They're At it Again! Toppling Goliath prepping to bottle Kentucky Brunch!

May 8, 20134 Comments

Craft beer fanatics rejoice as Toppling Goliath brewery out of Decorah, IA is set to start bottling Kentucky Brunch, a stout aged in whiskey barrels with coffee added. TG has been bottling for maybe a month now and the buzz they continue to create with each release has been tremendous. Kentucky Brunch follows Dorothy’s Lager, PseudoSue, Assassin 2013, and Mornin’ Delight releases. Dorothy’s and PseudoSue were released throughout the state and sold out in record time, Assassin and Delight had special releases at the brewery which had a fantastic turnout. If TG is doing a special release along the lines of Mornin’ Delight and Assassin, and you are questioning driving all the way to Decorah for a beer, my advice (I hit up the Delight and Assassin release) is to get there early, have a couple beers, get your bottles, fill a growler, buy a shirt, shoot the shit with fellow beer lovers and have a fantastic time! Don’t hesitate, get in your car and go! Here’s the quick release from the brewery:

Gearing up for another hand bottling!

They’re At it Again! Toppling Goliath prepping to bottle Kentucky Brunch!

May 8, 20134 Comments

Gearing up for another hand bottling!

It's Official: Deschutes coming in July

May 8, 2013Leave a comment

It’s been rumored for a while and to many people this is old news, but the official release from Deschutes with the announcement that they are indeed coming to Iowa this summer has finally arrived. Here’s the official release thanks to beerpulse.com.

(Bend, OR) – Deschutes Brewery announced today that its craft beers will be available in Iowa starting in the summer of 2013. The Oregon-based brewery will be working with Johnson Brothers of Iowa, one of the largest alcoholic beverage distributors in the state. The company is known for its outstanding service, recognized in recent years as “Supplier of the Year” by the Iowa Restaurant Association and the Iowa Grocery Industry Association.

“We are thrilled to be bringing one of America’s great craft breweries into the State of Iowa,” said Lyle Stutzman, President of Johnson Brothers of Iowa. “We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Deschutes.”

Beer is slated to be available to Iowans in late July, with a formal launch planned for the fall that will include special tastings and other events in cities around the state. Initially, Deschutes Brewery will be offering Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, the nation’s number one selling craft porter, Chainbreaker White IPA, and its seasonal, Twilight Summer Ale. The beers will be available in six-packs and draft.

Early this year, Deschutes Brewery started distributing in the state of Illinois, and currently sells beer in Missouri and Minnesota. Iowa rounds out the region. Stacy Denbow, expansion manager for Deschutes Brewery, said, “After Iowa’s revised state laws, we’ve seen an impressive craft beer scene emerge that we’re excited to soon be a part of. We also really appreciated seeing the level of excitement and execution displayed by Johnson Bros.”

Deschutes Brewery added five new 1,300 barrel fermentation tanks in 2012 to increase capacity at its Oregon brewing headquarters, and plans to add five more tanks this month. When all the new tanks are online, the brewery will have the capacity to brew more than 460,000 barrels annually to fill demand in its expanding distribution footprint.

About Deschutes Brewery
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Deschutes Brewery began as a brew pub in downtown Bend, Oregon and is known for such brands as Black Butte Porter, its flagship brew and the nation’s number one selling craft porter, and the popular Mirror Pond Pale Ale. In addition to its original Bend pub, this family and employee-owned brewery opened a second pub in Portland’s Pearl District in 2008. The company’s main brewing facility is located on the banks of the Deschutes River and produces over 250,000 barrels of beer annually for distribution in 20 states and two provinces. To find out more, visitwww.DeschutesBrewery.com.

About Johnson Brothers
Starting in 1985 in the state of Iowa, Johnson Brothers is a family-owned wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages distributor with headquarters in St Paul, Minnesota. Johnson Brothers has been providing world class service to customers throughout the United States since 1953.

It’s Official: Deschutes coming in July

May 8, 2013May 8, 2013Leave a comment

(Bend, OR) – Deschutes Brewery announced today that its craft beers will be available in Iowa starting in the summer of 2013. The Oregon-based brewery will be working with Johnson Brothers of Iowa, one of the largest alcoholic beverage distributors in the state. The company is known for its outstanding service, recognized in recent years as “Supplier of the Year” by the Iowa Restaurant Association and the Iowa Grocery Industry Association.

