Tag: iabeerbaron

Iowa Eats Destination: Luna Valley Farm; Decorah, IA

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Sitting on a beautiful farmstead somewhere on the outskirts of Decorah, Iowa is one of the best hidden food destinations Iowa has to offer. Luna Valley Farm and their brick oven pizza coupled with the setting that they offer make this an Iowa eats destination for sure.

Most of my blog visitors have more than likely been to Decorah as it has two of Iowa’s most popular breweries in Toppling Goliath and Pulpit Rock. Both places are well worth the drive there as well and I’m also a big fan of Mabe’s pizza…BUT…..if you are there on a Friday night, no dinner plans, get google maps up and get to Luna Valley. Not only can you eat there, drink some great local brews, but you can also go glamping in one of their cabin/tents! Also, they are only open from 4-8 and ONLY on Fridays! Get there early, grab a seat in the barn, and enjoy.

Seeing how many people made it there on this particular Friday night makes me want to rethink calling it a “hidden” food destination. It’s a popular spot, very popular. Once the dough is out, that’s all she wrote. Luckily, we got there in time and got our orders in. The first thing I noticed when ordering was the excellent beer selection! Pulpit Rock, TG, PIVO and a few others on tap. I ordered a Saftig, and that beer and that setting is about as good as it gets!

 

The pizza was wonderful. Chewy crust, fresh toppings, and a great sauce. We went with the Iowaiian – bacon, pineapple, and jalapeno and the margherita and friends got the Pepperoncini pizza. All 3 were fantastic! Even with how busy they were the staff was extremely friendly, helpful and added to what was a memorable evening! Check it out the next time you hit Decorah on Friday night, you won’t be disappointed in this Iowa Eats Destination!

Abu Nawas drops this week: Evil Twin + Superstition Meadery

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evil twin

Some tastiness once again coming from Abu Nawas this week. Let’s get started!

EVIL TWIN

  • Evil Twin Learn What Is to Be Taken Seriously and Laugh at the Rest 16oz CAN – Hazy NE-IPA. 7% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Summer Cocktail Series Mojito 16oz CAN – Mojito style Sour DIPA brewed with Lime & Mint. 7% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Summer Sour Sun Saft 16oz CAN – Mosaic DIPA brewed with Black Currant  & Mint. 8% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Summer Cocktail Series Bellini 16oz CAN – Bellini style Sour DIPA brewed with Peaches. 7% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Even More Little Tiny Baby Jesus16oz CAN – Oatmeal Stout brewed with Molasses. 7% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Even More 6 lb 8 oz Newborn Infant Jesus16oz CAN –  Session Milk Stout brewed with Lactose. 5% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Brewing Even More Jesus 16oz CAN – Jeppe Legendary Imperial Stout. 12% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Brewing Even More COCO Jesus16oz CAN – Imperial Stout brewed with Maple Syrup and Coconut. 12% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Brewing Even More PECAN PIE Jesus16oz CAN –  Imperial stout with Pecan. 12% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Aun Mas Cafe Jesus 12oz CAN – Barcelona brewed Imperial Stout brewed with Coffee Collective Espresso. 12% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Aun Mas Chili Jesus12oz CAN – Barcelona Brewed version of Even More Jesus with Chili Peppers. 12% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Aun Mas TODO Jesus12oz CAN – Imperial Stout. The amalgamation of every Aun Mas Variation. Brewed with Chili Peppers, Cinnamon, Cocoa Nibs, & Coffee. 12% ABV.
  • Evil Twin / Prairie Bible Belt 16oz CAN – A Collab of Epic Proportions. Bible Belt takes elements we love from Prairie Bomb! and combines them with Evil Twin Brewing’s world-famous stout, Even More Jesus. 13% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Apricot Compote Sour16oz CAN –  Sour brewed with Apricot, Cinnamon, & Brown Sugar. 6% ABV.
  • Evil Twin Rhubarb Compote 16oz CAN – Fruited Sour Ale brewed with  Rhubarb & Vanilla. 4% ABV.

