Restaurant Review: Daisy’s Garage; Cedar Rapids

February 21, 2016February 21, 20167 Comments

Give me Po’ Boys or give me death! Thankfully, Cedar Rapidians have a great place to grab an excellent po’ boy! Daisy’s Garage and Filling Station‘s shrimp po’ boy left me impressed and craving more!

Going out with some friends is always a good time and thankfully Kizz and Diesel are two friends who are willing to try new restaurants and enjoy a few drinks or ten. They called this place last night and I couldn’t have been more satisfied. Located in the old Butcher Block location (I think), Daisy’s has a cozy atmosphere, some fine tap brews, and a menu that has so many excellent sounding options that it was difficult to pick what to eat. This is my type of bar!

Started the night out pleasantly surprised to see Royal Wee from Lion Bridge Brewing on tap. One of my favorite beers of the new year and a perfect sipper to get the night going. We decided to start with some appetizers you can’t go wrong with fried pickles. They were good, but the star of the appetizer show was the Oil Spill; a basket of fries topped with tender pot photo 1.JPG roast, pepper jack cheese, green onions, and brown gravy……PHENOMENAL! My mouth is watering as I type this! My wife and I then decided to just split a po boy. I’m a sucker for them and am always intrigued when I see them on a menu here in Iowa, but I have yet to have one that has blown me away. That all changed last night! The key to this po’ boy is the bread. You need that french baguette that has a little crunch on the outside and is soft and chewy on the inside and that’s exactly what this was, perfect bread! Fried shrimp, (a shit ton of fried shrimp), tomato, lettuce and a cajun remoulade with a side of slaw made this one of my favorite sandwiches in the area!

Our friends went ahead with the steam pot and had their work cut out for them. 1 pound of crab legs, sausage, potatoes, corn and potatoes. It takes a little work but you reap with benefits with some delicious crab meat! We washed it down wit photo 2.JPG h a few Turner Alley Pale Ale’s and you just sit back and smile after a meal that satisfying! Will I come back to Daisy’s? Hell yes! The difficult thing is going to be trying not to go 3-4 times a week! Check it out folks, great stuff!

Firestone Walker Confirms Coming to Iowa in 2016

February 17, 2016February 17, 2016Leave a comment

Saw this in a few places on the web today. Firestone is definitely coming to Iowa this year as they increase their production to 600,000 barrels. Here’s the article courtesy of brewbound.com and thanks to Neil Erickson for sharing:

In the midst of a brewery expansion that will nearly double its production capacity, California-based Firestone Walker announced plans to enter eight new states beginning in March.

In a press release, the brewery said it had finalized agreements with wholesalers to launch in Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico and Vermont. The company will also begin exporting to Canada and Sweden.

Following the roll out, Firestone Walker will be available in 26 states, with limited shipments also going to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

“These are markets that have been requesting our beer for years,” David Macon, Firestone Walker’s vice president of sales and marketing, said via press statement.

The new market entries signal a shifting focus for Firestone Walker: the brewery has historically prioritized California, where roughly 80 percent of the its beer is sold, over any commitments that could limit product availability within its best market.

“We have always taken a measured approach to distribution expansion, and we wanted to wait until we could fully serve each of these markets with confidence. That time has come,” Macon said.

That newfound confidence comes just eight months after Firestone Walker sold to Duvel Moortgat USA for an estimated $250 million and a November announcement that it would invest$15 million into a brewery expansion. Expected to finish 2017, the expansion will double the company’s production capacity to 600,000 barrels annually.

Despite its intense focus on the California market, Firestone Walker grew production about 27 percent last year, producing upwards of 265,000 barrels.

“It’s fitting that this is happening during our 20th anniversary year,” David Walker, co-founder of the brewery, said in the press release. “We launched our brewery in 1996, and distribution was limited to the tri-county area of California’s Central Coast. We have come a long way.”

Stone Brewing “Beer Ambassador” Dr. Bill Sysak w/ 2 Upcoming Events Feb. 27th

February 17, 2016February 17, 2016Leave a comment

The following comes from Stone Brewing in Iowa’s Facebook page. I’ve been following Dr. Bill for a while now on twitter, untappd, Facebook, and the podcast “New Brew Thursday” when that was on. This guy knows beer, how to pair it with food and cigars, and is just interesting to listen to so check out one of these events if you can. Winestyles in Des Moines and El Bait Shop will be hosting:

Stone Brewing Beer Ambassador “Dr.” Bill Sysak will be touring ‪#‎Iowa‬ at the end of February and will be stopping in ‪#‎DesMoines‬ on Saturday Febraury 27th. We have set up two special events with “Dr.” Bill in town. The first being a beer and cheese pairing at WineStyles from 5-7pm. The second being a rare beer tapping at el Bait Shop featuring some beers that have never been on tap in Iowa such as ‪#‎Xocoveza‬ Charred, ‪#‎Stone‬Imperial Irish Stout, and the reemergence of a favorite ‪#‎StoneCollab‬,‪#‎Suede‬ Porter. Make sure you don’t miss out on this fun and educating experience. ‪#‎craftbeer‬ ‪#‎DrBillTourdeIowa‬

Coming to Shelves: Boulevard Tropical Pale Ale cans, Lagunitas Waldo’s Special Ale, Summit Pils, New Holland Sour Series, Bells Session Pale Ale

February 15, 2016February 15, 2016Leave a comment

A few news tidbits from around the web this week with some updates of beers that should be coming to Eastern Iowa at some point. Have any news? Drop me a line @benmed15@yahoo.com:

**Boulevard Brewing Tropical Pale Ale – what started as a collaboration with Cigar City is now turning into a canned version solely released by Boulevard. Tropical Pale Ale will be released in cans. No word on if there will be a recipe change from the original and no release date yet. Stay tuned for more on this one.

