Get tickets to your Epic Summer Party NOW…the Iowa Craft Beer Bash! Savor a day of fun in the sun with Unlimited Samples from Iowa’s top craft breweries, distilleries, cideries, wineries and more. Sip away all afternoon listening to live music by Brittany Sword & DTKK and enjoy tasty food trucks. It’s Sunday, September 6th at Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana. The Bash is one of Iowa’s largest charity beverage events of the year. Nothing’s better than beer & bands in the summer sun! Get Your Tickets Today at millstreambrewing.com.
If you’ve been around Clock House for a while, you might remember this one…and if you don’t, you’re in for a treat!
This clean, crisp India Pale Lager is brewed with rice and pilsner malt, then bittered and dry-hopped with Belma hops for subtle notes of blueberry and pine.
Light-bodied, refreshing, and dangerously easy to drink.
Meet Midnight Misfits, our newest Oatmeal Stout, dropping this Friday!
This English-style stout is rich and full-bodied with notes of coffee and cream, sweet espresso, dark chocolate, burnt marshmallow, and tobacco leaf.
We built it with premium base malts, roasted barley, and a blend of chocolate malts, then added lactose late in the boil to give it a soft sweetness that lingers.
It’s bold, roasty, and comforting without being heavy. If you like dark beer, this one’s for you.
We’ve got our eyes on the weekend, and for good reason.
Smoke Shack is back this Friday, and we’re excited to release this collaboration with our friends at Bit Brewery!
What began as a “what if?” turned into one of our favorite brewing memories. Early one September morning, we gathered around the smoke shack while our house Munich and Pilsner malt slowly absorbed smoke from oak, hickory, cherry, and applewood over several hours.
A few days later, that custom smoked malt became Smoke Shack! It’s a sweet, approachable rauchbier inspired by the smoked beer traditions of Bamberg, Germany. It’s balanced, smoky, and full of character.
Big thanks to the team at Bit Brewery for this fun collaboration and a special thank you to Scott S. for letting us use his smoker! This beer is a tribute to the process, the people, and the memories made along the way.
Smoke Shack releases Friday! It’s available on draft and in 4-packs.
The Top 10 is here! Once again blown away by the amazing beers that our Iowa brewers and their staff have made for us this year! Huge thank you to all service industry workers! Cheers to you! Onto the TOP 10! LIST CRITERIA *Beer must have been brewed in Iowa *Beer must have been released in 2025
Like every list, I know opinions will differ, and I’m looking forward to reading what your top 10 list was for this year! Once again, so many beers, so little time, and I know I wasn’t able to even scratch the surface as to the beers I wanted to try and thankfully I’ve had the help of The Duke of Drinking and Sherlock Foams to help compile this list of greatness! HERE WE GO!
**Clock House Brewing** – Surround by Nuts – 13% ABV – “A decadent long-boil imperial stout aged in Koenig Maple Bourbon barrels and finished on cacao nibs, Madagascar Vanilla, dry-roasted peanuts, and Nutter Butters. Perfect for those moments when your relatives are a little…nutty. “ A surprise release during the Cousin Eddie party on Thanksgiving morning, Surrounded by Nuts was the perfect accompaniment to a post Thanksgiving feast for dessert or for some folks the perfect way to start their Thanksgiving morning. Either way, Clock House once again delivers at top brew.
**Dimensional Brewing** – KICKS – 15.6% ABV – “Non-adjunct imperial stout that is a blend of some of our finest tasting whiskey barrels from our friends at Blaum Brothers Distilling Co. and Starks Sport Shop.” Rich, boozy, and decadent, with whiskey barrel notes. It’s a sipper kind of beer, but so good that you may just keep on sipping. Another fantastic offering from Dimensional!
**Pulpit Rock** – Malaka – 8.1% ABV – “Double IPA with Nectaron, Riwaka, and Citra hops. Brewed in collaboration with Seven Islands Brewing from Greece.” One of the more aromatic doubles I’ve had in quite some time, and luckily Need Pizza had this baby on tap so I got to dabble more than once. Wonderful done double IPA!
**Ten Wasp** – Cake Eater – 14% ABV – A German Chocolate stout with pecans, coconut, cocoa nibs, and vanilla beans. I was able to have a glass of this at the Iowa Craft Beer Bash held at Millstream Brewing in the Amanas. I love what Ten Wasp does, and the people behind it are even better. Hoping and looking forward to more of their offerings in the Cedar Rapids area this year!
