Category: Restaurants/Bars/Pubs

The Six-Pack Project

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bloggersThis past week I received a tweet from fellow beer blogger @BryanDRoth at This Is Why I’m Drunk. He was interested in setting up a beer blogging collaboration from beer bloggers in different states to come up with their ultimate 6 pack of beer that “best represents you state”. After much thinking I think I finally come up with my Ultimate Iowa Brewed Six pack, however @BryanDRoth has some rules to follow:

1. Pick a six-pack of beers that best represents your state and/or state’s beer culture.
2. Beer must be made in your state, but “gypsy” brewers are acceptable, so long as that beer is brewed with an in-state brewery and sold in your state.
3. Any size bottle or can is acceptable to include.
4. Current seasonal offerings are fine, but try to keep selections to year-round brews as much as possible. No out-of-season brews preferred.

So, with that being said, I had to disqualify many of the fantastic up-and-coming breweries and their beers and this is also the reason why you won’t see Kentucky Brunch or Mornin’ Delight from Toppling Goliath on the list. So, a tip of the cap to 515, Exile, Big Grove (Loving their Double IPA right now), and anyone else I forgot to mention. I wanted year round availability, (even though Sue and Sosus can be hard to come by), for someone traveling through the state to get their hands on, so here’s what I went with:

sue Toppling Goliath pseudoSue 

This was a no-brainer, it might be my favorite beer in the world actually. Although hard to come by at times, it has become the best beer brewed Iowa, without question. The demand is high and once it hits the shelves it’s come in a matter of minutes.

Brewed and bottled in Decorah, IA, this beer is starting to get national recognition, as it should. An American pale ale coming in at 5.8% and 50 IBUs, I would be hard pressed to find a better pale ale in America and a better use of the wonderful citra hop. Zombie Dust comes to mind, and I might be a little biased here, but I think Sue is a bit better than the Dust. Not only is this beer amazing, but the folks at Toppling Goliath are some of nicest people I’ve ever met in the business.

Food pairing of choice: A holiday ham would do or some nice steak tacos would go well.

sosusToppling Goliath Sosus

Single hopped Imperial IPA from Toppling Goliath using only mosiac hops. You get everything you want from an Imperial IPA; citrus, dankness, resinous pine, and then a bit of malt to make it shine. Another home run from Toppling Goliath.

This beer comes in at 8% ABV and 100 IBUs. This is a very easy drinker for a double IPA, but you need to be careful as it can sneak up on you quickly as it doesn’t take long for a bottle or two of this to disappear rather quickly. Check out more from Toppling Goliath at www.tgbrews.com.

Food pairing of choice: Some BBQ ribs would do nicely here; sauce on the side.

redbandGreat River Redband Stout

Brewed and canned in Davenport, IA, Redband Stout still stands atop as my favorite coffee stout brewed in Iowa. There are a few stouts to choose from in this great state, and, not including Imperials or barrel-aged, I think this is the go-to. It seems to be increasingly difficult just to get a regular, everyday drinking stout, but Great River comes through and makes this fantastic coffee stout hard to resist.

Redband comes in at 6% ABV and packs a huge coffee punch. The perfect breakfast beer to accompany your bacon and eggs or even your leftover cold pizza. This is the style of beer that I really enjoy during the Iowa fall/winter months. Need more info on Great River, check them out here: www.greatriverbrewery.com

Food pairing of choice: Breakfast burritos

madhouse Madhouse Hopburst IPA

Yes, I know, another IPA on the list. But I can leave it off because it is a fantastic brew. Brewed in Newton, IA (Madhouse is planning a move to Des Moines), this beer uses a “hopbursting” technique where they add most of the hops to the boil late in the process to achieve maximum hop presence.

Checking in at 7.2% this IPA is the definition of a balanced IPA. The hop presence hits you in the face but doesn’t overwhelm you and then the malt does exactly as it should and balances everything perfectly. A well-crafted brew by the folks at Madhouse. Check them out here: www.madhousebeer.com.

Food pairing of choice: Spicy chicken wings (Korean wings from Big Grove Brewery in Solon, IA)

johns Millstream John’s Generation White Ale

Wanted to get some variety of style into the 6 pack and this beer does the trick. A past, I believe, GABF gold medal winner in the white ale category this beer is perfect for any season. You get the breadiness that you get from most wits but the orange/citrus and coriander are really prominent in this brew. Wonderfully refreshing and easy to drink, stop in at Millstream Brewery in the Amana Colonies and have it on tap!

