Big Grove releasing “A Real Nice Surprise” 12/18!

I got the dates wrong on the original post! My bad! What is quickly becoming a favorite holiday IPA will be making its way back to our beer fridges just in time for the Xmas! Big Grove “A Real Nice Surprise” double NE IPA will be available the week of December 18th! Here’s more on this brew:

Our gift to you this holiday season, this hazy DIPA, packed with Simcoe, Idaho 7, Citra, and Mosaic is our hoppiest beer on record! This beer checks in at 9% ABV.

Also, if you missed out on HDTV from the Big Grove release I’ve seen it trickle into the wild so check your local liquor store to see if they got any. Cheers!

Pulpit Rock cans available at Need Pizza!!

Need Pizza is carrying 8 different Pulpit Rock brewery cans available for purchase! Beers available:

Pillow Talk-raspberry kettle sour
Blustery-pastry kettle sour w/blueberries, marshmallows, and vanilla sandwich cookies
Cabana Wear-pastry sour w/blueberry and lemonade mix
Donut Go Breakin’ My Heart-pastry kettle sour w/raspberries, cake donuts and powdered sugar
Pour Over Porter (Ethiopian)-robust coffee porter with Ethiopian Chelchele Kochere beans
Strata-G-Double IPA
Alma Mater-IPA
Some IPA-IPA

Need Pizza announces “Cellar Club 2021” details!!

Cellar Club 2021

Read carefully to get your name on this list! I’ve been down to Need’s cellar and they sure have some amazing beers that they can kick out, and like it says below the first beer for you if you belong to the Cellar Club will be a 2015 Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. Only 15 spots available, here are the specifics, get you’re name on the list!

  • We have been adding to our cellar beer collection since we opened in 2015. 2021 is the year we kick of our first cellar club.
    This is an exclusive club with only 15 spots available. Members will get a free crowler of a cellared beer on the first Sunday of every month. In addition, get 10% off craft beer pours
    all year and a cellar club t-shirt. Membership is $350 for the year.
  • The January release will be Bourbon County 2015! You will have to trust us to take care of you the rest of the year with some fantastic releases.
  • To secure your spot for this inaugural cellar club, email specialevents@needcr.com

Hoof Hearted, Stillwater, Freethought, and Off Color coming from Abu Naws this week!

STILLWATER SPARKLING:

  • Stillwater Artisanal Dank Citrus India Pale Seltzer 6/4/24/16oz CAN – All-natural India Pale Hard Seltzer Dry-Hopped w/ El Dorado, Mosaic & Simcoe. Cane Sugar & Agave Nectar fermented. Dry and intensely hopped. A lighter, crisper, hoppy alternative✨💫. 0g sugar 2g carbs. Gluten-free – Vegan. 160 calories – 16oz can. #allnatural #hardseltzer #reimagined. 6% ABV. 
  • Stillwater Artisanal Tropic Juicy Hard Seltzer 6/4/24/16oz CAN – All Natural India Pale Hard Seltzer dry-hopped with Sabro, Citra, & Galaxy. Cane Sugar & Agave Nectar fermented. Dry and intensely hopped. A lighter, crisper, hoppy alternative✨💫. 0g sugar 2g carbs. Gluten-free – Vegan. 160 calories – 16oz can. #allnatural #hardseltzer #reimagined. 6% ABV. 

HOOF HEARTED:

  • Hoof Hearted Rose Gose 4/6/16oz CAN – Gose Brewed with Himalayan Pink Sea Salt, Coriander, Hibiscus, then soured with Lactobacillus and fermented with Saison yeast. 4.2% ABV.

FREETHOUGHT:

  • FREETHOUGHT Twenty Twenty 6/4/16oz CAN – Unfiltered DIPA dry-hopped with Citra and Mosaic. Brewed with Maris Otter, flaked and malted oats, raw and malted wheat. Aromas of citrus, vanilla, guava, and coconut followed by hints of chive blossom and mint on the palate. Smooth, creamy, and full-bodied. 8.5% ABV.
  • FREETHOUGHT Temporal 6/4/16oz CAN – Sour Ale with Plum, Cardamom and Rose Water. Pours an opaque, faded rose. Floral nose complemented by flavors of chai and fermented lime. Finishes tart and dry. 5% ABV.

