Category: Iowa craft beer

“Local Perks Club” @ Glyn-Mawr The Local in Mount Vernon rolled out! Beer, Wine, and more! Free sign up!

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We’re rolling out our new Local Perks Club!🎉

Although our Local Beer & Wine Clubs will be going away, the discounts and perks will remain!🙌

Here are some quick highlights:

🎉It’s free!

🎉 You can earn perk points on every purchase, every time!

🎉 Those perk points can be redeemed for rewards! In addition, we will offer double points, extra sales, and more throughout the year EXCLUSIVELY to our Perk Club members!

This will allow us more variety, customized shopping deals, exclusive access, and a more consistent experience for YOU!

Anyone can be a Local Perks Club member, whether you purchase wine, beer, or shop our retail! Enroll via our link, or stop in our store this week!🎉

https://squareup.com/loyalty/ETW7P2XM89Y5A

Phase Three back to Iowa with Abu Nawas!!

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For Immediate Release: 🚨🚨🚨🔥

We are Grateful, Honored and Humbled to our Illinois friends at Phase Three Brewing for trusting us with their fine brews. We’ve always admired their fine work and were kind of bummed that they were not within our realm. Well, we couldn’t be more delighted that this has changed!

We are heading there to pick up early next week so they can be delivered to your shelves next Thursday. For freshness sake, we agreed that we will be doing 2 pickups a month. Their kegs are filled on demand, so please reach out to your Abu Nawas Sales Rep about current availability and timelines: we’ll take care of you. All offerings are available in 1/6bbl and most are also available in 1/2bbl.

Please help us welcome this amazingly talented bunch back to Iowa!

Without further ado, we present you,

PHASE THREE BREWING:

  • Phase Three Proper Trollied 6/4/16oz CANS – Dark English Mild Ale that packs big flavors into a low ABV, easy-drinking package. The trio of English Maris Otter, Amber, & Brown malts provide notes of fresh-baked dinner rolls, pale chocolate, and perfectly roasted coffee beans. 3.9% ABV – IL
  • Phase Three Geo 6/4/16oz CANS – West Coast-style Pilsner hits all the notes of a Pilsner & adds Balanced Bitter, Lightly Dank West-coast Hop Character from the addition of Citra & Mosaic Hops. Geo has it all. 5.5% ABV – IL
  • Phase Three Pixel Density 6/4/16oz CANS – Phase Three Flagship Hazy IPA is a classic around the taprooms for a reason – Easy-drinking and packed with bright tropical citrus & balanced dank notes. A perfect way to kick off a night, or end it (and everything in between). 6.5% ABV – IL
  • Phase Three DDH Perpetual Sounds 6/4/16oz CANS – This is a P3 favorite featuring Mosaic & Amarillo hops for notes of fresh-picked ripe blueberries, soft, juicy peaches, and tangy grapefruit all balanced by delicate herbal tea notes on a pillowy soft hazy base. 7.7% ABV – IL
  • Phase Three DDH Velvet Vortex 6/4/16oz CANS – Nectaron & Motueka Hops swirl together in this Double Dry-Hopped Hazy Double IPA. Enjoy a Vortex of ripe Pineapple, Juicy Stone Fruit, and Tangy Citrusy Calamansi on a Smooth, Velvety Hazy Base. 8% ABV – IL
  • Phase Three DDH Adhara 6/4/16oz CANS – Double Dry-Hopped Hazy Double IPA brewed with Galaxy and Citra Hops. Passionfruit, Orange pit, Tropical Fruit and dank aromas shine like a bright star. 8.3% ABV – IL
  • Phase Three DDH Gravlax 6/4/16oz CANS – Double Dry-Hopped Hazy Double IPA brewed with Strata, Simcoe and Talus Hops. Double the amount of Strata, double the amount of Simcoe and double the amount of Talus. Expect massive aromas of apricot, ripe berry, and subtle hints of pine on this 7.8% ABV – IL

Tuesday noon deadline for Wednesday/Thursday delivery. 

