Kansas City Bier Company

Kansas City Bier Company (KC Bier Co.) is an independent, locally owned brewery in the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, specializing in German-style biers brewed under the German Beer Purity Law of 1516, with a Bierhalle taproom and a large outdoor Biergarten.¹²³

Description

Kansas City Bier Company is a German-style brewery founded by Kansas City native Steve Holle, billed as Kansas City’s largest locally owned brewery.³ The brewery produces faithful examples of German bier styles using imported German malt and hops and traditional methods including decoction mashing and two-tank cellaring for fermentation and conditioning, brewing only with malt, hops, water and yeast in accordance with the German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) of 1516.⁴

The Waldo location at 310 W 79th St houses a Bierhalle taproom styled after a German neighborhood bar and a large outdoor Biergarten that is family-friendly and suited to large groups.⁵ All retail-market production takes place at the Waldo brewery.⁶ The brewery’s beers are distributed across the Kansas City market.⁷

KC Bier Co. has earned national and international recognition for its German styles, including multiple Great American Beer Festival medals and a European Beer Star award.⁴⁸ In 2025 the brewery announced a second, much larger Bavarian-style Biergarten and brewery in Lenexa, Kansas; per the brewery’s own site, the Lenexa location opens July 28, 2026.⁶⁹¹⁰ The original Waldo brewery and taproom remain open without changes.⁶⁹

Ownership and history

KC Bier Co. was founded by Steve Holle, a great-grandson of German immigrants who studied German and International Marketing at Northwest Missouri State University and first experienced locally brewed German bier during a junior year abroad in Hamburg.⁷ Over a 30-plus-year career in banking and commercial real estate investment, Holle became an avid homebrewer and beer writer, earned a Diploma Brewer designation from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in London (2003), and attended the Doemens Brewing Academy in Munich (1997).⁷ He retired as Regional Director of Northwestern Mutual Life’s real estate investment office in Dallas in 2013 and returned to his hometown to open the brewery.⁷

Holle founded the company with Bavarian native Jürgen Hager (now Missouri Sales Manager and Partner, instrumental in the design of the Bierhalle and Biergarten) and the backing of approximately 45 mostly local investors.¹¹⁷ Wanting a German-trained brewer, Holle recruited Karlton Graham — who completed the Siebel Institute Master Brewer Program with a practicum at Doemens in Munich — as Head Brewer and Partner; Graham set up the brewery and has overseen its expansion since late 2013.⁷¹¹ KC Bier brewed its first batches in mid-December 2013 and opened for business in February 2014.¹¹¹²

Menu

Last verified: 2026-07-24 · Source: official site (main menu PDF, Apr 2026; Our Bier page; Waldo Bierhalle page incl. live “Bier on Tap Now” list) · URL(s): https://assets.kcbier.com/wp-content/uploads/20260421151638/Kansas-City-Bier-Company-Main-Menu-R7220393-LR.pdf · https://kcbier.com/our-bier-german-style-beer/ · https://kcbier.com/kc-mo-waldo/ · Confidence: High

German craft brewery + Bierhalle + Biergarten. 310 W 79th St, Waldo, KCMO. Tue–Thu 11am–9pm · Fri–Sat 11am–10pm · Sun 11am–9pm · Mon closed. Kitchen closes one hour before bar. Happy hour Tue–Thu 3–6pm (menu PDF prints Tue–Fri 3–6pm — discrepancy noted).¹³¹⁰

Food (Bierhalle kitchen)

Bavarian-style pretzels (Brez’n):¹³

• Bavarian-Style Pretzel — lightly salted, 3 oz — $4 · 16-oz Giant — $17 · add Obazda cheese spread — $2 · add 2-oz Bier Cheese Soup — $1.50¹³
• Jalapeño & Cheddar Pretzel — lightly salted, 5 oz — $6 · add Obazda cheese spread — $2¹³
• Charcuterie Plate (Wurstplatten) — house-selected meats, cheeses, 3-oz pretzel — $16.75¹³

Sides (Beilagen):¹³

• Potato Chips — sea salt / salt & vinegar / bbq / jalapeño cheddar — $3 · Potato Salad (Kartoffel Salat) — $3.25 · Cucumber Salad (Gurken Salat) — $3.25 · Sauerkraut with bacon — $3.25 · Vegan Sauerkraut — $2.25 · Bier Cheese Soup cup — $4.25 · 3-oz Pretzel — $4 · Bag of Popcorn — $2¹³