**Twin Span Brewing** – Lemon Pound Cake – 12.5% ABV – “33 hours boil stout with loads of white wedding cake, lemon puree, and a touch of cinnamon! OH MY!” Had this at the Craft Beer Bash as well and thought it was absolutely delicious. I need to spend more time at the breweries in the Quad Cities, not only does Twin Span make good beer, their food always looks amazing!
**Big Grove Brewing** – Richard the Whale Golden Ticket – 11.5% ABV – “Inspired by German chocolate cake, we blended this Extra Special batch of Richard the Whale infused with toasted coconut, pecans, and Grade A vanilla beans.” Another very limited release, but if you played your cards right you were at least able to get a pour at one of Big Grove’s locations across the state. This beer is the definition of balance and once again is a beer of the year nominee.
**Lua Brewing/Dimensional Brewing** – Aibohphobia – 14.8% ABV – “Imperial Stout aged 32 months in Willett Bourbon barrels, then rested on toasted and raw coconut, honey roasted peanuts and peanut butter. Brewed in collaboration with Lua Brewing.” Another big stout on the list for this year. This beer is intensely rich and unctuous and is a perfect beer to share with other big stout loving friends!
**Field Day** – Perilous – 14.6% ABV – “Perilous 2025 rested in bourbon barrels for over 18 months and then was blended with coconut, vanilla, and chocolate.” Field Day releases are always a guarantee of something truly delicious. A good reason why they quickly became one of Iowa’s best breweries.
**Ten Wasp Brewing** – Wendy’s a Lifeguard – 7.4% ABV – “Simcoe, Vic Secret, Mosaic and Citra Hops- lots of mango & passionfruit.” Although 7.4% may catch up to you, I remember my first thought after a few sips of this brew was, “I could drink this all day!” Maybe not all day, but I feel like at least a few more wouldn’t hurt. Hoping to see this juicy IPA down the road again!
**Dimensional Brewing** – Well Placed Smile – 8.3% ABV – “Hazy Double IPA with Citra, Citra Cryo, Citra Hyperboost, and Citra Quantum.” Another from Dimensional as the fellas in Dubuque continue to push out truly remarkable beers. A wonderful year for them and some amazing accolades given to them as well. This hazy double is juicy and delicious. I’d like to see them make this more often, but I also love all the new brews Dimensional brings out!
There you have it! Our best beers of 2025! Let us know what you think and what your list would look like! 2025 should be outstanding for Iowa Beer! Cheers! Join the Iowa Beer Facebook group by clicking HERE:
We’re gearing up for the annual Cousin Eddie Thanksgiving Party, and while Cousin Eddie’s Breakfast Ale is making its classic return… we’ve got a brand-new surprise joining the fun.
Introducing Surrounded by Nuts: a Koenig Seven Devils Maple Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout rested on cacao nibs, vanilla beans, peanuts, and Nutter Butters. And yes… it’s every bit as wild (and delicious) as it sounds.
You’ll be able to grab this special release at the Cousin Eddie Party, happening Thanksgiving morning from 7am–12pm at our Clock House location on 1st Street.
Here’s what’s being released this Saturday at Clock House Brewing’s 8th Anniversary party!
Cahoots (Amber Lager) Smooth, moderate-strength amber lager. Clean, toasty malt character, balanced bitterness, finishes dry with just a touch of sweetness.
8th Anniversary Stout Long-boil Imperial Stout aged in 12-Year Elijah Craig bourbon barrels, then rested on toasted coconut, cacao nibs, and Madagascar vanilla beans. Decadent and bold with chocolate notes, bourbon warmth, and a smooth finish.
Peach Habanero Sizzler (Kettle Sour) Brewed with ripe peaches and fresh habaneros. Juicy peach up front, finishing with a spicy kick.
Pineapple Witch Slap (NEIPA Variant) Our flagship Witch Slap NEIPA taken to warmer places. Infused with pineapple during primary and secondary fermentation for a tropical twist on our hazy staple.
Bake N’ Shake: Lemon Cake (Dessert-Inspired Sour) Brewed with lemon purée and lemon cupcakes. Tart, sweet, and refreshingly indulgent.
