Cantillon!, Anchorage “Deal with the Devil”, Two Villians, Hoof Hearted, and Tox coming from Abu Nawas!

Anchorage Brewing A Deal with the Devil Barleywine 12/750ml – 

A Deal with the Devil

Faustian pleasure has consequence, of this you must know

When you go down to the crossroads, expect more than a show

Robert Johnson paid dearly, for talent and fame

His deal with the devil, left only his name

Eternal damnation, no chance for retreat

Save only Mr. Daniels’, stunning cunning fiddle feat

This devil is in the details, diabotical pacts abound

Worldly riches and pleasures, but consequences come ’round

‘Twix barley and beer, there is liquid sublime’

But this devil is in the details, with consequence in time

Thirty-seven plato, a matter of some gravity

A Galaxy of hops, only adds to depravity

Eight months in wood, of Cognac in barrel

Mephistopheles you’re not, and the devil your peril

A Deal with the Devil is a barleywine style ale brewed with galaxy hops. A starting gravity of 37 plato. Aged eleven months in Cognac barrels. The devil is in the details… Enjoy! 17.30% ABV – AK

Cantillon Classic Gueuze 6/750ml –
Blend of lambics produced during different years.
Beer with a slightly acidic and fruity taste, delicate and woody fragrance and a dry finish that lingers on the palate.
Beer with taste evolution that will keep for a long time in a good cellar.
Grand Cru Bruocsella 1900 6/750ml –
Vintage lambic. All the beers are from the same brewing season and mature in barrels for three years.
Beer with a highly complex structure that has a wine-like and somewhat oxidised taste, the slightly acidic structures mingling with more mellow aspects.
Powerful yet elegant, Bruocsella can be considered the missing link between the worlds of wine and beer. Since there is no secondary fermentation in the bottle Bruocsella is a flat, non-sparkling beer.
Saint Lamvinus 6/750ml – 

Blend of lambics aged on average 16 to 18 months and of Merlot grapes.
The year’s blend, bottled November 2022, was exceptionally made with Merlot (55%), Grenache Noir (35%), and Syrah (10%).
Lambic can be rightly considered the missing link between the worlds of wine and beer, and Saint Lamvinus takes this one step further by adding grapes normally intended for wine production.
Intense, fruity beer that lingers on the palate and has a clear connection to its winemaking origins.
Sang Bleu 6/750ml –

Lambic blend with blue honeysuckle, or haskap, berries.
For the past two years, we’ve been making a fruited blend with Camerise berries in small quantities. These berries are slightly sweet with a beautiful acidity.
We didn’t have to look very far for its new name… a blue fruit that makes a blood-red beer: Sang Bleu. Our friend Ammo has outdone himself once again, creating a superb new label to go with its new name.

TWO VILLAINS BREWING:

  • 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
  • Two Villains ULTIMATE INDULGENCE 6/4/16oz CANS – Outstanding Imperial Stout with Marshmallow & Peanut Butter, to emulate one of our fave snacks, the Fluffernutter. 10.5% ABV – NJ

TOX BREWING:

  • Tox Brewing Midnight Shade 6/4/16oz CANS – Imperial Stout with Coffee. 9% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing Poltergeist 6/4/16oz CANS – Double Dry Hopped Triple IPA with Galaxy, Citra, Nelson Sauvin, and Mosaic. 10% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing 4 Eyed Frog 6/4/16oz CANS – Collab. w/ Long Live Beerworks. DIPA brewed with some new and experimental hops from Freestyle Hops in New Zealand. 4 Eyed Frog is packed full of Phantasm infused Mega Motueka, brand new Paradisi, Rakau, Southern Cross Kief. 8% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing Fugu 6/4/16oz CANS – Citra, Cashmere, & El Dorado IPA. Immensely aromatic and complexly hoppy for its crushable nature, Fugu combines a carefully selected combination of American hops 6.5% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing Digitox 6/4/16oz CANS – Hoptimally saturated Double IPA with Nelson & Citra. 8.5% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing Ergot 6/4/16oz CANS – Hoppy American Wheat Beer with Coriander and Citrus⁠. 5.2% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing Double Dart 6/4/16oz CANS – Double Dry Hopped DOUBLE Dart Frog IPA! loaded with Nelson, Riwaka and Motueka⁠. 8.5% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing Ink – Dark Stuff 6/4/16oz CANS – Sour Ale brewed with Blackberry, Black Currant, Blueberry, Sweet Cherry, Plum, Lactose, & Vanilla. 6% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing Copperhead 6/4/16oz CANS – Delicious American Amber Ale. 5.8% ABV – CT
  • Tox Brewing Training Wings 6/4/16oz CANS – Beautiful American Pale Ale with Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe. 6% ABV – CT