Soup (Suppe):¹³

• Bier Cheese Soup with Pretzel — 6-oz housemade bier cheese soup + 3-oz pretzel — $7.75 (upgrade to bowl +$4.25; à la carte cup $4.25 / bowl $8.25)¹³
• Macaroni and Bier Cheese with Pretzel — macaroni in Bierkäse sauce + 3-oz pretzel — $7.75 (upgrade to bowl +$4.25)¹³

Sausage (Wurst):¹³

• Bratwurst (6 oz) — Dunkel Brat $6.25 · Cheddar (Käsekrainer) or Jalapeño-Cheddar Brat $6.75¹³
• Weisswurst (4 oz) — mild Bavarian “white” sausage (veal & pork) — $6.75¹³
• Wienerwurst (2.5 oz) — pork & beef frankfurter (great for kids) — $4.75 (add soft egg bun $1)¹³
• Vegan Bratwurst (3.5 oz) — $8.75 (allow 12–15 min)¹³
• Sausage Meal — any sausage + side, from $7.50 · add Farm to Market bun $2 · pretzel bun $1.75 · 2-oz sauerkraut 50¢ · 2-oz Bier Cheese Soup $1.50¹³
• Sausage Platter & 2 Sides (Wurstteller) — choice of 2 sausages + 2 sides — $15.75 (sub vegan brat $3.25 ea.)¹³
• Currywurst mit Brez’n — sliced 6-oz Dunkel Brat, house tomato curry sauce, 3-oz pretzel — $9.50 (vegan option $12.75)¹³
• Leberkäse & Side — oven-baked Bavarian sausage slice on toasted ciabatta — $12.99¹³
• Landjäger — hard sausage snack stick, regular or Pfefferjäger (spicy), 2-pack — $4¹³

Specialty foods (Spezialitäten):¹³

• 2 Bierocks & Side — housemade rolls stuffed with Dunkel brat, cheese, cabbage — $13.50 (vegan $16.50; à la carte $5.25)¹³
• Dunkel Brat Burger — 6-oz Dunkel Brat patty, Muenster, sauerkraut, toasted pretzel bun (Tue–Thu + Fri until 2pm, limited) — $15.99 (vegan $16.99; à la carte $12.99)¹³
• Oven Roasted Chicken & Side (Wies’n Hendl mit Beilage) — Oktoberfest-style half chicken (Fri–Sun only, limited) — $14.99¹³
• Döner Kebab — lamb-and-beef kebab meat on pita, lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, tomato, onion, haus-made tzatziki — $13.99 (Tue–Thu, limited; à la carte $10.99)¹³
• Bratzel (Wurst-Käse-Brez’n) — warm 3-oz pretzel topped with Dunkel Brat slices, over-baked three-cheese blend — $8.75 (Cheezy Bratzel $10.75 · Spicy Bratzel $10.75 · vegetarian $10.75 · vegan $12.75)¹³

Panini-style sandwiches (Gegrilltes Belegtes Brot) — with choice of one side:¹³

• Reuben — corned beef, Muenster, sauerkraut on marbled rye — $12.25¹³
• Dunkel Brat Reuben — Dunkel Brat, Muenster, sauerkraut on marbled rye — $12.25¹³
• Grilled Cheese — Muenster + cheddar jack on sourdough — $9.75 (vegan $10.75)¹³

Dessert (Nachtisch):¹³

• Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel (Zimt-Zucker Brez’n) — $6.25 (add brown-sugar Dunkel Bier drizzle 50¢)¹³
• Sweet & Sour Plum Streusel (Pflaumenkuchen mit Streuseln) — with brown-sugar Dunkel Bier drizzle — $8.25¹³
• Ice Cream by Betty Rae’s — 4-oz serving, chocolate / cookies and cream / vegan vanilla — $6¹³

Bier (Reinheitsgebot 1516 — imported German malt/hops, Andechs monastery yeast)

