Every year since the brewery opened in 2014, we have brewed a doppelbock in the winter to be blessed and released around the time of Lent, following a Bavarian brewing tradition. This tradition was established in the 1600s by the Paulaner monks of Munich who brewed a strong bier, or “liquid bread”, to nourish them during their Lenten fast. They called their bier Salvator, meaning “Our Savior”. To this day, Bavarian breweries and others commemorate the tradition by releasing a Doppelbock for Lent and by giving their doppelbocks names with the suffix “-ator”.
In 2020, Kansas City Bier Company lost a beloved family member, Carol, the older sister of founder and managing owner Steve, and mother of brewer Chad. Carol’s smile and generous spirt were a constant presence in the Bierhalle, and her warmth was felt by all she encountered. Beginning in 2021, the Blessed Doppelbock was renamed “Carolator” to pay homage to the original Lenten brew and to honor Carol.
Carolator is a 7.4% Heller Doppelbock brewed with 100% Imported German Pilsner malt and 100% Imported German Perle and Tettnanger hops grown on the 600-year-old Seitz Farm in Bavaria. It was cold-conditioned for more than nine weeks, and then blessed by a priest in the company of Carol’s family before being bottled and put into kegs.
$1 from every Carolator sold will be donated to Developing Potential, Inc., a local nonprofit organization that provides habilitation services to adults with disabilities, including Carol’s son, Michael.
With Carolator, we honor German brewing tradition and honor Carol. We hope that you raise a glass of this bier and think of her.
