Beer lovers, book lovers, Iowa City lovers, and history buffs rejoice as tonight “Beer Money” by S.C. Sherman gets released at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City. I was lucky enough to get a copy and it truly is a fantastic read. Murder, beer, history, beer….it’s all there! This story puts you at the epicenter of the Iowa beer wars and the fact that we can still visit these spots make the story all that more special. If you can’t get a copy tonight you can preorder on Amazon by clicking here.
Here’s more on the release tonight:
Beer Money Book Release | Benefit for Strengthen Grow Evolve
MARCH 10TH, 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Big Grove Brewery
1225 S Gilbert St
Iowa City, IA52240
A captivating feat of historical fiction set during the 1880s clash between the prohibitionists and the three most powerful brewers in Iowa City—known as “The Beer Mafia.”
German, Czech, and Irish immigrants poured into America in the mid-1800s. They brought their language and traditions with them…and their love of brewing and drinking beer. In 1881, Iowa City was a bustling town full of immigrants. The population was exploding, and that meant two things: Fortunes were being made overnight and trouble was afoot.
Three large breweries had taken root, sprouting strong and proud in the “Northside” neighborhood. In one generation the brewers became wealthy and powerful men. They also came to be known as “The Beer Mafia.” The more powerful the brewers grew, the more passionate the ladies of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union became about abolishing alcohol altogether. They took their fight to the saloon, the street, and the Statehouse, preaching prohibition.
Conrad Graf, J.J. Englert and John Dostal thought of themselves as honest businessmen capitalizing on America’s explosive growth by simply providing a product people wanted. Vernice Armstrong thought they were selling sin and destroying everything that made America great, one beer at a time. She made it her mission in life to bring them down, but they weren’t about to go down without a fight.
Blending real-life historical figures with compelling fictional characters, Beer Money is the story of how the brewers and “Teetotalers” slammed head-on into each other, turning the prairie red with blood. This is a tale of how the seemingly innocuous love of brewing and drinking beer became the flashpoint, sparking events that would shape America for a generation.
