Kinkaider Brewing Co. to return to Craft Brew & Sausage Fest

Of the many breweries that contributed to the success of the inaugural Liederkranz Craft Brew & Sausage Fest in 2015, Kinkaider Brewing Co. out of Broken Bow deserves a special mention because founder Dan Hodge's wore his lederhosen, to say nothing of the other three founder's enthusiastic participation. That's why we're thrilled that they are returning for the 2016 Craft Brew & Sausage Fest (in addition to their delicious beers). 
Kindkaider opened on two days after Christmas i 2014. In addition to Thedford's Hodges, the other three founders are Cody Schmick, Nate Bell and Barry Fox, all three of Broken Bow. Schmick and Fox run the front of Kinkaider's operation, while Bell and Hodges use more than 30 combined years of experience in craft beer to concoct their signature brews. In the short time since it's opening, Kinkaider has quickly established itself as one of Nebraska's premier breweries, with its brews adorning the shelves of many of Grand Island's points of purchase, with distribution stretching to Omaha and Ogallala.  
Both the Craft Brew & Sausage Fest and Kinkaider Brewing Co. share a passion for history. Where the brew fest is an effort to preserve one of Grand Island’s oldest and most important institutions — the Liederkranz - Kindkaider looked to Broken Bow’s history for its own identity. 
The team behind the brewery settled on the name in honor of the 1904 Kinkaid Act, which significantly shaped development in the area. The Kinkaid Act was a U.S. statute that amended the 1862Homestead Act so that one section of public domain land could be acquired free of charge, apart from a modest filing fee, according to Wikipedia. It applied specifically to 37 counties in northwest Nebraska. 
When talking with organizers of the Craft Brew & Sausage Fest, Schmick said one of the things that got him excited about participating in the event is its mission of historic preservation. 
Kinkaider uses fresh Sandhills water in their brews, which can’t be recreated, Schmick told The Independent. They have populated their beers with Kindkaider twists on classic styles, such as a porter with notes of chocolate, coffee and toffee, an American wheat with hints of citrus and a pale ale with flavors including grapefruit and florals, the Independent reported. The tap has included one of those surprises in the jalapeno ale, an award-winning beer Hodges has worked for 10 years to perfect. The taps at the brewery also feature brews from other Nebraska establishments, and wine and whiskey are available for those who want to experience Kinkaider but don’t like beer.

Kinkaider's Dan Hodges pours a beer tasting at the 2015 Craft Brew & Sausage Fest.

Photo from The Grand Island Independent: Zach Mayhew Kinkaider Brewing Company owners Barry Fox, Dan Hodges, Cody Schmick, and Nate Bell recently opened their doors to the public. The company will feature high quality craft beers with sandhills water as the main ingredient.

More information
Kinkaider Brewing Co.
43860 Paulsen Road, Broken Bow
Hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday
308-872-8348; kinkaiderbrewing.com