Thank you for your continued support. Have a safe and fun weekend everyone! Enjoy this incredible February weather reprieve.

Team Abu Nawas

Abomination, Eredita, and Two Villains coming from Abu Nawas!

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ABOMINATION BREWING

  • Abomination Brewing Love Letters From Hell 6/4/16oz CANS –    Milkshake Style Triple IPA with candy hearts, sprinkles, marshmallows, milk sugar, vanilla bean, strawberry & ice cream. 9.6% ABV – CT 
  • Abomination Brewing Everyday Fog 6/4/16oz CANS – Double Dry Hopped Double IPA with Mosaic, Pacific Jade, Citra, Summit & Enigma NE Hazy IPA – ABV 7.1% – CT
  • Abomination Brewing Battle Rare Fog EXTRA RARE 6/4/16oz CANS – Triple Dry Hopped Triple IPA brewed with an insane amount of Galaxy, Riwaka, Strata, & Waimea. 10.5% ABV – CT
  • Abomination Brewing Wandering into the Fog TDH LOTUS 6/4/16oz CANS – Triple Dry Hopped Double IPA with LOTUS. 8.6% ABV – CT
  • Abomination Brewing Wandering into the Fog TDH VISTA 6/4/16oz CANS – Triple Dry Hopped Double IPA with VISTA. 8.6% ABV – CT
  • Abomination Brewing Wandering into the Fog TDH SIMCOE 6/4/16oz CANS – Triple Dry Hopped Double IPA with SIMCOE. 8.6% ABV – CT
  • Abomination Brewing Wandering Into The Fog ROCKET POP 6/4/16oz CANS – Double Dry Hopped Double IPA brewed with Cherry, Lime, Blueberry, & Raspberry. 8.6% ABV – CT
  • FAT ORANGE CAT FOC X Abomination – Twelve Lives & Still Wandering 6/4/16oz CANS – Ferociously juicy Double Dry Hopped Double IPA. Featuring a handpicked blend of some of our favorite hops; Lotus, Cashmere, Citra and Mosaic. 9.5% ABV – CT
  • Abomination Brewing The Key To the City of North Haven 6/4/16oz CANS – Smoothie Sour Ale Brewed with Cherry, Blackberry, Rhubarb, Ice Cream Mix, Lactose, and Vanilla Beans. 9% ABV – CT
  • Abomination X Skygazer – Dreamatorium Parfait 6/4/16oz CANS – Pastry Stout with Raspberry, Granola, Yogurt, Cacao Nibs, and Lactose. 11.3% ABV.
  • Abomination Brewing Drippy Popsicle Rocket Pop 6/4/16oz CANS – Fruited Smoothie Sour Ale brewed with Cherry, Lime, Blueberry, & Raspberry. 5.5% ABV – CT
  • Abomination Brewing Drippy Popsicle Strawberry Creamsicle 6/4/16oz CANS – Fruited Smoothie Sour Ale brewed with Strawberry & Vanilla. 5.5% ABV – CT
  • Abomination Luscious V2 – Double Fruited – Banana + Strawberry 6/4/16oz CANS – Banana, Strawberry, & Blueberry Smoothie seltzer. 5.5% ABV – CT
  • Abomination Luscious – Double Fruited – Banana + Strawberry 1/6bbl KEG – Smoothie hard seltzer loaded with an irresponsible amount of REAL FRUIT! 5.5% ABV – CT

EREDITÁ BEER

  • Eredita Gratitude Practice 6/4/16oz CANS – A Delicious iteration of a robust porter. It is also a way to positively engage with the world around you. 7.4% ABV – CT
  • Eredita The Barn Owl 6/4/16oz CANS – Inspired by the Love of the Iced Vanilla Latte. Imperial Stout brewed with Coffee, Vanilla, & Milk Sugar. 10.5% ABV – CT
  • Eredita Pragmatism CITRA 6/4/16oz CANS – Single-hop New England Pale Ale featuring Citra hops grown in the Pacific Northwest! 5.1% ABV – CT
  • Eredita Serendipitous Moments 6/4/16oz CANS – IPA brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops sourced from the famed HOP NERDOM that is Freestyle Hops, located in New Zealand. 6.2% ABV – CT

