Coming to Shelves: Green Flash Porter, Boulevard Session, Crooked Stave, Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado, Lagunitas Sour

February 5, 2016February 5, 2016Leave a comment

Hoping to make my first trip to Quarter Barrel Arcade Brewery in Cedar Rapids this weekend and making a few pit stops at Lion Bridge and maybe a journey to Big Grove for a growler fill or 3. It should make for a great super bowl weekend. Some new beers will soon be gracing our shelves, some sound pretty unique and worth trying. Here we go:

cosmic *Green Flash Cosmic Ristretto – this is a baltic porter with Espresso beans and will become part of Green Flash’s new year-round lineup starting this month. It will be available in 22 oz bottles and clocks in at 8.2%. More on this brew from Green Flash:

Marvel at its rich black appearance with bruleed edges and mocha-colored beer foam. Breathe in its coffee aroma and sweet malts, and savor its smooth, espresso, chocolate flavor.

bully *Boulevard Frequent Flier Session IPA – Frequent Flier is the new name for their Pop-Up session IPA with a slight adjustment in the recipe along with new logo and its availability in cans. It checks in at 4.4% ABV.

*Crooked Stave – a ton of Crooked Stave releases upcoming. I’m not quite sure on their availability for us in Iowa but I will keep you posted with news on their releases. Lots of info on the releases of: Persica, Motif, L’Brett, Petite Sour, Salvador Cybies, Silly Cybies, Serenata Notturna, Hop Savant, Colorado Wild Sage, Surette, Nightmare On Brett at mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com here.

*Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado and Thai Chili Wahoo – two new beers from Ballast Point that sound interesting. First is Watermelon Dorado, a double IPA brewed with….you guessed it! Watermelon! It checks in at 10% and sounds pretty damn refreshing. More on this beer courtesy of Ballast Point:

This Double IPA is not one to back down from big flavors. Mash, kettle, and dry hopping blend to create a huge hop profile that is balanced with a blast of watermelon.

thai Thai Chili Wahoo is wit beer brewed with thai chili, lime and ginger and checks in at 4.5%. More on this beer from Ballast Point:

Our Thai Chili Wahoo is a favorite in our tasting rooms for its complex balance of ingredients. Citrus and spice have long been a part of our Wahoo White. In this edition, we added a dose of Thai chilies, even more head from ginger, and a counterpunch of lime. The flavors in this beer need to be experienced first-hand, so grab one and try it for yourself.

*Lagunitas Aunt Sally – last but not least is the beer I’m most looking forward to besides Crooked Stave. Aunt Sally from Lagunitas Brewing is a sour ale that is dry-hopped and comes in at 6.2%. For those wondering….I believe it’s a kettle sour…I’m still looking forward to it! Stay tuned for more on this brew!

**Anything I’m missing? Drop me a line @benmed15@yahoo.com. Love to hear from Iowa breweries as well as bars for upcoming events! Please let me know and I will post your info! Thanks!

Backpocket Brewery to open Backpocket Pilot Pub in Cedar Rapids in 2016

February 4, 2016February 4, 2016Leave a comment

The following press release comes from Backpocket Brewery:

Backpocket Brewery opening new Pilot Pub brewery in Cedar Rapids Coralville, Iowa

