My second visit to Short’s Burger and SHine in Iowa City and once again it was a fantastic meal. 20 different options of burgers to choose from on the menu. Don’t like beef? They also have 10 chicken sandwiches to choose from. Vegetarian? They have black bean burgers. All the ingredients come locally, (the beef comes 26 miles away). The fries are fresh cut and best yet, the beer on tap is all Iowa brewed beer. Here’s a link to their menu. (http://www.urbanspoon.com/u/menu/1347969?p=1).
The beers that I tried were an IPA from Knoxville, IA and a stout from Courthouse Brewery in Des Moines. Both were great, tasted fresh, and went well with my burger. If you get to Iowa City often please check this place out. It is located in the Ped Mall right next to the Airliner and Milios. I highly recommend it!
Restaurant Review #2: Short’s Burger and Shine; Iowa City, IA
My second visit to Short’s Burger and SHine in Iowa City and once again it was a fantastic meal. 20 different options of burgers to choose from on the menu. Don’t like beef? They also have 10 chicken sandwiches to choose from. Vegetarian? They have black bean burgers. All the ingredients come locally, (the beef comes 26 miles away). The fries are fresh cut and best yet, the beer on tap is all Iowa brewed beer. Here’s a link to their menu. (http://www.urbanspoon.com/u/menu/1347969?p=1).
The beers that I tried were an IPA from Knoxville, IA and a stout from Courthouse Brewery in Des Moines. Both were great, tasted fresh, and went well with my burger. If you get to Iowa City often please check this place out. It is located in the Ped Mall right next to the Airliner and Milios. I highly recommend it!
Restaurant Review #2: Chameleon's Pub and Grub; Mount Vernon, IA
When my wife and I moved to the area we immediately checked out Chameleon’s. Great food and a surprisingly very good selection of beer was available. A few months ago we found out the bar was put up for sale and tonight was the first night we stopped in to check out what the new owners were offering. The menu was small, which sometimes is a good thing. This was typical bar food with nothing mind-blowing, but we were both satisfied with our meals. A philly cheesesteak and a turkey club with a side a fried jalapenos. What was good for us is that they cater pretty well to kids and that seems to be the big difference between the ownership now and then. More kid friendly than before. I was happy to hear the new owner talking to a customer questioning the beer options. He was wondering what New Belgium Hoptober was and the owner said they get all the seasonal New Belgium products which made me as happy as a pig in shit.
They had New Belgium Hoptober on tap and its only the middle of August which was great. I love Octoberfest beers and this one went down smooth.
Eastern Iowa residents: If you are in the Mount Vernon, IA area and are in need of a cool, refreshing, fresh beer, some decent pub grub and cool, cozy, and comfortable atmosphere; check out Chameleon’s.
Restaurant Review #2: Chameleon’s Pub and Grub; Mount Vernon, IA
When my wife and I moved to the area we immediately checked out Chameleon’s. Great food and a surprisingly very good selection of beer was available. A few months ago we found out the bar was put up for sale and tonight was the first night we stopped in to check out what the new owners were offering. The menu was small, which sometimes is a good thing. This was typical bar food with nothing mind-blowing, but we were both satisfied with our meals. A philly cheesesteak and a turkey club with a side a fried jalapenos. What was good for us is that they cater pretty well to kids and that seems to be the big difference between the ownership now and then. More kid friendly than before. I was happy to hear the new owner talking to a customer questioning the beer options. He was wondering what New Belgium Hoptober was and the owner said they get all the seasonal New Belgium products which made me as happy as a pig in shit.
They had New Belgium Hoptober on tap and its only the middle of August which was great. I love Octoberfest beers and this one went down smooth.
Eastern Iowa residents: If you are in the Mount Vernon, IA area and are in need of a cool, refreshing, fresh beer, some decent pub grub and cool, cozy, and comfortable atmosphere; check out Chameleon’s.
Beer Review #15: Bud Light Lime
Everywhere I go I see Bud Light Lime being sold. Now I see it in 24 pack cans. This has become a very popular beer and it’s a shame. Bud seems to be playing off the popular trend of putting a lime in Corona, Pacifico, etc. and are now making a bunch of money off of it. I did think it was going to worse than it was after trying the train wreck that is Miller Chill. Anyway, artificial flavored crap from Bud. There are so many amazing fruit beers out there that are refreshing and still give you the satisfaction of drinking a good beer.
REVIEW
Pour: Golden color pour with no head.
Aroma: Smell of lime.
Taste:It tastes like a bad diet lime soda; artificial and weak.
Overall: I know it is a big trend right now but try to avoid this beer. Try a Wheach from O’Fallon or a Son of Peach from RJ Rockers instead. Those are terrific fruit beers.
RATING: F
Eastern Iowa residents: This beer is available everywhere, but go to a local Hy-Vee and pick up O’Fallon Wheach or RJ Rockers’ Son of Peach. Even buying a sixer of Pacifico and putting a lime in it is much better than this.
