Reds Alehouse Presents: Bourbon County Night featuring Vanilla Rye!

February 19, 2015Leave a comment

The following newsletter was just received from Reds Alehouse. This sounds like a fantastic event and your chance to try the infamous Bourbon County Vanilla Rye. Here it is:

Monday February 23rd, Reds along with 7G Distributing will be hosting a Goose Island Bourbon County evening! What exactly does this mean? We will be pouring Bourbon County and its variants that evening consisting of: 2012 Coffee, 2014 Coffee, 2014 Vanilla Rye, and 2014 BCBS. In addition to that, we will also have a very limited amount of King Henry available!

How can I be involved in this awesome event? Great question! Tickets for this event go on sale TOMORROW MORNING at 10am! Call us at 319-626-2100 at 10am sharp to reserve your ticket for Monday evening. Have a credit card handy please!

What is the cost? You’re nailing these questions today! For $40, you will get a 5 ounce pour of each of the Bourbon County variants. For $60, you will receive all of the variants as well as a 5 ounce pour of King Henry. Each ticket will also receive a complimentary appetizer as well as a Goose Island glass to take home.

In summary…

-Call 319-626-2100 tomorrow at 10am

-Have credit card handy

-Do I want King Henry or just the Bourbon County variants?

-Show up Monday 2.23.15 anytime after 5pm

-Pick up your reserved ticket from the host stand

-Enjoy Bourbon County with your free appetizer and free glass

Wood-Aged Weekends: Presented by Madhouse Brewing Company

February 18, 20151 Comment

I just received the following email from Madhouse Brewing. The food sounds amazing and the beer sounds even better. Check it out if you are in the area!

When: Fridays, 5-9pm.

Where: Madhouse Brewery, 501 Scott Ave Des Moines, IA 50309

What: This winter, Madhouse will be releasing 4 barrel-aged beers in subsequent weekends, each representing a particular country of origin. These brews will be available on tap throughout the weekend of their release (Thurs-Sat), and thereafter will be available in 750ml bottles at Madhouse Brewery. (el Hefe will be distributed to select retailers on a very limited basis)

The Friday evening of each weekend, HoQ restaurant will be onsite serving paired dishes from 5-9pm. Food options will cost around $6 and the cuisine will draw inspiration from the featured beers country of origin.

Feb. 20: Mussel Frites paired with High Tucker Belgian Dark Ale

Feb. 27: Seafood Shepherds Pie paired with London Harlot English Stock Ale

March 6: Potato Fritters paired with Weak Ender Scotch Wee Heavy

March 13: Big Steak Tacos paired with el Hefe Mexican Stout

Also Check out our Deal on Living Social Here!

For more info-

Brewing phone- 515-988-5535

info@madhousebeer.com

sLim Reviews Wellman’s Pub and Rooftop: West Des Moines, IA

February 13, 20153 Comments

This post is as much of a restaurant/bar review as it is a celebratory article on the success of craft brew in Iowa. Just a couple years back, I would “hate on” a place like this because the beer selection was terrible and it was popular. And most places that would have fit the criteria of that kind of establishment wouldn’t have cared that people like me thought the place sucked because they don’t need my money; they do just fine on their own.

I would have thought Wellman’s to fit directly into that category and for awhile I’d say they did. But the last few times I’ve been there I’ve noticed some changes; namely, a fine tap selection for a place that I would normally consider somewhat of a swanky nightclub. So it turns out I’m wrong, my jaw nearly hit the floor when I happened upon this place around midnight on a Friday, scratch that, early Saturday morning and saw that Tallgrass Zombie Monkey was on tap.

Wellman’s is clearly trying to improve their restaurant by catering to all types of individuals. In this case, they’ve reached out to the craft beer fan. They feature fine beers from the likes of New Belgium, Boulevard, Deschutes, Peace Tree, and they even have bottles of Rogue (Dead Guy). Only the most snobbish of beer snobs would turn their nose up at such a selection offered by a place that mostly caters to the bud light/cran-vodka type of crowd…or this guy.

Guy+Fieri+NBC+Universal+2011+Winter+TCA+Press+cEz7SheA-7Ll

The rest of the restaurant speaks for itself. The interior is expansive and modern. There’s an enjoyable lower level patio that is complete with its own bar. The rooftop is what it’s most known for. It is the biggest rooftop bar in all of Des Moines and you can make a solid argument that it’s the best outdoor hangout in the metro on a stunning summer evening. They keep it heated in the winter but regardless of the conditions, you’ll have to venture downstairs if you want a good beer as the craft selection is only offered at the main bar. A small price to pay in order to enjoy a good beer amongst the rest of the crowd who more interested in “getting their drink on”

I don’t have a lot to say about the food. I’ve only eaten there a couple of times but I remember their nachos being good. The foods not going to blow you away but wing night (Thursday) is worth checking out. It’s definitely passable for a place that’s not known for its food.

