Restaurant Review: Zeppelins; Cedar Rapids, IA

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Reviewing based on my 2nd trip to Zeppelins in Cedar Rapids. My wife and I took both our kids out to eat and decided on this place. We had been here once previously and had enjoyed our experience. Walking into the place it has a really nice decor and the bar area is very nice. The first thing I always check is the beer selection and Zeppelins was surprisingly good, actually it was fantastic. They had a few seasonals and then many local brews; including stuff from Great River in Davenport, Peace Tree in Knoxville, but they also had one of my favorites; Bells Two Hearted Ale. Anytime that is offered on tap I am a happy man.
We were there on a Sunday, and they still had happy hour 2 for 1 specials which is always a nice treat.

My wife and I each had a Great River Stout, which is very good on tap. We also shared an appetizer of their cheese wontons which are served with some excellent honey mustard sauce.
My wife ordered a steak sandwich and I had the Zeppelin burger which was a burger with fried onions, bbq sauce, cheddar cheese, and a few strips of bacon. Both meals were fantastic! I would definitely get either meal again; my five-year olds’ chicken strips were very good as well. Family friendly, good food, good beer, tough to beat that combination. I think one downfall many people would see, would be the price. But I’m a believer in you pay for what you get and at Zeppelins you get some really excellent food. If you are in the Cedar Rapids area and want some great food, (not only burgers, but steaks, seafood, etc.) check it out! Check out the menu here! http://www.zeppelinscr.com/

Beer Review #71: Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale

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I fell in love with Great Divide (www.greatdivde.com) products two years ago on my first trip out to Denver, CO. We hit a Rockies game and then decided to try Great Divide brewery and it would turn out to be one of the best ideas ever. We enjoyed trying many of their beers; Raspberry Ale, Yeti products, DPA, Titan, and many more. The bartenders were knowledgeable and the atmosphere was fantastic. Upon returning to the great state of Iowa, on one of my frequent trips to East Dubuque, IL to get some good brew I noticed they had Great Divide products!! I was ecstatic! They had the Yeti, Raspberry, and Titan, but I also noticed a bomber bottle of Fresh Hop Ale so I went with it.
The commercial description of Fresh Hop from Great Divide is:
“Brewing with fresh hops is a big endeavor, requiring four to five times the hop volume compared to using pelletized hops. Although the process is complex, it brings impressive results: Fresh Hop is an American-style pale ale with moderate hop bitterness marked by a unique and intensely grassy hop flavor and aroma.”
Shared this brew with my brother and we both thought it was damn good. To the review!!

Style: American Pale Ale

ABV: 6.1%

Purchased at: Family Beer and Liquor; East Dubuque, IL

REVIEW
Pour: Hazy orange, amber pour with nice white head.
Aroma: Tropical fruit and grassy smell.
Taste: Medium bodied hops with citrus and spice, a little grassy.
Overall: B+

Eastern Iowa Residents: Pretty sure that Great Divide has had to pull out of Illinois also due to high demand, but keep an eye out anywhere you go because hopefully it will be returning soon.

Inside Look at DC Brau Brewery

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A BREWERY BREAK IN GONE WRONG
DC Brau is the new kid on the block of the DC area brewing world and they’re not shy about making their presence known. They are the first production brewing facility in the District in over 60 years. The founders, Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock are two ex DJs and DC natives who have a passion for creating something DC can call it’s own.

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Restaurant Review: Dubuque Mining Company; Dubuque, IA

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This was meant to be posted a few months ago as that was the last time I ate at the Mining Company. I remember it very clearly as it was the day my daughter was born and I went with my brother to have a bite to eat. We both were wanting something with a little grease that wasn’t in a chain restaurant but something local and good. I remembered eating at the Dubuque Mining Company a year earlier and how I was pleased with it.
This place has everything I’m looking for in a pub/bar. A nice comfy feel that doesn’t have 50 feet ceilings, 90 tvs, loud music, and $5 shitty beers. It was cozy, a little dark, and had the type of food I was looking for, although the beer selection could have been a bit better; they did have Boulevard Wheat and Sam Adams seasonal on tap, so it’s not too terrible. When I sat down I was pleasantly surprised to see a brat burger on the menu. I’m a huge advocate of the brat burger, don’t get me wrong, I love brats, but the burger form is much easier to eat and less messy. Anyway, got one of those piled with warm sauerkraut and yellow mustard with a side of fries and life was good. They have an extensive burger list and the food hits the spot.
Here’s the link to check out the menu: http://www.dubuqueminingcompany.com/menu.cfm

Have you been there before? Let me know what I need to get next time!

Beer Review #70: Hub City Oatmeal Stout

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I consider myself a huge fan of stout beers. Seeing a few being brewed in Iowa really puts a smile on face. With that being said I was pretty excited to try Hub City’s Oatmeal Stout out of Stanley, Iowa. Upon pouring this beer it looked like a good stout, smelled like a good stout, and tasted like a………………………..metallic, chalky, stout. Not impressed at all with it. I’ve had a few times since then, along with a few more brews from Hub City, and come away shaking my head. I really want to enjoy them, but it just doesn’t happen.

