Sierra Nevada gives us another opportunity to try a wonderful brew. This week their Southern Hemisphere hits the shelves around Eastern Iowa. Southern Hemisphere is a fresh hop IPA which means the hops that were used in this beer where used rather quickly after they were harvested. Expect flavor of wood, floral hops with a nice bready malt finish. Here is the description from the brewer:
“This ale marks our journey to the only place on the planet where fresh hops are harvested in our spring, the Southern Hemisphere. Our task was daunting-we needed to get the hops picked, dried, flown halfway across the world and into our brew kettle in a little over a week’s time. The result is a North-by-South fusion of fresh New Zealand hops blended with the finest North American malts. Its robust hop character presents an intriguing floral-citrus aroma leading to layers of fresh-hop spiciness. Enjoy!”
What's the Best Beer Brewed in Iowa? Vote Here!
Over at Bracketeers there is any online poll trying to find what the best beer brewed in Iowa is. I think I I know where my vote is going; how about you? Check it out here! http://public.bracketeers.com/matchup.php?id=1435
Lots of tough First round matchups. I’m thinking Toppling Goliath Golden Nugget wins it all, but Millstream and Peace Tree might surprise.
What’s the Best Beer Brewed in Iowa? Vote Here!
Over at Bracketeers there is any online poll trying to find what the best beer brewed in Iowa is. I think I I know where my vote is going; how about you? Check it out here! http://public.bracketeers.com/matchup.php?id=1435
Lots of tough First round matchups. I’m thinking Toppling Goliath Golden Nugget wins it all, but Millstream and Peace Tree might surprise.
Iowa Brewery News: Milllstream Releases
Millstream Brewing out of Amana www.millstreambrewing.com has a couple of beers about to hit the shelves. Both are re-releases, although one was only on tap at the brewery a few years ago. The first one is their Hefe”r”weissen. Here’s Millstreams’ description of this brew:
“Our Summer Seasonal beer is about to be released in just a few short days. June 6th we will be bottling this anticipated brew! Our German-styled Hefeweissen is quite sweet and fruity, with a full body and light in color. Other flavors that can be savored are banana and cloves. Hefeweizens are very lightly hopped so they have very little bitterness and harshness. German wheat beer brewers do not add coriander or other botanicals and spices to their beer as Belgian brewers do. This is the main difference between a Hefeweissen and a Belgian Wit Style Beer.
“Hefe” means yeast, “Weizen” means wheat. Hefeweizen is a top fermented, unfiltered, bottle conditioned wheat beer with a noticeable yeast sediment and a cloudy appearance. It is left unfiltered for extra flavor and aroma.”
Their other beer about to be released is part of their Brewmasters’ Extreme Series, it is Raspberry Trippel. From the brewery:
“For those of you anticipating our next high gravity beer, it’s about to be released. On June 6th we will be bottling our Raspberry Tripel. This brew was first brewed and only available on tap at the brewery in 2010. It was brought back into production at the request of our customers at Millstream. This beer is brewed with real raspberries and has a big nose of fresh raspberry notes. It is very smooth with a mellow raspberry and whole grain flavor that has a subtle tartness in the end. This unfiltered Belgian Tripel has a light yellow/pinkish color and carries the alcoholic warmth of a well done high gravity beer. “
Beer and Baseball: Match Made in Heaven
My family and I are heading to Los Angeles in July to catch a Dodger game or two. It’s going to be a pretty special event as my son has never been to a Dodger game and he is really caught up in baseball right now, and my parents, who have been Dodger fans forever, are also coming along. It should be great, but to make it even better would be to have some great craft beer to drink at the ball game.