TWO VILLAINS BREWING:

  • Two Villains RATIONAL GAZE 6/4/16oz CANS – Imperial Stout brewed with Maple Syrup, Coffee, & Vanilla. Autodidact Collab. 10.5% ABV – NJ
  • Two Villains SPECIAL HERBS: EL DORADO 6/4/16oz CANS – New England DIPA brewed with El Dorado hops! 8% ABV – NJ
  • Two Villains THAT SPLASH AGAINST MY HOLLOW BONES 6/4/16oz CANS – Citra, Cashmere, & Azacca NE IPA. Wu-Tang inspired! 7% ABV – NJ
  • Two Villains VILLAINS NEVER DIE (CARA CARA ORANGE/PEACH) 6/4/16oz CANS – Intense Fruited Sour conditioned on Cara Cara Orange, Peach and Marshmallow. 5.5% ABV – NJ
  • Two Villains KRUMHOLTZ 6/4/16oz CANS – An homage to their bud @davidkrumholtz Yup, Yup that David KRUMHOLTZ of Harold & Kumar, The Santa Clause (franchise) and Oppenheimer fame! New England style Double IPA double dry-hopped with Citra, Mosaic, Strata and Motueka! 8.7% ABV – NJ

Lion Bridge brining back “Hellscape” smoked helles and “Heartstrings” sour this month!

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Hellscape (Smoked Helles, 5.2%) – We included Weyermann Beechwood Smoked Malt into this traditional German Lager because we love delicious smoky treats. If you’re not familiar with smoked beers, grab a pint and see for yourself!

Heart Strings (Pineapple, Raspberry, Blueberry Sour, 5.5%) – Tropical pineapple melds with tart and tangy raspberry. A new sour to bring a little more love into your life.

Scratch Brewing coming to Iowa via Abu Nawas!

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We are proud and grateful to call Marika and Aaron @ScratchBeer dear friends. We are not kidding when we say we truly consider them one of the most creative breweries this side of the Atlantic and perhaps, dare we say the world over both in philosophy and process. A farmhouse brewery near the Shawnee National Forest in Ava, Illinois. Named one of the top four breweries for foraged beer by Outside Magazine, and one of the most beautiful places to drink beer in the world by All About Beer Magazine, Scratch Brewing Company focuses on farmhouse beers and other styles brewed with home grown and locally farmed and foraged ingredients. The brewery has an ever rotating selection of styles enhanced by the innovative addition of local ingredients, such as nettle, elderberry, ginger, dandelion, maple sap, hickory, lavender, juniper, and chanterelle mushrooms. 

Trust us when we tell you, the place is magical, the on premise bread is legendary and the Serpent Room and the artwork by Brett Douglas Hunter is a bucket list experience.

SCRATCH BREWING BOTTLES:
Scratch Wild Carrot & Nettle Farmhouse Ale 12/500ml BOT – Blonde farmhouse ale brewed with wild carrots, lemongrass and lemon basil and fermented with our wild house culture. Easy drinking with a spicy, herbal, lemony finish. 5.2% ABV – IL

Scratch Foeder-Aged Porter 12/750ml BOT – Robust porter brewed with a hefty dose of chocolate malt and sweet cicely, then aged in our 7 bbl oak foeder from Foeder Crafters. Velvety smooth with a strong oak backbone and a hint of licorice and a very light acidity. 7.4% – ABV – IL

