Tag: Craft Beer

Distribution News: Iowa not getting Stone Dayman Coffee IPA, Nebraska Brewing, Oskar Blues

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stoneJust found this interesting article over at beerpulse.com about Aleman/Two Brothers/Stone Dayman Coffee IPA being distributed around the country and it looks like us Iowans might be out of luck getting this brew. This isn’t finalized yet so hopefully we will see this product.

Available in: Limited 22oz bottles and draft

Stats: 8.7% ABV, 42 IBUs

Hops: Cascade and Citra

Malt bill: British and American Pale Malt, Crystal and Vienna Malts

Distribution (not necessarily finalized): AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, IN, MD, MA, MO, NC, NM, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, VT, and WA

Tasting Notes, provided by Brewmaster Mitch Steele

Appearance: Clear amber with a tan head of foam.
Aroma: It’s difficult to discern which aroma hits first—the wonderful, citrusy tropical fruitiness of the Citra hops or the deep-roasted elegance of the coffee roasted especially for this brew.
Taste: The taste of this beer follows right along with the aromatics. Roasted coffee and citrusy hops play well together as the beer flows across the palate along with hints of toasted malt and a wonderful lingering bitterness.
Palate: Dry with a nice lingering bitterness. The coffee flavors hang on pleasantly after the hop bitterness recedes.
Overall: The Aleman guys developed a wonderful IPA recipe. The addition of coffee bringswonderful layers of totally unexpected roast components that make this beertruly unique. I’ve never had anything like it and I look forward to enjoying several pints. It’s been a pleasure to put this brew together with Aleman and Two Brothers.

Suggested food parings, provided by “Dr.” Bill Sysak

Appetizers: Stuffed portobello mushrooms with blue cheese, pancetta-wrapped shrimp, carne asada tacos, Korean BBQ
Soups and Salads: Arugula salad with vinaigrette, chili concarne, hot and sour soup
Entrees: Caul fat-wrapped snapper, braised pork belly, meatloaf, chile relleno
Cheeses: Cabrales blue cheese, Fiscalini Bandage Wrapped Cheddar, Bayley Hazen Blue, Rogue Caveman Blue
Desserts: Bitter chocolate, tiramisu, toffee peanut butter brittle, dark chocolate-dipped strawberries
Cigars: Flor de las Antillas Toro, Rocky Patel Decade, Camacho Corojo Figurado

nebraskaIn other news, in a few correspondences with Nebraska Brewing Co. (http://www.nebraskabrewingco.com/main.asp)  looks like they will be making their way back to our shelves, and hopefully soon. Here’s the email I got:

We are actually in the process of selecting a distributor and firing up distribution in Iowa (again).  We’re glad to hear you like the beer!  I’ll check out your blog and stay tuned for updates on our expansion into Iowa.

oskar bluesA few months ago it sounded like Oskar Blues and Odell was just a matter of time before they would be hitting our shelves in Eastern Iowa, since then, it’s been very quiet on that front. This was a tweet I  found on http://www.beerpulse.com talking how Oskar Blues is going international, kind of kick in the balls for Iowans wanting this brewery, but I’m guessing the money is there for Oskar.

.@OskarBlues has gone international per Chris Katechis. 32 US states & now a full truckload for Sweden & few other European cities. #CObeer

Distribution News: Twisted Pine Brewery in Iowa!

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twisted pineNot sure how this slipped through the cracks so quietly but Twisted Pine Brewing out of Boulder, CO  (www.twistedpinebrewery.com) has entered the Iowa beer market. I haven’t tried any of their beers yet but they seem to be a solid brewery to have on our shelves. If you’ve had their products I would love to hear your thoughts. Found this info on beerpluse.com.

(Boulder, CO) – Twisted Pine Brewing Companyadded three new states to its distribution base last year and plans to welcome four more territories in 2013. Iowa is first on that list and the Hawkeye State received its first shipment of Twisted ales earlier this week.

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Twisted Pine was founded in 1995 and has been hand-crafting award-winning ales ever since. 2012 was a particularly fruitful year on the competition circuit, with the brewery taking two medals at the Colorado State Fair, another five from national events (including two from the GABF) and its first European Beer Star.