— Backpocket Brewing, the craft beer brewery in Coralville, Iowa, announced at Brrrfest on Saturday that they will be opening a new experimental brewery in Cedar Rapids this year. The second location, named Backpocket Pilot Pub, will be a small, fullservice brewery and pub located in the heart of Cedar Rapids. “We are excited to open a second brewery in the heart of Cedar Rapids,” cofounder and brewmaster Jake Simmons said. “The community of Cedar Rapids has advanced so far since the flood in 2008 and it makes sense for us to have a brewpub in such a bustling city so close to our home brewery.” At the Backpocket Pilot Pub, brewers will brew experimental and small batch beers that are not commonly brewed in Iowa. “In this experimental brewery we will have the opportunity to take more chances on styles and recipes that we don’t want to brew on as large of a scale that we would have to at the brewery in Coralville,” Mike Wing, Backpocket’s Head Brewer said. “With our new small batch brewery, it is our expectation that we will be able to quadruple the number of new beer releases we have each year. Who doesn’t love more beer?” The Backpocket Pilot Pub will open at 415 Third Street SE in Cedar Rapids, in the old Sokol building gymnasium space. The Backpocket team is working with developers now to renovate the space, which is currently under construction. Current plans consist of 28 foot tall ceilings, lofted seating areas, and even a stained glass mural of Prague in the Czech Republic. Backpocket Pilot Pub plans to be open in summer of this year. Learn more about the Backpocket Pilot Pub on the pub’s Facebook, Twitter, and webpage http://www.backpocketbrewing.com/pilotpub. This isn’t the first brewery the team at Backpocket Brewing Company has opened. The brewery itself was founded in 2009 at Old Man River Brewing Company in McGregor, Iowa, but quickly grew out of its home. As demand for craft beer in Iowa and the Midwest grew, the team decided to expand into their own space. In 2012, they opened Backpocket Brewing in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing. Backpocket beer can now be found in bars, restaurants, and stores across the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. For more information, visit backpocketbrewing.com.

Keg Stand Winter Brewfest Feb. 28th Taplist Update

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016Leave a comment

The Keg Stand in West Des Moines is going to be hosting Winter Brewfest on Sunday February 28th. The festival will be from 1-4 pm. Here’s more info, including an impressive updated tap list for this event:

Winter Brewfest returns Sunday, February 28th with expanded hours. This years event will once again be held at The Keg Stand from 1pm-4pm. This years new additions will include an outdoor heated tent, featuring cask beers, along with live entertainment and food trucks. Inside, find over 80 beers on draft and two full rooms of bottles for sampling. Ticket price includes a tasting glass, stocking cap, 32oz growler fill and much more. This is your chance to try many hard to find and vintage beers from all over the world. Beer list and entertainment will be annouced closer to event.

*Bring your own growler for a free 32oz. fill

*32oz growlers will be available for purchase

*Other growler sizes may be filled for additional charge

*Food is not included in ticket price

Lion Bridge to Start Distro to Des Moines Area

January 28, 2016January 28, 2016Leave a comment

News from Facebook today that Lion Bridge Brewery out of Cedar Rapids will start shipping their award-winning beers to Cedar Rapids in the coming weeks. No specific date announced but here’s the info I got from Lion Bridge:

We are looking to roll out 15-20 accounts initially and make sure we can keep up and expand if possible. Probably in Des Moines and surrounding areas, Ankeny and Ames. They will be getting Work Comp, Disaster at Meux, Kölsch, some of the saisons and some of the barrel-aged beers. We are dialing in a more concise line up for 2016 with seasonals and specialties which we haven’t released yet.

We’ve been cautious with growth and wanted to make sure we can supply our home market and taproom before branching out. We are now ready to get on at some bars and restaurants outside of Eastern Iowa.

Awesome news for Des Moines! Drink it up folks!

Surly Tap Takeover @Mt. Vernon Rd. Hy-Vee; Cedar Rapids Jan. 29th

January 27, 2016January 27, 2016Leave a comment

Are you ready to get SURLY!! This Friday January 29^th in our Market Grille, Surly Brewing Company will be taking over all of our tap lines!! This is going to be an awesome event that you will not want to miss!! We will be featuring a great variety of Surly brews, including Furious, Over Rated!, Bender, Coffee Bender, Hell Lager, Doom Tree, CynicAle, as well as 2 Special Release Surly Beers!! To go along with all of these amazing brews, our very own Pit Master, Smokin Shawn will be serving up some truly mind blowing grub!! He will be offering Smoked Chicken Wings, Pork belly Nachos, Ribs, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Beef Brisket Sandwiches, as well as Carolina Pork Loin Sandwiches! Shawn and our Chefs also made some amazing sauces using Surly Brews. For desert we are offering a NY Colossal Cheese Cake with Surly Bender Chocolate Raspberry Chipotle Sauce!! And if all of that was not enough, there will be fantastic music from Blues Musician Kevin BF Burt!! Come join in all of the fun this Friday from 5-10pm in our Market Grille. Hope to see all of you there!!

