Prairie Christmas Bomb Hitting Stores Soon

November 27, 2016November 27, 2016Leave a comment

Expect to see Prairie Christmas Bomb hitting our shelves in the next week or so as the beer has been released for distro. Here’s more on this brew:

Fall is bleeding out into chilly nights, and we’re at that time when the seasons start to shift and the spice hits the fan. Cuddle up into that ugly seasonal sweater, grab your best glass, and get ready to welcome Prairie Christmas Bomb! back into your life. Christmas Bomb! is our signature stout spiced with cinnamon. It has become a tradition here at Prairie Artisan Ales to produce this seasonal treat. This is our third brew, and as always we’re bringing you a brand new label.

Christmas Bomb! will bring you great comfort and joy in this dark and roasty brew. You’ll find the coffee, ancho chilies, vanilla, and cacao nibs you know and love, but they brought a friend this time. The addition of cinnamon warms this brew evoking the seasonal spirit of spice and cheer.

Prairie Christmas Bomb! is a seasonal favorite that can be found in 12oz bottles and 1/2 and 1/6 Kegs. Shipping started this week and will finish up next week, so get ready start seeing it in stores soon.

Cheers!

Also the brewery will be releasing a barrel-aged version of xmas Bomb in a brewery only release on December 3rd. If you know of anyone in the Oklahoma City area. Here’s more on this release:

Brewery Release: Barrel Aged Christmas Bomb

If there’s one thing we really enjoy doing over here at Prairie Artisan Ales, it’s putting delicious stouts in delicious barrels and spreading barrel aged cheer to all our faithful friends. This year, to ring in the holiday spirit just a little more, we’ve decided to have our next brewery only release on Saturday December, 3rd. Making this day extra special, we’ve also decided to release two limited barrel aged beers. That’s right, two. First, is our beloved imperial stout, Noir, aged in sherry barrels from our friends at Rocky Mountain Barrel Company. Appropriately named Sherry Barrel Noir. There’s only 850 bottles of this delightful, boozy fare. Next, we decided to take our famous seasonal Christmas Bomb! and age it in whiskey barrels because nothing says Christmas like cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, Spaceship Earth coffee, ancho chiles, and WHISKEY. There will be roughly 2800 bottles of this seasonal delight but we know it won’t last long.

A few details to highlight the day of the release:

– This will be held at our production facility located at 120 S West 8th St. Krebs, OK. 74554

– Bottle release hours: 10am – sold out

Draft hours: 10am – sold out

– Sherry Barrel Noir, 12oz bottles – $12 each, 6 bottle limit.

– BA Christmas Bomb!, 12oz bottles – $12 each, 6 bottle limit.

– First come, first serve.

– Specialty draft and growlers TBD.

– Only newly purchased and the 16oz growlers from our previous released will be filled.

– Cash and credit accepted.

Drink This! Lion Bridge Brewing Gobble Wobble

November 19, 2016November 19, 2016Leave a comment

lion bridge.jpg Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner and with these cooling temps, fall is definitely in the air and winter is right around the corner here in Iowa. What better way to get in the holiday spirit than hitting up your local and gold medal winning brewery and enjoy their latest barrel-aged creation!

Lion Bridge Brewery introduced the world to Gobble Wobble last weekend and I was lucky enough to hit up the brewery and taste not only Gobble Wobble but their Smores Gobble Wobble which was on cask. In fact, I wish I had a pint to sip on right now. Even if you missed out on the cask of Smores Gobble Wobble, you still have some time left to get down there and try Gobble Wobble which is a brown ale aged in Wild Turkey barrels. It might not last much longer folks, and after some weekend shopping with your significant other in Cedar Rapids, the perfect warmer would be a nice glass of barrel-aged deliciousness from Lion Bridge!

You definitely get a nose full of barrel with this brew. Malty sweetness really mellows the barrel but you still get some great nuttiness from the brown ale as well. Perfect balance, and not to sound too much like a holiday homer, but this would pair perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner or grab a some sausages at the Sausage Foundry and have a fall grilling party while sipping on some Lion Bridge Gobble Wobble to warm you up. It’s limited folks, get there and grab a glass because you must drink this! Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Week: Beer Happenings in Eastern Iowa

November 16, 2016November 21, 20162 Comments

Quite a few things going down Thanksgiving weekend in the beer community in Eastern Iowa. Everyone knows that Goose Island Bourbon County Stout releases on Black Friday but there are a ton of other goings on happening with local bars and breweries too! Below you will find a list of many releases taking place, not just BCBS. Also, a big update on future Big Grove pins and an update on their new brewery too! I’ll hopefully be updating this as the list continues to grow. For more info on Lion Bridge’s release, make sure you clink the link to their Facebook page. If you have more news, shoot me a message and I’ll get it posted ASAP!