SUPERSTITION MEADERY

  • Superstition Meadery Chocolate Marion 375ml Bottle – Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Cacao Mead.
  • Superstition Meadery Coffee Marion 375ml Bottle – Blackberry, Blueberry, and Raspberry fermented with Coffee Beans.
  • Superstition Meadery Tahitian Honeymoon750ml Bottle – Semi-sweet Mead made with Tahitian vanilla beans. Perfect sundowner in this honey wine fermented with Tahitian vanilla beans.
  • Superstition Meadery Blueberry Spaceship Box 750ml Bottle – A spectacular blend of sweet and tart, of apple and blueberry Mead Cider Blend.
  • Superstition Meadery Hera’s Orchard 750ml Bottle – The 11th labor of Hercules was to steal “Golden Apples” from Hera’s Orchard, which historians now believe were actually apricots. Our Apricot Peach Mead transports you to a hillside in late summer stealing stonefruit at the peak of ripeness. The Apricot Peach Mead in this bottle is a perfect balance of tart “Golden Apples” and sweet peaches.
  • Superstition Meadery Peanut Butter Jelly Crime750ml Bottle – They did it. They put a peanut butter jelly sandwich in a bottle. Some would say that this is a crime against all that is decent in the world of craft beverages, but this Peanut Butter Jelly Crime has yet to receive judgment from you, a distinguished member of the jury. So carefully examine all of the evidence provided by the prosecution, and consider the alibi of the defense, as you decipher the multifaceted complexity of the case. As you enjoy PBJC, don’t forget the toast!
  • Superstition Meadery War Honey 750ml Bottle – A blend of organic Ukrainian Sunflower honey and lemon, the War Honey is then prepped for battle thanks to an ample Simcoe and Citra dry hopping. Light gold with a deliciously crisp honey-lemon base, it offers a nice hop bite that adds citrus and floral flavors.
  • Superstition Meadery World Harvest 375ml Bottle – A sweet and complex delight made with AZ wildflower honey, Turkish Sultana raisins, maple syrup, Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans and dark muscovado sugar from Mauritius
  • Superstition Meadery Lagrimas De Oro 750ml Bottle – Mesquite honey- bourbon barrel-aged, gold medal winner at the 2018 Mazer Cup International.
  • Superstition Meadery Strawberry Sunrise 750ml Bottle – This semi-sweet mead is an ultimate expression of strawberries, honey, and vanilla.
  • Superstition Meadery Marion 750ml Bottle – Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry Mead. Gold Medal at the Mazer Cup International. A superstition Favorite.
  • Superstition Meadery Ragnarok 750ml Bottle – Wildflower Arizona Honey Mead. Authentic representation of the AZ Desert Terroir. Named for the future events in Norse mythology where a great battle and flood will occur, and the earth will be reborn.
  • Superstition Meadery Aphrodisia Batch 20 750ml Bottle – Made with Arizona Mesquite honey and California Syrah grapes, and aged for 12 months in American oak barrels that previously held White Series and Aphrodisia meads.
  • Superstition Meadery Aphrodisia Batch 21 750ml Bottle – Made with Arizona Wildflower honey and California Cabernet grapes, and aged for 12 months in American oak barrels that previously held White Series and Aphrodisia meads.
  • Superstition Meadery Aphrodisia Cuvee375ml Bottle – A specially curated blend aged in American oak barrels which previously held the White Series and Aphrodisia.
  • Superstition Meadery Berry White 500ml Bottle – Gold Medal winner at the Mazer Cup International, this sweet and rich drink is unparalleled in quality. The flavors in this wine reveal raspberry and white chocolate notes as you have never experienced.
  • Superstition Meadery Black Berry White 500ml Bottle – Blackberry tartness wearing a silky cloak of white chocolate awaits your lips inside this container of liquid art.
  • Superstition Meadery Blue Berry White 500ml Bottle – The sweetest of berries, the finest honey and subtle notes of white chocolate and balancing tannins await your palate in this fine craft beverage.
  • Superstition Meadery Straw Berry White 500ml Bottle – An American oak barrel-aged dessert mead made with strawberry and white chocolate.
  • Superstition Meadery La Petite Mort 375ml Bottle –  Barrel-Aged Belgian Dark Strong Mead with raspberries & cacao nibs, aged in Toppling Goliath Assassin Imperial Stout barrels. Meadery and in Iowa exclusive.

