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Exile Brewing Raspberry Bohemian Release Set for Sept. 25th!

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Following their very popular Cherry Bohemian release, Exile Brewing Company out of Des Moines will be releasing Raspberry Bohemian. Here’s the information on this release courtesy of Exile’s Facebook page:

The Raspberry Bohemian release is set for Friday, September 25th, at the brewery!! This is the first official release of our Bohemian Fruit Revue, a series of off-beat sours with enlightened fruit. The Raspberry Bohemian release will coincide with our 3-year anniversary, and to celebrate the occasion, we will offer our Anniversary package, consisting of:

• One 4-pack of The Raspberry Bohemian
• One limited edition Anniversary tulip glass
• One free beer during pickup

Pickup will be Friday, Sep. 25th, between 3:30 and 5:30 pm, you must arrive during this time period. Cost of the Anniversary package is $20 and is available for pre-purchase at the brewery starting today. There are limited amounts of this Anniversary package available. Pre-purchase is available on a first come, first serve basis. The next release in The Bohemian Fruit Revue will be The Cherry Bohemian, scheduled for December 2015.

‪#‎enjoyyourexile‬

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3 New Schalfly Beers Coming: Grapefruit IPA, Noble Lager, Expo IPA

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schaflySchlafly will be releasing 3 new beers, 2 of which will be a part of their year-round lineup, and the Noble Lager will be in rotation for the lager series. With the success of Tasmanian IPA and American IPA Schafly continues to impress with their ipa releases and if you’re a fan of Sculpin’s Grapefruit Sclupin I’m guessing the grapefruit IPA release will make you happy. Thanks to beeradvocate member Bottlecaps80 and thewineandcheeseplace.blogspot.com here’s more info on these 3 new releases. Stay tuned on exact release dates for these 3 beers.

grapefruitGrapefruit IPA:

Schlafly Grapefruit IPA is all about the delight of citrus, using real grapefruit as well as citrusy aromatic hops to create a delightful refreshing IPA experience.  Available year round

Noble Lager:noble later

Schlafly Noble Lager has a full-bodied malt character with the perfect balance of hop bitterness and a floral aroma, creating an exceptional example of the classic traditional lager that’s rich, slightly sweet, crisp and clean.  Part of our rotating lager series.

schlafly expo

Expo IPA:

Schlafly Expo IPA delivers the best of all worlds with a fusion of global ingredients from the foremost sources to create a harmoniously delicious world class ale.  Available year round.

Sierra Nevada Releases Beer Camp 2016 Info

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beer campThis year Sierra Nevada is teaming up with 30 breweries across to country to come up with their popular Beer Camp collaboration 12 pack. No information yet on the style of beers that will be produced but below is a list of breweries who will be in on the collaboration. Stay tuned for the list of beers in the coming months. Here’s more from Sierra Nevada:

COLLABORATION 12-PACK

Inspired by rock ‘n’ roll Super Groups, we’re teaming up with 30 talented breweries to make six Super Groups of our own. Sierra Nevada, along with these bands of brewers, will create an all-new mixed pack of beers that showcases the art, spirit and attitude of American craft beer.

NORCAL

  • Bear Republic Brewing Co.
    Healdsburg, CA
  • Maui Brewing Co.
    Maui, HI
  • Faction Brewing Co.
    Alameda, CA
  • Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery
    San Francisco, CA
  • Mad River Brewing Co.
    Blue Lake, CA
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
    Chico, CA

SOUTHWEST

  • Beachwood BBQ & Brewing
    Long Beach, CA
  • Port Brewing Co./The Lost Abbey
    San Marcos, CA
  • Bagby Beer Co.
    Oceanside, CA
  • Societe Brewing Co.
    San Diego, CA
  • Smog City Brewing Co.
    Torrance, CA
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
    Chico, CA

PACIFIC NW & ROCKIES

  • Bale Breaker Brewing Co.
    Yakima, WA
  • Barley Brown’s Beer
    Baker City, OR
  • Melvin Brewing Co.
    Jackson Hole, WY
  • Black Raven Brewing Co.
    Redmond, WA
  • Odell Brewing Co.
    Fort Collins, CO
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
    Chico, CA

MIDWEST

  • August Schell Brewing Co.
    New Ulm, MN
  • Dark Horse Brewing Co.
    Marshall, MI
  • Sun King Brewery
    Indianapolis, IN
  • Perennial Artisan Ales
    St. Louis, MO
  • Half Acre Beer Co.
    Chicago, IL
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
    Mills River, NC

