Category: iabeerbaron

Abu Nawas Drops this week: Fat Orange Cat, Stillwater, Abomination

Leave a comment

A bunch of new brews from 3 great breweries will be hitting the shelves next week from Abu Nawas. Let’s get to it!

FAT ORANGE CAT

  • Fat Orange Cat Blood Orange Billy 16oz CAN – Blood Orange NE-IPA. 6.66% ABV
  • Fat Orange Cat Lorenzo Blue 16oz CAN – New England DIPA LOADED with Galaxy and Citra. 8% ABV.
  • Fat Orange Cat Sweet Jane Pineapple 16oz CAN –  Milkshake IPA brewed with Vanilla, Lactose, Coconut, & Pineapple. 7.9% ABV.
  • Fat Orange Cat FOC All Cats Are Grey in the Dark 16oz CAN –  White Stout – A light colored stout with a hint of coffee and strong notes of both chocolate and vanilla. 7.2% ABV.

STILLWATER

  • Stillwater ASMR Frisson 001 16oz  CAN –  Sour ale brewed with wild blueberry, rolled oats & milk sugar. 6% ABV.
  • Stillwater Log Out 16oz  CAN – Double India pale ale quadruple dry-hopped with Mosaic, Galaxy, Citra, and Nelson Sauvin. 9% ABV.
  • Stillwater This is only a Test Stout 005 CAN – Imperial Stout brewed with Ginger, Chili peppers and Sichuan Peppercorn 11% ABV
  • Stillwater Extra Dry 16oz CAN – A Saison brewed with sake rice and dry hopped with Citra, Hallertau Blanc, and Sterling. 4.2% ABV.
  • Stillwater Artisanal Ales Extra Extra 16oz CAN -Double Brut IPA. 8% ABV
  • Stillwater  Rhinestones & Sequins 16oz CAN – Sour Brut Double IPA brewed with Sauvignon Blanc Grapes. 8% ABV.

Abomination Brewing

  • Abomination Brewing Bedtime Stories 16oz CAN –  Imperial Milk Stout with Graham Crackers, Flaked Oats, Vanilla Beans and Marshmallows. 9.3% ABV.
  • Abomination Brewing Rotting Earth 16oz CAN – Double IPA with a blend of Ariana, Pacific Jade, Eukanot and Denali. 9.3% ABV.
  • Abomination Brewing Shotgun Sour 16oz CAN – Sour Ale brewed with Black Currant, Apricot, & Peach. 6.1% ABV

Backpocket Anniversary Party set for June 29th!

Leave a comment

Backpocket.jpg

Backpocket Brewing will be celebrating their 7th Anniversary next month as they host their anniversary party and will be releasing their highly sought after  Anniversary Stout! Live music, food, and most importantly delicious beer aplenty. Here are the deets on the party:

On Saturday, June 29th join us for our private Anniversary Party from 9am – 11am. DJ NYJ will be spinnin tracks from 9am – 12pm as we release our 7th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout. You’ll want to stick around because we will have all you can eat breakfast, timed pins, a surprise brewery only bomber release at 11am, and live music from The Surf Zombies from 4 – 6 pm.
.
Tickets will be on sale for the general public Tuesday, May 28th at 8am.
.
.
General Ticket Holders will receive:
(1) Bottle of 7th Anniversary Stout.
(1) Bottle of our 7th Anniversary Stout Double Barrel (Rum and Bourbon) Variant
(1) 4 oz. Pour of 7th Anniversary (Bourbon ONLY)
(1) Exclusive 7th Anniversary Glass
(1) Ticket for ALL YOU CAN EAT breakfast.
Access to a party exclusive pin variant.
.
.
VIP tickets are $110 and will include..
(1) Bottle of 7th Anniversary Stout.
(1) Bottle of 6th Anniversary Stout
(1) Bottle of our 7th Anniversary Stout Variant Double Barrel (Rum and Bourbon) Variant
(1) 4oz. Pour of 7th Anniversary (Bourbon ONLY)
(1) Exclusive 7th Anniversary Glass
(1) Ticket for ALL YOU CAN EAT breakfast.
Access to a party exclusive pin variant

Gezellig Brewing in Newton opening June 7th!