GIVE AWAY TIME! Darkness Day Free Pass!

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It’s giveaway time! I will be giving away (1) free weekend pass to Surly Darkness Day which is held this year from September 27th to September 28th at the Somerset Amphitheater in Somerset, WI. The party kicks off on Friday with Dawn of Darkness beer festival which features 20 breweries from around the country not found in Minnesota or Wisconsin and will include Mikerphone, J. Wakefield, Other Half and TRVE. Then it’s the main event on Saturday when Darkness Day happens! This is when you will get your bottle of Darkness and have the opportunity to get variants as well –Double Stuffed, Mole, and Old Fashioned. There will be other exclusive beers, cask tappings and a day of music!

 Here’s what YOU need to do to enter the giveaway:
*Share this post on either Facebook or Twitter
*Tag me @iabeerbaron and use hashtag #SurlyDarknessDay
*Tag one friend who would be interested in attending
*Comment on your favorite Surly beer

*Names will be entered and then 1 winner will be randomly drawn on Thursday August 1st (1 week from today) which hopefully gives the winner enough time to plan their trip up north!

Here’s what YOU win!
*1 weekend pass to Darkness Day (Sept. 27th-28th)
*1 bottle of Darkness
*Reserved campground/parking from 9/27-9/29)

 Here’s what I’ll need from the winner:
*Full name
*email address
*street address
*phone number
The tickets will be sent via email and you’ll need to show an ID at the gate before entering. 

• All details on the event will be posted and updated here: surlydarknessday.com

 

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Abu Nawas Drops this week! Jester King, Decadent, Hoof Hearted, Abomination + Browerij Kees!

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Big drop of some great beers including a newish brewery hitting our market, Browerij Kees! Check out the list below and have a great weekend:

JESTER KING

  • Colonel Toby 750ml Bottle –  Light Hoppy Farmhouse Ale. Truly Delicious. 3.4% ABV. A Beer Worth Biking across the country for!💗💗💗
  • Mad Meg 750ml Bottle – Provision Ale, Golden Farmhouse Ales. A special beer that is suitable for extended storage and aging. 9% ABV. The name “Mad Meg”, refers to a peasant woman from Flemish folklore who leads an army of women to pillage hell. She’s famously depicted in Pieter Brueghel the Elder’s 1562 painting by the same name. 💗💗💗
  • Foudreweizen 750ml Bottle – Farmhouse wheat beer fermented in an oak foudre. Collaboration with Austin’s Famed Live Oak Brewing Company. 5.6% ABV. 💗💗💗
  • Saison Americaine 750ml Bottle –  Jester king’s take on the modern-American, mixed culture Saison. 5.2%  💗💗💗
  • Snörkel 750ml Bottle –  Umami Exploration Project. Farmhouse ale brewed with Alderwood smoked sea salt and Texas-grown oyster mushrooms. 4.5% ABV. 💗💗💗

 Jester King Draft:

  • Colonel Toby 20L Keg – Light Hoppy Farmhouse Ale. Truly Delicious. 3.4% ABV. A Beer Worth Biking across the country for!💗💗💗
  • Mad Meg 20L Keg – Provision Ale, Golden Farmhouse Ales. A special beer that is suitable for extended storage and aging. 9% ABV. The name “Mad Meg”, refers to a peasant woman from Flemish folklore who leads an army of women to pillage hell. She’s famously depicted in Pieter Brueghel the Elder’s 1562 painting by the same name. 💗💗💗
  • Saison Americaine  20L Keg –  Jester king’s take on the modern-American, mixed culture Saison. 5.2%    💗💗💗
  • Correlation – Muscat Apfelbier 20L – Muscat barrel-aged beer refermented Texas Gala apples & chamomile. The beer is light, bright and spritzy. 6.3% ABV. 💗💗💗

DECADENT ALES

  • Decadent Ales Blackberry Cream Pop 16oz CAN –  Mosaic Dry-Hopped DIPA brewed with Blackberries & Vanilla 8.6% ABV.
  • Decadent Ales Coconut Citrus Citra 16oz CAN – Triple Dry-Hopped All-Citra IPA brewed with Coconut & Citrus Fruit. 10.8% ABV.
  • Decadent Ales Elderflower Mochi 16oz CAN – Mochi-Inspired Double Dry Hopped DIPA brewed with Elderflowers. 8.6% ABV.
  • Decadent Ales Wildberry Sorbet 16oz CAN –  Sour Ale brewed with Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry, and Raspberry. 5.8% ABV.
  • Decadent Ales S’mores 16oz CAN –  All Mosaic Double Dry-Hopped DIPA brewed with Graham Crackers & Marshmallows. 9.1% ABV.