“We are thrilled to be bringing one of America’s great craft breweries into the State of Iowa,” said Lyle Stutzman, President of Johnson Brothers of Iowa. “We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Deschutes.”

Beer is slated to be available to Iowans in late July, with a formal launch planned for the fall that will include special tastings and other events in cities around the state. Initially, Deschutes Brewery will be offering Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter, the nation’s number one selling craft porter, Chainbreaker White IPA, and its seasonal, Twilight Summer Ale. The beers will be available in six-packs and draft.

Early this year, Deschutes Brewery started distributing in the state of Illinois, and currently sells beer in Missouri and Minnesota. Iowa rounds out the region. Stacy Denbow, expansion manager for Deschutes Brewery, said, “After Iowa’s revised state laws, we’ve seen an impressive craft beer scene emerge that we’re excited to soon be a part of. We also really appreciated seeing the level of excitement and execution displayed by Johnson Bros.”

Deschutes Brewery added five new 1,300 barrel fermentation tanks in 2012 to increase capacity at its Oregon brewing headquarters, and plans to add five more tanks this month. When all the new tanks are online, the brewery will have the capacity to brew more than 460,000 barrels annually to fill demand in its expanding distribution footprint.

About Deschutes Brewery
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Deschutes Brewery began as a brew pub in downtown Bend, Oregon and is known for such brands as Black Butte Porter, its flagship brew and the nation’s number one selling craft porter, and the popular Mirror Pond Pale Ale. In addition to its original Bend pub, this family and employee-owned brewery opened a second pub in Portland’s Pearl District in 2008. The company’s main brewing facility is located on the banks of the Deschutes River and produces over 250,000 barrels of beer annually for distribution in 20 states and two provinces. To find out more, visitwww.DeschutesBrewery.com.

About Johnson Brothers
Starting in 1985 in the state of Iowa, Johnson Brothers is a family-owned wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages distributor with headquarters in St Paul, Minnesota. Johnson Brothers has been providing world class service to customers throughout the United States since 1953.

Update from Madhouse Brewing!

May 8, 2013Leave a comment

I just received an email from Brody at Madhouse Brewing in Newton, IA (www.madhousebeer.com) with updates regarding future releases and their upcoming concert series being held at Jasper Winery! Check it out!

I thought I would give you a heads up about some of the stuff happening here at Madhouse.

First of all, May 1st we released our newest Venture Series addition, the Maple Nutbrown. This beer was made with 100% Iowa Maple Syrup from Sweet Maple Farms out of Cedar Rapids. So far, so great and it will actually hit a shelf near you today (Wed. 5/8) in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. Its been distributed throughout much of central Iowa up to this point but will go out regional Thursday to N. Dakota, S. Dakota, and Nebraska as well. Only around 100 cases of 22oz. Bombers will be distributed throughout Iowa so make sure and get one while you can!

Maple Nutbrown

{ABV: 7.8 IBU:40}

Our next brew to be released will be another Venture Series, this time a Belgian Golden Strong Ale sometime in the first half of June.

We also currently have a batch of Barleywine that has been aging in about a dozen Cedar Ridge Single Malt Whiskey barrels for a few months now. In addition to the whiskey barrels we decided to use 2 of our Port barrels from Jasper Winery to age a very limited edition of this brew. Both will be limitedly released sometime after July and before November depending on how the aging unfolds. This beer is going to be in the ABV 10 range and based off initial tasting results will be quite a treat.

Alongside our upcoming brews, we are kicking off our Summer Concert Series in conjuction with Jasper Winery starting May 16. Each Thursday night this summer we will have a live band playing out in front of Jasper Winery in Des Moines and will be featuring beer from Madhouse and wine and sangria from Jasper Winery. All the shows are free admission.

Hope this gives you a little insight!

Brody

Confluence Brewing Keg Tapping Event

April 29, 2013Leave a comment

Confluence Brewing will be holding a keg tapping for their latest beer, May day May day Maibock at the brewery May 1st, starting at 5:00! Check it out! Here’s the press release from the brewery:

MAY DAY MAY DAY…its time for yet another tapping of the GOLDEN KEG! Its time to move this crummy cold and chilly spring-time weather out of Iowa so we can enjoy our latest refreshing beer…MayDay MayDay Maibock!. The tapping will start at 6PM on May 1st!

Tickets for a $2.00 pints from the Golden Keg go on sale at 5:00
p.m. (limit one ticket per person).