OFF COLOR BREWING:

  • Off Color Le Predateur 6/4/16oz CAN – A beret-wearing, baguette-eating, mustached farmhouse ale made with French malts, French Saison yeast, and Nelson Sauvin hops. 6.5% ABV.
  • Off Color Apex Predator 6/4/16oz CAN – Sometimes John gets tired of telling the yeast what to do. For Apex Predator Farmhouse Ale, he pitches the yeast cold, turns off the temperature control, and let the yeast do its thing. 6.5% ABV.
  • Off Color Beer for Tacos 6/4/16oz CAN – Gose Style Beer with Lime Juice, Pink Himalayan Salt, Coriander. Margaritas anyone? Just make sure you grab some Tacos. 6.5% ABV.
  • Off Color Very, Very Far 6/4/16oz CAN – Wild Belgian-Style Blonde Ale. A twist on the spirit of Belgian mixed fermentation that utilizes a non-traditional wine yeast. 6% ABV.
  • Off Color Eeek 12/750ml – You know the Holidays are near when  Eeek is back! “Champagne of Wild Ales.” A collaboration with Miller High Life. Bottle Conditioned Wild Ale with Champagne Yeats. 5.5% ABV

HDTV, Batch 1000 Barleywine + more coming from Big Grove for Richard the Whale Saturday release!

You knew Big Grove would be bringing their big guns for this Saturday’s Richard the Whale release as they always do. One of the most highly anticipated releases in Iowa beer is upon us and Big Grove has released more beers that will be available for this coming Saturday’s Richard party!

The fresh brews are brewed and Richard the Whale awaits your loving embrace alongside his pals this Saturday. No doubt about it—this is our favorite weekend of the year:

*Batch 1000 Barleywine: this beer deserves its own release day honestly⁣⁣
*HDTV: when you make a bigger, badder of version of Color TV, you call it HDTV⁣⁣
*Into the Woods: if more fruit could’ve possibly fit into this sour, we woulda done it⁣⁣
*Minuteman: double the Citra, double the fun with a Big Grove west coast classic⁣⁣

Glyn Mawr-The Local Iowa Craft Beer Advent Calendar Day #2

Day #2 is finally here! Daydreaming of a delicious Iowa beer danced in my head all day and to be perfectly honest, it’s difficult not to tear into more than one of these adult beverage presents every night! So what did Drinky Claus bring for me to drink on day #2?:

DAY #2 BEER #2 – Clock House Brewing “Dinner Talk” – this might be the perfect holiday sour. Dinner Talk is a kettle sour with blueberry, cranberry, and plum with the addition of vanilla, cinnamon and maple syrup. The balance in the adjuncts is perfect as the cinnamon shines with the fruit and the maple syrup balances the sourness and sweetness wonderfully. This beer comes in at 5.8% ABV and would be the perfect pairing to almost any holiday dessert, and if your favorite holiday dessert is another beer, well this would be ideal to have one or two more!

Clock House Brewing is located at 600 1st St. SE in Cedar Rapids. The taproom is located in the Black Sheep Social Club restaurant. Check out Clock House on Facebook by clicking here to follow future releases as they have their delicious Snozzberry Sour coming out Saturday December 12th!

As always, don’t forget to visit downtown Mount Vernon and Glyn Mawr-The Local for all of your holiday gift giving needs. You don’t need anything else besides a Drink Local shirt, some home decor, a couple bottles of wine, a growler of a local Iowa beer and nice wedge of cheese this holiday season! Check them out on Facebook here!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time for a Beer! “Glyn-Mawr Winery” Iowa Beer Advent Calendar Day #1!

And it begins! The only thing that used to get me excited about December 1st was the Family Channel/FreeForm, whatever the channel is called now, and their “25 Days of Xmas” constant cartoons and Christmas shows. Now, there’s a better reason! Glyn-Mawr-The Local Winery in Mount Vernon has come up with an Iowa brewery-only beer advent calendar. The brainchild of owner Anna Wilson, this advent calendar consists of 24 different Iowa brewed beers from 15 different Iowa breweries. Thanks to everyone who ordered a calendar and to the breweries who participated, it seems like this was considered a success and I hope everyone gets to experience how great the beer is in our fine state! Excited all day to get home to rip open my first beer present of the year, I was greeted with….

DAY #1 BEER #1 – Thew Brewing “This Most Beautiful Fabric” – this Hazy pale ale is brewed with cashmere hops which can bring many different citrus and tropical fruit tasting profiles. Coming in at 5.25% this is definitely a sessionable brew that you can enjoy a few of while watching your favorite Christmas show. Well done Flenker family! Grab some beers from Thew this holiday season and visit them at 301 2nd Ave SW in Cedar Rapids! They run daily specials, crowlers to go and are just great people to support! Check out their Facebook page by clicking here.