Decadent Draft:
  • Decadent Ales  Blackberry Cream Pop 1/6 bbl Keg – Mosaic Dry-Hopped DIPA brewed with Blackberries & Vanilla 8.6% ABV.
  • Decadent Ales Elderflower Mochi 1/6 bbl Keg –  Mochi-Inspired Double Dry Hopped DIPA brewed with Elderflowers. 8.6% ABV.
  • Decadent Ales S’mores 1/6 bbl Keg  –  All Mosaic Double Dry-Hopped DIPA brewed with Graham Crackers & Marshmallows. 9.1% ABV.
Hoof-Hearted-Everybody-Wants-Some-Simcoe-4PK-16OZ-CAN

HOOF HEARTED

  • Hoof Hearted Did We Just Become Best  Friends? (Amarillo&Simcoe) 16oz CAN – Rotating dual hop series. 8% NE-Style DIPA with Amarillo & Simcoe.
  • Hoof Hearted Did We Just Become Best Friends?(Galaxy & El Dorado) 16oz CAN – Rotating dual hop series. 8% NE-Style DIPA with Galaxy & El Dorado.
  • Hoof Hearted Dorks of Hazard 16oz CAN – Double dry-hopped Galaxy & Mosaic IPA brewed in collaboration with Embassy Boardshop and #dudleyclips. 7% ABV.
  • Hoof Hearted Everybody Wants Some Azacca16oz CAN –  Rotating single-hop DIPA. 8% All  Azacca Double Dry-Hopped DIPA.
Hoof Hearted Draft:  
  • Hoof Hearted Did We Just Become Best Friends? (Amarillo&Simcoe) 1/6 bbl Keg – Rotating dual hop series. 8% NE-Style DIPA with Amarillo & Simcoe.
  • Hoof Hearted Hoof Hearted Everybody Wants Some Azacca 1/6 bbl Keg –  Rotating single-hop DIPA. 8% All Azacca Double Dry-Hopped DIPA.
  • Hoof Hearted Hoof Hearted Everybody Wants Some Simcoe 1/6 bbl Keg – Rotating single-hop DIPA. 8% All Simcoe Double Dry-Hopped DIPA.
Hoof-Hearted-Everybody-Wants-Some-Simcoe-4PK-16OZ-CAN

ABOMINATION BREWING

  • Abomination Wandering Into the Fog16oz CAN – Brewed with a heavy wheat and oat malt bill, hopped and double dry-hopped aggressively with 7+lbs per bbl of Mosaic, Pacific Jade, Citra, Summit and a ton of Galaxy! Fluffy, pillowy, juicy, dank, DDH goodness. 8.6% ABV
  • Abomination Bedtime Stories16oz CAN – Imperial Milk Stout with Graham Crackers, Flaked Oats, Vanilla Beans and Marshmallows. 9.3% ABV.
  • Abomination Rotting Earth 16oz CAN – Double IPA with a blend of Ariana, Pacific Jade, Eukanot and Denali. 9.3% ABV.
  • Abomination Shotgun Sour 16oz CAN – Sour Ale brewed with Black Currant, Apricot, & Peach. 6.1% ABV.
Abomination Draft:
  • Abomination Good As New 1/6 Keg – Double Dry Hopped NE IPA brewed with pale malt, flaked oats, and wheat. Hopped aggressively with an irresponsible amount of Summer, Styrian Dragon, Vic Secret, and Mosaic hops
  • Abomination Brewing Dystopian Galaxy 1/6 bbl Keg – DDH NEIPA brewed with flaked oats, and wheat. Kettle hopped with mosaic and then double dry hopped with an out of this world amount of galaxy and mosaic hops. 8.3% ABV.
  • Abomination Rotting Earth 1/6 BBL Keg – Double IPA with a blend of Ariana, Pacific Jade, Eukanot and Denali. 9.3% ABV.
  • Abomination Shotgun Sour 1/6 bbl – Sour Ale brewed with Black Currant, Apricot, & Peach. 6.1% ABV.