HOOF HEARTED

  • Hoof Hearted $120 Nachos 6/4/16oz CANS – Triple India Pale Ale. 100% Citra Quadruple Dry-Hopped. 12% ABV – OH
  • Hoof Hearted $60 Nachos 6/4/16oz CANS – The legendary Citra, Mosaic, & El Dorado DDH DIPA. 8% ABV – OH
  • Hoof Hearted Discount Nachos 6/4/16oz CANS – DDH IPA with El Dorado, Bru-1, Citra, Strata hops. 7.3% ABV – OH
  • Hoof Hearted Everybody Wants Some CITRA 6/4/16oz CANS – Rotating single hop DIPA series. Double IPA with CITRA hops. 8% ABV – OH
  • Hoof Hearted Maxxx Profitz 6/4/16oz CANS – Sour Frappe-Style IPA brewed with Strawberry, Vanilla, Pink Guava, Tahitian Vanilla, & Milk Sugar. 6% ABV – OH
  • Hoof Hearted Pump & Run 6/4/16oz CANS – DDH Hazy IPA w/ Citra. 6.6% ABV – CT
  • Hoof Hearted Rose Gose 6/4/16oz CANS – Gose with  Himalayan Pink Sea Salt, Coriander, Hibiscus. Patrick Swayze forever! 4.2% ABV – OH
  • Hoof Hearted Turbo Water – Prickly Pear, Raspberry, Lime 6/4/16oz CANS – Prickly Pear, Raspberry, & Lime Hard Seltzer. 5.5% ABV – OH

Lua Brewing “Sonder” blend bottles available at the taproom!

Courtesy of Lua’s Facebook page:

SONDER BLEND NO. 1 (5.0%)

Sonder No. 1 was brewed with a variety of raw grains and was fermented and aged in white wine barrels with our house culture of bacteria and wild yeast for over a year, softening the edges of the bright tartness. It was then bottle conditioned for over two years.

Three-plus years in the making, Sonder No. 1 is funky and slightly tart, but more strongly steeped in oak and vanilla notes, owing to its age in barrels. It was naturally carbonated in the bottle.

SONDER BLEND NO. 3 (3.5%)

Sonder No. 3 is a rustic Berliner Weisse, brewed with floor malted Pilsner malt and a variety of raw grains, including Iowa buckwheat and winter red wheat. It was fermented and aged in white wine barrels with our house culture of bacteria and wild yeast for over a year before being naturally refermented in the bottle.

Berliner Weisse, a revered historical style, has gotten a bad rap lately. Slushified American kettle sours, while often tasty, are not Berliner Weisse. They’re just not. This presentation of Sonder is our interpretation of a true authentic Berliner, and we are very proud of it.

These beers, like all presentations of Sonder, are a representation of this time, of this place, and of us.

Both SONDER bottles are available to enjoy here at our taproom.

Lion Bridge 2024 “Barrel-Aged January” Lineup Announced!

Courtesy of Lion Bridge’s website:

Barrel Aged January 2024 Beer Releases

Home-Baked 2024 (Imperial Stout w/ Hazelnut, Cinnamon, Cacao, Love, 11%) – Dessert for your desert island. Fudge and saigon cinnamon meld with a little bit of hazelnut goodness and bourbon barrel to produce something we liken to a cookie in beer form.

Vanilla Home-Baked (Imperial Stout/ Hazelnut, Cinnamon, Cacao, Vanilla, 11%) – We took our dessert for a desert island and dosed it with huge amounts of whole bean Madagascar Vanilla. An even more decadent treat!