Another Road Brewing
Another Road will be having a free lunch with a beer purchase. They will have beef stew made with Dry Pump Stout, beer cheese soup made with our Honey Wheat, and Brownies made with our Vanilla Porter. We will be tapping the Vanilla Porter at noon, As well as setting out food. This is all taking place on Small Business Saturday. Another Road brewing is located in Marion, IA.

Benz Beverage Depot
Benz Beverage Depot will be handing out samples and releasing Goose Island Bourbon County Stout on December 10th from 10-Noon. Allocation information will be coming soon. On November 23rd they will be having a whiskey tasting. 10% off wine beer and spirits all day, and on November 25th it will 15% off wine beer and spirits.

Big Grove Brewery
Here is the release schedule for future Big Grove pins. Make sure you mark these on your schedule. Also, some picture updates below on the new brewery coming to Iowa City next year!

11/18 Boomtown with ginger, Honey, Vanilla

11/25 Que Onda Roja with Dates and Figs

12/2 IPA with Juniper

12/9 Arms Race Pale Ale with Pineapple, WL Amarillo

12/23 Russian Imperial with Ginger, Clove, Allspice, big-grove-2 Molasses

12/30 Que Onda Roja with Tart Cherries’

big-grove-1

Big Grove 3.jpg

**30bbls serving vessels and a 60bbl fermenter.

Bootleggin’ Barzini’s
Barzini’s will be having a 6:00 p.m. release on Black Friday for regular Bourbon County Stout and the limit will be 2 per person. Any other Bourbon County offerings will be available via lotteries during December along with many sought after bourbons and whiskies…..Pappy something I hear. If in the Iowa City area check them out!

bricks Brick Bar and Grill
Bricks is hosting Stout and Wars and although the event is sold out there may be some tap lines that still have some greatness in them. Here’s more from Bricks:

11 of the 12 beers should make it through the event to be available at around 5 pm on December 10th when it finishes. (Vanilla Rye will be the only bottle pour of this event). To recap the full lineup:

1. Founders Brewing Co. Kentucky Breakfast Stout
2. Goose Island 2015 Bourbon County Brand Stout
3. Stone Brewing w00tstout 3.0
4. Stone Brewing Xocoveza Charred
5. Oskar Blues Brewery Barrel-Aged Ten Fidy
6. Big Grove Brewery Richard the Whale Praline
7. Odell Brewing Co Jolly Russian
8. Goose Island Bourbon County Vanilla Rye 2014
9. Third Base Brewery TBD Stout
10. Founders Brewing Co. Lizard of Koz
11. Avery Brewing Company Vanilla Bean Stout
12. Evil Twin Brewing Imperial Biscotti Break

Confluence Brewing Company
We will have extended taproom hours and beer specials throughout the week of Thanksgiving! Make sure you stock up on beer for your holiday gatherings. Our hours and specials are listed below.

Tuesday, November 22nd- noon-10pm. $2 off 64oz growlers, $1 off 32oz growlers (new and refills).

Wednesday, November 23rd- noon-10pm. $2 off 64oz growlers, $1 off 32oz growlers (new and refills).

Thursday, November 24th- Taproom CLOSED.

Friday, November 25th- Black Friday special! $1 off pints of “black” beers from noon-5pm.

Saturday, November 26th- noon-11pm. No beer specials.

Sunday, November 27th- noon-7pm. No beer specials.

Coralville Brrr Fest

Brrr Fest tickets go on sale on Black Friday. Brewmaster/VIP tickets sold out in less than a week last year. Date for this year’s Brrr Fest is January 28th. John’s Grocery and Coralville Hy-Vee will be selling general admission tickets as well.

Coralville Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits
The Coralville Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits will be having a Black Friday bourbon county release 11/25/16. Their release will start at 6:00 am and be 2 per person limit on Bourbon County Stout and 1 per person limit on barleywine.

