Some changes to their schedule and a few unknowns but here it is:
Odell Coming to Iowa Soon
The following was passed along to me by @bdattilo on Twitter and makes it sound like Iowa will be seeing Odell on the shelf soon:
That’s right…we’re looking for a talented Iowa/Nebraska sales rep to join our team! http://odellbrewing.com/jobs/
Stay tuned for more details!
Tallgrass Brewing Announces Core Lineup Changes
The following informations comes courtesy of Tallgrass Brewing’s newsletter. Some changes to their core lineup and the addition of 3 new beers and the subtraction of 3 as well. There will be no more Ethos IPA, Velvet Rooster, 16-Bit, as well as 2 seasonals Halcyon Wheat and Ginger-Peach Saison. Here’s more from Tallgrass:
Regional Brewery Announces Changes to Core Lineup
Restaurant Review: Hudson’s Southside Tap; Iowa City, IA
A visit to a familiar area of Iowa City was in store for my wife and I as we were on our way to visit Hudson’s Southside Tap in Iowa City. We used to live in the Pentacrest Apartment complex downtown (very close to the bars….too close to the bars) and frequently visited the Pancheros on that side of town. Oh how I wish Hudson’s would have been there during that time!
Walking into the restaurant you are greeted with an inviting pub feel. Dark wood tables and a bar area that highlights the booze and taps. Very cozy, a place that I could spend hours in and feel right at home. I of course noticed the 40 tap handles on the back wall and was excited to dig into a few beers.
On the menu, I was expecting basic 
pub fare, but Hudson’s gives you more than that. An upscale pub fare if you will. When checking out new places I like to order multiple items, or I’m a fat ass who overeats, could be either of those…but anyway, I started with some basic chicken wings.
I’m a big fan of great chicken wings…not breaded (except for the Wig and Pen, love those), fried until crisp, with the perfect amount of sauce, and I must say, Hudson’s has some of the best wings I’ve had in some time. Their homemade blue cheese dressing and ranch where icing on the cake. Would go back to try their other sauces, but I would have no problem ordering the basic Frank’s sauce wings again.
There are also some slider options on the menu and I went with the pulled pork slider. Perfect amount of sauce, excellent pork with a touch of smokiness, very good slider. My wife had a short rib philly cheese steak with jalapeno cream 
cheese. It was excellent, albeit a bit messy, but something we would order again. My main dish was the shrimp po’ boy. I’m a po’ boy junky, would eat them everyday and this one added it’s own touches to a traditional sandwich. A creole spiced may addition added to this sandwich. The shrimp were huge and cooked perfect and the bread was crunchy on the outside but nice and chewy in the middle.
All of these items, (I finished everything) were washed down with a Big Grove Brewery Que Sera and then a Boulevard Tank 7. For being relatively new they did a nice job getting Iowa beers on tap and I can see more Iowa tap handles as Hudson’s continues to get their feet wet.
There hadn’t been much of a reason for me to visit Iowa City’s south side anymore, but Hudson’s has now given me that reason. Looking forward to going again….oh yeah, we took our loud 1 year old daughter and wait staff couldn’t have been more friendly and playful with her. Highly recommend a visit to this local tap!
FilmScene and 7G Team Up for Grit & Grain: The Bourbon County Stout Story
FilmScene in Iowa City, (a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to enriching the cultural vitality of the Iowa City area through film that challenges, inspires, educates, and entertains), is teaming up with 7G Distribution for some Bourbon County tasting as well as showing the film Grit and Grain: The Story of Bourbon County Stout. Here’s more on this event slated for December 10th!
Grit & Grain: The Story of Bourbon County Stout
FilmScene is partnering with 7G Distributing to celebrate Goose Island’s legendary Bourbon County Stout! Sip on some Bourbon County while viewing Grit & Grain, a documentary that shares the craftsmanship of the stout and captures the passion and dedication that goes into each barrel.
Each ticket includes two 8oz. pours of limited Bourbon County Stout plusFREE samples of other Goose Island beers, and all-you-can-eat FilmScene popcorn!
Come throughout the night and enjoy this event in FilmScene’s Gallery space! 7G Distributing will also have a photo booth, door prizes and giveaways, and more!