Style: Stout

ABV: 5.8%

Purchased at: Hy-Vee

REVIEW
Pour: Dark black pour with a nice tan head.
Aroma: Coffee and chocolate aromas.
Taste: Metallic, chalky, not what I was looking for.
Overall: D

Eastern Iowa Residents: Available pretty much anywhere in Eastern Iowa, but pick another stout to go with.

Beer Video: A Look at Stillwater Artisanal Ales

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Making beer around the world with a Gypsy Brewer…
You could describe Brian Stillwater of Stillwater Artisanal Ales as a Vagabond, Gypsy Brewer, Lone Ranger, whatever you’d like. But one thing is sure, he’s garnering a cult following because of his unconventional brewing method and his completely uncompromised brews.

He parallels his brewing method from that of his music days as a globetrotting DJ. The breweries he uses around the world are his studios and he is a visiting artist. Wherever his beer is made takes on a little flavor of the location it’s brewed in and he uses whatever ingredients he feels are appropriate to achieve his goal. He does not set any limits on the beer he crafts which is undoubtedly the reason it is so so good.

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Beer Review #69: Goose Island Sofie

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Damn you Anheuser Busch, damn you for buying out Goose Island and now making hard for me to want to buy any Goose Island products because you are now running the show. As much as Goose Island’s products are very drinkable, I will continue to fight the good fight and refuse to buy any product from AB-InBev………………………however………………. this bottle of Sofie sure is tasting pretty damn good right now. So many complex flavors are in this wonderful brew making a very enjoyable beer overall. I was introduced to this brew by my brother, Meat, at the 4th annual BeerBaron Family Beer Tasting, and I thought it should have been a definite top 2 beer…… Okay, Sofie is one beer I will continue to buy from Goose Island BUT THAT’S IT!!!

Style: Saison

ABV: 6.5%

Purchased at: John’s Grocery; Iowa City, IA

REVIEW
Pour: Cloudy gold with a nice thick white head.
Aroma: Yeast aroma with some citrus and banana.
Taste: Sweet and sour with citrus fruit, a little peppery and some banana.
Overall: B+

Eastern Iowa Residents: Available pretty much anywhere with a decent beer selection, usually in a bomber or 4 packs.
Would I Buy Again: Hesitantly, (up yours AB), yes.

Beer Review #68: New Glarus Fat Squirrel

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O New Glarus, how I wish you would distribute to Iowa. Fortunately we don’t have to drive to far to get your wonderful brew. It would be nice to be able to drive to the local grocery store to grab a sixer though, but I could say that for many beers. Dan Carey continues to excel with New Glarus brewing, winning awards on a consistent basis as he continues to pump out fantastic brews. One of my favorites is their Fat Squirrel. Fat Squirrel is a nut brown ale using hazelnuts. All of the malt used in this brew come from Wisconsin. This state keeps pouring out wonderful beers and New Glarus might be the king of the hill for craft beer in Wisconsin.

Style: Seasonal/Nut Brown

ABV: 5.5%

Purchased at: Piggly Wiggly; Platteville, WI

REVIEW
Pour: Deep amber pour with a thick tan head.
Aroma: Smell is somewhat nutty, with maybe some brown sugar.
Taste: Nutty and sweet brown sugar rounded out nicely by the malts and hops.
Overall: B

Eastern Iowa Residents: Take a little road trip to Wisconsin and stop at the first gas station and I guarantee they will have it.
Would I Buy Again: This and all of New Glarus products.

Beer Review #67: Samuel Adams Octoberfest

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The first thing you notice when pouring a Sam Adams Octoberfest is the color; a deep amber pour that goes perfect with the season. This may be the beer that is synonymous with Octoberfest beers for the new craft beer drinker and rightfully so as Sam Adams once again impresses with this fall seasonal. They may be big business for craft beer, but there is no denying that Sam Adams brings their best with 95% of their offerings. I was disappointed with their Blackberry Wit and maybe their Cranberry Lambic just isn’t for me, but for the most part they give top quality options to craft beer drinkers in every market.

Style: Octoberfest/Marzen

ABV: 5.3%

Purchased at: Found just about everywhere.

This beer is usually on tap at most bars/restaurants and is always a relief when I see that lined up save the day alongside your mass-produced domestics. A nice malty beer that gets rounded out nicely by the hop bitterness. Maybe Sam’s best seasonal brew? Or is Noble Pils on top?
REVIEW
Pour: Amber colored pour with a nice white head.
Aroma: Kind of a nutty smell/almost nut brown ale like with sweetness of the malt and a little hop presence.
Taste: You get all sweet malts first but then rounded out nicely by the hops.
Overall: B

Eastern Iowa Residents: Everywhere! If they don’t have Sam Adams products then walk right out of the store. Would I Buy Again: This is no doubter and an always eager fall purchase.