3 Comments

gezellig.jpg

Newton, IA will be the home of Iowa’s newest brewery as Gezellig Brewing will be opening their doors on June 7th! Before the doors to the brewery open however, you will be able to try their beer if you’re in the Muscatine or Pella area as Bonnie’s on the Avenue in Muscatine and the Cellar Peanut Pub in Pella will have the following brews on tap from Gezellig: Turn Down for Brown, Newtonian Haze IPA, and Kviek and Subscribe IPA. These beers will be tapped at 1:00 this Friday, May 24th at those two locations.

Here’s more info on a couple beers mentioned above, and stay tuned for more info on the opening of this brewery. If you want some Gezellig beers on your lines, reach out to them via their Facebook page by clicking here.

Onto the brews:

*Newtonian Haze – Newtonian Haze checks all the boxes. Plenty hazy, a huge fruity nose, and it’s quaffable as all get out. Massive pineapple, papaya, and passionfruit leap out and say ‘it’s gonna be one of those nights, Jim’. Super-charged lemon lime pineapple coats your tongue but doesn’t overstay its welcome. If you wanted a milkshake, Dairy Queen is down the street. This right here is a drinking beer.

newtonian haze.jpg

*Turn Down for Brown -Cool kids beware. Your old man loves this beer and wants to tell THOSE 3 stories all night on repeat. Slight roasty coffee, sweet chocolate, and a hint of vanilla from German Ariana hops are rounded out by a bittering addition of UK Challenger and carefully selected caramel malts. Hunker down in brown town buddy. It’s gonna be a long night.

turn down for brown.jpg

 

 

Shakespeare’s Celebrating 20 years on June 8th w/ Richard Macaroon, Carpe Diem, GAZPROM!, and more being tapped!

shakespeares.jpeg

Make your calendar for June 8th folks! Shakespeare’s in Iowa City will be celebrating 20 years with a plethora of wondrous beers being tapped! Check it out!

Drink This! Clock House Low Bandito Cherry/Coconut

Leave a comment

clock house.png

One of my favorite tap rooms to visit is at Clock House Brewing. Something about that space that just makes me feel comfortable, and the fact that they are turning out some damn tasty brews too. I stopped in on a relatively slow Sunday afternoon and was lucky enough to have a pour of their Low Bandito Cherry/Coconut barrel-aged stout.

Low Bandito is their imperial stout and they’ve made some different variants of that tasty brew. I’ve had the vanilla, chocolate, coconut variant and really enjoyed that but the Cherry Coconut really stood out! Here’s more on this brew:

Driftless Glenn Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Aged on tart cherries and coconut

Wonderful aroma from the barrel that blends really well with the subtle coconut flavor. Cherry wasn’t prevalent right away but after it warmed the cherry really shined through. I ordered a Hazy Clock Tease while I let the Bandito sit for a while just to get more from that tart cherry. This checks in at a 9.6% but it was trying not to order a second draw.

IMG_1484

I’m not sure how much of this brew Todd and Clock House have left so you might want to make the trek to downtown CR to get yourself a taste of this delicious brew. It is CR Craft beer so that can be your reason to get out and Drink This!

HUGE Crooked Stave drop coming from Abu Nawas!

Leave a comment

crooked stave.jpg

Tons of great Crooked Stave beers will be making their way to our shelves here in Iowa in the next week! Huge list so make sure to read through carefully!