Couples Skate (Barrel-Fermented Brett Beer w/whole peaches, 6.5%) – A slightly awkward first encounter that has led to happily ever after. We crushed 500lbs of Michigan peaches straight from the tree and let them rest on hand-selected wild barrels from our wood cellar for 8 months.

Oco Noco (Imperial Milk Stout w/Coconut, 11%) – We took an exceptional Imperial Milk Stout, aged it in Bourbon barrels for a year, and then put an obscene amount of toasted and un-toasted coconut into it until beer and confectionary treat melded seamlessly together. Simple, but oh so decadent.

Forgotten Time 2024 (Barrel-Aged Barley Wine, 12%) – The real deal Barley Wine. Brewed in collaboration with our friends at Clockhouse. Aged for 28 months in 10-year-old Templeton Rye Whiskey barrels. Sherry, chocolate, dark fruit for days.

GAZPROM! 2019 (Russian Imperial Stout w/Maple Syrup, 12%) – Viscous, and black. After primary fermentation this oily, Russian giant is re-fermented in bourbon barrels with Great River Maple dark syrup then blended back together to add consistency and complexity. 2016 GABF Bronze Medal Winner for Specialty Beer.

Shadow Puppet (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, 13%) – Aged 36 months in Cedar Ridge Bourbon Barrels and blended to bring an amazing beer out of the darkness. Notes of dried dark fruits, chocolate, sherry, oak, caramel, and vanilla.

Home-Baked Whiskey Release …. details coming soon!

Week by Week breakdown:

Week 1

1/4 Live Music – Trevor Treiber 6-8 PM

1/6 BEER RELEASE : Home-Baked 2024

1/6 BEER RELEASE : Vanilla Home-Baked 2024

1/6 Raffle for FREE Lion Bridge Merchandise!

Food Special (starting 1/3)

Pork Tenderloin with a Maple Vanilla Glaze atop Blue Cheese Macaroni

Smoked Gouda Burger

Three Layer Coconut Cream Cake


Week 2

1/13 BEER RELEASE : Couples Skate

1/13 BEER RELEASE : Cellar Release – Barrel-Aged Oco Noco 2022

1/13 Live Music – Severio Lancieri 6-8 PM

1/13 Country Night! Come dressed in your best cowboy/western look!

1/13 Raffle for FREE Lion Bridge Merchandise!

1/14 Make Your Own Face Stein (tickets) 2-4 PM

1/16 Tuesday Night Trivia 6-8 PM

1/18 Magic Show 6-7 PM

Food Special (starting 1/10)

BBQ Ribs and Cornbread / Mac & Cheese and Green Beans

BBQ Bacon Burger

Apple Turnovers with Bourbon Caramel Sauce and Whipped Cream


1/20 BEER RELEASE : Forgotten Time Barley Wine 2024 edition

1/20 BEER RELEASE : Cellar Release – GAZPROM 2019

1/20 Raffle for FREE Lion Bridge Merchandise!

1/20 Open Night Mic 7-9 PM

1/23 Tuesday Night Trivia 6-8 PM

1/25 Live Music – Carson Parker Cello Duet 6-8 PM

Food Special (starting 1/17)

Hearty Beef Stew

Lamb Meat Pies

Apple Turnovers with Bourbon Caramel Sauce and Whipped Cream

Week 3


1/27 BEER RELEASE : Shadow Puppet

1/27 BEER RELEASE : Home-Baked Whiskey

1/27 Raffle for FREE Lion Bridge Merchandise!

1/28 Cedar Rapids Brewing Society Happy Hour 3-5 PM

Food Special (starting 1/24)

Pesto Flatbread with Goat Cheese and Candied Pecans

Cranberry and Barleywine Braised Brisket with Roasted Kale and Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes 

Raspberry Tart

SingleSpeed “Tip the Cow Day” set for Saturday January 13th!

Courtesy of SingleSpeed’s Facebook page:

Milk stouts, milk stout ice cream floats, bourbon barrel-aged milk stouts… Oh, and did we mention 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙠 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨? 
Add live music, a complimentary Tip the Cow-branded Miir insulated beverage holder, and all of the cow-themed fun we could think of, and you have yourself a party.
AND, as if you aren’t already sold on the party of the century, Tip the Cow 2024 features the release of Tip the Cow Malt Whiskey in partnership with Foundry Distilling Co.