“The thing about winning awards and gaining all the recognition that goes along with it,” explains brewery President Bob Baile, “is that you wind up with a lot of distributors knocking on your door.” The decision to go with the Johnson Brothers distribution company in Iowa was in large part due to the successful relationship Twisted Pine has enjoyed with the distributor’s Nebraska branch for the past two years. “Iowa is a very thirsty market,” adds Baile, “and beer drinkers there are really starting to appreciate all that craft beer has to offer.”

In addition to Twisted Pine staples like Hoppy Boy IPA, Raspberry Wheat and Billy’s Chilies, Iowans will find the brewery’s multiple-award-winning Big Shot Espresso Stout on shelves alongside Ghost Face Killah, the spiciest beer in the world. Draft options for Hoppy Boy and Honey Brown will also be immediately available throughout Iowa, with a greater variety of keg shipments forthcoming as Twisted Pine’s presence in the state grows. For more information on the brewery and its offerings, visit http://www.twistedpinebrewing.com.

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Twisted Pine Brewing Company has been hand-crafting quality ales since 1995. In addition to such favorites as Hoppy Boy IPA, Raspberry Wheat Ale and Billy’s Chilies, the brewery has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of style guidelines with such creations as Big Shot Espresso Stout and Ghost Face Killah. Twisted Pine is actively involved with local charitable organizations and is a staunch advocate of sustainable business practices. For more information, visit http://www.twistedpinebrewing.com.

Blackstone Stout Night! I’ve Got A Golden Ticket!

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blackstoneblackstone1If there is any better way to throw a beer tasting event by handing out “Golden Tickets” I have yet to see one. Blackstone restaurant in Iowa City, IA held their Stout Night last night by giving golden tickets to customers who paid $25 to enjoy different stouts. Which leads to this:

A great lineup of brews to accompany a few appetizers made for a great night of fun. The lineup of beers was headlined by North Coast brewings’ Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV. At 11.9% ABV it was definitely a sipper but the scary thing about this beer is how smooth and drinkable it is. Nice chocolate flavor that goes perfectly with the vanilla flavor that comes from the barrel aging. Terrific beer to go with Blackstone’s chocolate ganache cupcake. Before I jumped on the North Coast pour I started with Toppling Goliath Brown Sugar. Not a stout, I know, but I’m really glad Blackstone decided to have this in the lineup to showcases some Iowa beers. This brown was a bit different from most browns I’ve had as it had a much deeper roasted flavor than others. Very enjoyable and I hope to have access to this brew in the future. Next, I moved on to Green Flash Double Stout. I had yet to have this beer and to enjoy it on tap was very rewarding. This is what a stout should be like; rich, smooth, creamy, and very blackstone2drinkable. Not boozy like some double or imperials, just bold and flavorful.
Bell’s Expedition Stout was up next and beside the Old Rasp this was probably the highlight of my night. Roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee dominate the palate with this beer. 10.5% ABV is in the aroma more than the taste making this dangerously drinkable. Awesome beer!

blackstone4Overall, my wife and I give this a big thumbs up and are looking forward to more events at Blackstone. The wait staff, the menu, the beers all make this a great place to enjoy an evening of eating and beer drinking.

Blackstone Stout Night! I've Got A Golden Ticket!

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blackstoneblackstone1If there is any better way to throw a beer tasting event by handing out “Golden Tickets” I have yet to see one. Blackstone restaurant in Iowa City, IA held their Stout Night last night by giving golden tickets to customers who paid $25 to enjoy different stouts. Which leads to this:

A great lineup of brews to accompany a few appetizers made for a great night of fun. The lineup of beers was headlined by North Coast brewings’ Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XV. At 11.9% ABV it was definitely a sipper but the scary thing about this beer is how smooth and drinkable it is. Nice chocolate flavor that goes perfectly with the vanilla flavor that comes from the barrel aging. Terrific beer to go with Blackstone’s chocolate ganache cupcake. Before I jumped on the North Coast pour I started with Toppling Goliath Brown Sugar. Not a stout, I know, but I’m really glad Blackstone decided to have this in the lineup to showcases some Iowa beers. This brown was a bit different from most browns I’ve had as it had a much deeper roasted flavor than others. Very enjoyable and I hope to have access to this brew in the future. Next, I moved on to Green Flash Double Stout. I had yet to have this beer and to enjoy it on tap was very rewarding. This is what a stout should be like; rich, smooth, creamy, and very blackstone2drinkable. Not boozy like some double or imperials, just bold and flavorful.
Bell’s Expedition Stout was up next and beside the Old Rasp this was probably the highlight of my night. Roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee dominate the palate with this beer. 10.5% ABV is in the aroma more than the taste making this dangerously drinkable. Awesome beer!

blackstone4Overall, my wife and I give this a big thumbs up and are looking forward to more events at Blackstone. The wait staff, the menu, the beers all make this a great place to enjoy an evening of eating and beer drinking.