Browerij Kees!

  • Browerij Kees! Caramel Fudge Stout 33cl Bottle – Formerly known as Emelisse Crème brulée Stout. Caramel & Chocolate Imperial Stout. 11.5% ABV. This chocolate imperial stout will seduce you!
  • Brouwerij Kees! Barrel-Aged Caramel Fudge Stout 33cl Bottle – Woodford Bourbon Barrel Aged Caramel Fudge Imperial Stout. 11.5% ABV.
  • Brouwerij Kees! Double Shot 33cl Bottle –  Espresso Imperial Stout. 11% ABV..

NewBo City Market Presents: Battle of the Brews – July 20th!

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NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids is hosting Battle of the Brews on July 20th from 3-6 p.m. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Iowa. VIP tickets available for folks who want early access to the festival and the beers from 2-3. Here’s more courtesy of NewBo City Market:

Join us for the first annual Battle of the Brews benefitting the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Iowa on Saturday, July 20th from 3:00—6:00 PM at the NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids. Early access is available for VIP ticket holders from 2:00—3:00 PM. Sip and socialize as breweries across Iowa and the Midwest put their beer in the ring and battle it out for the top spot. Breweries will have the chance to either create a specialty brew or put in a tried and true brew to compete in the battle.

A panel of judges will determine the Battle of the Brews victor. Each attendee will have one vote to decide the winner of the People’s Choice Award. There will be fun ways to earn more votes for ultra-competitive attendees. The champion will take home the coveted Battle of the Brews trophy and major bragging rights.

Besides beer samples from their favorite breweries, attendees can enjoy live music, yard games, and purchase foods from various food trucks and carts during the event.

List of breweries who will be in attendance:

*Contrary Brewing
*Madhouse Brewing
*Confluence Brewing
*timbukbru
*Lake Time
*Kalona Brewing
*Clock House Brewing
*Exile Brewing
*Thew Brewing
*Firetrucker Brewing
*Backpocket Brewing
*Reunion Brewing
*Millstream Brewery
*Iowa Brewing

Get your tickets at this link: http://www2.mda.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=110638

Big Grove Releasing “Velvet” vanilla imperial stout +”Lunar Tourist” hazy IPA in bottles/cans July 20th!

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Another can’t miss Big Grove release approaches as they are set to release “Velvet” vanilla imperial stout and “Lunar Tourist” hazy IPA with South African hops on Saturday July 20th! Here’s more!

Saturday, July 20, Big Grove Brewery is releasing two new beers on draft and in bottles + cans.

Velvet | Vanilla Imperial Stout with Madagascar Vanilla
Lunar Tourist | Hazy Double IPA with South African Hops

Arrive early for brunch and stick around for what will be an all-day party. 9:00AM Doors Open. No tickets required. This event will be hosted at both the Iowa City Taproom and Solon Brewpub.

Big Grove + Odell team up for “Buddy Flight” on July 13th!

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A great chance to chat it up some Big Grove’s finest and also talk to some folks from Odell Brewing Company as Big Grove + Odell will host “Buddy Flight” at Big Grove in Iowa City on July 13th! Here’s the lineup:

Calling all beer lovers! Our friends from Colorado are coming to hang with us, and we’ve got all sorts of shenanigans in the works.

BUDDY FLIGHTS | One flight, two breweries, eight beers:

Odell
– Sippin Pretty (Fruited Sour Ale)
– Mountain Standard (IPA)
– 90 Shilling (Amber Ale)
– Colorado Lager

Big Grove
– Summer Jam (Fruited Sour Ale)
– Colorado Smuggler (Hazy IPA)
– 1939 (Amber Ale)
– Iowa City Lager

KILL THE KEG
Odell is bringing two kegs of their Swannay’s Pils to the party, and two lucky customers, the ones who order the pint that blows each keg, will win an Odell-branded river tube!

Doors open at 11AM, but the fun doesn’t stop ’til the beer is gone.