CANS

  • Von Pilsner 12oz CAN – Unfiltered Keller Pilsner
  • CO WildSage 12oz CAN – Brett saison brewed with lemongrass and sage
  • St. Bretta 12oz CAN –  Brettanomyces citrus saison
  • Coffee Baltic Porter 12oz CAN – Baltic porter featuring rotating coffee roasters
  • Crooked Stave IPA  12oz CAN –  American style IPA
  • Do You Even Zest?! DIPA 12oz CAN – Citrus Double IPA ***NEW CAN*** Elevated from our experimental hazy IPA series, Do You Even Zest?! is a limited release loaded with an immense amount of hops and freshly zested citrus. This Citrus Double IPA was born out of our playful nature as brewers looking to challenge the status quo. Our team meticulously zests fresh citrus for each and every batch, which begs the question, do you even zest?
  • Sour Rosé 12oz CAN – Wild ale aged in oak barrels with raspberries and blueberries

750’s LIMITED

  • Framboise 2018  – Golden sour ale aged in oak barrels with Washington raspberries and vanilla beans.
  • Origins Vintage
  • Silly Cybies  – Belgian style dark ale aged in oak barrels with Washington raspberries
  • Mama Bears Sour Cherry Pie 2017  – Burgundy sour ale aged in oak barrels with Colorado Montmorency cherries
  • L’Brett d’Apricot 2017  – Golden sour ale aged in oak barrels with Colorado apricots
  • L’Brett d’Or  – Surreal golden sour ale aged in oak barrels
  • Surette Reserva Palisade Peach 2017 – Reserva saison aged in oak barrels with Palisade peaches
  • Nightmare on Brett Vintage – Dark sour ale aged in Leopold Bros whiskey barrels
  • Nightmare on Brett Sour Cherry 2017 l – Dark sour ale aged in Leopold Bros whiskey barrels with Colorado Montmorency sour cherries

375s

  • Sunnyside of Bruxelles  – Sunnyside Sour Red/Brown Ale brewed in collaboration with Yvan De Baets from Brasserie de la Senne.
  • Raspberry Origins
  • Blueberry Origins
  • Petite Sour Tart Cherry
  • Petite Sour Blueberry 2016 Vintage  – Mixed fermentation ale aged in oak with Washington blueberries
  • Petite Sour Raspberry 2016 Vintage  – Mixed fermentation ale aged in oak with Washington raspberries
  • Petite Sour Rosé  – 2016 Vintage  – Wild ale aged in oak barrels on fruit skins
  • Petite Sour Peach  – Mixed fermentation ale aged in oak with Colorado Palisade peaches
  • St. Bretta  – Brettanomyces citrus saison
  • Vieille  – Artisanal barrel-aged saison lightly dry hopped
  • CO Wild Sage  – Brett saison brewed with lemongrass and sage
  • L’Brett d’Or Vintage  – Surreal Golden Sour Ale Aged in Oak Barrels
  • L’Brett d’Apricot  – Golden sour ale aged in oak barrels with Colorado apricots
  • Raspberry Bianca WWB  – A new school gose brewed with lactose and added raspberries, brewed in collaboration with Omnipollo 
  • Key Lime Tau – Collaboration with Hawkshead Brewery, a mixed culture fermentation brewed with lactose, fresh lime peel and lemongrass
  • Progenitor  – Dry hopped golden sour ale
  • HopSavant  – American Brettanomyces IPA
  • Vieille  – Artisanal barrel-aged saison lightly dry hopped
  • CO WildSage  – Brett saison brewed with lemongrass and sage
  • Progenitor – Dry hopped golden sour ale
  • Nightmare on Brett Blueberry 2015 – Dark sour ale aged in Leopold Bros whiskey barrels with Washington blueberries
  • Nightmare on Brett Raspberry 2015 – Dark sour ale aged in Leopold Bros whiskey barrels with Washington Raspberries
  • Ampersand Vol. 3 Ch. 1 –  Golden Sour Botanical Ale, Aged in Ransom Old Tom Gin Barrels
  • Ampersand Vol. 3 Ch. 2 – Burgundy Sour Ale, Aged in Ransom Rye Whiskey Barrels
  • Wild Wild Brett Batch #200 –  American Wild Ale Aged With Raspberries and Dry Hopped
  • Surette Reserva Prunus Persica – Golden sour ale aged in oak barrels with peaches We have hand picked each Surette Reserva from unique batches that develop with indefinable complexity. Through embracing variation within our brewing seasons, each limited release is an expression of the terroir from which our fruit is sourced, the skilled stewardship of the farmers we work with, and the rustic beers we produce.