Beer Review #97: 3 Floyds Gumballhead

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gumballheadAmerican-style wheat beers had become relatively insignificant to me as I delved deeper into the craft beer world. I would often run into watery, flavorless, trivial American-wheat beers still wanting to give them a fair shake and then after trying, realizing why I should avoid them. I started my love of craft beer drinking Boulevard Wheat and I will still go back to that beer, it is maybe one of the most popular American wheats out there and a great stepping stone from the Buds, Coors, and Millers, have the world into the realm of craft beer. That all changed on a Saturday in Chicago, IL.

My wife’s family had a weekend planned in the Windy City and since my Dodgers were in town to face the Cubs it was the perfect opportunity to take the kids to a ball game. Beautiful weather, a couple of beers, the smell of stale piss, and hot dogs, made for a great day. Towards the end of the game my brother-in-law, Clem, asked if I would be interested in hitting a few bars around Wrigleyville. He was familiar with the area, and I wasn’t, so we got the ok from the rest of the family and started our wonderful beer journey. We hit up Goose Island and then went to what is known as an Iowa bar?, Merkles (www.merkleschicago.com). Seeing a sign advertising $3 draws of Dogfish Head Aprihop made it a relatively easy decision. Anyway……. after a few Aprihops I decided to try Gumballhead, this was before 3 Floyds blew up as a brewery, and I was blown away by it! Calling it an American-wheat is kind of misleading as this beer packs a pretty amazing hop punch, not much wheat present in this beer, maybe a bit on the palate at the end of the beer, but I don’t care, this a very drinkable, thirst quenching, brew. From the brewery:

An American Wheat Beer brewed with red wheat and boat loads of amarillo hops gives this summer brew a lemony finish. The slight haze in the bottle is from the bottle-conditioning, where yeast is added to the bottle for a secondary fermentation. Gumballhead is a Skingraft Comics hero. Check out Skingraft Comics and Records at http://www.skingraftrecords.com. Cheers!

I realize I brag up 3 Floyds a lot on this blog, but I think it is totally justifiable by the product they put out. Nothing is half-assed, just full-out great beer. If you haven’t tried their products yet, buy whatever you can and just appreciate the fact that you can get your hands on their products because they are one of, if not, the best thing going today.

REVIEW

Style: American Wheat

ABV: 5.5%

Purchased at: Merkle’s bar, but now head to Madison or Chicago or just go to Munster, IN.

Pour: Cloudy yellow pour with a thick white head.

Aroma: Citrus hops stand out.

Flavor: Citrus hops stand out, a tad bitter but mellowed by the malt. Not much wheat flavor.

Ratebeer.com rating: 98/100

Beeradvocate.com rating: 94/100

Overall: A-

My recommendation: Like I said above, buy any and all 3 F’s products.

Toppling Goliath Naughty Temple Delivery Update

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naughtyWith continued anticipation of Toppling Goliath’s beers hitting the bottling line; the first one that they are sending out, Naughty Temple, should on shelves within the next few days, weather depending. The following is a list of locations of where you can find this brew! This list comes from www.tgbrews.com. 

Below is a list of locations where Naughty Temple bottles will be delivered this week!

Tentative Delivery Schedule*
Tues: LAX/Madison
Wed: Des Moines/Cedar Falls
Thu: Iowa City/Cedar Rapids
Fri: Eau Claire/Hudson

*Keep in mind there is a snow storm coming our way, delivery schedule may change.

Talking with Toppling Goliath Brewery; Bottles on the shelves

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toppling goliathWe are getting close to the moment when we can head to our beer fridge, open the door, and stare in awe at a bottle of Pseudo Sue or maybe even Golden Nugget from Toppling Goliath. Yes, the bottles are coming! and they should be here soon. Nothing would be better than spending my time watching March Madness and downing a six (or 12) bottles of Pseudo Sue along with some grilled food or pizzas. With their bottling line operational I decided to ask them some questions, and they were polite enough to take the time to respond. Let’s get to know Toppling Goliath!

