Review: Firetrucker Mole Grail

January 29, 2018January 31, 2018Leave a comment

Thanks to sLim for hooking me up with a growler of this brew. One of Firetrucker’s latest releases is going to come at the cinnamon and spice beer lovers out there. If you dig Stone’s Xocoveza then this is a beer you can get behind.

Firetrucker’s Mole Grail is an imperial stout that is brewed with cocoa, cinnamon, and ancho and pasilia peppers. Perfect for a chilly Iowa evening and coming in at 8% it can warm you up quick.

Firetrucker Molé Grail.jpg

A bit thin on the body and the chiles are extremely subtle compared to some beers of this style, so if you’re hoping for a lot of spice, probably won’t get it here but the flavor the cocoa and cinnamon is spot on. Firetrucker has a good one here. Expect to see it on tap in the next few weeks or sooner at the Tin Roost in North Liberty, Need Pizza in Cedar Rapids, and Short’s Burger and Shine in downtown Iowa City.

Marquee Pizza Presents: Tap that Cask Up! Brrr Fest Eve

January 25, 2018January 25, 2018Leave a comment

maquee Marquee Pizza in the Iowa River Landing in Coralville will be hosting a great event Friday January 26 starting at 7:00 p.m. If you’re in the area for Brrr Fest the following day you’ll want to make sure to stop by. No cover, just lots of great beer. Here’s what beers will be available:

Event Details

Friday 1.26.18

7pm

Casks –

Madhouse

Cask – Maple VIP

Style – Maple barrel aged vanilla imperial porter

Lion Bridge

Cask – XXXX Mild with Chocolate

Style – Bourbon and rye barrel aged English mild ale w/chocolate

Big Grove

Cask – Minuteman IPA w/Citra & Blood Orange

Style – Imperial IPA

Exile

Cask – Coffee Vanilla Jesus on a Forklift

Style – Horizon Line Coffee & vanilla infused Rye barrel aged Stout

Reunion

Cask – Lemon & Lime IPA

Style – IPA with lemon, lime and additional simcoe hops

Barntown

Cask – Field of Dreams

Style – IPA w/ orange peel & lemongrass

Fox

Cask – Aronia Berry Hefeweizen

Style – Berry/Rose Hefeweizen

Toppling Goliath

Cask – IPA

Style – IPA

Also – We will open at 9am on Saturday for Brrr Fest with breakfast pizza and tapping some limited kegs throughout the day but starting with

9am – Pulpit Rock Stink Juice

Jester King Mad Meg

Barntown – a new, unamed IPA dry hopped with citra, simcoe, & jarrylo

Crooked Stave Wild Ales, Evil Twin BA Stout, and more limited release kegs tapped throughout the day – will announce beers on Instagram story as tapped….look out for a end of brrr fest keg

@marqueepizzeria

Misc – no tickets required

Buster is Coming!

January 24, 2018January 24, 20181 Comment

triple ipa.jpg No, this isn’t a reference to Arrested Development, although Buster was a funny ass character. But, Big Grove is releasing their triple ipa this Friday with a few accounts getting kegs and both Big Grove locations selling 22 oz. bombers of this hoppy greatness. Ok, so the deets on this monster are this:

*11:00 a.m. tapping at both locations and at these locations:

Cedar Rapids/Monticello
*Need Pizza
*Bricks Bar and Grill
*Jitney Wine Bar

Iowa City/Coralville/North Liberty
*The Mill
*Mosleys
*Blackstone
*Reds Alehouse
*30hop
*Pullman
*Shakespeares
*Club 76
*Jitney Wine Bar

Des Moines Area
*El Bait Shop
*Iowa Taproom
*Keg Stand
*Cellar Peanut Pub (Pella)
*BeerStyles

*22 oz bombers are for sale at both locations

*Distro for bombers hits market.

Surly Gives a Damn Event: Jan. 27th, Bur Oak Land Trust; Iowa City, IA!

