Free State Brewing Co

Free State Brewing Company is a brewpub in Lawrence. Chuck Magerl opened it in 1989 as Kansas’s first legal brewery in more than a century. Its motto comes from the line “Because without beer, things do not seem to go as well.” The owners say they have worked since opening day to make it a place for beer lovers where good beer and food lead to lively conversation. The restaurant serves a full menu with daily specials and separate vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus, and it hosts private parties. The beer lineup rotates through year-round and seasonal releases, including an Oktoberfest, and Free State beer is distributed beyond the brewpub, so fans can find it in stores. The brewery sells merchandise and posts news and events on its site.