I understand that nostalgia plays a big role in baseball. So when you go to Wrigley, slamming back a few Old Style’s is the way to go. But, on this trip to LA, I’m looking for more. So, I’ve done some research, and with some help from a few other websites and blogs have found that craft beer is booming at MLB parks; and below is a list of beers available at some of them. One thing to keep in mind, no matter what. Is that the prices are suck terribly.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
I’ll start with my team. Well…. I wished I wouldn’t have researched it. It looks like the only options that I’ve seen are Firestone Walker and Sam Adams. The Firestone Walker will cost around $13. Not sure the wallet will be able to handle too many of those. Damn!!!!!!!
Philladephia Phillies
Might have to go to a Phillies game just to drink their beer. Awesome selection! Dogfish Head, Troegs, Victory, Sierra Nevada, and many others! Maybe the best park to drink craft at.
Getting closer to Iowa.
Chicago White Sox
Not a whole lot, but still some solid choices. You could have Bell’s Oberon and many of the Leinenkugel’s products are available as well.
Chicago Cubs
Old Style. The last time I was there I believe I had something from Goose Island as well? Can’t remember what? Anyone wanna fill this one in?
Kansas City Royals
Boulevard products and New Belgium as well. While watching the Royals on TV I noticed their postgame is sponsored by Boulevard. Love that they keep the big 3 out of that.
Minnesota Twins
Maybe the midwest winner here. Surly has exclusive rights to sell Bandwagon at Target Field and other Surly products as well as Summit and Grain Belt. Worth the trip to watch the pathetic Twins this year.
St. Louis Cardinals
Pretty nice selection. Boulevard, O’Fallon, Schlafly, and New Belgium.
Want more fields? Check out http://worstbeerblogever.com/2012/05/major-league-baseball-craft-beer-guide-a-look-at-all-30-stadiums/ for more. Lots of great options!
Another link to check out: http://thefullpint.com/beer-news/craft-beer-pairs-well-with-baseball/
Let me know if I missed anything!
Beer Review #81: Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA
Finding a terrific IPA under $10 is getting kind of hard these days. Two Hearted, Stone IPA, and Green Flash all come in around $10 or higher. However, Bear Republic’s Racer 5 is an affordable and fantastic tasting IPA. The only crappy part is, we have to go to Madison, WI to get it. Not available in Eastern Iowa yet, but hopefully it will be soon.
From the brewer: “This hoppy American IPA is a full-bodied beer brewed American pale and crystal malts, and heavily hopped with Chinook, Cascade, Columbus and Centennial.
There’s a trophy in every glass”
Four different hops used in this brew. Huge pine aroma with sweet malty smell that follows. Nice hop presence, the bitterness is there but it is mild, not over the top hop dominant like many west coast IPAs but enough to satisfy the hopheads out there. Very drinkable brew for the summer months.
REVIEW
STYLE: American India Pale Ale
ABV: 7.0%
Purchased at: Woodmans; Madison, WI
Pour: Orange/copper pour with a medium white head.
Aroma: Piney hop aroma with light malt smell.
Taste: Piney, citrus smell that blends well with the sweetness of the malts.
Overall: A-
Recommendation: Excellent IPA if you can get your hands on it. I recommend everyone to take a beer pilgrimage to Madison, WI and stock up on some beers you can’t find around here.
Beer Distribution Update: Stone Brewing
Thanks to Brewmaniacs and Beerpulse for the following information. Beerpulse conducted the interview with Stone founder Greg Koch. Still not a done deal, but hopefully something happens soon so we can start enjoying this wonderful brewery in Iowa!
“VP Sales, Arlan Arnsten, was in Iowa talking to distributors but nothing has been finalized. They have just had “talks” so far. “We always do our best to serve our existing customers before opening up new markets. It’s one of our core beliefs.”