In closing, Wellman’s is a hot-spot that I don’t mind going to. Even though I’m not all about the ambiance that the music/decor creates there, being able to enjoy a great tasting beer makes it very tolerable. The staff here works hard and is managed very well. If you find yourself in the Jordan Creek area, resist the urge to stop at one of the legions of chain restaurants and visit Wellman’s. You’ll be glad you chose a restaurant that has more character and caters to a much larger crowd than a typical chain.

Founders Blushing Monk Returns March 2nd

February 10, 2015Leave a comment

The following comes from Founders Brewing company’s Facebook page:

Today we are bottling Blushing Monk. Look for it beginning March 2!

Blushing Monk is part of the Founders Backstage Series and is a Belgian style ale fermented with raspberries. From beeradvocate: Essentially an “Imperial Rübæus,” this ale contains four times the amount of raspberries as Rübæus and is fermented with a Belgian yeast strain.

Scores from ratebeer at 100/100 and from beeradvocate at 95/100.

Surly Invasion Begins March 3 @ Woolys in Des Moines

February 10, 20153 Comments

The following comes from Surly’s Facebook page and it looks like they are ready to enter the market full-time with a bang! Here’s their post:

As we mentioned yesterday, the Surly invasion of Iowa begins Tuesday, March 3 in Des Moines with a very special concert by our friends Doomtree at Wooly’s. And, we are loading up a fancy bus in Minneapolis and are making the trip down for the show and we want you on it. Wanna get on so we can get up? If you think you should be on the bus, hanging out with Doomtree and the Surly crew, convince us. Tell us your sob/stalker/fan story and why you should be on the bus in the comments below. By 2/12, we’ll pick and announce some winners. We will depart from Minneapolis around 1pm on Tuesday, March 3 and we’d hit up a couple of spots for some beers en-route to the show. Then when Doomtree leaves the stage that night, we get back on the bus to head to Minneapolis. We will arrive back at the brewery at 3am or so. It’s rock and roll errr… hip hop! And, it’s not a road trip for the delicate. Tell us your story in the comment section below.

Beer Review #120: Nomader Weisse by Evil Twin Brewing

February 10, 2015February 10, 2015Leave a comment

Now, I was in the dark when it comes to the difference between a gose and berliner weisse, but I believe the difference, and please correct me if I’m wrong, is a Gose style beer is more on the salty side and a berliner weisse is more tart and is obviously made with wheat…could be wrong, but that’s the interpretation I got.

Anyway, this brew was given to me by a buddy at work who has become a fan of the gose/berliner weisse beers as well. He found it at Oakland Road Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids, and I haven’t seen it anywhere else. Although it’s available now it would be an ideal beer for the spring and summer months. This beer is much more tart than a gose, but there is some salt as well. A bit of sweetness from the wheat and some funk and a bit of tropical fruitiness.

Here’s more on this brew:

Nomads; constantly moving, ’round and ’round; sometimes settle, if just for a bit. Perhaps the muse moves one to brew a sharp and clean session beer, one inspired by the Berliner-weisse of old, and the nomad rests. Enjoy this beer, here, there, perhaps north of Madison Square Park, in lovely New York City. Wherever you are, this beer was made nice, simply for you.

Glad to see this in cans as well and once again, a perfect session beer. My only problem is that with multiple sours for the Baron comes the awfulness that is acid reflux..but that’s why tums are made, so I drink this brew! I’m not sure on the release schedule of this beer but I would love to see it again this spring and specifically a few of these for opening day for my Dodgers.

STYLE: Berliner Weisee

ABV: 4%

PURCHASED AT: Oakland Road Hy-Vee

POUR: Hazy golden pour with a medium white head.

AROMA: Lemon smell with a bit of malt.

TASTE: Lemon/citrus flavor with sweetness from the wheat. You get the vinegar/brine as well.

Ratebeer.com rating: 89/100

Beeradvocate rating: 87/100

Overall: B+

My recommendation: If you need your sour fix this is definitely the beer for you. Tart as can be with a bit of saltiness. I hope to have more of this in my fridge for March Madness going into MLB opening day. Dodger dog and this beer would be just perfect.