Abu Nawas drops this week: More Hubbard’s Cave and Une Annee

Leave a comment

une annee

I’m not sure what everyone else things but Abu Nawas getting us Hubbard’s Cave beers to our market sure has been a treat! Love what these guys are doing and look forward to trying everything they release. Here’s what’s coming down the line this week from Abu Nawas:

  • Hubbard’s Cave: Fresh IIPA V5 (Citra, Mosaic) 16oz CANS – While these tropical fruit bomb hops need no further description, we’d also like to note that in addition to the subtle changes to the malt bill/brew process to amplify body/sweetness we made beginning with last week’s release (V29), this is the first batch trying a different yeast strain from what we’ve been using. We won’t spoil all the surprises but just want to say we think everyone will be pleased with the results.
  • Hubbard’s Cave: Fresh IIPA V30 (Chinook, Idaho 7, Simcoe) 16oz CANS – This one is another new addition to the V series, Fresh IIPA V30, but keeping with the updated malt base and yeast profile beginning with V5. Chinook and Idaho 7 in the boil (or whirlpool, rather) give this one a nice piney and lightly bitter backbone, then a bit of each along with a large charge of Simcoe in the dry-hop drives this home while also yielding a beautiful bouquet of tropical fruit.
  • Hubbard’s Cave: Coco Van  16oz CANS –  From the Brewery: “Last time we made this beer we added more coconut than we’ve ever used and our backs paid the price when it came time to dig out the fermenter. This time we said backs be damned and added even more! We’re left with a thick and decadent coconut bomb of an imperial stout that goes down far too smooth for 12%.” ***Very Limited***
  • Hubbard’s Cave: Mocha Pot de Crème16oz CANS   –From the Brewery: “This is a brand new addition to the PdC series! We were, as always, excited to team up with our friends Brian and Josh at Abacus Coffee Roasters for our coffee addition on this beer. When we told them we wanted something to pair with a thick and chocolatey lactose stout, they came back with El Salvador Red Honey Bourbon, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Smooth, creamy, and bursting with coffee, this one lives up to its name.  ***Very Limited***
  • Une Annee: Framboise 16oz CANS –  American Wild Ale Fermented with Raspberries. 6.5% ABV ***Now in a Snazzy 2 Pack CANS***
  • Une Année Le Seul XXVI (Boysenberry)24-CANS – 2pk16oz –  Another in our Le Seul series makes its debut in cans! We’ve continued blending bits of our Brett culture into each batch of Le Seul to reduce acidity and add a little complexity, but that hasn’t stopped us from adding copious amounts of fruit to them! This batch saw a heaping addition of Boysenberries yielding a mild bitterness and strong aromas/flavors of sweet, jammy fruit.  ***Now in a Snazzy 2 Pack CANS***
  • Une Année Le Seul XXVIII (Tangerine)24-CANS – 2pk16oz   –  We have a new member of the Le Seul family with LS XXVIII (Tangerine). Falling in line with our other recent Le Seul releases, this one has a subtle tartness and a light Brett profile, with a luscious Tangerine aroma which brings Sunny D and daydreams of playing outside to mind. A springtime crusher!     ***Now in a Snazzy 2 Pack CANS***

Thew Brewing + Firetrucker Brewery Tap Takeover @Tin Roost set for 4/25!