**“The Calf” Ticket ($50) gets you:

Early access to Tip the Cow Day – 9 AM!
(1) 500ml bottle of BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged)
An early opportunity to purchase our BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged) 500ml bottle for only $20 (limit purchase of 3 bottles before 10am)
An early opportunity to purchase a surprise variant of BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged) 500ml bottle for only $30
(limit 3 bottles before 10am)
Matte Blue Tip the Cow Branded Insulated Miir Coffee Mug
Milk stout ice cream float made with Tip the Cow Day draft of your choice
**One draw of either:
• Tip The Cow
• Coconut Migration
• BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout)
• Surprise Variant of BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout)

**“The Cow” Ticket ($100) gets you:

Early access to Tip the Cow Day – 9 AM!
(1) 750ml bottle of Tip the Cow Malt Whiskey
An early opportunity to purchase our BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged) 500ml bottle for only $20 (limit purchase of 3 bottles before 10am)
An early opportunity to purchase a surprise variant of BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged) 500ml bottle for only $30 (limit purchase of 3 bottles before 10am)
Matte Black Tip the Cow Branded Insulated Miir Highball Tumbler
Milk stout ice cream float made with Tip the Cow Day draft of your choice
**One draw of either:
• Tip The Cow
• Coconut Migration
• BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout)
• Surprise Variant of BA Two Cows 2024 (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout)

November releases from Lion Bridge!

Courtesy of Lion Bridge email:

Mallow Gold (Imperial S’mores Stout, 9.0%) – We brewed an exceptionally decadent stout and s’moresified it! Marshmallow, Ghanaian Chocolate, and Graham Cracker meld beautifully in this campfire beer.

Dream Catcher (Black IPA w/Simcoe and Cascade, 7.1%) – Scary things can lurk in the dark. But so can delicious hoppy things! Don’t be afraid of the dark base beer. Dream Catcher is all you wanted in an IPA, and all you didn’t even know you wanted!

Big Clown Shoes drop from Abu Nawas!

CLOWN SHOES CANS:

  • Clown Shoes Space Cake 6/4/16oz CANS – Mosaic, Citra Double IPA features robust hop aromas that carry through to the strong juicy flavors of tropical citrus. 9% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Rainbows Are Real 6/4/16oz CANS – Hazy IPA brewed with terpenes Beta-Pinene and Linalool, aromatic compounds derived from natural botanical sources. They supplement the sweet malt backbone and lively blend of Azacca, Citra, and Mosaic hops that make Rainbows Are Real shine with fresh, juicy notes of sweet citrus. 6.9% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Galactica Dank Nebula 6/4/16oz CANS –  West Coast style IPA features Galaxy, Simcoe, and Columbus hops, a rich malty base, plus Dank & Stormy Hopzoil™ 7.2% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Galactica SoCal Citra 6/4/16oz CANS – Modern twist on a classic West Coast style IPA features citrusy hops and a lighter malt character to make a crisp West Coast IPA. 7.2% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Haze Cake 6/4/16oz CANS – Hazy Double IPA with Multiple dry hoppings of Mosaic and Citra. 9% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Fruitorian Guava/Passion 6/4/16oz CANS – Delicious Sour Ales with Guava and Passionfruit. 5.8% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Mango Kolsch 6/4/16oz CANS – American Kolsch. This beer is NOT REINHEITSGEBOT. But it is delicious. Mango begins as a crisp and clean traditional Kolsch, then receives a dry hop addition and natural mango flavor. The result is a beer that features a light and crisp body that pairs that with subtle mango flavor and a lingering sweetness at the finish. 5.5% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Mist On The Oaks 6/4/12oz CANS – Rich and Roasty, Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon and Rum barrels that only this crazy bunch can pull out! We encourage you to not wake what lies beneath the mist… 10% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Undead Party Crasher 6/4/16oz CANS – Big and Bold American Imperial Stout utilizes a malt bill including smoked malts for an Imperial Stout that bursts with dark malt flavor. Rich notes of coffee, and chocolate mingle throughout an intense and full-bodied Stout. 9% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes Blaecorn Unidragon 6/4/16oz CANS – Russian Imperial Stout Brewed with a monstrous amount of malt and combined with aggressive American hops, this beer is powerful and complex and designed to age.10.5% ABV – MA