Guest Beer Review by sLim: Firetrucker Under Lager: Search and Rescue IPL

February 4, 20151 Comment

Thanks to sLim for taking the time out for a review. If you’re in Des Moines you might find him slinging some suds at El Bait Shop! Always good to have sLim keep us posted with Central Iowa happenings in the beer world.

A new beer from a new central Iowa brewery is Firetrucker’s Under Lager: Search and Rescue IPL. Once again, Firetrucker takes on a style that is hard to find on shelves and in drinking establishments. They’ve previously brewed a California Common, a smoked sour porter (collab with C.I.B), and a hard ginger beer. The hops that were used during the boil were magnum and cascade. It was dry hopped with cascade and northern brewer.The india pale lager is a style that is best described as a hybrid type of brew.TIt was dry hopped with cascade and northern brewer. Per Greg Kitsock from Washington Post, It’s brewed at colder temperatures like any lager would be; but then is hopped much past the point that a typical lager would be. One has to be careful during that process as a lager cannot withstand too aggressive of hopping.

Here’s more on this beer from the brewery: “Our India Pale Lager has a complex flavor profile with sweet grapefruit and citrus up front that leads into a lingering minty bitterness”

My personal opinion…I get more of the citrus flavor than anything else. It’s a balanced, hoppy front but the back end is where this beer shines. It has a lasting, floral taste that creates a merge between a fine pilsner and a flavorful, sessionable ale. I applaud Firetrucker’s efforts to think outside the box and release a beer that no other local breweries have tried their hand at. This beer is a hit and I look forward to seeing them try their hand at various other styles…sour, imperial stout perhaps? We can only hope but the word on the street is the next seasonal to be released is a double-mango IPA; which I’m extremely excited for. Des Moines already had some breweries come out with great double IPA’s like Confluence’s Rock Dodger and 515’s Hopititus C. It’ll be interesting to see how Firetrucker’s take on this highly popular style goes over.

STYLE: India Pale Lager (IPL)

ABV: 4.9%

PURCHASED AT: Firetrucker Brewery, 716 Southwest 3rd Street in Ankeny

POUR: Dark gold with a thin, white head.

AROMA: hoppy with a touch of grapefruit.

TASTE: definitely hoppy up front but with a thicker, malty finish that more resembles a lager than an ale

Untappd rating: 3.4/5

My rating: 3.75/4

My recommendation: I enjoy this unique style. At 4.9% ABV it’s sessionable and delivers plenty of hoppy, ale flavor.

Enjoy By Coming in 12 oz bottles? and Millstream hitting the Double IPA Trail

February 4, 20151 Comment

The ever popular Enjoy By Series from Stone still has the 2.14.15 out and around and then they will release their 3.14.15 to celebrate PI day, after that March release it sounds like they will start releasing the Enjoy By series in 12 oz starting with their 4.20.15 release. No word on what markets will be receiving that shipment or if the 12 oz will be in 4 packs or 6 packs. Stay tuned for more. (www.mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com).

Onto some Iowa brewery news. Iowa’s oldest brewery is looking to get back into the Double iPA game. Millstream will be releasing beers under their Double Plus Hop Series starting with Our Bitter End Double IPA. Here’s more from the brewery’s release:

It seems like our brewmaster, Chris, has finally said enough is enough. He’s on the path to make some pretty hoppy brews this year and they’ll be part of our Millstream Double Plus Hop Series. For all you insane hop heads here it is: Our Bitter End Double IPA will be released May 1st. 90+IBU’s, mouth puckering, hazy with green, more floral than botanicddal gardens in June beer! Hoppy Hour Double White IPA will come out in July and the Dogs on Skis Double Black IPA will be released in October.

Here’s a peak at the Bitter End Double IPA brewing today! 8.5 pounds of bitter hops to this decadent brew.

Hopslam Release Details for Oakland Road Hy-Vee CR

February 2, 20151 Comment

Just received the following info from Cedar Rapids Oakland Road Hy-Vee and by the sounds of it, they aren’t expecting Hopslam to last to long. Here it is:

It’s that time of year again, we are gearing up for our annual Bell’s Hopslam release this coming Tuesday, February 3^rd. Starting at 4:30 we will hand out tickets good for one 6 pack of Hopslam, once the tickets are gone so is the beer for this year. We are also going to offer an extra incentive with this as well, if you buy 3 six packs of Bells Two Hearted and 1 six pack of Bells Hopslam, you will receive a 10 % discount on the case purchase. See you then and good luck.