Don’t forget to swing through downtown Mt. Vernon and visit Glyn Mawr-The Local Winery this holiday season as well. Their house made wines, cold local Iowa beer, various local cheeses from Dan and Debbies, holiday decorations along with just a stunning building to visit is well worth the trip. They are running door buster prizes and deals on many items throughout their shop and are amazing people to support as well! Cheers Wilson family! Stay up to date with Glyn Mawr-The Local by clicking here.

Lion Bridge “Barrel-Aged January” 2021 release schedule!

Yes!! The schedule has been released and Lion Bridge can once again save the month of January!

Release schedule:

Jan 2, GAZPROM! Double Maple with Coffee

Jan 6. GAZPROM! 2021

Jan 8. First Firkin Friday: Barrel Aged Chocolate Cheesecake Firkin

Jan 13. Apple Cherry Graf collaboration with Wilson’s Orchard (draft)

Jan 20. Home Baked 2021

Jan 23. GAZPROM! Caramel Pecan

Jan 27. Percussive Maintenance (Macaroon)

This year, because of COVID, we will be offering three at home experiences.

All “experiences” come with a suggested playlist for maximum home enjoyment!

Food Specials Available all month for curbside pickup or dine in

  • Vladimir Poutine with local cheese curds (Beef Stroganoff on a bed of house fries)
  • Honey Pecan Goat Cheese Panini with Apple Chutney
  • Maple Burger: Maple Coffee Jam with garlic aioli, lettuce bacon, & caramelized onions.  Add cheese, and/or add an egg

GAZPROM! / VLADIMIR’S SNACK PACK (100 AVAILABLE)
PRE-ORDER FOR 1/2/21 PICK-UP

GAZPROM! 2021 Canvas tote bag (exclusive to Snack Pack)

GAZPROM! 2021 T-shirt 

2021 GAZPROM! (2, 12oz cans)

2021 Caramel Pecan GAZPROM! (1, 12 oz can)

2021 Double Maple Coffee GAZPROM!  (1, 12oz can)

($70 + tax and deposit)

***Optional food add ons***

Beef Stroganoff & Buttered Noodles AND/OR Vladimir Poutine

Dessert- Pecan Bourbon Pie 

HOME BAKED TAKE AND SLAKE KIT (60 AVAILABLE)
PRE-ORDER FOR 1/20/21 PICK-UP

Barrel-Aged January Cotton tote bag (exclusive to BAJ Kit)

2020 Home Baked (1, 12oz can) (exclusive to Take and Slake Kit)

2021 Home Baked (4, 12oz cans)

Barrel-Aged January Teku Glass in gift box exclusive to the kit

House Made Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (4)

($80 + tax and deposit)

  ***Optional food add ons***

House Made Tater Tot Casserole

Dessert- House Made Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

HOME MAINTENANCE KIT (70 AVAILABLE)
PRE-ORDER FOR 1/27/21 PICK-UP

Barrel-Aged January cotton tote bag (exclusive to BAJ Kit)

Percussive Maintenance (2, 500mL bottles)

Percussive Maintenance glass (2, 10.5oz old fashioned glasses exclusive to Kit)

House Made Coconut Macaroons (4)

($70 + tax and deposit)

***Optional food add ons***

Anvil Meat Market Ribeyes to Cook at Home (2) & Mashed Potatoes

Dessert – Additional Macaroons (4)

Available as stand alone items:

GAZPROM! Double Maple Coffee 4-pack – $24.99 +tax & deposit (1/2/2020)

GAZPROM! 2021 4-pack $19.99 +tax & deposit (1/6/2020)

Home Baked 2021 4-pack – $24.99 +tax & deposit (1/20/2020)

GAZPROM! Caramel Pecan 4-pack – $24.99 +tax & deposit (1/23/2020)

Percussive Maintenance (Macaroon) $19.99 (500ml waxed top bottle) + tax & deposit (1/27/2020)

Teku Barrel Aged January Glasses $10 + tax

GAZPROM! 2021 Tshirt – $20 +tax (Preorder HERE under the Merchandise Menu)

SingleSpeed “Tip the Cow Day” 2021 set for Jan. 16th!

One of the best stouts brewed in Iowa gets its own lovely day! “Tip the Cow Day” is set to take place on January 16th starting @ 9:00 a.m. in Waterloo! Here’s more details on this exciting event:

Milk Stouts, Award Winning Session Milk Stouts, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Milk Stouts, Wine Barrel-Aged Milk Stouts, Imperial Milk Stouts w/ toasted pecan and coconut, Milk Stout Ice Cream Floats……..Did we mention Milk Stout?