After the Golden Keg “kicks”, pints of MayDay MayDay Maibock will be sold
all evening for $3.50! Also new growlers of MayDay MayDay Maibock and refills of MayDay Maibock will be $2.00 off all night!

New to Shelves: Prairie Artisanal Ales

April 24, 2013Leave a comment

Eastern Iowa should be seeing a brewery from Oklahoma hitting the shelves. Prairie Artisanal Ales out of Kress, Oklahoma should have their bottles on our shelves soon (possibly today). Here’s the brewery description:

Welcome to the world of Prairie Artisan Ales. A company started by two brothers. We didn’t start it due to a lack of good beer, or whatever people like to say in this part of their website. We wanted to do something that was awesome. We have the talent, and most importantly the years of experience needed to get it done. So we did it. We have funded the company on our own, and only want to work with people that care about beer, super good beer. Our goal is to show people what is possible when you start with “step one”.

They have many different Saison styles beers and a bourbon barrel aged stout. A very promising brewery if you dig saisons. Check this link to read more on their brews: http://www.prairieales.com/Beers.html.

Beer Trip: New Glarus, WI; New Glarus Brewery

April 22, 20134 Comments

This past weekend my wife and I were childless for a couple of days and she suggested that we should finally take a trip to New Glarus, WI to visit the brewery (www.newglarus.com). We’ve talked about this trip quite often while we drive to Madison but it finally came to fruition this weekend. The drive is very simple, a right off of 151 and 16 miles later you are in the historical town of New Glarus. As we where driving in we noticed the old brewery off to the left coming into town. It was relatively small, and this but a mental image of the new one in or around the same size. Well, I couldn’t be more wrong. As you are going out-of-town you see a sign for the new brewery and as you turn into the winding drive you are taken to a hilltop were New Glarus Brewery rests. The scene is really quite beautiful. Old stone stairs, historical swiss architecture with a modern design, and the massive layout, made it look more like a quaint hotel than an awesome brewery.

My wife and I entered through gift shop and browsed a bit before deciding to hit the tasting room. At the tasting room you have the option of buying a full 12 oz glass with a draw of beer for $6 or a tasting glass and a small draw for $3. Both great deals as you get to keep the glasses. To make things even better they were pushing their Blacktop IPA because it has recently been added to their year-round lineup. I decided going with the black top and my wife went with the Two-Women lager. After a few rounds we decided to head back through the gift shop and going through the self-guided tour of the brewery. The place is absolutely pristine. Brand new looking, very clean, clean enough to eat (or drink) off the floor. The amount of piping and amount of equipment was very impressive.

Back in the gift shop I bought another beer glass and a sweet Moon Man pale ale t-shirt. So many cool items that would a great addition for any beer lover. After we made our purchases I had to stop downstairs to buy some brew. I was scared that there wouldn’t be anything left of their Double IPA but luckily there was enough left where my decision wasn’t how many four packs but how many cases to buy. Love that stuff. Got a case of IIPA, mixed and match of the Coffee stout, Cabin Fever, and Dancing Man Wheat, a few Serendipitys, 2 4 packs of Winter Warmer and some Moon Man. A nice little haul, not all for me, sharing with the Beer Counselor.

I asked the guys working where a good place to grab a quick bite would be and they both said to try out the Glarner Stube (www.glarnerstube.com). Driving into downtown New Glarus definitely feels like you are in Switzerland. The historic layout makes this place an excellent experience and as you walk into the Glarner Stube not only get the visual appeal you get to taste it as well. Glarner Stube means “Living Room of New Glarus” and it is that cozy. All old New Glarus brewing bottles line across the top of the bar and that is the only brewery available on tap, the only problem is deciding which one to order. A went with Moon Man and my wife suggested going with some Cheese Fondue to start. A great idea! Wonderful swiss cheese with cubed, crusted bread, that paired great with the pale ale. We also split a prime rib sandwich with horseradish sauce and a side of cooked sauerkraut with an onion cream sauce. The food was great but the people working there are so pleasant it makes everything that much better.

A great trip to New Glarus. I’m hoping to makes this a destination to hit a few times a year. Highly recommend making this trek, an easy 3 hour drive to beerdom.