Leave a comment

tin roost.png

Thew Brewing Company and Firetrucker Brewery will be co-hosting a tap takeover tomorrow night (4/25) at Tin Roost in North Liberty starting at 6:00! Three beers from each brewery will be available and also a Super Smash Brothers tournament will be taking place as well. Here’s more on this event:

We’re hosting a Super Smash Bros Tournament (Nintendo Switch) and Tap Takeover with Thew Brewing Company & Firetrucker Brewery on Thursday, April 25 from 6-9 pm! We’ll have 3 beers on tap from Thew and 3 beers on tap from Firetrucker – Beers TBA. We’ll have flights available too! Stop by Tin Roost to sign-up for the Tournament anytime before 4/25 – only 24 spots available, first come first served. FREE to play, we’ll have prizes to the top 3 finishers including swag from Roost and the breweries!

Beers Available:

Firetrucker Brewery:
Oakily Doakily Sour – Flanders Red
Double Mango Citra Tropical Burn Infusion – Double IPA 
Buffalo Trace BA 2 Alarm Red
Copper Cat – Hard Ginger Beer w/ Lime

Thew Brewing Company:
Citrus Kölsch
Whatchoo Talkin’ Bout, Willis Dady? (Wheat)
Sounds Interesting (coffee chocolate blonde)

Iowa Brewing Company releasing barrel-aged In-Tents Smores Stout 5/11/19!

Leave a comment

iowa brewing.jpeg

Some exciting news out of Cedar Rapids as Iowa Brewing Company has announced their release on “In-Tents”, a barrel-aged Smores stout. The release will come on May 11th, right before the Benz Beverage Depot beer festival. To get more info read below or check out Iowa Brewing’s event release on Facebook by clicking here:

𝗜𝗻-𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 was brewed last year to celebrate our second anniversary. A huge imperial s’mores stout with tons of pale and biscuit malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, and graham flour for a rich full flavor with notes of cookies and a touch of char. Afterwards we rested on pure liquid cacao and a blend of Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla beans. Half of the batch was put into Four Roses barrels and a vanilla bourbon barrel to rest for (almost) a year, and finished with cocoa nibs, graham crackers and marshmallows.

Two variants will be available in 375ml bottles:

𝗕𝗔 𝗜𝗻-𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 – Aged in Four Roses bourbon barrels plus a vanilla bourbon barrel and finished with cocoa nibs, graham crackers and marshmallows.

𝗕𝗔 𝗜𝗻-𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 – Aged in Four Roses bourbon barrels plus a vanilla bourbon barrel and finished with cocoa nibs, graham crackers, marshmallows, and Trung Nguyen Legendee coffee.

Stop by before Benz Beerfest starts and be the first to grab a bottle, these won’t last long. Bottle shares will be allowed in line, please line up at our patio door and keep any open containers inside the patio.

Thew Brewing 1st Anniversary Party announced for 3/16!

Leave a comment

thew

Thew Brewing will be celebrating their 1 year anniversary on Saturday, March 16th starting at noon. They will be releasing “Darkest Corners”, a barrel aged imperial stout at 5 p.m. Check below for more details. Happy Anniversary Thew!

Celebrate our first anniversary with us!

– Bottle release of Darkest Corners, barrel-aged imperial stout at 5 p.m. $20 each, limit 2 per person
– BOGO River Kings Kölsch all day
– Imperial stout in the Randall (infuser)
– $4 full pours of all other beers on tap (does not apply to kölsch or Randall)
– Free cake while it lasts
– For each beer purchased, receive an entry for prizes (you choose which prize you want to be entered for). Drawing will be at 10 p.m., you don’t need to be present to win.

We’re giving away:
* Brewmaster level Thew Crew membership (eight free beers a month for a year)
* $50 Thew Brewing gift card
* Four River Kings tickets to game of your choice
* Two field-level River Kings tickets to the April 20th game vs. Bismarck Bucks