January 12, 2018January 12, 2018Leave a comment

If you can give a helping hand, Surly Gives a Damn will be at Bur Oak Land Trust in Iowa City on Saturday January 27th from 9-11:30 a.m. Do a little work and then head to the local watering hole for some free beers. Here are the deets:

The Details:

Join Surly Gives A Damn on Saturday, January 27th from 9:00am-11:30am to gather and burn excess brush with Bur Oak Land Trust. Afterwards we’ll head to a local watering hole for a FREE Surly beer. Join us and do some good!

When: Saturday, January 27th from 9:00am-11:30am, with a free Surly beer to follow

Where: 1201 N Dodge St Iowa City, IA 52245

The link to the main Surly Gives a Damn page can be found here:

http://surlybrewing.com/surly– gives-a-damn/

The direct link to the sign-up for this event can be found here (this can also be accessed from the main SGAD page):

https://goo.gl/forms/MnjDb7DgsLLTMvlp1

Lion Bridge Barrel Aged January continues with Single Barrel Oud Bruin!

January 9, 2018Leave a comment

Barrel-aged January at Lion Bridge Brewing company continues this week as they release their single barrel Oud Bruin. That’s not all from Lion Bridge this week as they also have some delicious sounding Coconut Imperial Brown Ale that will be tapped this Friday! I’m hoping to stop by this Sunday, so if you’re there give me a shout! Here’s more from Lion Bridge for this week:

The focus of week 1 was malt. Rich and lip-smacking maltiness. We hope you made it in to try the Mole XXXX. It was a delicious, nutritious?, spicy beer, and it sold out in a few hours. XXXX Mild and Eis Mild are still around if you weren’t able to make it in. Also unique and amazingly malty beers and made in slightly larger quantities.

This week we start off on the other end of the spectrum…acidity. We dabbled in an Oud Bruin (Flemish Style Sour Brown Ale) in 2017 which was really nice, but I dare say that with this 2018 version we are almost near perfection. In September 2016, we managed to score some fruited whiskey barrels from a guy who knows a guy who knows a gal, that already had a plethora of beautiful yeast and bacteria stuck in their tiny wooden pores. We brewed a 20bbl batch of our Oud Bruin base beer, filled these magic barrels, and waited…and waited…and waited. November 2017 we were like, “Hey, let’s see what we got.” And what we got was a “LET’S HI-FIVE THIS IS AMAZING!!” transformation. Cherry pie cherries, chocolate, bright acidity and loveliness just loveliness. We will eventually blend all the barrels together to make a bottled version, but we chose a barrel we especially loved to present it, unblended, as part of Barrel-Aged January 2018. We hope you enjoy Barrel #354.

We will have live music by Justin Goodchild this fine eve from 6-8pm.

Friday, 1/12 – In kind of a last minute epiphany, we decided not to empty every Wild Turkey Barrel of our Gobble Wobble. We saved 2 barrels with the idea that they were destined to become our Coconut Imperial Brown Ale. And guess what…they have become that. Ya, I know…pretty pretty exciting. The beer had a couple more months in the Wild Turkey barrels to smooth a bit more and soak up some booze, and then we blended it with a lot of toasted coconut. The result is a harmonious beverage that melds barrel and beer and coconut and longing for for warmer months and coziness with winter shelter. If acidity and “sour” beers ain’t your thing, don’t stray too far. On Friday, this beer will give you a warm hug.

Sunday 1/14 – We will pour a super limited 5 gallons of a coffee version of the liquid hug described above. We open at 11am!

And, as mentioned in the header…We are now opening for Lunch on Friday (11am), and 11am on Saturday and Sunday as well. You can now stop pacing about and get yourself to Lion Bridge earlier to get your Barrel-Aged January fix.

Dogfish Head coming to Iowa in February

January 2, 2018January 2, 2018Leave a comment

Dogfish Head, one of the most well-known brewery names in the country, will be making their way to Iowa shelves in February. I’m not sure on the portfolio that they will be bringing to Iowa when they hit but it will be with Johnson Brothers. I’ll pass along any more info when I get it. Until then, check out Dogfish’s 2018 lineup!