Year-round (draught + 6-packs; 0.5L Bierhalle pour price):¹³¹⁴

• Let’s Go! Lager — light German-style pilsner · 3.5% ABV — 0.5L $6.95¹³
• Pure Pils — northern German-style pilsner · 4.8% ABV — 0.35L $5.95 / 0.5L $6.95¹³
• Helles Lager — Munich-style golden lager · 5.1% ABV — 0.5L $6.95¹³
• Hefeweizen — Bavarian-style wheat ale · 5.2% ABV — 0.5L $6.95¹³
• Dunkel — Munich-style brown lager · 5% ABV — 0.5L $6.95¹³
• Never Say IPA — German interpretation of an American IPA · 5.8% ABV — 0.35L $6.75 / 0.5L $7.75¹³

Seasonal: Kölsch (Köln-style golden ale, 4.8%, summer — GABF Gold 2025) · Festbier (Vienna-style lager, 5.5%, fall) · Schwarzbier (black lager, 5%, winter)¹⁴⁴

Limited: Summer Bock (golden bock, 6.75%) · Der Bauer (farmhouse ale, 7.75%, spring) · Winterbock (dark doppelbock, 8.25%, winter)¹⁴

Bierhalle exclusives + Spezial Series: Äpfel Cider (apple cider, gluten-free, 5% — 0.35L $6 / 0.5L $7) · Heim Bier (Bohemian-style export lager, 5.5%) · rotating draught-only one-offs¹³¹⁴

Bier cocktails: Radler (Helles + Sprite + lemon juice, 2.6%) — 0.5L $7.75 · Ukrainer (Hefeweizen + Sprite + lemon juice, 2.6%) — 0.5L $7.75 · Diesel (Hefeweizen + Coca-Cola, 2.6%) — 0.5L $7.75¹³

Bierschnaps (house spirit distilled from bier, 80 proof, 2-oz pour): Barrel-Aged (J. Rieger oak barrels) — $6 · Zimtschläger (cinnamon) — $6 · Jürgenmeister (9 botanicals) — $6 · 750-mL to-go $32.99 (limit two drinks per guest)¹³

Wein und cider: Riesling Kabinett (Schlink Haus, Nahe) — 6-oz $8.50 · Rosé (Günther Schlink) — $9.25 · Grüner Veltliner (Esterházy) — $8.25 · Red Blend “The Kiss” (Esterházy) — $9.25 · Dornfelder (Schloss Koblenz) — $9.25¹³

Non-alcoholic (Alkoholfreie Getränke): Hop Spritz hop water (0%, GF) — 0.5L $4.25 · N/A beers (Border Brewing Baseline Pale; Boulevard Lemon Wheat / Space Camper 0-gravity IPA) — $5.25 · Lucky Elixir kombucha — $6 · soft drinks — $2.75 · Polly’s Pop bottles — $3 · iced tea / lemonade — $6¹³

Growlers (to-go): 64-oz growler $6; fills — year-round bier 64 oz $13.25 / 32 oz $6.75; seasonal/Spezial 64 oz $15.25 / 32 oz $8.75 (10% off Wednesdays; Growler Club $55 one-time membership).¹⁰

Setting: Bierhalle (full service, communal tables) + large outdoor Biergarten (family- and dog-friendly area; outside food permitted in Biergarten only). Brewery tours Sat 1pm + Sun 12:30pm.¹⁰

Menu PDF + tap list: kcbier.com/kc-mo-waldo — pricing and availability subject to change.

Links

• Official site: https://kcbier.com/
• Waldo Bierhalle & Biergarten: https://kcbier.com/kc-mo-waldo/
• Visit KC listing: https://www.visitkc.com/listings/kansas-city-bier-company/

Sources

Disputes

• Some general descriptions place KC Bier Co. near “Martini Corner / Waldo,” but the verified street address (310 W 79th St) and all listings place it firmly in the Waldo neighborhood of KCMO. Martini Corner reference treated as imprecise.

