Another tasty sounding sour coming our way from Clock House brewing this coming Friday, April 2nd! “Orange XXplosion” will be the second release of their XXplosion series! Here’s more from the brewery:
The second variant of our XXplosion series features a trio of orange citrus fruits including: Tangerine, Cara Cara Orange, and Southern Hemisphere Oranges. Thus, creating a complex plethora of flavor that XXplodes out the glass. Enjoy this crushable juice around the table during brunch or outside on warm sunny day. We’re talking Vitamin C all day long baby!Available on draft and in cans. No growler fills due to limited supply.Release date: Friday, April 2nd at 3 PM.
Prairie Artisan Ales Spectrum 6/4/12oz CANS – Sour Ale with Cinnamon, Hibiscus, and Chili Peppers. 5.3% ABV.
Prairie Artisan Ales Plum Conundrum 6/4/12oz CANS – Sour Ale with Plum, Black Currant, and Blackberry. 5.2% ABV.
CLOWN SHOES
Clown Shoes Space Cupcake 6/4/16oz CANS – Every Space Cupcake has been evil…until now. Space Cake’s signature sweet malt backbone and juicy hop profile meet a sessionable ABV in this American IPA. Mosaic hops are front and center in the citrusy aroma and flavor this delectable IPA presents. 5.75% ABV.
Clown Shoes DDH YEEEHAAW! 6/4/16oz CANS – This year’s edition of this New England IPA doubles down on its tropical citrus focus with a double dry hopping in the fermentation tank. With Citra, Azacca, and Mosaic hops leading the way. 7% ABV.
Clown Shoes DDH Zen Garden 6/4/16oz CAN – Double Dry Hopped New England India Pale Ale, flush with full-bodied, hazy flavor from wheat and oat in the malt bill and a steady stream of hop additions. Hopped with Azacca, Citra, and Mosaic. 6.75% ABV.
Clown Shoes Rainbows are Real 6/4/16oz CAN – Hazy IPA Infused with Terpenes. 6.75% ABV.
Clown Shoes Bubble Farm IPA 6/4/16oz CAN – American IPA maintains an approachable medium-body without sacrificing any of the full aroma and flavor of copious dry-hopping additions of Simcoe, Azacca, and Idaho 7 hops. 6.5% ABV.
Clown Shoes Clementine 6/4/16oz CAN – White Ale with Spices, All Natural Clementine Flavor, Sweet Orange Peel, Coriander, Mandarina Hops. 6% ABV.
Clown Shoes Mango Kolsch 6/4/16oz CAN – American Kōlsch with All Natural Mango Flavor, Columbus, and Huell Melon Hops. 5.5% ABV.
Clown Shoes Tropical Blender 6/4/16oz CANS – Smoothie IPA with Guava, Pineapple, Mango, and Lactose. 7% ABV.
Clown Shoes Space Cake 6/4/16oz CAN – Double IPA with Mosaic and Citra Hops. 9% ABV.
Clown Shoes Tuscan Picnic 6/4/16oz CAN – Rosé India Pale Ale brewed with Lambrusco Grape Juice for sweet fruit flavor and a refreshing dryness reminiscent of a picnic under the Tuscan Sun! 6.5% ABV.
Clown Shoes Haze Cake 6/4/16oz CANS – Hazy Double IPA with Mosaic, Citra, and Centennial hops, Honey, and 2-row malts, wheat. 9% ABV.
Clown Shoes Zebra Warren 2021 24/16oz CAN – Double IPA Mango and Pink Guava. 8% ABV.
Clown Shoes Galactica IPA 6/4/16oz CAN – Clown Shoes Famed Double IPA Dry hopped with Galaxy Hops, this one balances a hop profile of light bitterness and notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and pine with a clean malt backbone.. 8% ABV.
Clown Shoes Galacticake 6/4/16oz CAN – Double IPA Featuring a base brew of Space Cake dry-hopped per Galactica specs, Galacticake combines Clown Shoes signature Double IPAs to make for a bevy of tropical citrus aromas and flavor. A balanced body showcases notes of both pine and citrus. 9% ABV.
Clown Shoes Origin Story 1/12/19.2oz “Stovepipe” CAN – IPA Aged in Bourbon Barrels. Rich and complex notes of bourbon and oak mingle uniquely with subtle hoppiness and a sturdy, slightly sweet malt backbone. 9.75% ABV.