Iowa Brewing Company
Iowa brewing company is having a Ready for Eddie party on the patio Thanksgiving morning from 7-12. They are offering $3.00 beers and an escape from parades and family. unless your family is cool, then you can bring them along. More details on our Facebook page.

Johns Grocery
John’s Grocery will be filling Richard the Whale, Richard with Coffee, and Richard with Praline starting on Black Friday @ 11:00 a.m. They are hoping to have Bourbon County in at the same time but it all depends on the truck drops. BCBS Barleywine will be released sometime in December.

Kickshaw Barrel Works

Kickshaw Barrel Works will be doing a Pipo preview at Lion Bridge Brewing Company in Cedar Rapids on November 26th. Here’s more on Pipo:

7% watermelon sour, fermented for 5 months with Kroul Farms watermelons.Lion Bridge Brewery

Lion Bridge Brewery

Lion Bridge will be having their Maple Disaster bottle release on Saturday, November 26th starting at noon. They will also be selling 2nd Anniversary Biere de Garde bottles and will have maple disaster, Coffee maple disaster, and Biere de Garde on tap that day as well. Click HERE to link to their Facebook event page, should be great!

Madhouse Brewing Company
Not technically Thanksgiving week but Madhouse will be hosting a Barrel-Room Open House and tasting party. According to their Facebook page, which you can visit HERE, this is the list of brews that will be available:

Join us for a beer release party and grand opening for our new Sour Barrel-Room events space.

NEW BEERS TO BE RELEASED:

-2016 Madhouse Wee-Heavy – Imperial Scotch Ale aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels. Caramel and toffee aromas with sweet malt flavors. Available in 750ml bottles.

*Madhouse Fruit & Spice Series – A collection of sour beers, each showcasing a unique flavor combination of fruit and spice. Available in 750ml bottles.
-Strawberry Fields – Strawberry/Basil
-Mango Tango – Mango/Cardamom
-Velvet Fuzz – Peach/Lavender
-Maui Wowie – Pineapple/Coconut

Mt. Vernon Road Hy-Vee

We will be doing a first come first served basis on all bourbon county that we get, limit one or two depending on how much we receive. Delivery should be early in the morning but no set time. On Tuesday, November 22nd they will be releasing a barrel-aged Maple Disaster by Lion Bridge starting at 5:00. Limit 1 per person.

Oakland Rd Hy-Vee

Oakland Rd. Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids will be releasing on the 28th at 4:00 pm and limit 3 person until it is gone.

Quarter Barrel Brewery and Arcade
Quarter Barrel Brewing will be releasing Ebenezer Old Ale on Black Friday. This is a recipe that the brewer and his wife have homebrewed and shared with friends and family for years before opening our brewery. Since they weren’t able to open in time to release a full scale version last year, it was brewed in February and set it off to age. A more limited availability whiskey barrel aged bottled version will be available closer to Christmas.

Red’s Alehouse
Reds Alehouse is planning a BOCO event on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and are still hammering out the details. They won’t have the 2016 release since that doesn’t drop until Friday but they are hoping to have some vintages and other cellared Goose Island brews available. All the information will be out in the next day or two! They will also be opening their doors Thanksgiving morning from 8-9 a.m. to do growler fills!

Sanctuary Pub
The Sanctuary Pub in Iowa City will be tapping the Boulevard/Firestone Walker Collaboration on Black Friday. Here’s more on that brew:

Collaboration No. 6 will be composed of the following beers:

Boulevard Bourbon Barrel Quad – 45%
Based loosely on the Smokestack Series’ The Sixth Glass, this abbey-style quadrupel is separated into a number of oak bourbon barrels where it ages for varying lengths of time, some for up to three years. Cherries are added to make up for the “angel’s share” of beer lost during barrel aging. Selected barrels are then blended for optimum flavor. The resulting beer retains only very subtle cherry characteristics, with toffee and vanilla notes coming to the fore.
ABV – 11.8, IBU – 19

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee – 35%
Brewed with Belgian candi sugar and aged in a selection of ﬁne bourbon barrels, Stickee Monkee trailblazes its own category as a “Central Coast Quad.” The name Stickee Monkee is a nod to the Central Coast’s native Sticky Monkey ﬂower, as well as a shout‐out to the Belgian monks who pioneered the Quad style. The Belgian candi sugar imparts a signature molasses sweetness to the beer. Meanwhile, maturation in bourbon casks brings ample barrel expression with notes of toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco.
ABV – 13, IBU – 45

