Bears in Kansas?
Brown Bear opens in oldest building in Lawrence
April, 1998by Chris Lounsbury
Bears in Kansas? Not likely. However, a brewery named the Brown Bear opened in downtown Lawrence in August. Its burgeoning popularity has been hoppily helped by the good food, ambience, lively entertainment and Great Beer.
The building which is located in the 700 block of Mass, is the oldest building in Lawrence, adding to the brewery's distinct edge. After the infamous Quantrill raided the small town in the early 1860's, this was the only edifice left standing. The Victorian New Orleans room creates a very relaxed environment.
Owners Kelly Driscoll, Laura Compton, and Shawn Schlegel were adamant about the atmosphere they attempted to create. Our goal is to have consistently good food, phenomenal service, and as many beers on line as possible," said Schlegel. Customers agree the trio has exceeded their goals.
The Brown Bear has a full bar and a single menu for both lunch and dinner. The menu is classic brewhouse fare, emphasizing fresh ingredients, handmade pastas, and fresh bread sourced from Lawrence's Great Harvest Bread Company. Lawrence's Classic Gourmet adds to the after dinner fare by offering several enticing desserts.
Brewer Sean O'Rear uses a five-barrel system two tank brewhaus in the European style. O'Rear was introduced to the brewing process at an early age when he aided his father in home-brewing. O'Rear said he tries to brew at least every other day, but has been known to brew his concoctions every day for a full week. Sean strives for a more robust style of beer than is commonlyÊavailable in the area.
"We have added a third fermenter and with Sean's dedication to the brewing process, we hope to have 6 to 8 beers on line at all times," Schlegel said.
At least six different ales are offered daily, with plans to increase the number. A sample of some of the Brown Bear's delicious brews include:
An American wheat style beer with an O.G. of 44, 10-12 IBU's and uses Hallertauer type hops. The result is a crisp beer with subtle bitterness and a fruity esteriness with the chewiness of wheat beer.
Fruit beers are offered every season, this season's offering is the Peach Wheat, which is both fruity and refreshing.
For those who like red beer, the Irish Red has an O.G. of 55, 10-12 IBU's, and uses 3-4 different hops as well as Willamette for finishing. The result is a robust flavor with a deep red hue and a nice malty aftertaste.
The English Chocolate Brown has an O.G. of 55, 22 IBU'S, and uses a variety of hops, finishing with English Fuggles.
The Irish Dry Stout has an O.G. of 40 with 40 IBU's and uses Fuggle hops for bittering as well as finishing. Part of the Stout's uniqueness lies in the fact that it uses nitrogen to give the beer an excellent creamy head and "cascading" effect. The robust flavor and complex aroma come in large part from the roasted barley.
The brewery also offers its own version of traditional India Pale Ale with an O.G. of 66, 55 IBU's and seasoned with a variety of hops.
In addition to the good food and beer which the Brown Bear offers, excellent entertainment is abundant. Entertainment ranges from local acts to Kansas headliners, featuring blues and jazz, the perfect musical sizzle to compliment the wonderful establishment.
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Chris Lounsbury divides his time between his studies at KSU and hunting for great beer in pubs across the Midwest. This sounds like a very smart plan for higher education.
