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

Grains & Taps Brewery is a Lee’s Summit-based brewery, taproom, and homebrew supply store founded in June 2013 by homebrewers Brad Boehm and Brian Bixby, currently operating at 310 SW Blue Pkwy (Pine Tree Plaza).12 The business grew from a homebrew supply shop to a full nanobrewery with 24 rotating taps, including 21 house-brewed beers.3

Description

Grains & Taps Brewery is an independent craft brewery and homebrew supply shop that has served the Lee’s Summit community since June 2013. Co-owners Brad Boehm and Brian Bixby launched the business after identifying a gap in the local market: the nearest homebrew supply store required a 30–40 minute drive, and both men believed Lee’s Summit — a large suburban city — had an underserved community of homebrewers.1 They opened as a supply shop and taproom, then added a one-barrel nanobrewery to begin producing their own beers in 2018.21

The brewery produces a range of styles including IPAs, New England IPAs, stouts, red ales, and brown ales, with an emphasis on approachable formats that go beyond trend-driven styles.2 The taproom rotates 24 handles, 21 of which are house-brewed beers, supplemented by wine, cider, and spirits. Food service includes pizza, added to the menu as the business has matured.3

Grains & Taps operated two locations simultaneously — a downtown taproom at 10 SW Third St and the Pine Tree Plaza location at 310 SW Blue Pkwy — before consolidating to the single Blue Pkwy address. The downtown taproom closure was announced in late 2023 / early 2024, driven by lease economics and industry trends; Boehm stated the consolidation would allow the business to focus energy and investment on the Blue Pkwy venue.4 The Blue Pkwy location houses both the taproom and the homebrew supply store, making it the full-service hub.

Ownership and history

Ownership

PeriodOwner / OperatorNotes
June 2013 → presentBrad Boehm & Brian Bixby (co-owners)Founding homebrewers; opened June 2013 as supply store + taproom; added brewery 2018.12

History

Brad Boehm began homebrewing with coworkers and, frustrated by the 30–40 minute drive required to source supplies, identified Lee’s Summit as a natural location for a homebrew shop.1 He and longtime homebrewing partner Brian Bixby opened Grains & Taps in June 2013 as a supply shop with a small taproom. After five years, the pair committed to adding a nanobrewery, producing house beer for the first time in 2018.21

The business survived a fire in 2016 and the subsequent rebuild, later expanding to a second downtown location before the consolidation in the mid-2020s.2 As of 2026, the single Blue Pkwy location — open Tuesday through Sunday — serves as both taproom and supply store.3

Sources

Disputes

None at this time.

Footnotes

  1. Feast Magazine — “Grains & Taps Adding Brewery to Homebrew Supply Store in Lee’s Summit” (May 2018). https://www.feastmagazine.com/travel/kansas-city/grains-taps-adding-brewery-to-homebrew-supply-store-in-lee-s-summit/article_d10a7a42-6388-11e8-a882-5ba2014bc468.html — Asserts: opened June 2013; co-owners Brad Boehm and Brian Bixby; homebrew background; 30–40 min drive to nearest supply store motivated founding; five years in operation as of 2018. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. Flatland KC — “Tap List | Grains & Taps is Launching a Brewery.” https://flatlandkc.org/eats-drinks/tap-list-grains-taps-launching-brewery/ — Asserts: one-barrel nanobrewery added; IPA/stout/NEIPA/red ale/brown ale styles; survived 2016 fire and rebuilt. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  3. Yelp — Grains & Taps. https://www.yelp.com/biz/grains-and-taps-lees-summit-2 — Asserts: 310 SW Blue Pkwy; active listing updated April 2026; 24 rotating taps including 21 house beers; current hours. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. Yahoo News / KC Star — “After 10 years, owners will close Kansas City area taproom. But the business lives on.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/10-years-owners-close-kansas-231713890.html — Asserts: downtown Lee’s Summit taproom (10 SW Third St) closing late May / early June [year]; consolidating to Blue Pkwy; Boehm cited economics, industry trends, lease timing. ↩

See also

  • Registry
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
Categories
  • Kansas City–owned
  • Lees Summit Mo