Read the full interview here: http://beerpulse.com/2012/05/stone-brewings-koch-on-europe-iowa-challenges-succession-and-more/
Source: Brewmaniacs; Beerpulse
My Picks: Summer Brews
There is not much better than lighting up the grill, throwing a bunch of meat on it, and cracking a cold brew. Trying to come up with lists is tough for me, so I’m only going to list the brews that are available in the Eastern Iowa area. I would love to put Gumballhead, Zombie Dust, Surly Furious, Dale’s Pale Ale, etc. on the list but as residents of Eastern Iowa we have to drive a considerable distance to obtain these wonderful beers. I also am not a huge fan of the style of many summer beers so my list contains some darker brews as well. So………
Samuel Adams Porch Rocker
Porch Rocker is considered to be a “Radler” style beer, which essentially means it is 50/50 beer and lemonade. Sam Adams once again hits the jackpot with this brew as it totally outshines and outclasses the locally popular Summer Shandy from Leinenkugels and the dreaded Bud Light Lime. A fantastically refreshing beer that brings the taste of real lemons and a hint of orange to a brew. Perfect for a hot day.
Pyramid Apricot Ale
One of the beers responsible for my love of craft beer. Starting drinking this on tap at the local Old Chicago. I’m pretty sure it is still found around the area but not positive. Another fruity beer, but still amazingly refreshing after cutting the grass or anytime really. The apricots really shine in this excellent wheat ale.
Boulevard Wheat
The beer that brought me to the promise land is absolutely perfect for summer. I wouldn’t call it a typical wheat beer but it has a wonderful citrus presence that makes it smooth and refreshing. Found on tap or in bottles just about everywhere in Easetern Iowa now and it comes at a very affordable price.
Bells Two Hearted Ale
This brew is good anytime of the year but goes excellent with grilled food. But drinker beware, this IPA is 7% and can sneak up on you in a hurry (believe me). The price tag is a bit heftier at around $10 for a sixer, but this is one of the best beers on the market today.
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
One of my all-time favorite beers that really brings out the hazelnuts in this wonderful brown ale. I think if there was beer that can bring people from the pale ales, ipa’s, pilsners, into the darker area of brew, it would be this. Available in bombers and in six packs; I can’t recommend this one enough.
New to Shelves: Jolly Pumpkin, Madhouse
Two new beers along with Tallgrass hitting the shelves. Jolly Pumpkin’s Bier De Mars has hit the shelves; here’s a little more about the beer from ratebeer.com.
“A sustaining beer that is brewed to comfort in the gusty ides of March and welcome in a wealth of warmer weather.”
Madhouse Brewing out of Newton, IA has released Madhouse Maibock. From the brewery:
“A Maibock is a traditional Bavarian lager brewed in the spring to transition between malty beers of winter and lighter summer brews. Maibocks (May-Bock) combine the strength of a dark winter Bock with the refreshing hoppiness of a light summer sipper. Our version features the German Saphir hop, a relatively new hop variety noted for its bright citrus and tangerine-like flavors.
This is the second of our Venture Series– A series of one-time release, seasonally brewed beers that allow craft beer enthusiasts to explore the diverse flavors and styles of their favorite beverage.” 
Distribution News: Tallgrass Brewing Has Arrived!
Hitting Eastern Iowa shelves this week is a newcomer out of Kansas. Tallgrass Brewing’s (www.tallgrassbeer.com) entire lineup is now available in Eastern Iowa. Their whole lineup is canned and these are the beers they produce:
8 Bit Hop Rocketed Pale Ale: 5.2%
“Just like those classic video games we all grew up with, 8-Bit Pale Ale is spectacularly simple at first glance yet remarkably fun and complex when you get into it. Our Hop Rocket infuses the character of Austrailian grown Galaxy Hops into an American Pale Ale, giving a unique tropical, almost melon aroma in a classic American style.”
Velvet Rooster Belgian Tripple: 8.5%
“This beer is a Belgian Tripel that lives up to its name. Smooth and carefully crafted like a fine velvet painting, but with an 8.5% ABV this bird has some spurs! The beer pours a golden straw color with brilliant clarity. Topped with a lofty pure white head the beer has a wonderful floral nose, with subtle fruit notes.