Clown Shoes Hammer of the Lion 24/16oz CAN – Imperial Stout blended with Wee Heavy Ale aged in Rum, Bourbon, and Brandy Barrels. Rich malt sweetness paired with complex notes of Rum, Bourbon, and dark chocolate. 11% ABV.
Clown Shoes Undead Party Crasher 6/4/16oz CAN – American Imperial Stout, with a kiss of smoke. Rich notes of coffee and chocolate mingle throughout an intense and full-bodied Stout. Holy Water is on the ingredients list, We are not kidding! 9% ABV.
As the weather warms and the itch of getting outside is finally getting scratched, the streets and sidewalks start to come to life in the Czech Village in Cedar Rapids. There are many locally owned restaurants, breweries, bars, and shops in the few blocks that make up the Czech Village area and this past weekend I was able to pay my first visit to The Red Frog. The Red Frog is owned by Jake Brummer and Amy Winkler, who had opened up the Kingston Pub only for the Derecho to rip its roof off. The Red Frog is located in what used to be Dirty Shirleys, tucked in between Anvil Meat Market and Luckys.
The Red Frog could fit the dive bar definition, which I love and appreciate, but the uniqueness and variety of their food menu is what many restaurants strive to achieve and many miss the boat. Great appetizers, sandwiches, and smoked meats make up the menu the but the Frog also serves breakfast on the weekends.
BEER 10 tap lines filled with a nice mix of styles and many local beers. Tank Puncher, Easy Eddy, Witch Slap, Tip the Cow, and a few more to go along with your typical domestics along with some breakfast cocktails if you choose to go that route. I went with a Witch Slap (a few of them) to go along with my food.
FOOD Went with my buddy’s recommendations at the started with Sriracha cheese balls. A brilliant call from him on this one, I know I have a lot of Top 5 lists, but these cheese balls definitely hit that list, maybe even to the top. The spice added to the breading from the sriracha and how perfectly cooked and creamy they were make for the perfect start and will wake up your taste buds a bit. Glad I had that cold beer next to me. Next up, the Reuben Wontons. Take your favorite wonton from your favorite chinese restaurant, and stuff that baby with a reuben mixture of swiss, kraut, and corned beef, add a side of homemade 1,000 island and you have an Irish twist on a delicious dish. So far, 2 for 2 at the Red Frog. Lastly, had to try something from the smoker. Really wanted the ribs but after devouring 2 apps I was getting a bit full, so I went with the smoked wing basket. 6 plump and juicy wings with the perfect amount of smoke, accompanied by one of the best blue cheese dressings I’ve had, raspberry habanero sauce, and regular wing sauce hit the spot. The wings were crispy, filling, and tasty.
OVERALL There are so many things on their menu that I haven’t tried yet that I would love to get a taste of. Do yourself a favor, head to the Czech Village and check out the many restaurants/bars/stores in that area, and then stop by The Red Frog and get yourself those sriracha cheese balls and a beer and just sit back and enjoy! Check out their menu by clicking HERE or their website by clicking HERE!
Crane Brewing Guava Weiss 4/6/12oz CANS – Sour Wheat Ale with Tons of Guava Fruit. 4.5% ABV
Crane Brewing If…Then…. 4/6/12oz CANS – Fantastic Scotch Ale with Caramel and light roast flavor. 8%. ABV.
Crane Brewing Thought & Memory 4/6/12oz CANS – Coffee Stout infused with Coffee from brand new KC roaster, Oleo Coffee with a high focus on family grown coffee from Brazil. 7.5% ABV.
Crane Brewing Trailsmith 4/6/12oz CANS – Classic Farmhouse Saison. Delicate esters, crisp, refreshing, and perfect for whatever trail you are on in life. 6.8% ABV.
Crane Brewing Farmhouse IPA 4/6/12oz CAN – Dry Hopped Belgian Style Farmhouse IPA. 6% ABV.
Crane Brewing It’s Just A Phaze 4/6/12oz CAN – Delicious NE-Style IPA. 6.5% ABV
Crane Brewing Odd Bird 4/6/12oz CAN – Mexican-Style Lager named for the Odd Bird Farm, who collects and uses our spent grain to feed their heritage Meishan pigs. 4.7% ABV.
Crane Brewing Omar 4/6/12oz CAN – Named after their cat that passed away too soon, Omar is a take on the traditional English porter. The fruity esters compliment the notes of bitter chocolate, licorice, and a hint of caramel sweetness. Almost an acceptable substitution for snuggles with sweet Omar! 6% ABV.