A Stop at Barn Town Brewery…Iowa’s Best New Brewery

January 2, 2018January 2, 20181 Comment

2017 brought many great things to the Iowa beer scene. More beers on our shelves, expansion of TG and Big Grove, brewers brewing some of best beers in the midwest, and also the introduction of some new breweries in Iowa. One of the newest breweries is no secret as their beers have been all over social media and with their slow but steady process of getting their beers on Eastern Iowa lines, more and more Iowans have been able to enjoy them. The brewery, obviously, is Barn Town.

I’ve had a few of their beers on tap at 30hop and Tin Roost but finally got to make a quick stop at the brewery itself as I was passing through Des Moines. A very easy trip right off of I-80 in a newer developed area that is very close to Jordan Creek Mall for any shopping aficionados, (beer helps shopping), Barn Town was the perfect pit stop after a long ride from Colorado. College Football games on their many TVs, a shuffleboard table against the back wall, and most important for my family is that it is kid friendly.

So I decided to do a sampler of 4 and enjoyed the 2 stouts and berliner-weisse I had but the Hop Skewer really stuck out to me so I got a regular draw of that. A murky juice bomb of an IPA that leaves you wanting another glass. Barn Town did a great job with this beer, good enough for me to get a crowler to take home.

barn town.jpg

Barn Town’s menu is pretty unique. Some great sounding sandwiches, burgers, sides, and more. My wife decided on the crab rangoon chicken sandwich with is exactly what it sounds like. Fried chicken with a rangoon/cream cheese spread, chili sauce and wontons. It was very tasty, something I would order again. What did my fat ass order? Oh, just the Poutine burger… two patties, covered with melted cheese and gravy and served over fries..you know..the lighter fare. It was delicious, plus their ranch that they serve with the fries is very good.

So many good things happening in the Iowa beer world and Barn Town has just added to it. The Des Moines area has a great thing going with breweries like Barn Town, 515, Firetrucker, Confluence, Exile and also the beer bars; El Bait, Iowa Taproom, Keg Stand, etc. A 2 hour trip to Des Moines needs to happen more often for myself, although I’m very content with my local offerings, it’s nice to see what’s going on elsewhere in the state.

Best of Iowa Beers (Part 1 of 2)

December 13, 2017December 13, 2017Leave a comment

beerbaron With another year coming to an end it’s time to get to the “Best of” Iowa beers in 2017. It was a terrific year for our state and this year for my list (and opinions) I’ve done just strictly Iowa brewed beers whereas in the past I did beers that are on Eastern Iowa shelves along with Iowa beers. To get the list down to 10 was difficult and I had to drink many beers to get through such a dilemma.

Now, I must say, I haven’t been able to get to Central and Western Iowa as much as I would have liked so you will see this list filled predominantly with beers brewed in Eastern Iowa. I wish I could get more or any 515, Barn Town, Marto, etc…but it’s not in the cards. Hopefully with the new year we see some more Iowa beers from Central and Western Iowa trickle into our tap lines. So, once again, I just want to note that there are MANY beers I haven’t tried, I don’t want to cause I shit storm (RIP Lahey), but hopefully the new year brings me new beer.

Alright, my criteria:
1. It has to be a beer I haven’t had before.
2. Seasonal and annual releases may fluctuate in ingredients but I do not count them if I have had it the previous year.
3. Iowa brewed only

Without further ado, here is part one of two, in no particular order of the best Iowa beers in 2017 (according to me).

**Toppling Goliath – Fire, Skulls, and Money – I was deciding between this and Supa Sumo and the deciding factor was how much of this beer I’ve bought. Price was a little steeper than some TG releases but worth it for this brew. I believe this was their take/rendition of a West Coast style IPA. I found it to be less bitter than many west coast styles with an excellent citra punch. Could easily have two of this brewin a sitting. I’ve seen some bottles around yet and had one last weekend. Tastes great, go grab some!
The Deets:

7% ABV
Inspired by a trip to the West Coast, designed to capture the wild spirit of adventure and brewed to be enjoyed with friends. This rich IPA is for those with wanderlust in their heart and fire in their eyes. Join our Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy and Nelson Hops on a journey to the bottom of your glass

