Tom V.
Yelp
Being a sucker for local breweries, I had to take the opportunity to visit Big Rip Brewing while I was across the river. North KC has several craft brewers, so take the time to visit any or all of them.
Big Rip is easy to find, just across the Broadway Bridge and your first right. It's also easy to be drawn to, with the smoke smell of Hawg Jaw just next door. Nice west-facing patio, plenty of parking, and a smaller indoor area makes for a great tasting opportunity. It's all beer, so you are welcome to BYO food. I got a flight of five, anchored by their flagship brown ale 'Hathor's Sweet Brown', and for a guy who loves the malty goodness of browns, this was a total winner. Normally I wouldn't be all over the map with samples, but as a Big Rip rookie, I dabbled with a hazy ale (Arachnid) all the way to a juicy, fruited ale (Big, Red, & Shifty). All of Big Rip's offerings were good, if not great in the case of the Drake: Rakau and the Hathor's.
At any rate, Big Rip is clearly brewing craft beer, and they are doing it really darn well. Nice place, they don't try to confuse you by being a beer kitchen AND brewery, and that focus allows them to offer up one of North Kansas City's better bier halls.