New Samuel Adams Longshot Variety Pack Released

April 17, 2013April 17, 2013Leave a comment

Sam Adams new Longshot variety pack is now available. The pack includes 2 of the following beers; Zack Adams Magnificent Seven, (an Imperial IPA using 7 different hops), James Schirmer’s Beerflower Wheat (American Wheat), and Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager. This variety pack should be available at all beer stores in Eastern Iowa but feel free to drop a line letting us know where you found it. Press release courtesy of http://www.beerpulse.com.

(Boston, MA) – Samuel Adams is proud to announce that the much-anticipated Samuel Adams 2012 LongShot Variety Six-Pack hits shelves this month, fulfilling the dreams of three winning homebrewers by giving them the chance to see their hard work brewed, bottled and distributed nationwide. The winners, Connecticut resident Zack Adams’ Magnificent Seven and California resident James Schirmer’s Beerflower Wheat, triumphed over nearly 1,000 competing homebrews to become the 2012 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest winners. In addition to James’ and Zack’s winning brews, the variety pack will also include Samuel Adams Employee Homebrew Winner Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager.

Each year, founder and brewer Jim Koch and the other brewers at Samuel Adams recognize the most talented homebrewers for their world class brews through the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. When Samuel Adams began the contest more than 16 years ago, it was Jim’s dream that it would be a springboard for aspiring brewers, bringing attention to the quality of homebrewing, and perhaps launch a career or two. To date, Bob Gordash, winner of the 1996 LongShot Homebrew Contest, and Don Oliver, winner of the 2006 Samuel Adams Longshot American Homebrew Contest, have gone on to become professional brewers, turning their homebrewing hobby into a career. Through the contest, Jim encourages homebrewers across the United States to follow their dreams and test the boundaries of beer, just like he did when he brewed the first batch of Samuel Adams Boston Lager® in his kitchen in 1984.

Aspiring homebrewers have another shot at achieving their dream by entering the 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. Those interested can check online at http://www.samueladams.com/longshot for contest rules, regulations and information on purchasing a homebrewing kit. In addition, they can view Jim Koch’s video, “The Art of Homebrewing” offering his personal tips on making a successful homebrew. Entries will be accepted this spring and the winners will be announced at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival.

What Jim Koch, Samuel Adams Founder and Brewer has to say about the winning brews:

“Having started as a homebrewer nearly thirty years ago, I know firsthand the challenges and personal rewards of developing and brewing a quality beer at home. We’re seeing more Americans try homebrewing than ever before, and the unique brews that are coming out of this experimentation are a testament to the ever changing landscape of craft beer today. Year after year, I’ve been so impressed with the quality of entrants and the creativity of the brews submitted to the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest by aspiring brewers, and this year the competition was especially steep. Zack’s Magnificent Seven, James’s Beerflower Wheat and Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager are extraordinary brews, and we are honored to give them the Samuel Adams seal of approval. Because of their hard work and passion, we’re excited to make their dreams a reality by sharing their brew with beer lovers across the country.”

How they were picked as the ultimate 2012 winning brews and brewers
A panel of industry judges including Tony Forder from Ale Street News, Win Bassett of All About Beer, Bob Townsend of Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other beer writers John Holl, Jay Brooks, and Marty Nachel joined Jim Koch in selecting the consumer winners. Together, they selected the winning brews based on the American Homebrewers Association Beer Judge Certificate Program guidelines. Each beer was carefully evaluated on the aroma, appearance, flavor and mouthfeel according to the style category under which it was submitted.

Samuel Adams employees also competed in their own annual homebrew competition. The staff contest challenges employees to channel their passion and knowledge for craft beer by experimenting in their own kitchens. Once all the employee homebrews are submitted, Jim and the other brewers spend a day tasting their entries and select three finalists. The finalists are sent to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), for the final showdown. Attendees at the festival sample the employee homebrews and vote for their favorite. The crowd at the 2012 GABF chose Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager as their selection.

How to get your hands on the beers:
The 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest Variety Six-Pack is available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $8.99 – $10.99 (price varies by market) per six-pack beginning in April. The variety pack will include two bottles each of Zack’s Magnificent Seven, James’ Beerflower Wheat and Dave’s Strawberry Lager.

Tasting notes from the brewers:
James Schirmer’s Beerflower Wheat is an ideal balance of smooth, sweet malt flavors with an exotic kick of citrus and herbal notes. Brewed with hot summer weather and fun gatherings in mind, this American wheat beer pours a dark amber color, and imparts a light floral and sweet aroma with the delicate flavors of hibiscus. Beerflower Wheat is a medium bodied brew that finishes crisp and refreshing on the palate.