Imperial Stout X – Tart Cherry (Whiskey Barrel-aged) – 10%
Our special treat for lovers of big, complex stouts, the Imperial Stout “X” series offers a year-long roster of limited releases, each with a significant variation. This riff spotlights the addition of tart cherries to fermentation as well as a lactic souring on the brewhouse. The result is a perfect marriage of robust, smoky maltiness and bracing tartness. Unlike the release version of Imperial Stout X – Tart Cherry, this portion was briefly aged in previously used whiskey barrels.
ABV – 11, IBU – 64

Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin – 10%
Velvet Merkin is the beer that almost wasn’t…Indeed, this vintage oatmeal stout’s comical (or is it scandalous?) name went oﬀ the grid for several years, but now it’s back due to popular demand. Velvet Merkin is aged for a full year in retired spirits barrels from Heaven Hill, Woodford Reserve and others, yet manages to oﬀer mind-boggling balance and restraint. You will wig out when you taste Velvet Merkin’s rich milk chocolate, bourbon and espresso ﬂavors, preceded by aromas of vanilla, coconut, toasted oak and mocha.
ABV – 8.5, IBU – 33

Collaboration No. 6 – Barrel-Aged Blend will be released starting in the Greater Kansas City Area on November 7th (draft) and November 8th (750 mL bottles) and will be sold through Boulevard’s distribution network. Areas that normally see Smokestack Series limited release beers like Saison-Brett or Rye-on-Rye should expect to see Collaboration No. 6 in the coming weeks.

Mt. Vernon Rd. Hy-Vee in CR Releasing Lion Bridge Brewing Maple Disaster Bottles: 11/22/16

November 14, 2016November 14, 2016Leave a comment

Mt. Vernon Road Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids will be releasing Lion Bridge Brewing Maple Disaster bottles starting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday November 22nd. This brew has been aged on Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels. There is a 1 bottle limit on from 5-6 and any bottles left will be up for sale. The bottles will be 750 ml flip tops.

Lion Bridge will be on hand to sample some brews. Cedar Ridge will be here to sample the bourbon that was in the barrels used to make this Maple Disaster. That bourbon will also be for sale so you can get bourbon and beer that were created in the same barrels.

lion bridge

Odell Tap Invasion set for Uncle Harry’s Five and Dime Today 11/10

November 10, 2016November 10, 2016Leave a comment

odell If you are in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area and have some time on your hands today, head on over to Uncle Harry’s Five and Dime and taste some great beers from Odell Brewing Company.

This tap invasion will feature the following brews:
*Jolly Russian – Russian Imperial Stout aged in rum barrels
*Lone Comet IPA
*Isolation Ale
*Hand Picked IPA
*Friek
*Crossover Sour Blonde

Drink This!: Summit Dark Infusion Coffee Milk Stout

November 5, 2016November 5, 20161 Comment

‘Tis the season for stouts! Don’t let the unusually warm weather deter you from sipping on a nice, thick, frothy, stout and once you get a taste of this beauty from Summit you could picture yourself drinking this year round!

Part of Summit’s Unchained Series, Dark Infusion hits on everything I’m looking for in a milk stout: jet black pour, big frothy head, and the smell of coffee and chocolate dominates the nose. The mouthfeel has what some stouts have been lacking for me and that is the creaminess.Roasted coffee flavor with almost a hint of sweet caramel and smoke round out this wonderfully tasty, milk stout. Here’s more on this beer from Summit:

For his inaugural Unchained Series beer, Summit brewer Pete Stacy created the brewery’s first-ever coffee beer. Dark Infusión: A Coffee Milk Stout is a roasty, sweet stout made complex and smooth with the addition of cold brew coffee. The malts also provide notes of nuttiness and wood. A boil kettle addition of lactose results in a velvety, creamy mouthfeel. After fermentation the beer is infused with coffee in collaboration with Saint Paul’s Blackeye Roasting Company. Pete selected the custom blend of Brazilian and Colombian varieties specifically to contribute an intense coffee bean aroma and complement the roastiness of the malts. Look for Dark Infusión on shelves in 16-ounce cans and on draught. Learn more about the inspiration for and process of crafting Dark Infusion at Pete’s blog post.

If you want a wonderfully balanced, full flavored, creamy stout, then this beer is a must. If you’re not a stout fan and want to give an excellent one a try then this is the one you need. I’m not sure how long this will be around folks, go out and buy this, drink this!