Abu Nawas drops this week: Fat Orange Cat, Clown Shoes, Nightmare + Public Access

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A whole bunch of beers will be hitting the market this week from Abu Nawas. A big list so let’s get started:

CLOWN SHOES

  • Clown Shoes SUNHAT 16oz CANS – A crisp Hazy Farmhouse IPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado Hops. Great Citrus-Forward Aroma Flavor. 7% ABV
  • Clown Shoes Exercising of Baxter 22oz Bottles – American Imperial Stout Aged in Rum and Port Barrels. Complex notes of rich chocolate, dark fruit, and vanilla. 11% ABV.
  • Clown Shoes Hammer of the Lion 16oz CANS – 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. ***NEW FORMAT***
  • Clown Shoes Itaska Loonidragon 22oz Bottle– Bourbon Barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout brewed with Coconut. ABV: 11%
  • Lil Crispy 16oz CAN– Beautiful Sessionable Pale Ale. 4.8% ABV.
  • Clown Shoes Galactica 16oz CAN – Galaxy-hopped Double IPA. 8.0% ABV.
  • Clown Shoes Space Cake 16oz CAN – Clown Shoes All Star DIPA. All-Mosaic hopped Double IPA 9.0% ABV.
  • Clown Shoes Pineapple Space Cake Cake 16oz CAN – Pineapple Double IPA. Matching the fruit flavor are juicy citrus hop notes from additions of Mosaic and Azacca hops. 7.77% ABV.

FAT ORANGE CAT

  • Fat Orange Cat FOC Blood Orange Billy 16oz CAN – Blood Orange NE-IPA. 6.66% ABV
  • Fat Orange Cat Little Blue Penguin  16oz CAN – Nelson Sauvin & Motueka NE-Style IPA. 6.6% ABV.
  • Fat Orange Remove The Beer From The Bottom Of The Ocean 16oz CAN – Eureka & Mosaic NE-Style IPA. 7.5% ABV
  • Fat Orange Cat Lorenzo Blue 16oz CAN – New England DIPA LOADED with Galaxy and Citra. 8% ABV.
  • Fat Orange Cat She Drives A Plymouth Satellite16oz CAN – NE IPA brewed with Galaxy, Simcoe and Citra hops. 7.5% ABV.
  • Fat Orange Cat Do the Escalator To the 13th Floor 16oz CAN – NEW ENGLAND DOUBLE IPA. Five different hops in this DIPA – small batch. 8.3% ABV.
  • Fat Orange Cat I Don’t Like Mondays 16oz CAN – NE-Style IPA hopped with Mosaic & Simcoe. 7.5% ABV.
  • Fat Orange Cat Sweet Jane Key Lime 16oz CAN – Key Lime & Lactose Milkshake IPA. 7.9% ABV

NIGHTMARE BREWING

Nightmare Brewing Cans:
  • Nightmare Brewing Exposure 16oz CAN – Imperial IPA with 100% Cryo Citra and Mosaic. 10.1% ABV.
  • Nightmare Brewing Glasgow Smile 16oz CAN – Gose soured on Wild Scottish Bilberries with Heather, Lemon Zest, Raspberries and Blueberries. 6.7% ABV.
  • Nightmare Brewing Windlass of Erasmus 16oz CAN –  Back In!! Gose brewed with Blackberries, Blackcurrant, & Black Sea Salt. 6.6% ABV.

Public Access

  • Public Access Emergency Broadcast 16oz CAN – Double Dry Hopped Hazy Pale Ale. 5.2% ABV.
  • Public Access Omniscient Signal 16oz CAN – DIPA with Galaxy, Citra and Simcoe. 8.3% ABV.

Abu Nawas Drops: American Solera debuts in Iowa! Grimm and Prairie!

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Huge drop of excellent brews from Grimm and Prairie will be hitting shelves this week courtesy of Abu Nawas. Along with that, the 1st Iowa drop of American Solera brewery will be debuting on the shelves. Here’s this week’s update:

AMERICAN SOLERA

  • American Solera / Prairie Collab. All Y’all  – We wanted to bring All Y’all together for a really special draft only DIPA we are brewing for you this month. All Y’all is a hazy DIPA we dry hopped with Citra and Mosaic hops that comes in at 8.5% ABV.