Zack Adams’ Magnificent Seven is a showcase of seven American hop varieties that impart a big piney and lingering resinous flavor. A true Imperial American IPA, this brew pours a rich bronze color. The slightly sweet malt character is pleasantly balanced by a pronounced hop bitterness with grapefruit, pine and earthy notes from the American hops. This medium-bodied IPA also delivers caramel, citrus, lemon and piney aromas.

Dave Anderson’s Strawberry Lager is a bright and fresh wheat beer, with a strong strawberry character balanced with toffee and citrus notes – the brewer’s vision of the perfect summertime beer to enjoy after a round of golf on a hot day. Brewed with fresh strawberries, this beer pours a bright golden color and imparts a malty sweetness with hints of lemon and earthiness. Strawberry Lager finishes with a wonderful intensive strawberry flavor without being overwhelming and leaves a lingering creamy sweetness on the palate. Dave has worked as a member of the Samuel Adams Packaging Operations team since 2007.

Learn more:
To watch the Art of Homebrewing Video visit: http://www.samueladams.com/longshot
For Samuel Adams recipes and pairing suggestions visit http://www.samueladams.com
For additional information and to locate a retailer visit http://www.samueladams.com

Toppling Goliath Mornin' Delight and Assassin Release Review! YUM!

April 15, 20131 Comment

This past Saturday morning a few friends and myself made the trek from Cedar Rapids up north to the wonderful city of Decorah on a beer pilgrimage. I’ve talked about Toppling Goliath (www.tgbrews.com) many times on this blog with all of it being positive and this weekend they etched themselves into a beer-lovers heart forever. Saturday they released their seasonal Mornin’ Delight and Assassin beers to a lucky number of fans that made the journey to Decorah.

Upon arriving I was relieved that we were there early enough (10:30 for a noon release) that there wasn’t a line of people waiting outside trying to get in. In fact, we were able to go into the tap room, receive our numbers, and then sit down for a couple of glasses of beer. When we entered we were greeted by Clark, the owner of the brewery, who encouraged us to sample some of the beers before actually purchasing them. I’ve had the pleasure of briefly chatting with Clark on a few occasions, and each time he is always friendly and sincere, he is what makes craft beer great. Everyone from TG was exceptionally friendly and open to a fun conversation about beer.

We all went right to the bar and were able to order Mornin’ Delight on tap! A great surprise for all us! I’m going to describe this beer but I don’t think my description will do it justice. You smell maple, coffee, chocolate, and you get all of those in the flavor. The best way to put it is it tastes like a chocolate chip pancake with syrup and a cup of coffee. It is that damn good! and it made the trip to Decorah easily justified. Such a treat to have at 10:30 on a Saturday morning; the perfect breakfast. As we waited for our numbers to be called out we were able to converse with people from surrounding states, as well as watch a group of guys bringing in some hard to find bottles of beer and doing a nice little beer sampling.

We must have been enjoying our beer too much because we missed our numbers being called, but beer people, being as great as they are, let us jump to the front of the line to get our brews. The Mornin’ Delight had a limit of two 12 oz bottles at $10 a piece, only 300 were made, and if you get a chance to try this brew it comes highly recommend it. They were also releasing Assassin. Assassin is their Imperial Stout brewed with coffee in rye whiskey barrels. So, we got our beers, headed back into the taproom to get our growlers filled and a few t-shirts. Unfortunately they didn’t have my size of t-shirt but I was able to get a growler of pseduoSue filled to enjoy at home. The cool thing about waiting for the growler fill was seeing guys from Surly brewing busting their asses helping wash glasses and being very helpful without having to do so.

If anyone is wondering what a blueprint for a successful brewery looks like; get Toppling Goliaths’ blueprint. Make good beer first, be excellent hosts to your customers, and everything else just falls into place.

I really can’t describe how great this experience was and how amazing the staff is at Toppling Goliath. Beyond friendly, so helpful, and how they relate to their customers and how cordial they are make it easy to fall in love with this brewery. My buddy, the Beer Counselor, said it best…”god damn, there’s really nothing left to say.” I’m hoping this is my first of many trips to Decorah, and I’m counting down the days until Mornin’ Delight is released next year! I can see this being as big as some of the major releases around the country, think of it as Dark Lord Day for Iowa. Toppling Goliath is a major player in the craft beer scene! Life is good when you can make a beer haul like that!