The taste is clean and crisp, with subtle fruit notes and a touch of candy like sweetness. The beer has a Champagne-like effervescent that provides a crisp offset to its sweet finish. While a pint glass is always nice, Velvet Rooster would also be at home in a tulip glass or Champagne flute.”
Halcyon Unfiltered Wheat: 5.0%
“We originally brewed Halcyon as our first summer seasonal, but since all the Halcyon fans (a.k.a: kiteheads) asked so nicely, we now brew this magical brew year around. Besides, who doesn’t want a little taste of summer on a dark winter night?
We are proud of all our beers, but Halcyon is special. We are in “the wheat state” after all, so the pressure was on us to make a wheat beer, but we knew it had to be great. Halcyon Unfiltered Wheat is the result of that Midwestern angst, an all-American wheat with real Kansas-grown grain in the brew.
We start with raw Kansas white wheat in the mix to give it a nice edge, but what really makes it shine is the hops. We use “hop-bursting” late in the brewing process and this gives Halcyon its palate of tropical fruit flavors & aromas with a bright and refreshing taste like the best days of summer.
oh yea…Silver Medal in the wheat beer category at the US Beer Championships Woot! Woot!”
Oasis: 7.2%
“Oasis is a Double ESB/IPAish beer that came about from playing around with one of Jeff’s favorite homebrew recipes. Here at Tallgrass we love malt and we love hops, and this beer has both of them in record quantities; well, at least records for our baby brewery.
At a hefty 7.2% ABV and 93 IBU, Oasis is a big beer that has to be priced a bit higher than our regular line of beers. We think that once you taste the over-the-top hops and surprisingly sturdy malt backbone you will realize why it’s worth it.
Definitely not a fruit-extract seasonal shandy, this beer is meant to be enjoyed on the back porch, the front porch, or even on the stoop. What’s a stoop? Well, it’s a good place to drink beer, is what it is.”
Buffalo Sweat: 5.0%
“We love this beer here at the brewery, and think you will have one of those “I’ve never-tasted-a-beer-like-that” kind of moments when you try it!
What we really like about this beer is the smoothness that brewing with cream sugar brings to the palate. This smoothness balances out the copious quantities of roasted barley used in the brewing process to create a rich, complex, and delicious beer. If you have not been a stout drinker in the past, give this beer a try. It might just change your mind about how dark beers should taste. It tastes so rich, but is surprisingly easy to drink!
Can’t find the sweat? Don’t sweat it. Just ask for Buffalo Sweat at your local liquor store or your favorite tavern.”
Tallgrass IPA: 6.3%
“Our third beer, Tallgrass IPA, is an India Pale Ale that is rich, complex, and flavorful. We are proud to be the first brewery here in the Great Plains to have the first brewed, cans, and draft IPA out on the market!
Tallgrass IPA originally came to life as a creation during Jeff’s early homebrewing days (batch Numero Uno), and it was consumed in short order by his friends who came over to cook out and help with the next batch. After some modifications over the years (because nobody’s rookie homebrew batch tastes all that great, but your friends will tell you it does) the recipe was dialed in to become what is now Tallgrass IPA. We love this beer and think you will too!
What is with the name “India Pale Ale”? Well, India Pale Ales have a history that reaches way back to the days of the British Empire and the need for good and proper British beer for the soldiers in India. It just so happens that hops not only taste and smell great, they also have natural preservative properties that help keep beer fresher. Obviously, there was no way to keep beer cool on the long voyage around Cape Horn from England to India, so the intellectual forebearers of modern microbiology (genius brewers of course!) figured that if some hops were good for storage then heaps of hops would be great!
With this technique, these hero brewers and their hops kept the beer good and the soldiers of the empire inebriated, even in the furthest corners of the globe. Even more, the hoppiness of the IPA preserved not only the beer itself, but the great taste it created has preserved the style as one of the most popular beer styles in the world in the 21st century. If those brewers weren’t knighted by the empire back then, they should have been!”