Crane Brewing Thundergong 4/6/12oz CAN – Just in time for Spring! Wheat Ale with Orange Peel. 1$ from every case donated to Steps of Faith Foundation for amputees in need. 5% ABV.
Crane Brewing Tea Weiss 4/6/12oz CAN – Easily their most approachable sour beer, this Berliner Weiss combines the distinct flavors of a berry rooibos tea blend with the mild acidity and tartness of their base beer. Tea Weiss pours like a fine rosé with a delicate pink hue attributed to hibiscus found in the tea, which is sourced from the Hugo Tea Company located in North Kansas City. 4.1% ABV.
Crane Brewing Hail Mellie 4/6/12oz CAN – brewed in honor of Mellie Pullman, the nation’s first woman brewmaster. This recipe, name, label, and release were created by the Women of Crane Brewing. Gose with Cucumbers & Watermelon. 4.5% ABV.
Crane Brewing Apple Spice Gose 4/6/12oz CAN – As delicious by the fire or on the beach, they’ve struck the perfect balance with this lemony tart Gose with Apples and Cinnamon. 4.5% ABV
Crane Brewing Beet Weiss 4/6/12oz CAN – The beer that made Michael Crane famous is an earthy, zinger that pairs great with food. The Berliner-style Weiss combines a sour German wheat beer with an unlikely vegetable, and, frankly, they look really good together. “Not Your Grandma’s Canned Beets!” 4.5% ABV.
Crane Brewing Lady Midday 4/6/12oz CAN – Gose brewed with Green Hatch Chiles, Apricot, and Mint. 5.5% ABV.
Thew Brewing will be celebrating their 3 year anniversary with a weekend full of new beers available for purchase or to enjoy in the taproom and much more! Here’s what they have going:
Thew Brewing is gearing up to celebrate our third anniversary! We have several days of fun planned. *Friday, March 12th – March Comedy Madness 7 & 9:30 PM – Tickets at shop.thewbrew.com/events *Saturday, March 13th – Thew Anniversary Party & Bottle Release 12-10 PMNoon: Bottle release of Double Tappa (BA imperial brown) and its coconut chocolate variant, $20/each We’ll have a fun tap lineup, including Double Tappa and the coconut chocolate variant. The Hacienda Las Glorias/La Cantina taco truck will be on site from 5-9 PM. *Tuesday, March 16th – Thew Anniversary 2-8 PM $4 tulips of Thew Askew #3 (with grape juice for a sparkling wine-like sour) *Wednesday, March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day 12-8 PM Thew Askew #6 release$3 pints of green Lager, Esq.
Clock House is back at with another release! This Friday they will be releasing “Morning Nitecap” coffee sour! This will be a draft only release at the brewery, here are the details for this:
We love pushing the boundaries of innovation. For this small project we partnered up with Dash coffee roasters to create a simple but complex sour. We infused a small portion of our sour base with carefully selected Kenyan coffee that was roasted on the lighter side. Thus accentuating the tropical fruit character of this particular bean. We chose this bean alongside with our friends because we felt it paired well with our already fruit forward sour base. We then added vanilla to marry the coffee and beer together. Creating a very complex yet familiar character. Roasty nose, with a tropical sweet mid palate, and a familiar coffee aftertaste.Draft Only Release on Friday, March 5th at 3 PM.
Clock House will be bringing back the delicious double New England IPA, Witches be Trippin’ back to tap lines and in cans on March 11th! Here’s more from Clock House:
The witches have returned with their signature Double NEIPA potion. This hazy, juicy, witch is flippin’ trippin’. Double dry hopped with loads of Azacca, Idaho 7, Citra, and Mosaic. Intense mango and tropical melon rounded off with a savoring sweet finish.Available in cans/growlers, and on tap
Big Grove Brewery in Solon will be tapping a couple of heavy hitters tomorrow (Sunday 2/28) to go along with their amazing brunch menu! 2019 Coconut Vanilla Richard and 2020 Richard the Whale will find their way to the tap lines in Solon on Sunday morning! To go along with those two beers they will also be serving: *Biscuits and gravy *Brioche french toast with coffee custard *Breakfast pizza
Brunch starts at 9 a.m. A perfect way to start your Sunday and finish your weekend!
Tons of brews will be hitting the shelves this week thanks to Abu Nawas! Here’s what’s coming:
Evil Twin Brewing:
Evil Twin Pink Pineapple 6/4/16oz CANS – CORAL-PINK SOUR IPA WITH NOTES OF RIPE PINEAPPLE AND A DROP OF LEMON. MEDIUM BODIED AND TART WITH A HINT OF SWEETNESS. 7% ABV.