Hello Toppling Goliath!

1.The most important question: Which beers will be available in bottles and where can we pick them up at?

 – We will start out with pseudoSue and other hop partrol IPA’s and Pale ales.  We will fit Dorothy’s in at some point too.  Normal points such as Hy Vee and Dirty Johns…..Benz in CR.

 2. What is the story/background of Toppling Goliath brewery?

  -Started the brewery after messing around with home brewing and falling in love with the creation process of brewing and the detail required to produce a consistent, high quality ale that is hop forward yet balanced.

 3. Where did the name for the brewery come from?

 -We started a company called Toppling Goliath Inc in 2002 that helped start up businesses get over perceived and real obstacles such as business plans, financing, government regulation, etc.  Unable to achieve our goals with that, we kept the corporation active because we liked the name.  When we decided to start a brewery in 2009, after a 26 year career in the beverage industry, we did a dba because the named just seemed to fit in with our mission that goes against the global consolidation of beer, and focuses on the local dedication to full flavored, explosive beers that are fresher than anything produced for shelf life.  Cutting edge and ever changing, instead of pump the supply chain full, we are not worried about how much beer we ever make.  We are concerned that you find all our beer to be our best effort we can muster!

 4. You have been compared to many of the best breweries in the country and are quite often referred to as the best in the state of Iowa if not the midwest and beyond; what is your recipe for success? Do you try to use other breweries as inspiration?

   -I admire so many breweries, New Glarus is only a couple hours away and they have been pretty inspiring.  And the list of breweries I admire is basically a never ending smile in my history.  Our head brewer Mike Saboe joined me early and although like myself he has a long list of breweries he admires and draws inspiration from, we both really wanted to cut our own path with an extreme edge to existing styles and create styles of our complete own. 

 5. What led to your decision to put in a bottling line?

 -Our fans have requested to drink our beer in their homes.  We have to listen to them because they are, after all, our bosses!  Some day we will can as well.

6. Will seasonal be bottled?

   -Yes.

 7. Q: Would you classify your beers as traditional or more of a unique style?

  -A few of our beers are traditional, but more of them are our new unique style of hop forward, bold pale ales and IPAs unlike many of those similar styles in the world. 

Thanks for your time! 

                -You’re welcome, thanks for your business!

Clark Lewey

TG Chief

Dubuque Beerfest Review

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dubuqueSaturday February 16th brought the 2nd annual Dubuque Beer Festival located in the Mystique Ice Arena. Last year’s event was a huge success and from the looks of crowd yesterday, I would say year 2 was just as successful. Lots of high points from the day as well as some things that I think they can work on overall. Thanks to my brother-in-law Tyler for getting us the tickets!

The Good
*Live music makes beer events that much better, and the Lonely Goats did not disappoint playing a nice mix of music that paired well with the overall vibe of the day.
*Food- I think a must at any festival, and one thing that the Dubuque Beerfest did better than Coralville’s BrrrFest is having different meat and cheese vendors dishing out samples but also a restaurant parked in the back serving huge burgers, wings, and more.

*Bent River Brewing – stole the show again. Jalapeño Wheat, Uncommon Stout, Raspberry Wheat, Dry-Hopped Pale Ale, all sampled by me and overall the best beers available. I even asked one of their guys to mix their stout with the raspberry wheat for a 1/2 and 1/2 and they happily obliged to create a beer that was the best thing I tasted all day. These guys are the real deal and I’m looking forward to seeing their products on the shelves in Eastern Iowa.

*Potosi Brewing – I’ve been critical of their beers in the past and haven’t really enjoyed much of what they have offered but yesterday they had everyone of their beers on tap and also brought along their Hopsmith IPA, one of their newest offerings. The aroma of this beer was fantastic, with hops greeting you strongly. A very good brew.

*Grumpy Troll- Always like to try beers from these guys based out of Mt. Horeb, WI. Fun guys to talk with and always some fun beers to try.

THE NOT SO GOOD

*Bottled beer vendors- too much of this. I can go buy bottled beer from many of the vendors in the store, I was hoping to see a bigger selection of brewers bring in fresh kegs for us to try instead of opening bottles and giving us a very small sample.