Jolly Pumpkin Beer Dinner @Pullman Diner set for March 9th

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016Leave a comment

pullman The following comes from Pullman Bar and Diner’s newsletter:

On Wednesday, March 9th Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales will be taking over Pullman’s tap line. All ten of them. We’ll be hosting a six-plus course beer dinner that night. Jolly Pumpkin’s wonderfully complex and sometimes tart beers are a perfect match for a variety of dishes.

We’ll have many of your favorites, including Luciernarga, Calabaza Blanca, Fuego Del Otono, and Oro de Calabaza. We’ll also be featuring some more limited brews, like La Roja du Kriek, Rojazilla, and Forgotten Tales of the Last Gypsy.

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales has long been known for its quality brews. In September, it took home three first-place medals at the Hong Kong International Beer Awards, out of over 600 entries. We are so excited to partner up with them for this dinner, and we hope you can join us.

Cocktail hour will begin at 5:30 pm, with dinner to follow at 6:00 pm. Stop in or call us today at 319-338-1808 for more information or to make reservations!

New Beers Coming from Tallgrass Brewing

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016Leave a comment

The following comes from an email from Tallgrass Brewing company. It looks like a pretty big portfolio change for the brewery out of Manhattan, KS. Some interesting and tasty sounding beers are hitting their lineup in 2016. Here they are:

The Grizz Imperial IPA

Many years ago, we adopted an informal motto at Tallgrass: If you’re going to be a bear, be a grizz. Put simply, it means go big.

When Buffalo Sweat was in development stages in 2008, “being a Grizz” meant doubling the amount of lactose and roasted malt we put into the recipe, and suddenly the beer took its proper form. (To date, it’s our best-selling beer.)

When we decided to switch from bottles to cans in late 2009, “being a Grizz” meant going all-in with 16 oz. cans for our core brands.

And when we decided our lead entry in our 2016 Explorer Series would be an Imperial IPA, there was only one name for it: The Grizz. This bear comes clawing in at 9.5% and roars with fierce hop character from Cascade, Citra, El Dorado and Magnum hops. It’s the very embodiment of what it means to be a grizz.

Top Rope IPA

Who had better face paint — The Ultimate Warrior, or Sting? What’s the best Ric Flair quip of all time? Which wrestler had the most iconic submission move?

When we weren’t experimenting with hop combinations and tasting test batches, we asked ourselves these important questions while developing Top Rope, our new IPA that pays homage to the colorful, character-filled world of 1980s and 1990s professional wrestling.

Like a high-flying leap from the turnbuckle to deliver a finishing move, Top Rope delivers strong hop punch – and finesse – with Columbus, Chinook, Cascade, Amarillo and Bravo hops. Weighing in at 6.0% ABV and 80 IBUs, Top Rope is an IPA that’ll call you back to the ring for multiple rematches.

Songbird Saison

Tart and refreshing with citrus notes, Songbird is a Belgian-style saison that takes flight after it’s dry-hopped with Centennial hops. Landing at 4.8% with a light, dry finish, Songbird Saison is great for fans of session beers. As a beer with crisp, delicate flavors, Songbird Saison boasts a clean, simple look to match.