PRAIRIE 

  • Prairie Bomb 355ml Bottles – The Beer that started it all for Prairie. Imperial Stout aged on coffee, cacao nibs, vanilla beans and chili peppers. 13.0% ABV.
  • Prairie Hulk HandsCAN -Gose dry hopped with Falconer’s Flight and Cascade Hops. 5.4% ABV.
  • Prairie Paradise 355ml Bottles – Imperial Stout with Vanilla and Coconut. 13% ABV.
  • Prairie Birthday Bomb 2019355ml Bottles – Prairie Yearly Celebration. It Happens only once a year. Get it while you can. A New Version this year. Imperial Stout Aged on Coffee, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Chili Peppers, Homemade Caramel Sauce and Toffee. 12% ABV. 🎂💣🎈🎉🙌
  • Prairie Barrel Aged Birthday Bomb 2019 355ml Bottles – Bourbon Barrel Aged Version of Birthday Bomb. 14.7% ABV. 🥃🎂💣🎈🎉🙌
  • Prairie Picnic CAN – A Picnic Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV
  • Prairie Standard – Light, crisp farmhouse ale dry hopped with Motueka hops, a lovely New Zealand hop with a spicy lime like flavor and aroma. 5.6% ABV.
    Prairie Draft:
    • Prairie Bomb 1/6 bbl Keg – The Beer that started it all for Prairie. Imperial Stout aged on coffee, cacao nibs, vanilla beans and chili peppers. 13.0% ABV.
    • Prairie Hulk Hands 1/6 bbl Keg –  A Restock just in time for this sweltering weather. Gose dry hopped with Falconer’s Flight and Cascade Hops. 5.4% ABV.
    • Prairie Picnic  1/6 bbl Keg  – A Picnic Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV
    • Prairie Standard 1/6 bbl Keg – Light, crisp farmhouse ale dry hopped with Motueka hops, a lovely New Zealand hop with a spicy lime like flavor and aroma. 5.6% ABV.
    • Prairie Birthday Bomb 2019  1/6 bbl Keg  – Prairie Yearly Celebration. It Happens only once a year. Get it while you can. A New Version this year. Imperial Stout Aged on Coffee, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans, Chili Peppers, Homemade Caramel Sauce and Toffee. 12% ABV. 🎂💣🎈🎉🙌
    • Deconstructed Bomb. A Set of 4 different 1/6 kegs – Coffe, Chili Peppers, Cacao Nibs and Vanilla –