Evil Twin Blue Raspberry 6/4/16oz CANS – AQUA-BLUE SOUR IPA WITH NOSTALGIC NOTES OF CANDIED RASPBERRIES AND A KICK OF LEMON. MODERATE TARTNESS WITH A TOUCH OF SWEETNESS. 7% ABV.
Evil Twin Brewing ET Left Home 1 6/4/16oz CANS – Sour IPA with Blueberry and Raspberry. 7% ABV.
Evil Twin Most Men Pursue IPA With Such Breathless Haste That They Hurry Drinking It 6/4/16oz CANS – IPA DDH with Ariana, Citra, and Callista. 7% ABV.
Blackberry Farm Brewery:
Blackberry Farm BFB Stout 6/4/16oz CANS – This robust, hoppy American Stout is a hearty welcome on a brisk evening, but balanced and drinkable for enjoying year-round. In addition to a complex roasted malt character of coffee and dark chocolate, a hefty addition of American hops adds bright, distinctive layers of tropical fruits, citrus, and pine. 6.8% ABV.
Blackberry Farm Leather Britches 6/4/16oz CAN – Dark, Rich Porter featuring a malty finish and hints of dark fruit and chocolate. An homage to the farm tradition of Leather Britches. An old southern method for preserving late-summer green beans. The beans are harvested, left in their pod, and hung up to dry. Dehydrating on the string, they start to look like leather pant legs. Brewed in collaboration with Heidi Geist of the 48 Beer Project. 6.4% ABV.
Blackberry Farm Spring Saison 12/750ml – A yearning for better days! Made with a healthy proportion of wheat, and gently spiced. 6.2% ABV.
Blackberry Farm Native Series Sorghum Saison 12/750ml – Farmhouse Ale brewed with Tennessee Heritage Malt, Sorghum syrup, and fermented with a wild strain of native yeast from the orchards at Blackberry Farm. 6.3% ABV.
Blackberry Farm Classic Saison 6/4/12oz CAN – Belgian-style Saison features European noble-type hops, authentic Belgian Saison yeast, and the finest European two-row malt. 6.3% ABV
Blackberry Farm Mountain Lager 6/4/12oz CAN – Vienna-style Lager showcases Vienna and dark Munich malts, with distinctively toasty, bready aromas and flavors. A judicious hopping lends balance to the malty goodness. 5% ABV.
Blackberry Farm Boundary Tree 6/4/12oz CAN – A hop-forward Farmhouse Ale brewed with Hallertau Blanc, Southern Cross, Comet, and Citra hops. 6.5% ABV
Twelve Percent Beer:
Twelve Percent Beer Project House Lager 4/6/12oz CAN – A Snappy American Lager. 5% ABV.
American Solera:
American Solera Power TIPA 6/4/16oz CAN – Triple IPA with Citra & Mosaic Hops. 10% ABV.
American Solera This Is Cashmere 6/4/16oz CANS – American IPA brewed with Cashmere, Azacca & Mosaic hops. 7% ABV.
FAT ORANGE CAT FOC:
Fat Orange Cat FOC Baby Kittens 6/4/16oz CANS – NE IPA with Citra, Simcoe & Galaxy Hops. 6.5% ABV.
Fat Orange Cat FOC Dazed and Confused Teenage Kittens 6/4/16oz CANS – Awww, they’re growing up and going through those awkward & rebellious teenage years! A slightly amped-up version of Baby kittens, and aggressively hopped and dank; clocking in at 7.10% ABV.
Fat Orange Cat Vito The Beer Whale Cat 6/4/16oz CAN – Double IPA with Azacca and Simcoe Hops. 8% ABV
Fat Orange Cat Living In Our Own Private Idaho 6/4/16oz CANS – NE-IPA with Idaho 7, Azacca, and Simcoe hops. Citrusy with a hint of that undeniable piney Idaho 7 hop flavor on the end. 7.5% ABV.
Fat Orange Cat FOC I Don’t Like Mondays 6/4/16oz CAN – New England style IPA brewed with Galaxy, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops. 7.5% ABV.
Fat Orange Cat FOC Severe Tire Damage 6/4/16oz CAN – New England-style IPA hop forwarded with Simco, Citra and Mosaic hops. It’s a big beer at 9.4% ABV.