Coming to Shelves: Prairie, Ballast Point, Lips of Faith, Mikkeller

January 19, 2016January 19, 2016Leave a comment

prairie artisan ales Urging everyone who can make it to get to Lion Bridge for Barrel-Aged January. So many great beers are being pumped out by Quinton and crew! Also, Buster from Big Grove sounds like it’s going to make its anticipated return at the end of the month. Add the opening of Quarter Barrel and Iowa City Brewlab to the mix and things are looking good for Eastern Iowa breweries. Onto the news:

(courtesy of Prairie’s website)
*Prairie:

–Ape Snake –is a dark, dry hopped farmhouse ale. We’ve taken our dark farmhouse base and dry hopped it with Falconer’s Flight and Centennial hops. The combination of yeast and hops create an explosion of flavors, and this beer will continue to develop as it ages. Check it out in 500ml bottles and on draft at your favorite restaurants and bars!

–Barrel-Aged Bomb! –is the result of our world famous imperial stout, Bomb!, that was tucked away in wooden barrels for several months. Vanilla and caramel notes balance the big flavors from the whiskey barrels and come together for an extremely complex yet balanced experience. This beer will be available in 12oz bottles.

(courtesy of mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com)

*Mikkeller – Mikkeller will be releasing 3 beers that SHOULD hit our market.

-Stick in the Ear – A west-coast style IPA that checks in at 6.5% ABV.

–Mastodon Mother Puncher – an IPA that is made with passionfruit and checks in at 6.6% ABV.

–Recipe 1000 – is an ale aged in Chardonnay barrels and comes in at 9%

*New Belgium Lips of Faith Golden Ale – is a collaboration with Belgium’s Hof Ten Dormaal and is brewed with sunflower seeds and wild carrot root. An interesting sounding brew to say the least. Here’s more on this one courtesy of beerstreetjournal.com:

Hof Ten Dormal is a farmhouse brewery nestled in the countryside of Tildonk, Belgium. Part of the brewery was damaged by fire in 2014. In a “New” Belgium to “real” Belgium collaboration, the two breweries are creating this upcoming Lips of Faith offering, Golden Ale.

Described as a springtime offering, Golden Ale is brewed with new Mosaic, and old (read: traditional) Saaz hops. The breweries malted sunflower seeds, and nuanced this beer with wild carrot herbs. You didn’t think this was going to be just a regular old golden ale did you?

A deliciously uncommon springtime beer, our Golden Ale brewed with Hof Ten Dorsal blends modern Mosaic hops and malted sunflower seeds with Old World ingredients such as Saaz hops, spelt, and wild carrot herbs. It’s New and Old Belgium together in a bottle.

New Belgium Lips of Faith Golden Ale will be a draft, and 12 ounce bottle offering (4 packs for the first time).

Style:Golden Ale (w/ Sunflower Seeds, Wild Carrot Herbs)
Hops: Mosaic, Saaz

Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft
Release: TBA

7% ABV

*Ballast Point Orange Vanilla Fathom – this is an IPL base style with orange and vanilla idea. The idea is to get an orange creamsicle flavor. It will be available in 22 oz bombers and possibly on tap. Here’s more courtesy of Ballast Point:

Our Orange Vanilla Fathom India-Style Pale Lager continues our quest for exploration. The piney and citrus hop aromas of our India-Style Pale Lager combine with sweet orange and creamy vanilla – while staying true to classic lagering techniques. Brewed with a touch of nostalgia, it may remind you of a childhood treat, but this one is just for adults.

*Know of anything new hitting our shelves soon? Drop me an email @benmed15@yahoo.com or post a comment. Thanks!

Baron’s Best of 2015: The Final Chapter

January 12, 2016January 12, 2016Leave a comment

best of Let’s finish this drug out list off once and for all. With 2015 in the books, 2016 is starting out on a great foot as Lion Bridge’s Barrel-aged January has kicked off and the tapping of Royal Wee is a day away (Wed. 13th). Buster from Big Grove is getting released at the end of the month and Quarter Barrel has opened their doors. Lots of great things in store for Iowa in 2016.

*Big Grove Brewery Desperate Measures – this golden sour ale aged in Opus One wine barrels was released along the same time that Richard the Whale was for Big Grove. A well balanced sour that gives you that sour pucker but some fruit sweetness and bit of barrel that help this beer make the list. Would love this for a summer brew too!