Where:

325 Commercial St
Waterloo, IA 50701

When: 

Saturday, January 16th, 2021
Doors Open at 9:00 AM

Let’s Talk Options.

Option #1 – Drive Thru – $65

1 2Pack – Two Cows (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)

1 500 ml Bottle – Two Cows (Wine Barrel-Aged) 

1 6Pack – Tip the Calf (GABF Gold Medal – 2020)

1 4Pack – Better than Cake (Imperial Milk Stout w/ toasted pecan and coconut)

1 Commemorative Coffee Mug

Option #2 – Beer Hall – $75

Everything listed above in Option #1 +

1 Draw of Tip the Cow, Tip the Calf, Two Cows or Better than Cake

1 Ice Cream Beer Float

An opportunity to socially distance dance (from your table / stool) to the LIVE MUSIC – band TBD

The potential opportunity to purchase additional quantities of the limited release offerings, if inventory exists

FAQs

Is there a limited quantity of tickets available for purchase?
Yep.   

80 = Drive Thru 

60 = Beer Hall

If you elect not to purchase one you can still join us that day, but not until 11:00 AM.

Why are there only 60 on location tickets available, when you can hold over 400 people?
Oh, 2020.  For real though, it is a social distancing thing.  We want to make sure everyone is comfortable and has room to create their own 6 foot bubble away from other ‘groups’. Please be mindful of others’ space. 

At Checkout should I select “Priority’ Shipping or “Local PickUp”?
Select ‘Local PickUp’.  There is no reason to spend the extra $8.  We don’t intend to send you anything 🙂

If I decide not to purchase a ticket, but arrive at 11 AM, can I still purchase some of the limited releases ToGo?
It’s complicated.  You will not be able to get us to commit to any sort of a guarantee. 

The Wine Barrel-Aged Two Cows will most likely be sold out by 11 AM.

The Bourbon Barrel-Aged Two Cows will quite possibly be sold out by 11 AM.

The other offerings should be available in 4packs / 6packs ToGo.

When/where do tickets go on sale?
Tickets will be available to purchase through our website on CyberMonday, 11/30/20 @ 7:00AM CST.

What does the Commemorative Coffee mug look like?
Are you kidding? It’s great, have some faith. 

I went with the Drive Thru option.  When can I get my goods?
Any time between 9 AM and 11 AM that morning.  We will handle it in the same fashion we handled our scheduled pickups during the initial COVID-19 driven lockdown.  Please review ‘Overhead Map’ below.

That Overhead Map is helpful, but can you break it down a bit for me?
You bet.  Our advice is to pull onto 2nd Street and follow it around the backside of our building, circling back towards the front, and re-emerging onto Commercial Street from 3rd Street.  This will help avoid a build up of traffic on Commercial itself.  Once back on Commercial Street, continue forward until you reach the last parking spot reaching our Overhead Door area (Labeled 1A on the Map).  Stay in your car, we will greet you there, requesting to see your invoice (order #) and ID (proof of age).  From there you will pull forward to parking spot 1B. Sit back and relax while we grab your goods, and deliver them to your vehicle.

I grabbed a Beer Hall Ticket.  Anything in particular I need to know?
Three things.  One, you made a great choice.  Two, you will enter through the main building entrance / lobby / corner of 3rd & Commercial St. Three, the Diplomats are H-O-T, even in cow pajamas. 

Are Breakfast Burritos a thing?
Of course they are, beginning just after 9 AM.  The full brunch menu will go live later on in the morning.

What happens if I purchase a ticket, but I arrive at 9:45 AM?
We advise against that. Doors will open to ticket holders at 9:00 AM, but will be closed at 9:30 AM so that our staff can be focused on the party happening within our walls. Doors will open to the General Public again at 11 AM.

If I purchase a Beer Hall ticket, but due to new COVID-19 restrictions you are not allowed to open that day, then what?
In that circumstance our plan would be to transfer your purchase to the Drive Thru option, and to add a Gift Card ($10) to offset the difference in cost. 

Lion Bridge “Emperor of Ice Cream” returns December 9th!

Another week goes by and it seems our brewers and breweries are doing everything in their power to keep our heads up on a weekly basis as disturbing news and difficult times continue; even though many of them are fighting to keep their heads above water. The plea has been said all over social media, but if you are able, support your local businesses, bars, and breweries. Hopefully good times will be seen soon….in the meantime, a favorite from Lion Bridge returns on December 9th!

The Emperor of Ice Cream (Imperial Milk Stout w/Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla, 10%)Let be be finale of seem. The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.Released on draft and available in 4-Packs.