direct fetch — of full text.) ↩ ↩2

  5. “Fringe Beerworks,” Kansas City Pinball Map — https://pinballmap.com/kansascity?by_location_id=28583 (accessed May 2026). Confirms pinball machines on site. ↩

  6. “Fringe Beerworks - North,” Untappd venue page — https://untappd.com/v/fringe-beerworks-north/13749699 (accessed May 2026). Independence, MO second location; address 4354 S Noland Rd, Independence, MO 64055. ↩

  7. “Cheaper beer? Lee’s Summit brewery shares impact of Missouri tax relief,” KSHB 41 News, January 2026 — https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/cheaper-beer-lees-summit-brewery-shares-impact-of-missouri-tax-relief. Owner “Myers” quoted; dual Lee’s Summit + Independence operation; Independence location “recently opened”; Missouri barrel-fee tax relief. ↩ ↩2

See also

  • Registry
  • lees-summit
Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Lees Summit