**SingleSpeed Coconut Migration – My beer of the summer. The first time I had it was sample at Need Pizza, my wife got a whole pint but I was a bit apprehensive, wasn’t sure the pina colada thing would fly in an IPA. Took a sip…was hooked. Sought it out all summer and ended up back and Need and the Map Room quite often hammering a few of these. Give me this poolside or beachside and I’m in heaven. I’m not sure if this is year round or not but I’ve been seeing it a little more often. If you dig Pina Coladas and you’re a hophead, this is the beer for you.
The Deets:

7.4% ABV

75 IBU
American Double IPA, rested on toasted coconut
A Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. (Decorah, IA) / SingleSpeed Brewing Co. Collaboration Brewing with the guys from Pulpit Rock is like taking a vacation. This time around our destination is the tropics. If you like Piña Coladas and/or getting caught in the rain you’re probably gonna be feeling this beer. If you don’t like either of those things, well that sucks for you. We still recommend ordering one.

**Big Grove Jean Luc Richard – The first time I had this I thought maybe the setting of the event I was at played into how much I loved it, and it may have a bit, but I’ve had since the Kroul Farm’s dinner and it is still a spectacular beer. Like many barrel-aged stouts, the flavor in this one shines as it warms and the creme brulee flavors take shape even more. Is it considered “dick swinging” if I brag about how I’m the number 1 drinker of this brew on untappd, or is that just a pathetic brag? Oh well. Not sure how often Big Grove will be kicking this bad boy out, but if you see, go after it!
The Deets:

10.5% ABV
Barrel aged imperial stout with vanilla beans, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Inspired by crème brûlèe.

**Lion Bridge Dangler – another awesome Iowa brewed IPA made it’s debut this past summer and was a hit with many. Lower on the ABV than some IPAs, which is not a bad thing, made for an extremely drinkable IPA with all the tropical and citrus flavors you expect from a great IPA. Lion Bridge continues to make excellent beers in many different styles. One of my favorite places to go for a drink and bite to eat in Eastern Iowa. Also, their nachos and fries with the lemon aioli are fantastic.
The Deets:

5.9%
Pair Mosaic, Simcoe, and Idaho 7 hops with a fruit-forward yeast and a malt profile full of wheat and oats, and the result is a juice bomb full of creamy mango and orange flavors.

**Kickshaw Vidi – Even though Bill has moved on to other things (fingers crossed he brews again), this beer blows me away every time I have it. Bottles may not have strayed too far away from Eastern Iowa, I’m happily sitting on a few, but if you come across one, you need to give it a try. Of course, it’s not an IPA or barrel-aged stout, but a wonderful golden ale/saison with greatness from the brett. You like sours and saisons, then you would enjoy this.

Alright, there’s the first five. Five more to come next week. I would love to know your favorites of the year! Cheers to all the Iowa breweries and brewers out there; your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated!

Great Divide 2018 Release Calendar

December 11, 2017December 11, 2017Leave a comment

Winestyles Iowa River Landing Hosting Brrr Fest Blowout Sale and Madhouse Tap Takeover Jan. 26th!

December 7, 2017Leave a comment

Brrr Fest weekend gets even better as the Iowa River Landing Winestyles location is hosting a Madhouse Brewing tap takeover Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th during Brrr Fest weekend! Here are the deets courtesy of Winestyles Facebook page:

To help celebrate the BrrrFest Awesomeness, we will be having a 2 dayMadhouse Brewing Company Tap Takeover & BrrrFest blowout sale, Friday and Saturday:

10% off all Beer Sales (15% off for Beer Club members)

25% off a large selection of Beers!!

$2 off all Draws

Madhouse Tap Takeover Featuring:

Freedom Toast
New Release: Gin barrel-aged sour with juniper berries (yet to be named)
New Release: New England IPA (yet to be named)
Honey Pilsner
Hopburst IPA
Monk Town

We will also have some very special beer surprises available for purchase.

madhouse