Date/Time:
Thursday, December 10th
5:30pm – First Sampling Session
6:00pm – First Screening of Grit & Grain7:00pm – Second Sampling Session
7:30pm – Second Screening of Grit & Grain8:00pm – Third Sampling Session
Ticket Price:
FilmScene Members: $20
General Public: $25
Blackstone Presents: One Night Stand with Stone Brewing on Dec. 11th
A great looking lineup coming to Blackstone Restaurant in Iowa City as they present One Night Stand with Stone Brewing. Here’s the official release:
Guest Review: Brazen Open Kitchen; Dubuque, IA
The following review comes from Meat, excellent review that leaves your mouth watering. I NEED SOME FRIED CHICKEN!! Here it is, thanks again Meat!
My wife and I were able to have our first date night since our son was born so we decided to go to Dubuque’s best new restaurant, Brazen. Located in revamped Millwork District, the old exposed brick couple with the open kitchen theme makes for an eclectic atmosphere.
When seated, we ordered drinks (my wife got a Surly coffee bender and I a gin martini). The server then brought bread and butter (bread was great. Chewy inside crunchy exterior with a slight char).
For the first course we ordered a crab cake. I have not had great experience with crab cakes recently (I wanted duck tacos but she insisted). As per usual, she made the right call. The crab cake was tender and full of jumbo lump crab meat with very little binder. It sat on a carrot romesco sauce and topped with a cranberry fermented fennel. The combination of the sweet crab meat, earthy and spicy romesco, and tangy/pungest fennel made this a home run. I only got two bites!
Next we split a wedge salad. Which was good. Good ingredients. Good flavors.
For the entree my wife ordered the fried chicken which was the best either of us have ever had. Flavorful and juicy, if I cooked that I’d eat it everyday. In fact, I am about to polish off the leftovers in the fridge after I type this. Served with the chicken was a corn bread stuffed with goat cheese and onions. The flavor was good but the combo of the cornbread texture and goat cheese texture made it a bit of a chalky mouthfeel. The chicken was outrageously good and I don’t care enough about cornbread to take anything away from that fact.
I ordered the short rib with braised kombu and celery over a spiced carrot puree (I think it was the same romesco as the crab cake) and oyster mushrooms. The beef was wonderfully tender and flavorful. This was a very savory dish which I enjoyed immesnly. The only thing that we both agreed the dish could use was some heat and/or some acid (gastrique or some kind of vinegar). I would absolutely order it again. Washed it down with a pseudo sue!
No question that this is Dubuque’s best restaurant. Hopefully this starts a trend of similar restaurants coming to Dubuque.
Now in going to hammer that cold chicken!
Check out more on Brazen by visiting their website here: Brazen Open Kitchen
Turner Alley Brewing + Devotay Restaurant Announce Beer Dinner for Jan. 25th
Turner Alley Brewing out of Cedar Rapids will be teaming up with Devotay restaurant for a beer dinner coming at your January 25th. It will be a 4 course meal with 4 beers paired with each dish and tickets will be $40 and are available @www.brownpapertickets.com. Here’s the official release:
Ballast Point Pineapple Sculpin Coming to Bottles
Ballast Point will continue with another off-shoot of their popular Sculpin IPA by adding Pineapple Sculpin to the lineup joining the likes of Habanero Sculpin and Grapefruit Sculpin. I cannot confirm if Iowa will receive shipments of this beer or when it will be available yet but stay tuned for more on distro news. Here’s more information on this beer courtesy of the folks at Beer Street Journal:
Ballast Point Pineapple Sculpin combines the aggressive but balanced IPA with the tropical twist of pineapple. If it is anywhere near as addictive as the Grapefruit edition, warn your liver now.
Our Sculpin IPA is a great example of what got us into brewing in the first place. After years of experimenting, we knew hopping an ale at five separate stages would produce something special. The result ended up being this gold-medal winning IPA, whose inspired use of hops creates hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon flavors, but still packs a bit of a sting, just like a Sculpin fish.
Ballast Point Pineapple Sculpin IPA is a draft, and 12 ounce bottle potential.
Style: IPA (w/ Pineapple)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: TBA7% ABV
Fulton Brewing out of Minneapolis Coming to Iowa
Found news courtesy of BottleCaps80 on beeradvocate that Fulton Brewing out Minneapolis will be launching in Iowa at the Keg Stand in Des Moines on Thursday Dec. 3rd featuring six tap lines with bottles to follow soon after. I’m not sure if this is Des Moines area only release of if Eastern Iowa will eventually see it as well. Here’s the tweet from The Keg Stand on the Fulton launch:
Getting freaky with
@fultonbeer tomorrow night
Stay tuned for more info on this release and also check out Fulton Breweries website for their beer and brewery info: Fulton Beer