Beer Review #14: Bass Pale Ale
Bass Pale Ale is relatively well-known around the world. Most Irish pubs will have this on tap or in the bottle. All liquor stores I have been to carry this beer. This beer was brewed in Ireland for a while but now is being made in the 
UK. Not a knock your socks off beer but not too bad either.
REVIEW
Pour: Amber colored pour with nice white head.
Aroma: A faint smell of toast but not much for hops.
Taste: Flavor is malty not very hoppy like your American Pale Ales. Kind of disappointing.
Overall: So many better pale ales out there, I wouldn’t waste my time with this one. Flavor seems to have changed as this used to be pretty decent. Buy a good American Pale Ale and don’t blow $8 on a sixer of this.
RATING: D+
Eastern Iowa residents: This beer is available all over the area, but don’t spend money on this, look to Millstream’s Pale Ale or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. This is a pretty piss poor pale ale.
Beer Review #13: Ale Asylum Ambergeddon
A favorite brewery of mine is Ale Asylum in Madison, WI. Very hoppy and fantastic beers and really cool brewery with a limited but very good menu ranks Ale Asylum near the top of my list. Ambergeddon is a hoppy beer with a nice amount of malt flavor. Madison, WI is only a 2-3 hour drive for Eastern Iowaners, so make the trip to Ale Asylum (www.aleasylum.com). On the drive up, stop in Potosi, Mount Horeb, and New Glarus, for some great beer.
REVIEW
Pour: Amber colored pour with nice white head.
Aroma: Smell of hops and malts.
Taste: Initial flavor of hops and the malts come in next. Good stuff!
Overall: Another strong beer from Ale Asylum. Like I said above, Wisconsin is making some awesome beers, make the trip up there and drink some really good stuff.
RATING: C+
Eastern Iowa residents: This beer is available at all Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits, John’s Grocery, Benz Beverage Depot, and probably most liquor stores. Give it try!
Beer Review #12: Young's Double Chocolate Stout
A beer that impresses me every time I have it for its creaminess and smoothness. Young’s Double Chocolate Stout (http://www.youngs-chocolate-stout.com/) is one of the finer stouts out there. An English brewed beer Young’s combines milk chocolate with dark chocolate for this wonderfully smooth stout. I try to keep this beer in my fridge as much as possible but for a 4-pack of their cans the cost is anywhere between $8-$10. But, sometimes to drink good beer you have to ignore the price.
REVIEW
Pour:Dark cloudy brown with a thick tan head.
Aroma: Smell of chocolate and maybe a little coffee.
Taste: Wonderfully chocolate flavor with a little coffee in there as well. Creaminess is very similar to Guinness if you have had that.
Overall: A terrific beer. If you are into stouts this is something for you. If you are new to trying the “darker” beers you might want to start with this one because of its creaminess and smoothness.
RATING: A
Eastern Iowa residents: This beer is available at all Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits, John’s Grocery, Benz Beverage Depot, and probably most liquor stores. Give it try!
Beer Review #12: Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
A beer that impresses me every time I have it for its creaminess and smoothness. Young’s Double Chocolate Stout (http://www.youngs-chocolate-stout.com/) is one of the finer stouts out there. An English brewed beer Young’s combines milk chocolate with dark chocolate for this wonderfully smooth stout. I try to keep this beer in my fridge as much as possible but for a 4-pack of their cans the cost is anywhere between $8-$10. But, sometimes to drink good beer you have to ignore the price.
REVIEW
Pour:Dark cloudy brown with a thick tan head.
Aroma: Smell of chocolate and maybe a little coffee.
Taste: Wonderfully chocolate flavor with a little coffee in there as well. Creaminess is very similar to Guinness if you have had that.
Overall: A terrific beer. If you are into stouts this is something for you. If you are new to trying the “darker” beers you might want to start with this one because of its creaminess and smoothness.
RATING: A
Eastern Iowa residents: This beer is available at all Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits, John’s Grocery, Benz Beverage Depot, and probably most liquor stores. Give it try!
Brewery Review #2: 3rd Base Brewery; Cedar Rapids, IA
My brother and I visited 3rd Base Brewery in Cedar Rapids not too long ago on a whim. It is located in a little strip mall 
and by looking at it you wouldn’t think much of it. However, once we tried the beer and the food we were happy we stopped.
We ordered some wings first and were pleasantly surprised. Wings fried and then slathered in sauce with some very good ranch dressing. My first beer was the Black Cobra Oatmeal Stout. I was impressed; smooth tasting stout that was easy to drink and refreshing. My brother ordered their Golden Hawk Wheat. Easy drinking, not much on flavor but not bad overall.
Overall a very good stop. Good fries, wings, and the Oatmeal Stout is very good. If you are in the Cedar Rapids area give this place a try. (http://www.3rdbasebrewery.com/)