This beer comes in at 5.2% and as said above, is very drinkable. The brewery is only a 20-25 minute drive from Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, so if visiting, make the trip over and try their beer fresh on tap. The oldest brewer in Iowa is also makes a fine root beer and has recently started a barrel-aging program. Check out more from Millstream here: www.millstreambrewing.com.

Food pairing of choice: Shrimp cocktail or some seared scallops.

wooden nickelBackpocket Wooden Nickel Scottish Ale

This semi-new brewery in Coralville is not only serving up some suds but makes some damn fine wood-fired pizzas as well. I picked their wooden nickel because I think they really nail the Scottish style with their rendition. Scottish style ales aren’t as mainstream as IPAs, sours, or barrel-aged brews but they do have their place and Backpocket makes a delicious one.

Coming in at 5.7%, this beer would go perfectly with one of their house made pizzas. The malt and nuttiness really stands out in this beer. You can find six packs throughout Eastern Iowa or if in the area, just check out the brewery, gets some beer cheese and then order a pie. Good stuff.

Food pairing of choice: One of Backpocket’s pizzas or a roasted chicken with some roasted mushrooms would be terrific!

**Narrowing down this field was very hard to do. I had some many different beers in my six-pack but after careful consideration and trying to go with some different styles this is what I came up with. There are some many great places to stop and try beers out throughout Iowa, and although I’m not as familiar with the western part of the state I know once you hit Davenport on your way to Des Moines you won’t have trouble finding a place to stop. All the beers listed above plus shoutouts to Johns Grocery, Benz Beverage Depot, Big Grove Brewery, 515 Brewery, Confluence, Exile, Court Avenue Brewery, Reds Alehouse, Johncy’s Liquor Store, and many more.

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Does my list come close to yours? I would love any feedback to start discussion on this topic. Beer culture in Iowa continues to change for the positive and the places above are reasons for that. Cheers!

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Exile Brewing Tap Takeover @ Cellar Peanut Pub, Oskaloosa, IA 11/15/13!

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cellarReceived the following correspondence from Betsy at the Cellar Peanut Pub in Oskaloosa, IA! Sounds like a fantastic time!

Hello! This is Betsy with The Cellar Peanut Pub in Oskaloosa. I exilewanted to let you know that Exile Brewing Company will be at The Cellar Peanut Pub for a tap takeover this Friday, November 15. On tap:

Ruthie
Gigi
Hannah
Oktoberfest (seasonal)
Rauchbier (seasonal)
Isabelle (seasonal)

Support Iowa beer and local establishments!

Founders Brewing Night @ Blackstone Nov. 21st!!!

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foundersCome one come all! Blackstone restaurant in Iowa City, IAwill be having a Founders Brewing tap takeover on Thursday, November 21st. The list of beers available is very impressive. The event begins @ 4:00 and they are tapping a KBS keg at 5!!! Hope to see everyone there, below is the announcement, thanks to Sam @Blackstone!

blackstone

 

 

List of beers:

1.       Dirty Bastard

2.       Harvest Ale

3.       Centennial

4.       All Day

5.       Red’s Rye

6.       Backwoods Bastard

7.       Breakfast Stout

8.       Curmudgeon

9.       Nitro Pale Ale

10.   Kentucky Breakfast Stout (WOOOO HOOOO!!!!)

It took some work on our reps part but she secured us 1 KBS!

Here are the details:

Thursday, Nov 21.

All will be tapped by 4:00, except KBS which we plan to tap at 5:00.

It is all open to the public, both dining room and bar sides.

Reps from Fleck and Founders will be here passing out beer schwag.

We will feature some sort of entree special as well that our kitchen is working up.

 

New to Shelves: Deschutes Chasin’ Freshies and Hop Trip

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hopBoth of these beers from Deschutes should be on your shelves or will be within the next few days! Here’s more on both beers from Deschutes’ website and beerpulse.com.

