When Melody and Dusty Gentry opened Not Lost Brewing in downtown Ottawa a few years ago, they wanted to share their passion for brewing specially crafted beers one glass at a time. The idea for the hometown brew pub was to introduce locals to different varieties of beer beyond the common commercial domestic types with brews such as Blackberry Milkshake India Pale Ale or Blueberry Wheat. While they also wanted to feature a few menu options like hummus, charcuterie plates and sandwiches and chips that would pair well and complement the craft brews on tap, the focus was always on showcasing the beer. But under Kansas law, breweries and other drinking establishments like Not Lost that sell liquor by the drink must derive not less than 30 percent of their gross receipts from food sales during a 12-month period. And for the Gentrys, meeting that requirement was getting tougher and tougher. “We were not on track to meet the 30 percent food requirement last fall,” Melody said.
Source: The Ottawa Herald