1 ticket per person!!

Shelf News: Chocolate Ale, Chai Spiced RIS, Imperial Coffee, Hopvale, + Stone Discontinues 2 Brews

January 29, 2015January 29, 20152 Comments

Quite a bit a news this week, some great and some rather disappointing. Good news or bad news first? Let’s get the bad news out of the way.

According NewSchoolbeer.com Stone will be discontinuing two beers from seasonal lineup and they happen to be 2 very tasty beers. Their Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA and Levitation Amber Ale will no longer be produced. Very disheartening for me as I thought both beers were full flavored and delicious and Sublimely was one of my favorite Black IPAs on the market. With so many great beers to choose from, the market just became a bit thinner, but these two beers are still better than half of what is on our shelves. Either way, say goodbye.

Onto some good news. A few beers will be making their way to Eastern Iowa shelves in the next few weeks. We all know Hopslam is coming and Oskar Blues has hit Central and Eastern but just in time for Valentine’s Day will be Boulevard’s Chocolate Ale. The following comes from www.beerstreetjournal.com:

Chocolate Ale is full of surprises, beginning with a glowing amber hue. The aroma is given over to earthy, fruity cocoa, with just a hint of hops. Smooth layers of dark chocolate intertwine with threads of caramel, vanilla, and nutty malt as the flavor warms and rounds to a bittersweet finish.

Boulevard Chocolate Ale was first released in 2011. The demand has been so high since then, the brewery has increased the amount brewed and packaged every year. In both 2014, and again in 2015, Boulevard has brewed the maximum amount possible for the production schedule.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Chocolate)
Availability: 750ml Bottles, Corked & Caged
Arrival: Early February, 2014 (Seasonal Release)

9.1% ABV

**Hopefully coming in March is the latest release from Stone’s “Odd Beers for Odd Years” lineup. This year it looks like it is going to be a Chai-Spiced Russian Imperial Stout. The ingredients list of this brew look stellar. Here’s more from http://www.beerstreetjournal.com:

As it stands, the classic version of Stone Imperial Russian Stout is deep, dark, rich, roasty and perhaps even a bit sinful. The ‘Odd Beers for Odd Years’ part of the journey means the coming of each odd-numbered year provides the opportunity to take this traditional beer to new and mysterious places, embarking on an exploratory odyssey enabled by strikingly flavorful elements applied to a lovely onyx canvas. This beer, the latest ‘Odd’ transubstantiation, takes inspiration straight from the spice aisle, incorporating array of ingredients assembled to emulate the flavors of authentic chai tea. Cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger, a dash of black pepper and a dose of black tea combine with Stone Imperial Russian Stout’s incumbent flavors to take it deep into exotic, previously unfathomed tenitory. Expect a touch of earthiness in combination with a warm, tantalizing aridness. Asa one-time brew with enduring character, Stone CHAI-SPICED Imperial Russian Stout is crafted to be contemplated fresh or cellared under proper conditions for many years so that it may live on not only in one’s memory, but on his or her taste buds as well.

Stone Chai-Spiced Imperial Russian Stout will be available in 22oz bottles, and draft. Typically arriving in March.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Clove, Ginger, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Black Tea, Cinnamon)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft
Release: TBA

**Hitting the KC area first on February 10th and then to it’s distribution areas will be Boulevard Brewing’s Imperial Stout “X” Coffee. This will be part of the Smokestack Series and is the first of many new releases that we will be seeing from Boulevard. Seems Boulevard has really upped their game as their release schedule looks very promising in 2015. Here’s more on this beer courtesy of Boulevard’s Press release:

As a special treat for lovers of big, complex stouts, Boulevard Brewing Company offers the 2015 Imperial Stout “X” Series. The “X” factor stands for a key ingredient brewed into each of several limited releases plan throughout the year. This edition was infused with Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee from our Kansas City neighbor, The Roasterie, lending this robust Stout at subtle wine–like smoothness.

Boulevard Imperial Stout “X” Coffee will be available in 750ml bottles February 10th in Kansas City, other cities shortly after.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Coffee)
Availability: 750ml bottles, Draft. Limited release.
Arrival: February 10th, 2015. (KC first)

11% ABV

**And the last bit of news comes from our friends up north, Summit Brewing company. A new year round can release called Hopvale Organic Ale is a session beer with lemon peel. According to mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com this beer will come in at 4.7% ABV and will be available in 16 oz cans.