The highly celebrated Hop Trip has been enjoyed by Deschutes Brewery fans for nearly a decade and is once again offered in 12-ounce bottle 6-packs as part of the Bond Street Series lineup. Why the longevity for this particular brew? Not only does it taste fantastic, but there’s a great story. The brewery team rushes over to the Willamette Valley each year to pick, bag and load up fresh whole flower hops. They quickly return to Bend, Oregon and dump these freshly harvested jewels into the brew kettle. The result? A perfect pale ale with a uniquely citrus punch and fall spice flavor. 5.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV); 38 IBUs

Beeradvocate: 93
Ratebeer:        97

Chasin’ Freshies, dubbed after the ski town pastime of chasing fresh powder on the slopes, hit the scene last year with some well-carved turns. Rather than the heirloom Cascade hops of the 2012 version, the brewers changed things up for 2013 and feature the fresh and bold Amarillo hops in this IPA. Fresh hop beer lovers will appreciate the bold, juicy aroma and flavor that comes but once a year. 7.2% Alcohol by Volume (ABV); 65 IBUs

Beeradvocate: 84
Ratebeer:         88

New to Shelves: Deschutes Chasin' Freshies and Hop Trip

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hopBoth of these beers from Deschutes should be on your shelves or will be within the next few days! Here’s more on both beers from Deschutes’ website and beerpulse.com.

The highly celebrated Hop Trip has been enjoyed by Deschutes Brewery fans for nearly a decade and is once again offered in 12-ounce bottle 6-packs as part of the Bond Street Series lineup. Why the longevity for this particular brew? Not only does it taste fantastic, but there’s a great story. The brewery team rushes over to the Willamette Valley each year to pick, bag and load up fresh whole flower hops. They quickly return to Bend, Oregon and dump these freshly harvested jewels into the brew kettle. The result? A perfect pale ale with a uniquely citrus punch and fall spice flavor. 5.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV); 38 IBUs

Beeradvocate: 93
Ratebeer:        97

Chasin’ Freshies, dubbed after the ski town pastime of chasing fresh powder on the slopes, hit the scene last year with some well-carved turns. Rather than the heirloom Cascade hops of the 2012 version, the brewers changed things up for 2013 and feature the fresh and bold Amarillo hops in this IPA. Fresh hop beer lovers will appreciate the bold, juicy aroma and flavor that comes but once a year. 7.2% Alcohol by Volume (ABV); 65 IBUs

Beeradvocate: 84
Ratebeer:         88

A Trip(s) to Big Grove Brewery; Solon, IA

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big groveA 10 minute drive from the Baron’s house in Mount Vernon lies the  newest endeavor biggorvesignfrom the Swift family (Red’s Alehouse, Blackstone, etc) in Solon, IA, Big Grove Brewery. I’ve been there numerous times now as it has become my destination of choice. Take a right off of Highway 1 on main street in Solon and you will see Big Grove. Usually packed and the bartenders constantly draining the tap lines with wonderful beer, this place has become a hotbed really quick.

On my visits I’ve tried and enjoyed most of the beer that Big Grove makes on site. They also have a terrific lineup of guest taps featuring some the best craft breweries in the country. I’ve enjoyed their wheat, ipa, porter, and their Dirty Little Secret which is an American strong ale with a bit of raspberry; all very good. They are constantly brewing new beers so check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Grove-Brewery/623843234297773

I also usually end up drinking a few Toppling Goliath pseduoSue’s which they’ve had on tap on multiple occasions.

As far as food goes, this might be one of the best restaurants around. I’ve enjoyed and would order again the following:
*Deviled Eggs – yes deviled eggs.
*Korean style wings and regular buffalo – the Korean wings pack some subtle heat but are so flavorful and go well with an IPA.
*Potted Pig – liked a whipped pork pate – so good with mustard and pickles (and of course beer)
*Burger – juicy and delicious
*Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich – my go to. I alway order extra housemade pickles. This is the best chicken sandwich you will ever eat.
*Pulled pork sandwich – sweet with some heat. Awesome sandwich. big gorve
*Tator Tot Casserole – Amazing!
Mac and cheese – some of the best I’ve had. My kids love it as well.

The menu constantly changes with the seasons as they try do stay local and fresh which is greatly appreciated.

Bottom line: This place is a must try. The best thing going around the area.

