BIG News

J. Rieger, Boulevard Partner on New ‘Left for Dead’ Product

Two of Kansas City’s best-loved purveyors of alcohol are teaming up for a new product: J. Rieger & Co.’s Left For Dead, a spirit distilled from Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat Beer.

It will debut at the annual Boulevardia street festival—as a prize for everyone who completes the treasure hunt on June 18-19. It’ll then be made available for sale on June 27 at Kansas City area stores, bars and restaurants.

Left For Dead uses beer that’s past its prime but can find new life as a spirit. Since the supply of excess beer won’t be predictable, neither will releases of Left For Dead.

“Distilling beer is really exciting because I don’t know exactly what each batch is going to taste like,” said Nathan Perry, head distiller for J. Rieger & Co. “With the broad spectrum of beer that Boulevard produces, we will end up with a variety of batches that are each distinct and incredibly flavorful.”

As a tip of the hat to Boulevard, which was founded in 1989, all batches of Left For Dead will 89 proof.