CLOWN SHOES STOVEPIPES:

  • Clown Shoes Snow on the Maple Tree VINTAGE 2021 – 1/12/19.2oz “Stovepipe” CANS – Maple Conditioned Imperial Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels that had premium maple syrup then aged in them. 11% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes The Storyteller 1/12/19.2oz “Stovepipe” CANS – Imperial Stout aged in WhistlePig Rye Barrels. 10.5% ABV.
  • Clown Shoes Luchador at Sunrise 1/12/19.2oz “Stovepipe” CANS – Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout with Cinnamon, Vanilla, Chipotle, and Ancho Chilis. 10.5% ABV.
  • Clown Shoes Ancient Hills 1/12/19.2oz “Stovepipe” CANS – Chocolate Malt Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels. 10% ABV.
  • Clown Shoes Origin Story 1/12/19.2oz “Stovepipe” CANS – IPA Aged in Bourbon Barrels. Rich and complex notes of bourbon and oak mingle uniquely with subtle hoppiness and a sturdy, slightly sweet malt backbone. 9.75% ABV.
  • Clown Shoes Exorcism at Sunset 1/12/19.2oz “Stovepipe” CANS – Clown Shoes signature American imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels. 10.75% ABV – MA
  • Clown Shoes FLIGHT to BOLIVIA 1/12/19.2oz “Stovepipe” CANS – Delicious Malty Old Ale Aged WhistlePig Rye barrels that were once Bordeaux barrels. 10% ABV – MA

Confluence celebrating 11 years on Saturday October 21st!

Des Moines will be the place to be this coming weekend as Confluence Brewing will be celebrating their 11 year anniversary starting at 11 a.m.! Live music, food trucks and multiple beer releases throughout the day will be taking place. Take a look below for the schedule courtesy of Confluence’s Facebook page:

We are celebrating our 11th year of making good beer and we hope you can join us!

Come on down to the beer factory on our birthday for a special celebration filled with live music, food trucks, commemorative glassware and new beers for you to take home.

Schedule:
Live Music with Ducharme Jones 12-2:30pm
Live Music with Buckmiller Schwager Band 3-5:30pm
Food Trucks: Pie Mates & Street Eats
*Purchase any 2 anniversary beers (to-go) and receive a free 11th-anniversary glass!

Anniversary Beer Releases:
1. Peanut Butter Cup Porter (Contains Nuts & Lactose)
2. Bourbon Barrel Aged Ferryman’s
3. Ferryman’s Chocolate Old Fashioned
4. Ferryman’s Dark Chocolate Turtle
* to read about each beer, head to our events tab and you can see each release with their tasting notes!

Evil Twin NYC: The Sequel

EVIL TWIN BREWING NYC:

  • EVIL TWIN BREWING NYC – OUR MOST POPULAR IPA 6/4/16oz CANS – Flagship IPA brewed and Double Dry-Hopped with all Citra hops. 6% ABV – NYC
  • EVIL TWIN BREWING NYC – DANG QUESADILLA 6/4/16oz CANS – West Coast IPA. Brewed with all Citra. Dank, crisp, fresh. 6.7% ABV – NYC
  • EVIL TWIN BREWING NYC – I SWEAR I’M ADDICTED TO BLUE CHEESE 6/4/16oz CANS – Classic Belgian Quadrupel. Notes of malts, dark fruits & subtle spice. 10.2% ABV – NYC
  • EVIL TWIN WILL THIS BELGIAN BEER DESERVE YOUR RESPECT? 6/4/16oz CANS – Belgian Strong Golden Ale – 12% ABV – CT
  • EVIL TWIN BREWING NYC – THE WEATHER JUST WENT FROM 90 TO 55 LIKE IT SAW A STATE TROOPER 6/4/16oz CANS – Double Dry-Hopped with Citra and Galaxy. Beautifully Crisp ‘n Juicy. 6.5% ABV – NYC
  • EVIL TWIN BREWING NYC – BUZZIN’ – CITRA + CASHMERE + SABRO 6/4/16oz CANS – Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale with Citra, Cashmere, & Sabro, brewed with organic wildflower honey. BEEPUBLIC collab. 5.5% ABV – NYC
  • EVIL TWIN BREWING NYC – FRUIT FOR THOUGHT 5 6/4/16oz CANS – Sour Ale inspired by some delicious autumn-forward stone fruits. Made with Cranberry & Plum, we added a little extra Cinnamon, Vanilla, & Brown Sugar for some extra pie flavors. 6.6% NYC
  • EVIL TWIN BREWING NYC – THE GREAT AUTUMNAL EQUINOX STOUT 6/4/16oz CANS – We’ll let the ingredients do the talking for this one… Imperial Stout Brewed With Almond, Vanilla, Muscovado Sugar, Maple, Marshmallow Coffee, Raspberry And Chocolate. 12.55% ABV – NYC
  • EVIL TWIN OUDE EVIL 6/4/16OZ CANS – Malt Liquor. Enjoy straight from the can. Cheers, friends! 8% ABV – CT
  • EVIL TWIN HOP FOR A BETTER FUTURE – SIMCOE 6/4/16oz CANS – Simcoe NE DDH DIPA. 8% ABV – CT
  • EVIL TWIN BOZO BEER 6/4/16OZ CANS – 17.2% 😳 Imperial stout brewed w/ molasses, lactose, chocolate, almond, hazelnut, vanilla bean, cinnamon, oak spiral, chili, marshmallow, muscovado sugar, chestnut, and coffee. 17.2% ABV – CT – Please note that like a fine wine, this beer’s vintage runs a year back. Hence 2022!
  • EVIL TWIN EVEN MORE JESUS 6/4/16oz CANS – Evil Twin OG Imperial Stout – 12% ABV – CT
  • EVIL TWIN IMPERIAL BISCOTTI BREAK 6/4/16oz CANS – Imperial Stout with Almonds, Espresso, Vanilla – 11.5% ABV – CT
  • EVIL TWIN IMPERIAL DOUGHNUT BREAK 4/6/16oz CANS – The Legendary Beer is Back. Imperial Porter with Vanilla Coffee Almonds and (you guessed it) Donuts. 11.5% ABV – CT

Annual “Cousin Eddie Party” set for Thanksgiving Day (11/23)@ Iowa Brewing!

A tradition unlike any other returns in 2023 as Iowa Brewing Company in downtown Cedar Rapids (708 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids) will be putting on their annual “Cousin Eddie Party” on Thanksgiving Day! Starting bright and early at 7 a.m. and going to noon, it’s a perfect way to start Thanksgiving morning with family, or get a good buzz before dealing with family…your call. Showcasing their “Cousin Eddie” breakfast ale and celebrating the culture of Cousin Eddie and a wonderful beer, Iowa Brewing will be the place to be Thanksgiving morning! Here’s more courtesy of the brewery’s Facebook page:

“You serious, Clark?”

Yeah, we are serious! It’s that time of year for our Annual Thanksgiving Day Cousin Eddie Party. Doors will open at 7:00AM and stay open until noon.

The deets:
– Cousin Eddie Breakfast Ale (Barrel-Aged)
– Cousin Eddie Breakfast Ale
– Patio open with space heaters
– Expanded taproom into brewery/production area
– Special Edition Cousin Eddie t-shirts

For the newbies:
– Come dressed as Cousin Eddie (if possible)
– Show up in your PJs (no birthday suits)
– We will be busy; please be patient
– If you see a jello mold with cat food, don’t eat it

LET’S PARTY!

Ask the Brewers and Chefs: What foods do you pair with your favorite Marzen/Oktoberfest beers?