NORTHEAST & MID-ATLANTIC

  • Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
    Milton, DE
  • Devils Backbone Brewing Co.
    Roseland, VA
  • Lawson’s Finest Liquids
    Alameda, CA
  • Stoudts Brewing Co.
    Adamstown, PA
  • Trillium Brewing Co.
    Boston, MA
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
    Mills River, NC

SOUTHEAST

  • Funky Buddha Brewery
    Oakland Park, FL
  • Wicked Weed Brewing
    Asheville, NC
  • Austin Beerworks
    Austin, TX
  • Bayou Teche Brewing
    Arnaudville, LA
  • Creature Comforts Brewing Co.
    Athens, GA
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
    Mills River, NC

Big Grove Brewery Beer Dinner Course Menu release info:

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big groveSo far they’ve released two courses that will be available during their Sour Beer Dinner set for Monday, September 14th. The following is courtesy of Big Grove’s Facebook page. I’ll keep posting updates as they become available. My mouth is watering already:

Big Grove Sour Dinner, Course 1 (in three parts):

Welcome beer – Kroul’s Progeny (Raspberry 2013).

1. Green tomato cured scallop ceviche, textures of ripe tomato, parmesan broth.
2. Sweet corn soup, goat cheese creme fraiche, house bacon, chive.
3. Amberjack crudo with watermelon, jalapeño, olive oil, cilantro fleur de sel.

Paired with Big Grove Desperate Measures Strong Golden Sour.

September 14, Big Grove Sour Dinner, Course 2:

Drie Fonteinen Intense Red

Foie Gras terrine, cherry gelee, bourbon caviar, luxardo cherry, brown butter, hazelnut, and house-made brioche.

September 14, Big Grove Sour Dinner, Course 3:

Crooked Stave St. Bretta Pomelo

Smoked red snapper, summer squash, green grapes, toasted seeds, cucumber gazpacho anduluz.

September 14, Big Grove Sour Dinner, Course 4:

Drie Fonteinen Golden Blend

Olive oil poached halibut cheek, egg yolk pasta, roasted piquillo peppers, mussels, chorizo, preserved lemon, saffron mussel broth, oregano.

September 14, Big Grove Sour Dinner, Course 5:

Drie Fonteinen Hommage

Duo of duck; seared breast, crispy confit leg, roasted and pickled beets, ancho chile, blackberry, basil.

3 more Pumpkin Beers on Their Way to Shelves

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rogueLove ’em or hate ’em, more are on the way! 3 more pumpkin beers will be joining the likes of O’Fallon, Schlafly, and Sam Adams, and New Holland on our shelves. Rogue’s Pumpkin Patch Ale, New Belgium’s Pumpkick, and the unique Boulevard Funky Pumpkin will be hitting Eastern Iowa shelves soon! Here’s more on each of these offerings:

Rogue Pumpkin Patch:

Independence, Ore., September 1, 2015 – Rogue Ales and Spirits announces the early release of Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale, brewed with fresh pumpkins grown and harvested at Rogue Farms in Independence, Oregon.

Oregon’s heat-wave sped up the growing process this year, giving us ripe pumpkins in the middle of August. Thanks to Mother Nature, the fall favorite will be available earlier than ever before without the use of canned pumpkins, purees or concentrates.

“It’s worth the wait,” says Rogue Brewmaster John Maier.

Pumpkin Patch Ale begins in the dirt at Rogue Farms. Six acres of GYO DreamTMSugar Pumpkins were planted in May alongside the Rogue Farms hops, rye, hazelnuts, jalapeños, marionberries and buzzing honey bees. As soon as they were picked, the pumpkins were driven to the Rogue Brewery in Newport, Oregon just 77 miles away. The pumpkins were hand-chopped and seeded, roasted in pizza ovens, and pitched fresh into the brew kettle along with vanilla bean, ginger, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and Rogue Farms Independence hops to create pumpkin patch ale. 
Pumpkin Patch Ale will make its worldwide debut in 750 ML bottles and on draft September 15th. For more information on Pumpkin Patch Ale and growing pumpkin beer visit rogue.com.

pumpkickNew Belgium Pumpkick:

What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. PUMPKICK is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your tastebuds sailing.

Boulevard Funky Pumpkin:

Deliveries of Funky Pumpkin, our new fall seasonal, will begin in the Greater pumpkinKansas City Area on September 1st with other cities to follow soon. Funky Pumpkin will be available on draft and in six packs of twelve ounce bottles.

Spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and ginger, Funky Pumpkin is a blend of brewhouse soured beer and beer aged in a stainless steel tank with brettanomyces. Tart and slightly earthy, Funky Pumpkin features a subtle toffee/caramel malt character that allows pumpkin pie spices to shine against a soft acidity.

Wasn’t really a fan of Pumpkick and I know Rogue is sometimes hit and miss but I do think their Pumpkin beer is one of the better ones on the market. I think Boulevards will be an interesting try.

Big Grove Brewery Announces 7 Course Beer Dinner Featuring Sours Sept. 14th

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big groveFollowing their successful 2 year anniversary party this past Saturday, Big Grove Brewery is at it again as they announce plans for a 7 course beer dinner that will focus on sour beers September 14th. Here’s more from Big Grove’s Facebook page:

Anniversary was another huge success, what else could we possibly have in store you ask? Well a 7 course beer dinner sounds like a thing we should do.

How about 7 of the best/rarest/sour beers from around the world paired with Chef Benjamin Smart’s food?

Yes, yes we shall do this. Monday September 14th. Ticket are on sale now – $150 (tax & tip included) 319-624-BEER

If you’re a sour beer fan then this is for you! I’ll post more information as it becomes available, stay tuned!

Blackstone in Iowa City Randalling 2014 Bourbon County Stout w/coconut, cacao nibs, and Vanilla Beans this Thursday!

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Photo Aug 31, 09 37 38When: Thursday 9.3.15 – 5:00PM –
Where: Blackstone Iowa City
Goose Island​ 2014 Bourbon County will be put through a Dogfish Head Beer​ Randall blackstonecrammed with toasted coconut, cacao nibs and Madagascar vanilla beans
What is a randall? – From Dogfish Head Founder Sam Calagione “it’s a sophisticated filter system that allows the user to run draft beer through a chamber of whole-leaf hops, spices, herbs, fruit, etc. so that the alcohol in the beer strips the flavor from whatever you add and puts it in the beer”

Restaurant Review: The Jitney Wine Bar; Monticello, IA

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jitney menu 1My wife and I are always up for trying new places to eat and drink in the Eastern jitney menu 2
Iowa area and luckily the head brewer at Big Grove Brewery, Bill Heinrich, recommend a place in Monticello called the Jitney Wine Bar. This was my first experience dining in Monticello so I wasn’t sure what to expect but as we walked into the Jitney, which is in downtown Monticello, the smell of smoked meats greeted me so I knew then I was in good hands!

The interior of the place is dimly light, which I love, and my eyes go right to the bar. I noticed the tap handles and was pleased to see Big Grove, Turner Alley, photo 2 (7)Founders, and at least 4 more taps of craft beer available. I went with the Big Grove IPA to start for my wife and I, and was pleasantly surprised photo 3 (6)to find out it was their latest double IPA, Dilly Dallying, on tap! SCORE! It was a family-friendly restaurant as we had our 1 year old with and sat outside on their patio. The menu was mouth watering so whatever my wife decided for an appetizer I was game with. So chose the Bacho Melt which is a Scandinavian style baked bacon and cheese with bacon jam served on a baguette……yep….it was fantastic!

IMG_1961After the apps, I needed another brew and went with Turner Alley’s Czech Pils, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite pilsner style beers out there. I’m a brisket guy, so as soon as I saw brisket on the menu that was an easy choice. I got 3 huge slabs of smoky brisket served with fried red potatoes and asparagus spears. It was melt in your mouth brisket with just the right amount of smoke and the potatoes had a perfect crunch on the outside but soft and tender in the middle. Excellent stuff…but…my wife’s meal stole the show. She went with the smoked chicken sandwich which is pulled chicken smoked gouda cheese sauce, caramelized onions, with gravy au jus on a Chicago style French roll. BEST….SANDWICH…..EVER!!!! Seriously folks, get this and a side of their asian slow and it will be one of those moments after taking a bite of food that you wouldn’t forget. So great! And a sandwich I will be craving constantly!

The thing with the Jitney is, I think they switch up their menu but I think they have some menu mainstays, and every one of them sounds terrific. The people next to us had the chicken nachos and they looked amazing. I highly recommend making the trip to Monticello to go to the Jitney, you won’t be disappointed! Check out their menus here:   thejitneywinebar.happytables.com