Surly Abrasive Returning to Shelves this Week

October 31, 2016October 31, 2016Leave a comment

It seems like forever ago since we saw Abrasive on the shelves but this week it should be making its long awaited return. Surly Abrasive should be hitting the shelves in Iowa as early as tomorrow! Here’s more on this brew:

Hazy gold in color, this Oatmeal Double IPA has aggressive aromas of candied grapefruit/tangerine and tropical fruit. Malted oats greatly enhance the body and the high level of bitterness is balanced by this sweetness. Citra hops are used for aroma & flavor additions and for dry-hopping, while Warrior hops are used primarily for bitterness.

OG 19.5 Plato
Color 5 SRM
Hops: Citra, Warrior
Yeast: English Ale
Malt: 2-row, Golden Naked Oats
ABV: 9%

Plate Magazine Names Big Grove Chef, Ben Smart, “Chef to Watch in 2016”

October 17, 2016Leave a comment

A terrific honor bestowed upon Big Grove Brewery Head Chef Ben Smart as Plate Magazine has named him to the “Chefs to Watch in 2016” list. To make it on the national culinary scene while being based in small town Solon, IA shows the talent and skill that Chef Smart has.

To be able to make the 10 minute drive from my home in Mt. Vernon to Solon and visit Big Grove and to try Chef Smart’s dishes is a treat. For him to be able to hit the national stage of the culinary world can only be a good thing for other chefs and restaurants in the state of Iowa. I love the quote that Chef Smart gave about the reason for coming back to Iowa:

“I want to create a sustainable life for myself, take the morals I learned growing up on the farm and apply them to where I work,” he says. “I definitely like to develop relationships with local farmers; you can’t cook great food without great ingredients. Doug and I have learned a lot about how people eat in New York, Chicago and Napa, and the focus on local and seasonal ingredients. That was underutilized in Iowa. It was one of those moments in life where you roll the dice and go for it.”

For most of us, Big Grove Brewery isn’t a hidden treasure any more, unless you haven’t visited, which shame on you. It’s a weekend dinner with family, it’s after church lunch, it’s a place to grab a few beers and appetizers with some buddies and watch the game, but for others outside of Iowa, this accomplishment will be bring more national notoriety and those folks on the outside of Iowa will find that great things can happen in small places. Cheers to Chef Ben and Big Grove, amazing!!

To read the full article click here.

Harvest Dinner @ Kroul Farms Featuring Big Grove and Pullman…..AMAZING!!

October 10, 2016October 10, 2016Leave a comment

What a great way to end a weekend! Kroul Farms right outside of Mount Vernon hosted a wonderful dinner featuring chefs Benjamin Smart of Big Grove and Sepher Sadrzadeh of Pullman Bar and Diner. One word can sum up the evening: AMAZING! I couldn’t have been more impressed with the food and service and also the setting of this terrific meal.

Special thanks to the Kroul family being gracious enough to host the event and the time and work put in the by the chefs, Cory Kent and staff. If you’ve never attended a Beer Dinner make sure you put it on the top of your list. Worth every damn penny plus more! Eagerly anticipating the next time these culinary geniuses can come together and put on another masterpiece. Onto the meal!

*1st course: Marinated and Charred Local Vegetables – with this dish I wasn’t sure when I read anchovy but I’ve learned to not let that word frighten you off as that wonderful little dish adds some amazing salty/briney flavor. The sauce and the added “everything bagel” rye salt was amazing with the perfectly good vegetables. Roasted beets, potatoes, and peppers and the sweetness from the honey paired perfectly with the Big Grove West Main Wheat!

1st course.jpg

*2nd course: Potato and Onion Confit Galette – what is a galette? I didn’t know what is was either. Just think of a savory pie stuffed with Milton white cheddar, sliced potato and topped with a carrot romesco. Add a side salad with sherry vinaigrette and paired with a Big Grove Arms Race Pale Ale, this was a dish I would keep on eating if they would have kept putting it in front of me. Delicious!

savory-salad

*3rd course: Roasted Squash with Lamb Merguez sausage – lamb from Pavelka Point and made in house by Chef Benjamin Smart served in a roasted squash. The pickled flavor from the kale and the spice of the sausage was rounded out perfectly by a housemade persian cheese, which is a yogurt textured feta. Paired with a white wine, which I’m not going to pretend I know anything about wine, the spice of the sausage with the mix of the sweet acorn squash was delicious.