*More Iowa and Wisconsin breweries – Coralville’s BrrFest had a ton of small Iowa breweries and while Dubuque’s had a few, I was hoping for more. I would have liked to see Madhouse, Worth, 515, Confluence, CIB, etc. coming from Iowa and Ale Asylum, Capital, Central Waters, New Glarus pulled down from Wisky, just didn’t happen.

*Toppling Goliath – they were advertised but were not there. My brother-in-law has yet to try their beers and I was bragging them up pretty good, but for whatever reason, they didn’t show.

Overall a great experience, caping the night off with a trip to Monk’s Cafe for a beer and I am looking forward to year 3 of the Dubuque Beer Festival.

Beer Release News: Widmer Brothers

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widmerWidmer brothers has announced 5 of their beers being released in the first quarter of the year. I don’t have much luck finding many of Widmer’s special release beers so if you find a spot in Eastern Iowa that is selling any of the beers listed below please send me a message letting me know where you found it. The list definitely has some intriguing beers that I would love to try. The following info is from www.beerpulse.com.

 Widmer Brothers Brewing is celebrating the start of a new year with five new beer releases and some bold new packaging updates.

The releases include two brand new Widmer Brothers beers: Columbia Common Spring Ale, the new recurring spring seasonal from the brewery, and Chocolate Russian Imperial Stout ‘13, a version of KGB Russian Imperial Stout brewed with Ecuadorian cocoa nibs. Additionally, three fan favorites will return as part of the brewery’s spring lineup: O’Ryely IPA, KGB Russian Imperial Stout and Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout ‘13.

“Our team is looking forward to introducing some new beers and bringing back some old favorites to kick off the year,” said Rob Widmer, co-founder of the brewery. “The best part is that each beer has a great story. KGB has been a favorite of ours for almost 15 years; Columbia Common is a great version of the common beer style brewed with Columbia hops, a variety that was recently saved from extinction; O’Ryely IPA was so well-received in our Rotator IPA Series last year that we had to bring it back; then we have the two Brothers’ Reserve Russian Imperial Stouts, Raspberry and Chocolate, which are rich and complex takes on the style.”

Widmer Brothers has also updated its packaging with these new beers to distinguish the seasonal offerings from other beers in the lineup, and to clearly call out the different beers released throughout the year as part of the brewery’s Rotator IPA Series.

“We are really excited about the new bold, colorful and informative packaging planned for 2013,” said Lorin Gelfand, brand manager. “We’ve received a lot of helpful feedback about our packaging since early 2011, when we made some significant packaging changes, and the new look will help our fans easily identify our seasonal releases and the different Rotator IPAs we’re planning to release throughout the year.”

Coinciding with the new releases, Widmer Brothers is changing the name of Series 924 to the W Series. The W Series includes Pitch Black IPA and Nelson Imperial IPA as year-round offerings and three limited releases throughout the year, beginning with this month’s release of KGB Russian Imperial Stout. The brewery is also retiring the Alchemy Project and will release beers previously included in the Project (Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout, Old Embalmer Barleywine and Barrel Aged Brrrbon) as part of the Brothers’ Reserve Series beginning in 2013.

Columbia Common Spring Ale

The Columbia hop was near extinction when we brought it back to create this crisp, easy drinking common beer.  With a rich amber hue, Columbia Common, the new spring seasonal release, has mild grassy and spicy hop notes that are complemented by a subtle fruity character and clean finish brought on by the use of Hefeweizen and lager yeasts.  It’s the perfect beer for spring.

Malts: 2-Row Pale, Munich 20L, Caramel 40L, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Alchemy, Columbia, Willamette
Original Gravity: 11.75 Plato
IBU: 32
ABV: 4.7%

Widmer Brothers O Ryely IPA labelO’Ryely IPA

O’Ryely IPA is a big, punchy IPA with notable hoppiness and just a touch of caramel malty sweetness. Brewed with rye and Nelson Sauvin hops imported from New Zealand’s South Island, the beer features subtle rye spiciness and fruity, berry-like aroma and flavor.