New Iowa Beers Coming! Confluence, Millstream, Peace Tree

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downloadA lot of news on social media regarding some Iowa breweries and they all sound terrific! While roaming on twitter today I noticed a conversation with Confluence Brewing (www.confluencebrewing.com) announcing they will be brewing and releasing an IPA brewed with Mosaic hops! Not sure if this will make it out of the brewery to be sold elsewhere or not, but if it’s as good as their Des Moines IPA then we can expect a pretty delicious brew. Also, check out their new blog here: http://confluencebrewingblog.wordpress.com/

millstreamNext up, some exciting news from Millstream Brewing out of Amana. A barrel aging program sounds absolutely wonderful this time of year as nothing tastes better on a chilly Iowa evening than a barrel-aged brew. Three of their beers have been again in bourbon barrels and they will have special releases for each (see picture below). You will get barrel-aged versions of their Schokalade Bock, Shild Brau Amber, Back Road Stout.

Last but not least is an update from Peace Tree. They will be releasing 22 oz. bombers for the first time with their Templeton Red and their Imperial Stout! Can’t wait to get my hands on these, loved the red last time I had it!

Exciting times for some great Iowa breweries!

Southampton Publick House Beers hitting Eastern Iowa shelves?

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southamptonWhile visiting the Hy-Vee on Oakland Road in Cedar Rapids this past weekend, I noticed a six pack of Southampton Publick House beer sitting on the shelf in the walk-in cooler. I hadn’t heard of them coming to Iowa and so I asked the store manager and he confirmed that their beers will be making their way to Eastern Iowa shelves in the next few weeks. Here’s more info on Southampton Publick House beers (www.publick.com).

  • One of the most award-winning breweries in America— ranked in the top 20 for GABF medals won by a brewery in the last 10 years.
  • Excluding the big 4 breweries and chain brewpubs, Southampton is in the top 10 in medals won at the GABF in the last 10 years.
  • Awarded Top Brewpub in 2003 by Beer Advocate Magazine.
  • Ranked #8 Specialty Brewery in the World and 3 Top 50 Specialty Brews in America by RateBeer.com in 2004.

2013 Bells Expedition Stout on Eastern Iowa Shelves

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BellsAccording to Benz Beverage Depots’ facebook site, the 2013 Bells Expedition Stout is out and on Eastern Iowa Shelves. At Benz, it is selling at $16.99. I still think you can find the 2012 in select Hy-Vees throughout Eastern Iowa as well. Here’s more about Expedition Stout from Bells website:

The darkest beer we make; this Imperial stout contains double the malt and five times the hops of our Kalamazoo stout and is perfect for cellaring as its complex character will evolve over time. Available October-March.

Founders Backstage Series Brew for Winter: Sweet Repute

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sweetSweet Repute is the name of the new beer that Founders Brewing Company will be releasing this winter. It is a wheat wine aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. The following is courtesy of http://www.beerpulse.com:

Grand Rapids, MI) – Founders Brewing Co. will introduce Sweet Repute, a wheat wine aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels, this December to mark the eighth installment in the brewery’s popular Backstage Series. Like all Founders Backstage Series beers, Sweet Repute will be sold in 750mL bottles. It has a suggested retail price of $17.99–$19.99 per bottle.

The Founders brewing team painstakingly choreographed each layer of this beer’s characteristics, starting with a healthy wheat and roasted malt base and adding clean, fragrant hops. It’s one hundred percent barrel-aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels and bourbon barrels over the course of sixteen months, then blended using carefully calculated ratios for the ultimate final product. The resulting 13% ABV liquid pours a bright warm russet with a stubborn ivory head and an intoxicatingly sweet nutty aroma. Founders put Sweet Repute in a larger bottle with sharing in mind.

“We’re excited about this one,” said Co-Founder and Vice President of Brand & Education Dave Engbers. “Every sample we’ve pulled from the barrels down in the caves has been incredible.”

Sweet Repute will join the ranks of Founders’ world-class barrel-aged beers, such as Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS), Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS), Backwoods Bastard, Curmudgeon’s Better Half and many, many more taproom-only ales.

Founders’ Backstage Series is made up of boundary-pushing, experimental beers. The intent of the series is to take the diehard Founders fan experience to a wider audience—though all of the beers are still released in limited batches. Since its introduction in the summer of 2011, Founders’ Backstage Series beers have quickly become some of the most sought-after releases in the industry.

Sweet Repute will be released in limited quantities across Founders’ distribution footprint beginning on Monday, December 2, and will be available at the brewery’s taproom the same week. This will be the brewery’s last Backstage Series release in 2013, with more releases to come in 2014.