Scratch Basil IPA 12/750ml BOT – One of their all-time classics! This beer’s aroma comes from basil rather than hops, but plays with the chemical compounds present in both to make a beer that tastes intriguingly familiar. Brewed with lemon basil, sweet basil, and tulsi basil from our garden; honey from our friends at Royal Bee in Steeleville; grain from Sugar Creek Malt; and fermented with our house culture. Bright basil and hop-like aroma that tastes fresh now but stands up well to aging. 6.7% – ABV – IL

Scratch Roselle 12/750ml BOT – Farmhouse ale brewed with grain from Sugar Creek Malt and Southern Illinois-grown wheat and roselle plants and flowers from our garden. Lightly tart and earthy with a hibiscus-like aroma and flavors of cranberry and cherry, this beer has the terroir of late summer in Southern Illinois. 4.3% – ABV – IL

Scratch 131 – 12/500ml BOT – This unique farmhouse ale is an imprint of its place and time. Brewed with 131 different leaves, roots, bark, flowers, seeds, and fungi from the height of the growing season. It conveys a subtle earthiness and spice that is characteristic of our location in Southern Illinois. Scored a 97 in Craft Beer & Brewing’s 2023 ratings of Saisons: “Herbal and minty in the sip, with lemon zest, eucalyptus, and a vast range of herbal spice. Thorough but quirky and fast moving.” 5.3% – IL

Scratch Wild Grapevine Saison 12/500ml BOT – Farmhouse beer brewed with wild grape leaves and green grapes, and toasted grapevine; and fermented with our wild house culture. White wine-like fermentation character with a hint of tannin and a toasty vanilla-like finish from the grape vines. 5.2% – IL

Field Day “Baltic Fest” set for February 17th!

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Courtesy of Field Day Brewing:

Join us for Baltic Fest on February 17th at 4pm!

A release day party for our Baltic Porter with stick pokes on the patio! A red hot iron stick poke caramelizes the sugars in your beer creating a unique experience for the drinker. Firepits and burners will be placed all around the patio with tabletop firepits.

In November we brewed a 10.5% Baltic Porter that lagered in Silver Oak California Cab barrels that aged 15 year Weller for 10 months brewing a really complex, malty, high ABV, highly drinkable porter.

Let’s drink some beers around the fire! Tickets are available now for $10 or $15 day of and include your first beer, a smores buffet (with boozy marshmallows), and a hot chocolate station for 21+.

Tickets HERE!

Iowa Eats: Either/Or; Des Moines, IA

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I wrote this review for Little Village Magazine which you can check out by clicking HERE:

The latest venture from the group that brought you Lua Brewing company has seemingly taken over Grand Avenue in West Des Moines! Either/Or restaurant (6222 Grand Ave. Des Moines) opened their doors in early Fall of 2023 and has been consistently busy since. 

“Lua is about craft beer and food. It was our first, so it’s always our baby, but it’s small. Either/Or is bigger on just about every scale. We still do craft beer and handmade food as well as we can, but we have cocktails, we have a private event space, we have a huge patio with green space and a playscape and five fire pits. We have twice as many team members and so much more space. At Either/Or, you can do date night or you can do family night or you can do Friendsgiving. It’s really flexible for any occasion,” said owner Scott Selix. 

Their cuisine can be described as elevated American fare with the focus being on the quality of the food that they put out. All of their burgers are ground in house, juices squeezed fresh for their amazing cocktails, and the always fresh and never frozen concept. “We have a great team. Our head brewer, Zack, did the draft beer list with input from all of us. Our chefs, James and Cesar, did the food menu. And then it was a group effort on making high-end cocktails. So it was a collection of people. And the one thing they all had in common was we created what we like. The beer list has Bierstadt and Sierra Nevada and Confluence and Lua, but also High Life and Duchesse, because that’s what we like to drink. The food menu was a collection of foods we’ve been inspired by. Cesar, our chef de cuisine, is of Mexican heritage, and so there’s some fresh Mexican inspired dishes. But he and James love Asian food as well, so there’s some Asian influence. We also make homemade bologna, which is a very lengthy process and is distinctly European/American. We grind our own burgers everyday, and we only source 100% Iowa-sourced Certified Angus Beef. We pretty much said “let’s create a restaurant we’d want to dine at,” and that’s what we did! So the food is approachable, but unlike stuff you’ll find elsewhere and always homemade (see the Bologna).” 