Footnotes

1. KC Bier Co. official site — https://kcbier.com/ — asserts: German-style beer brewery in Kansas City; “We put the i back in Bier.” ↩

2. Visit KC, Kansas City Bier Company — https://www.visitkc.com/listings/kansas-city-bier-company/ — asserts: address 310 W 79th St, Kansas City, MO 64114; Waldo neighborhood; German-style brewery with beer garden; current hours; events through mid-June 2026. ↩

3. Waldo KC business listing — https://www.waldokc.org/businesses/kansas-city-bier-company/ — asserts: Kansas City’s largest locally-owned brewery; authentic German-style bier; taproom and beer garden. ↩ ↩²

4. KC Bier Co., “KC Bier Co Wins Two Medals at Great American Beer Festival” (2025) — https://kcbier.com/2025/10/24/kc-bier-co-wins-two-medals-at-great-american-beer-festival/ — asserts: 2025 GABF Gold (Kölsch, German-Style Koelsch) and Silver (Dunkelbock, German-Style Doppelbock/Eisbock); German methods and 1516 Purity Law. ↩ ↩² ↩³

5. Yelp, Kansas City Bier Company — https://www.yelp.com/biz/kansas-city-bier-company-kansas-city-3 — asserts: updated June 2026, 371 photos, 226 reviews, 310 W 79th St; active brewery, taproom and beer garden. ↩

6. Kansas City Magazine, “KC Bier Co. Is Opening An Authentic Bavarian-style Biergarten In Lenexa” — https://kansascitymag.com/kc-bier-co-is-opening-an-authentic-bavarian-style-biergarten-in-lenexa/ — asserts: original Waldo brewery/taproom remains open without changes; all retail market production stays at Waldo; Lenexa second location. ↩ ↩² ↩³

7. KC Bier Co., “Our People” — https://kcbier.com/our-people/ — asserts: Steve Holle founder/managing partner bio, German training (Doemens 1997, IBD London 2003), KC native, returned 2013; Jürgen Hager Bavarian native, partner; Karlton Graham head brewer, Siebel/Doemens trained. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

8. Feast Magazine — https://www.feastmagazine.com/kansas-city/article_80db0ba0-43ee-11ec-9fd8-df491ba883b2.html — asserts: KC Bier Co. won a silver medal at the European Beer Star Awards. ↩

9. Startland News, “KC Bier Co building new 30,000-square-foot urban beer garden” (Feb 2025) — https://startlandnews.com/2025/02/kc-bier-co-lenexa/ — asserts: founder building new Lenexa Bavarian-style biergarten; expansion plans. ↩ ↩²

10. KC Bier Co., “KC MO Bierhalle & Biergarten” — https://kcbier.com/kc-mo-waldo/ — accessed 2026-07-24. Live “Bier on Tap Now” list; hours (Tue–Thu 11–9, Fri–Sat 11–10, Sun 11–9, Mon closed); happy hour Tue–Thu 3–6pm with specials; growler prices + Growler Club; tours Sat 1pm/Sun 12:30pm; Lenexa location “Opening July 28th.” ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

11. Craft Beer & Brewing, “Breakout Brewer: KC Bier” — https://www.beerandbrewing.com/breakout-brewer-kc-bier — asserts: founded with CFO Juergen Hager and ~45 mostly local investors; Karlton recruited via Doemens; first batches late 2013. ↩ ↩² ↩³

12. The Pitch, “KC Bier Co. founder Steve Holle reflects on a year in beer” — https://www.thepitchkc.com/kc-bier-co-founder-steve-holle-reflects-on-a-year-in-beer-and-looks-ahead-to-year-two/ — asserts: brewery opened February 2014. ↩

13. KC Bier Co. — official main menu PDF (April 2026 revision, linked as “Food and drink menu” from the Waldo page) — https://assets.kcbier.com/wp-content/uploads/20260421151638/Kansas-City-Bier-Company-Main-Menu-R7220393-LR.pdf — accessed 2026-07-24. Full bier, bier-cocktail, Bierschnaps, wein, N/A, and food menus with prices; happy hour box printed Tue–Fri 3–6pm. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴ ↩³⁵ ↩³⁶ ↩³⁷ ↩³⁸ ↩³⁹ ↩⁴⁰ ↩⁴¹ ↩⁴² ↩⁴³ ↩⁴⁴ ↩⁴⁵ ↩⁴⁶

14. KC Bier Co., “Our Bier” — https://kcbier.com/our-bier-german-style-beer/ — accessed 2026-07-24. Year-round, seasonal, limited, Bierhalle-exclusive, and Spezial Series rosters with styles, ABV, IBU; IREKS malt, Hallertau Seitz Farm hops, Andechs yeast. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