The MET&L Prairie Pour Tour isn’t a Heartland-based rock band rolling through Northeast Kansas, but that doesn’t mean there’s no merch.

The tour is a showcase of beverage-based businesses in Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka and Lawrence, four cities where craft breweries, wineries and distilleries have become almost as common as college students.

Fans of craft beverages can journey through the Flint Hills to any (or all) of the 14 watering holes to sample what’s on tap without a ticket. But there’s a “passport” option that will allow travelers the chance to earn prizes like T-shirts, posters or even cash.

COCKTAIL COLLABORATION

India Yarborough, communications director for the Greater Topeka Partnership, says the four cities’ Chambers of Commerce have been working together for several years to advocate for their shared interests and the Prairie Pour Tour is an outgrowth of that collaboration.

“On the legislative side, we’ve been working together,” she says. “Last year the tourism entities asked, ‘Why are we not collaborating?’”

Yarborough says the initial idea for the tour was a beer-focused “ale trail,” but they soon decided the region had more to offer and expanded the concept to the Prairie Pour Tour, along with a good dose of heavy metal.

“We really played on the MET&L acronym for Manhattan, Emporia, Topeka and Lawrence with a hard rock theme,” she says. “You can tour Northeast Kansas and enjoy some of your favorite beverages.”

TOUR STOPS

From taprooms to wineries, Yarborough says each community identified the businesses best suited to participate in the tour, which started in early June and runs through the end of the year.

In the short time the promotion has been active, more than 400 people have already signed up for their passports, with nearly 300 registering check-ins at one of the 14 participating locations.

“Most are Kansas residents, but we have had people from six other states signup,” Yarborough says. “We’re really excited to say we’ve got folks from Washington state and Pennsylvania participating on the Prairie Pour Tour.”

HOW IT WORKS

Anyone 21 and older who wants to follow the tour trail can signup for the passport at www.prairiepourtour.com and earn 100 points per stop. The passport is designed for smartphones and doesn’t require downloading a separate app. The check-in phase runs through Dec. 31, and participants have until Jan. 31 to redeem points for prizes.

Visiting half the businesses will earn a MET&L Prairie Pour Tour poster, while 1,000 will net the artwork and a T-Shirt. Groupies who complete the entire 14-stop tour will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of four prizes valued at $500.

Prairie Pour Tour Stops

Manhattan:

• Manhattan Brewing Co.
• Tallgrass Tap House
• Liquid Art Winery & Estate

Emporia:

• Radius Brewing Co.
• Trolley House Distillery

Topeka:

• Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant
• Iron Rail Brewing
• Happy Basset Barrel House
• Norseman Brewing Co.
• 785 Beer Co.

Lawrence:

• 23rd Street Brewery
• Fields & Ivy
• Free State Brewing Co.
• Lawrence Beer Co.

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