Malts: Pale, Carapils, Caramel 10, Rye, Caramel Rye
Hops: Alchemy, Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy
Original Gravity: 15 Plato
IBU: 50
ABV: 6.4%

Widmer Brothers KGB Russian Imperial StoutKGB Imperial Stout

Using roasted barley, chocolate malt and Midnight Wheat, KGB has a color that is as dark as a torrid past, a body as full as a well-kept dossier, and a taste as complex as a conspiracy theory.  First brewed in 1998 and a longtime favorite in the Widmer Brothers Gasthaus Pub, KGB was bottled and released as the W’11 release, the brewery’s spring seasonal in 2011. KGB is the first of three limited releases in the Widmer Brothers W Series in 2013.

Malts: Pale, Roast Malt, Caramel 60L, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Alchemy, Willamette, Zeus, Cascade
Original Gravity: 21.5 Plato
IBU: 70
ABV: 9.3%

Widmer Brothers Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout 2013Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout ‘13

Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout was first brewed by Widmer Brothers Brewing in 2008 for the Portland Holiday Ale Festival.  In the summer of 2011, our brewers discovered a barrel of the initial batch, which was known as Babushka’s Secret, in the brewery’s cellar.  After tasting the beer and realizing how well the beer aged with time, the brewing team decided to brew and release the beer once a year, beginning in 2012. The addition of raspberries during fermentation results in an almost purplish opaque color with a beautiful brown head on Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout and warm chocolate and roasty notes offer the perfect complement to the hop bitterness.

Malts: Pale, Roast Malt, Caramel 60L, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Alchemy, Willamette, Zeus, Cascade
Original Gravity: 21.5 Plato
IBU: 70
ABV: 9.3%

Widmer Brothers Chocolate Russian Imperial StoutChocolate Russian Imperial Stout ‘13

We took our delicious KGB Russian Imperial Stout and put another new twist on it. Our brewers threw Ecuadorian cocoa nibs into the brew to create a decadent and complex beer that is sure to hit your sweet spot. Chocolate Russian Imperial Stout ’13 offers flavors of cocoa, roasted barley and coffee, balanced out by a unique hop profile.

Malts: Pale, Roast Malt, Caramel 60L, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Alchemy, Willamette, Zeus, Cascade
Original Gravity: 21.5 Plato
IBU: 70
ABV: 9.3%

About Widmer Brothers Brewing

What started as a dream for two ordinary brothers who just loved beer has now become a reality for two ordinary brothers who still just love beer. Kurt and Rob Widmer helped lead the Pacific Northwest craft beer movement in 1984 when, in their 20s, they dreamed of brewing unique interpretations of traditional beer styles. In 1986, Widmer Brothers Brewing introduced the first American-style Hefeweizen; today, the unfiltered cloudy beer is the company’s signature brew and one of the best-selling wheat beers in the country. Based in Portland, Ore., the brewery currently brews a variety of beers including its Rotator IPA Series, Drifter Pale Ale, Pitch Black IPA, Nelson Imperial IPA, a high-end Brothers’ Reserve Series and a full four seasonal lineup. For more information about Widmer Brothers Brewing, visit www.widmerbrothers.com.

Top 25 Beers of 2012 (available in Eastern Iowa) Part 3 of 5

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top 2

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and got to drink some wonderful beers. I’m hoping to get this list done by New Year’s Day so here we go with part 3 0f 5.

NEXT 5

 

stoneStone Ruination 10th Anniversary IPA – Imperial IPA – 10.8%

Yes, another Stone brewery beer is on this list. But that has to tell you how great their beers are and how lucky we are to have them on our liquor/grocery store shelves in Eastern Iowa. This beer was my favorite of the year until I ran into their Enjoy By IPA, but still an amazing beer. Huge citrus hop presence in the nose and the flavor is much the same. It was one of those beers that you were lucky to try one, but if you saw 20 bottles you should buy the whole lot. Description from the brewery:

And as Stone Ruination IPA turns 10, we thought we’d make ourselves a nice little birthday present to celebrate. But what kind of selfish jerks would we be if we didn’t share?! Behold, the Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA. (Clever name, eh? That’s why us folks in the Marketing Dept. get the big bucks!) It’s an amped-up version of Stone Ruination IPA, with a bit more malt to bring the abv up from 7.7% to 10.8%, and a very heavy dose of hops. “Classic” Ruination uses 2.5 pounds of hops per barrel–which is more than double the amount we use in any other of our core beers–but for Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA, we went double again, using an impressive 5 pounds of hops per barrel, including about a pound each of Citra and Centennial in the dry hop. (Hell. Yes.)