GRIMM

  • Grimm Gamelan Pop! 16oz CAN – Sour ale – Gamelan Pop! sour is a powerful tropical burst— Guava, Mango, and Kaffir Lime Leaves combine with Tahitian vanilla beans, milk sugar, Azacca dry hops, and our Pop! sour candy juice base. 6% ABV. 🍈🍈🍈🍈🥭🥭🥭🍃🍃🍃
  • Grimm Castling 500ml – Farmhouse Pale Ale. This beer is BELOVED in the Grimm household. It is our most traditional, simple, and perfect beer. Brewed with complexly step mashed Pilsner malt and a generous whirlpool addition of noble hops, this is pure old world elegance. We think it’s best enjoyed with a slow pour into the center of a tall glass, to raise that gorgeous rocky white head that lasts right down to the last sip. Quenching with notes of hay, pepper, candied citrus. Noble hops age very differently than new world hops; we like to savor the flavor transitions over months in the bottle. Recommended if you like De Ranke, De la Senne, Dupont, Thiriez and Blaugies. 5.5% ABV. Joe Grimm’s favorite Grimm beer! 💗💗💗
  • Grimm Full Frequency500ml – Mixed-culture berliner weisse. Laced with rhubarb and apricot, Full Frequency is the second in our new series of traditional-method raw berliner weisse! We are one of a tiny handful of breweries on the globe making berliner in the old way — brewed from step-mashed wheat-based wort that is fermented with a long, mixed culture fermentation, instead of a kettle sour. This never-boiled crusher is crisp and thirst-slaking, presenting balanced flavors of fuzzy apricot, tart rhubarb, and citrus-herbal notes from dry hopping with Mandarina Bavaria. 3% ABV.
    Grimm Draft:
    • Grimm First Anniversary 1/6 bbl Keg – Triple IPA with Cashmere, Mosaic, and Nelson Sauvin. Don’t have a description yet…will be posted on Grimm Instagram later this week. 11% ABV. ***Draft Only***
    • Grimm Afterimage 1/6 bbl Keg – Bringing back an OG. Grimm’s Flagship DIPA with El Dorado, Mosaic, and Simcoe. Juicy, juicy, juicy. Hazy orange, soft carbonation, plush fruity aromas. Immense mango, marmalade, pine, honeysuckle, and lemon flavors. Smack dab in between Lambo and Tesseract on the sweet-to-dry spectrum. Just a hint of bitterness. 8% ABV 🍊🍊🥭
    • Grimm Castling 1/6 bbl Keg – Farmhouse Pale Ale. This beer is BELOVED in the Grimm household. It is our most traditional, simple, and perfect beer. Brewed with complexly step mashed Pilsner malt and a generous whirlpool addition of noble hops, this is pure old world elegance. We think it’s best enjoyed with a slow pour into the center of a tall glass, to raise that gorgeous rocky white head that lasts right down to the last sip. Quenching with notes of hay, pepper, candied citrus. Noble hops age very differently than new world hops; we like to savor the flavor transitions over months in the bottle. Recommended if you like De Ranke, De la Senne, Dupont, Thiriez and Blaugies. 5.5% ABV. Joe Grimm’s favorite Grimm beer! 💗💗💗
    • Grimm Full Frequency 1/6 BBL Keg – Mixed-culture berliner weisse. Laced with rhubarb and apricot, Full Frequency is the second in our new series of traditional-method raw berliner weisse! We are one of a tiny handful of breweries on the globe making berliner in the old way — brewed from step-mashed wheat-based wort that is fermented with a long, mixed culture fermentation, instead of a kettle sour. This never-boiled crusher is crisp and thirst-slaking, presenting balanced flavors of fuzzy apricot, tart rhubarb, and citrus-herbal notes from dry hopping with Mandarina Bavaria. 3% ABV.

Small Town Iowa Eats: Marlee and Me; Spragueville, IA

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If you ever find yourself in Jackson County and you have quite an appetite, drive on over to Spragueville and head on into Marlee and Me and you will get more than plenty to fill you up!

Spragueville is about a 20 minute drive from Maquoketa, right off of Highway 64 and is a town (maybe a town?) of not even 100 people. Marlee and Me is a can’t miss spot, literally, if you drive through town you can’t miss it. It’s settled into what looks like an old two story home and is as Mom and Pop and family friendly as it gets…exactly what you’d expect in small town Iowa.

So, finding myself on a fun road trip with my parents, doing a little small town bar hopping, we ended up in Spragueville. We stopped at Marlee and Me intending on just having a quick beer but the food that was coming out of the kitchen signaled that this was our last stop, our meal stop.

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Huge slabs of prime rib with hash brown casserole piled high next to it. The plates were overflowing with beefy goodness and I couldn’t wait to dig in. We walked passed the salad bar as we headed to our seats and I noted the braunschweiger dip and planned to eat my weight in that. One of the great things about small town restaurants like this is there is always a great salad bar. Homemade pasta + potato salads and tons of dips. As this is a beer blog, I should note the beesr I had….Busch Light and a Coors Light. I’m not even sure what the options were, just went with a blue yummy. My parents decided to try the wings. Deep fried wings that were tossed in a jalapeno jelly….never thought of tossing wings in a jelly but these were delicious. I hammered the salad bar and the braunschweiger was as good as I’ve had.

Now it’s time for the main course. A HUGE cut of prime rib, cooked perfect to medium rare and a side of hash brown casserole that could feed a family of four. The steak was perfectly seasoned, a nice crust on the outside. The potatoes were loaded with cheese and garlic and the beer was cold. The perfect Saturday night meal.

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Soooo….if you find yourself on a little road trip, don’t ignore those small town diner/restaurants. And if you find yourself in Jackson County with a big appetite and a hankering for a huge cut of meat…head to Spragueville and Marlee and Me! Worth the trip!