*Alpine Nelson – I never had the opportunity to try any Alpine beers prior to Green Flash acquiring them but I’m guessing that Nelson couldn’t have been much better than what we got in bottles…I could be wrong but I really enjoyed this beer. The Nelson Sauvin hop shines in this beer and goes perfectly with the rye malt. Lots of flavor, excellent balance, and extremely drinkable!

*Lagunitas Born Yesterday – bottled and shipped the very same day? Yes, Lagunitas pulls this one off and the freshness of this beer really showed. Citrus and tropical fruits shine in this 6.5% beer and if it was readily available this would always be in my fridge. I hope Lagunitas releases this one again….so good.

*Lion Bridge Brewery Yard Sale – so happy to see this beer back on tap at Lion Bridge as another citra hop forward brew makes the list. I had this for the 1st time back in May and remember getting two growlers filled after my first taste. Such a great brew.

*515 Brewing The Basil Protocol – I’m a sucker for a good farmhouse/saison which this beer is, but I admittedly am not the biggest fan of basil. I like it ok, just not a bunch, so when I tried this beer I went in thinking I wouldn’t dig it. I was totally wrong. The basil is there but it meshes so well with the cucumber and pepperiness of the saison to make a wonderfully refreshing beer. Not to mention enjoying it when it was 100 degrees outside…another perfect summertime beer!

*Firetrucker Tropical Burn – might be one of the hottest (popular) beers made in Iowa right now and rightfully so. Huge mango and tropical fruits on the nose and on the palate. Galaxy and citra with fresh mangoes makes this a well-balanced double IPA. Very drinkable, but be aware of that 9.1% ABV.

*Big Grove 15 Minuteman – part of the “Citra Triad” release from Big Grove. 15 Minuteman once again showcases the citra hop. Super smooth and refreshing, this is another beer that can get you into trouble because of it’s drinkability. Minuteman and Trident made for a fun couple trips to Big Grove over the holidays!

*Bells 30th Anniversary Stout – I really loved this beer. It wasn’t barrel-aged but man, this was packed with flavor. Tons of dark chocolate, some dark fruit, and as with many stouts got better as it warmed. I wish I would have the restraint to have aged a couple but I saw them, salivated, drank them.

*Big Grove/3rd Base Que Amarillo – am I homer for Iowa beers or what? That wasn’t the intention but it’s hard not to be when so many of our local brewers are kicking out great beers and Que Amarillo is one that stood out to me. I could be wrong, but I believe this was brewed with Jim at 3rd Base Brewery…feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. A Berliner-weisse that is hopped to high hell with Amarillo hops. If you don’t like your Berliner-Weisses’ too sour, this one’s for you. Tasty and refreshing. Maybe if I ask Bill and Jim nicely they will keep brewing it?

*Boulevard The Calling – Boulevard did a major overhaul of their portofolio in 2015 and some where hits and some not so much in my opinion. One beer that they did a great job on was The Calling. I admittedly am not a huge fan of their Single-Wide IPA so when I saw that they were adding a double IPA to their Smokestack 4 pack series I was excited to try it. Oranges and pineapple with a bit pine round out this heavily hopped double.

*Central Waters Space Ghost – an imperial stout that is brewed with ghost peppers. It sounds like a one and done beer as some of these can be overwhelming with heat, but this is beautifully balanced and gives you just enough heat but not overpowering to go along with the richness from the stout.

*Big Grove Famine – I got to pour for Big Grove at an famiine event in Dubuque last spring. I got to pour Arms Race, IPA, Que Sera, and….FAMINE! What a treat that was. Introducing a community to this beer and to Big Grove was exciting and I would love to do it again. When people asked what it tasted like, Collin (fellow pourer) and I had to take a drink just to remind ourselves how good it was. Part of the Hopocolaypse series this past Spring. I hope to see a return this year as well!