lamb sausage.jpg

*4th course: Grilled Local Mushrooms – gnocchi, mushrooms, and brussel sprouts? YES PLEASE! Add some brown butter crumbles to go with the pillowy, amazingly delicious, gnocchi and the nuttiness of the mushrooms paired with a white wine. My first chicken of the woods mushroom experience, and I’ll be clamoring for more!

gnocchi

*5th course: Kroul Farms Beef – being able to eat beef that had been raised 100 yards from your table was a great experience and defines “farm to table” dining. The beef was perfectly cook and the salty beef ju paired perfectly with the red wine that was served.

steak1

*6th course: Apple Strudel – Wilson’s Orchard Apples are showcased in this strudel that is glazed with a Cedar Ridge whiskey caramel sauce and smoked cinnamon ice cream. Dessert isn’t usually my favorite course but this was absolutely amazing. This dessert is what you think of when you think Fall.

**An amazing night that I hope can be re-created sooner rather than later. I implore you to get a ticket the next time there is an opportunity to attend a beer dinner. Kudos to Chef Smart and Chef Sadrzadeh for creating this amazing meal. Easy for me to say but, LET’S DO IT AGAIN!

A Quick Look at the Dubuque Beer Scene: Spotlight on Jubeck New World Brewing

October 3, 2016October 3, 2016Leave a comment

jubeck A few months ago I attended the Potosi Beer Festival in Potosi, WI. A very fun event that I recommend you to check it out, if not for the beer but the scenery as well. After that event, my sister and brother-in-law took me to Jubeck New World Brewing. I’ve intended on going to this place for quite some time and I finally got the chance.

Upon entering the first thing I noticed was the eloquent decor and the comfortable vibe that the brewery gave out. No tvs, no loud music, no kitchen, just a place to order a brew, have some pretzels and converse with a friend or patron sitting at the bar with you. Old-school, throwback feel that made me feel like I was in an episode of cheers, which to me, is very complimentary. A very nice change of pace to the hustle and bustle of some places where you try to talk over the TV, music, or loud patrons.

Jubeck New World Brewing is a small microbrewery located in downtown Dubuque, Iowa. Our mission is to create interesting and delicious craft beer while providing a social space that cultivates conversation and camaraderie. Our community is important to us—it literally funded our startup and continues to shape our business.

The Beer

What seems to be a pretty rotating lineup had a few things that caught my eye. I started with their Apricot IPA. Here’s Jubeck’s description of this beer:

American pale ale style beer finished with a healthy dose of Citra hops and dried apricots, added late in the boil, for a subtle fruity flavor. This is one of Jubeck’s signature brews.

Citra hop definitely present and then fades into a fruity finish. Tasty brew, especially on the warm day we had it. The second beer I tried was their Saison. A style I’m really into and a style a really enjoy trying from the local breweries to get their take. Jubeck didn’t have any adjuncts to their saison, it was the pretty straightforward belgian yeast strain saison, which isn’t a bad thing at all. It was refreshing and did the trick.

They don’t have a kitchen but pretzels and gardettos can hold a guy over. However, there are a few places in Dubuque that foodies and beer lovers can congregate.

*Lot 1 – very solid beer selection that rotates constantly. I’ve been there when they’ve had TG, Surly, and Hoptimum on tap. I can’t comment on the food since I don’t believe I’ve eaten there.

*1st and Main – I had a very good burger and some shrimp tacos here. The beer selection was pretty solid as well. A coffee bender from Surly went well with the burger.

*Copper Kettle – always has Bells Two Hearted (underrated/underappreciated brew) in a bottle and their wings and pork nachos are excellent!

*Brazen – I’m missing out on this one as my brother frequents this place and is bragging about it’s greatness! I definitely need to make this a priority of places to go when I’m in Dubuque next. He’s enjoyed cans of Sue many a time here.

*L May Eatery – terrific pizza. Thin crust with sausage and mushroom was excellent and I believe I enjoyed it with a few Sierra Nevada Pale Ales.

Dubuque may be the biggest untapped (no pun intended) market in the Iowa, especially Eastern Iowa. The beer movement has been slow in Dubuque but is slowly starting to show thanks to the efforts from the folks I listed above. Make sure you get local and check out Jubeck, awesome place and great experience along with super friendly staff. If you’re in the area, give a few of these places a try!