As the weather cools and summer turns into fall, tap lines and shelf space start being consumed with delicious marzen, Oktoberfest, and fresh hop beers from many of Iowa’s wonderful breweries and from breweries around the world. As fall comes into our lives our bodies are telling us to consume more hearty and energy packed foods to prepare ourselves for winter…so…I guess what the fall season tells us to do is drink beer and eat good food….with that being said, what are the favorites from the local brewers, chefs, and people working in the food and beer world for pairing these wonderful beer styles to their favorite dishes? Let’s find out:

Quinton McClain – Brewer/Owner Lion Bridge Brewery, Cedar Rapids – “For Lion Bridge’s Oktobot 3000, definitely schweinsaxe. (roasted ham hock or pork knuckle) For Lion Bridge Robofest, I would go with tailgating foods… wings, brats, soft pretzels, tacos. It’s an easy drinker, but has a beautiful European Malt Character that pairs well with good conversation and finger foods.”

Alec Travis – Brewer/Owner Field Day Brewing, North Liberty – “Festbiers are pretty good for pairing with almost anything! Marzens have a touch more of that caramel profile that I think go well with some savory fatty stuff. For me, I’d pair that with a pork chop or pork shoulder or something. Maybe some herbed risotto as a side!”

Todd and Blake Viall – Brewers/Owners – Clock House Brewing, Cedar Rapids – “We came up with a jalapeño popper chicken griller wrapped with applewood smoked bacon, side of pineapple coleslaw, and dessert of coconut flan!”

Aaron Vargas – Owner – Backpocket Brewery, Coralville – “Savory for sure. Pork, whether it is a brat or schnitzel. Something about the fat in there is where it is at!”

T.J. Lytle – Chef- Big Grove Brewery, Solon – ” Yeah, I have a few. Can’t go wrong with a pretzel, beer cheese and the spicy vinegary mustard. Literally one of my go tos. The other 2 are something my grandma always did. She passed away a couple years ago but we used to have a big family gathering at her house and she would make these, my mom still makes them every year and we enjoy them. I just tweak it a little bit 😁. My grandma was very Polish so she always made Haluski, and pierogies. The haluski is a soft noddle with cooked down cabbage. We added bacon just because who doesn’t love bacon haha. Finish with a bunch of black pepper and butter. Sooo gooood. The pierogies was always my favorite. She would buy the store bought in a bag which I have a sweet spot for but homemade really is a game changer. In my filling I use russet potatoes, stone ground mustard, cheese, salt and white pepper. We would cook down a bunch of onions, sausage, remove the sausage and cut it thin. Throw it back in with the pierogies. A bunch of butter. Top with a bunch of scallions. Literally one of the best things I enjoy. Really reminds me of home and a lot of good memories with my family!”

Shane Knipper – Brewer- Dimensional Brewing, Dubuque – “Stateside, I tend to lean towards a basic bratwurst from a local meat locker, with a German horseradish mustard and sauerkraut. I also really like a festbier with currywurst. If you can get some authentic Brezen, Schnitzel, Rouladen, or Spaetzle, that’s definitely the way to go, but can be hard to find locally. Basically, any hearty meal.”

Travis Lange – Head of Sales – Iowa Brewing Company, Cedar Rapids – “Of course you can’t go wrong pairing these beers with more traditional fare, like pork schnitzel, bratwurst and soft pretzels topped with cheese, dill and smoked meats. But my go-to food pairings are carnitas tacos and venison chili. Hearty, spicy foods that meld nicely with the herbal and earthy hop edge.”

Jim Johnston – Brewer- 3rd Base Brewing, Cedar Rapids -“My favorite would be Zweigle’s White Hots on a caraway seed bun.”

Joe Dooley – Chef – Need Pizza, Cedar Rapids – “Smoked & reverse seared Iowa chops. Apple cider braised red kraut. And roasted acorn squash with enough butter & brown sugar to choke a friggin donkey. First thing I’m in the mood for when the weather turns, & it’s on the menu for tonight!”

Jeremy Freerks – Club 76 The Lodge, North Liberty – “Personally as a compliment, I’d like to say the richness of the gravy and meat of sauerbraten pairs well with the maltiness of that those beers. I also believe as a compliment oven baked brats and kraut caramelizes nicely to match most Oktoberfest/marzens. I think fresh kraut on a brat can easily bring together sweetness of the brat and sour of the kraut for the bang of fresh hop beers as a compliment and contrast. Same goes for Hot German Potato salad. Sweet and sour with the bacon backbone is a solid choice for a fresh hop IPA.”