Suggested Pairings, provided by “Dr.” Bill Sysak 
Appetizers: Kimchee, ceviche, bacon-wrapped jalapeños (or habaneros)
Entrées: Salt and pepper shrimp, jambalaya, roasted pork chops with apple sauce, pineapple curry 
Desserts: Apple pie with caramel sauce, toffee bars, spiced carrot cake 
Cheeses: Aged Cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Roquefort, Mimolette 
Cigars: Ashton Classic Majesty, Litto Gomez Diez, Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label Invictos Corojo Robusto

evil twinEvil Twin Biscotti Break – 8.4% – Imperial Porter

A perfect beer to drink during the winter months in Iowa. Nice robust flavors of nuts, biscuits, coffee, dark chocolate, and malts. The flavor is sweet, caramel and coffee dominate with a nice bitter finish. I’ve seen mixed reviews on this one and the price tag is relatively hefty, anywhere from $15-$20 for a bottle, but definitely worth seeking and trying in my opinion. From the brewery:

Editors note: the first edition was brewed at Fanø Bryghus, Denmark for the Beer cruise Rome-Barcelona, June 2011 and held 7.5% ABV. 

Porter made with espresso, vanilla and toasted almonds for the Beer cruise Rome-Barcelona, June 2011. Italy has a certain “je ne sais quoi” – fab food culture, highly decadent history of art and cool countryside. Some might argue the people are loud and flamboyant, they steal our women, and their soccer players melodramatically flop on the pitch. Listen – that’s all part of the secret Italian ingredient – keep it cool, confident, arrogant and extravagant. Forza Italia! 
Malt beverage with almonds, vanilla beans and coffee added.

double troubleFounders Double Trouble – 9.4% – Imperial IPA

Another relatively new brewery in Eastern Iowa this year that has multiple beers on my list. I think it goes to show that local breweries are going to have to up their game a bit to compete for shelf space with the craft beer greats such as Founders and Stone. Powerful double IPA with strong citrus flavor. Very drinkable and be cautious as it comes in at 9.4% ABV. Great stuff, can’t wait for spring release! From the brewery:

An imperial IPA that was brewed to turn your world upside down. Hops have got you coming and going. Pungent aromatics up front paired with a malt balanced backbone and a smooth bitter finish. 86 IBUs.

 

 

hoptimum
Sierra Nevada Hoptimum – 10.4% – Imperial IPA

The first time I had this beer I was enjoying one with my brother. His first comment upon opening the beer is that it smelled heavily of weed, which I guess must be a good thing, because this beer blew me away. In your face hop presence in both aroma and flavor. A very aggressive beer, not for virgin craft beer drinker. From the brewery:

A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp (#19) brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put- Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped and torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas. 

Hops, hops and more hops are the stars of this big, whole-cone Imperial IPA. Resinous ‘new-school’ and exclusive hop varieties carry the bold and aromatic nose. The flavor follows the aroma with layers of aggressive hoppiness, featuring notes of grapefruit rind, rose, lilac, cedar and tropical fruit – all culminating in a dry and lasting finish. 

Beer specs: 
ABV: 10.4%
Original Gravity: 22.8 Plato
Final Gravity: 4.5 Plato
Bitterness Units: 100 IBU
Color: Orange Amber
Bittering Hops: German Magnum
Aroma Hops: Simcoe & New Proprietary Variety
Dry Hops: Simcoe & New Proprietary Variety
Torpedo Hops: Citra & Chinook
Malts: Two-row Pale, Golden Promise, Munich & Wheat
Yeast: Ale


great riverGreat River Redband Coffee Stout – 6% – Stout

Brewed in the great state of Iowa used with their local coffee shops coffee beans this an intense coffee stout. Huge coffee flavor that pairs perfectly the dark chocolate and roasted malts in this stout. Nice bitter finish that lingers for a bit. A great beer, and glad to have this made in Iowa. From the brewery:

We love our local roaster’s New Orleans Iced Coffee so much we decided to use their beans in our brew. Redband Stout is made with Indonesian and Ethiopian beans using our 18-hour cold brew extraction method, resulting in a satisfying brew with intense coffee aromatics. The marriage of two of our favorite beverages.