On why the ownership group chose this particular location for Either/Or, Selix responded, “It’s actually just barely east of the WDM border, so still in Des Moines by about 100 yards. But I played soccer at the soccer fields just south of Either/Or. Some partners on the building showed us the space and once whit and I saw it, we were set on it being a restaurant. Those partners live within walking distance, so they saw potential in the building. And then we saw it right away too. The huge patio, the connection to my old soccer club, the great location on Des Moines’ front porch from WDM, it all came together pretty quick with the tremendous team we have.” 

On this particular Friday, I had the pleasure of taking my two daughters with me to check out this restaurant. They are both familiar with Lua Brewing as we’ve frequented that place many times, and so when I told them the owners of Lua(Scott and Whitney Selix) have opened a restaurant and we are going to get to try it tonight, they were extremely excited. Upon entering, you are greeted with colorful and eclectic decor. The bar pops and the open kitchen gives you an inside look at how your dishes are put together. A very cool, casual, and comfortable feel right away. 

We were seated immediately, although the place was already very busy. The menu had many options that appealed to us so limiting what to order was a tall task for 3 hungry patrons. The beer list was loaded with delicious options, noticing that Lua had multiple beers on tap made my decision easy though.

BEER
I went with their latest double IPA, Dancer. Although it checks in at 8.6% ABV, it’s scarily drinkable and I had to convince myself to not order another. I love the hop combo on this beer and the creamy texture it brings. Lua makes some of the best beers in Iowa and this one is right up there for me as a favorite. Fantastic beer, a beer of the year candidate for sure! 

APPETIZER

Quite a few delicious options on the appetizer portion of the menu, but the clear cut favorite that my daughter’s chose were the Mexican cheese curds. If cheese curds are on the menu, there’s a 99% chance that my kids would have me order them. These cheese curds, however, were very much more inspired than just your basic fried cheese curd. House battered and served with pickled fresno chiles, cilantro and a chipotle ranch dressing these were some of the best cheese curds any of us had ever eaten. The perfect bite consisted of a curd, a pickled fresno, and a leaf of cilantro with just a tiny bit of dressing. It hit all the taste buds. A great dish. 

MAIN COURSE

We decided to do a bit of sharing and order a couple of sandwiches. I asked our waiter what Either/Or was known for besides the smash burgers, the fried bologna was recommended. I also wanted to try a vegetarian dish so I got the Italian mushroom sandwich. This bologna sandwich is unlike any you have had. It’s not your Oscar Meyer bologna sandwich. It’s made in house and the flavor is off the charts. Almost a pepperoni spice to it, it melts in your mouth and they stack this sandwich high with it. An excellent sandwich. The mushroom melt made you forget you weren’t eating meat. Loaded with perfectly cooked mushrooms and topped with a delicious homemade giardiniera and a side of jus, this sandwich would be perfect for not only a vegetarian diet, but even the biggest carnivores can get behind a sandwich this tasty! 

DESSERT
There was no question what dessert we were going to order. My kids have been rice pudding lovers since they were little. Either/Or’s rice pudding was extraordinary. Either/Or added some apple compote and then topped their pudding off with a sesame tuile, which is a baked wafer. A great final dish to cap off a really wonderful meal. 

OVERALL
I’m really excited to see what Either/Or brings to their menu and what they will come up with for their seasonal offerings. Their menu is ever changing and the way they play with fresh ingredients and the detail put into their dishes is commendable and appreciated. This place will be consistently busy, their food is delicious and approachable. This ownership group is doing all the right things and they continue to set the bar high for other establishments. If you are in the West Des Moines area, this is a must stop for a truly wonderful meal!