**Lagunitas Waldo’s Special Ale – part of Lagunitas’ One-Hitter Series returns for a brief time and release date looks to be 4/20. This is a double IPA that in past checked in around 10.8% ABV and this year will be available in 12 oz bottles. Really excited for this one in bottles!

**Summit Brewing 30th Anniversary Pils – Summit’s 30th summit Anniversary coming out and another beer they’re releasing in celebration is a Keller Pils. This unfiltered German-style pils will come in at 5.1% ABV and be available in 12 oz cans and be released late spring/summer this year.

**New Holland Mischievous – part of New Holland’s Sour Series is Mischievous. This is an American Wild Ale that is fermented with brett. This beer checks in at 5.5% abv and will be available in 22 oz bottles. Here’s more from the brewery:

Mischievous presents flavors derived from its 100% brettanomyces fermentation. This wild yeast contributes earthiness, spice, mineral-character and slight tartness.

**Bells Oatsmobile Ale – a session pale ale brewed with oats is coming from Bells this April. At 4.3% ABV, this hop-forward pale ale is dry hopped with Mosaic, citra, and amarillo, amongst others and the using malted oats to give it that unique body. Here’s more from Bells:

COMSTOCK, Mich.—Bell’s Brewery will roll out a brand new beer in April. It is the first new addition to its year-round lineup since 2010.

A hop-forward session Pale Ale brewed with oats, Oatsmobile Ale (4.3% ABV) will be available on draught and in 12 oz. bottles, packaged in six-packs across Bell’s distribution footprint.

Oatsmobile is dry-hopped with a blend of classic and modern Pacific Northwest hops, including Mosaic, Citra and Amarillo, for a pungent blend of stone fruit and tropical aromas.

“This beer is unique. Aromatics may drive it, but the signature ingredient – oats – are what really makes this beer stand apart and also where the name comes from. It’s approachable and intriguing with a fun personality,” said Bell’s Vice President, Laura Bell.

“The use of malted oats help give it a body that you don’t see in most other session Pale Ales. Once we tweaked the recipe to combine the body from the oats with those powerful hop aromas, we thought it would make a great addition to our year-round portfolio,” she said.

This 100% all-malt Pale Ale was first brewed in 2013 to explore the use of oats in a Pale Ale at Bell’s original brewery in downtown Kalamazoo. Initially Oat Ale, it was renamed Boiling Pot Pale Ale when it was released as a limited specialty draught option in select markets.

Oatsmobile launch events and additional details will be shared at bellsbeer.com and on Bell’s social media as it becomes available.

Big Grove Head Brewer, Bill Heinrich, Leaving Big Grove

February 8, 2016Leave a comment

Big Grove Brewery head brewer, Bill Heinrich, will be leaving the brewery. His last day will be April 1st. Since Big Grove has opened Bill has been the head brewer and has supplied us with some amazing beers. You will have until April 1st to get over to Big Grove to taste his terrific beer. On a personal note, every time I would visit the brewery, Bill was always gracious enough to talk beer, give samples, and was always interacting with customers. I want to wish Bill the best in whatever he decides to do next, and hopefully he continues making some amazing beers! Cheers Bill!

Coming to Shelves: Green Flash Porter, Boulevard Session, Crooked Stave, Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado, Lagunitas Sour

February 5, 2016February 5, 2016Leave a comment

Hoping to make my first trip to Quarter Barrel Arcade Brewery in Cedar Rapids this weekend and making a few pit stops at Lion Bridge and maybe a journey to Big Grove for a growler fill or 3. It should make for a great super bowl weekend. Some new beers will soon be gracing our shelves, some sound pretty unique and worth trying. Here we go:

cosmic *Green Flash Cosmic Ristretto – this is a baltic porter with Espresso beans and will become part of Green Flash’s new year-round lineup starting this month. It will be available in 22 oz bottles and clocks in at 8.2%. More on this brew from Green Flash:

Marvel at its rich black appearance with bruleed edges and mocha-colored beer foam. Breathe in its coffee aroma and sweet malts, and savor its smooth, espresso, chocolate flavor.

bully *Boulevard Frequent Flier Session IPA – Frequent Flier is the new name for their Pop-Up session IPA with a slight adjustment in the recipe along with new logo and its availability in cans. It checks in at 4.4% ABV.

*Crooked Stave – a ton of Crooked Stave releases upcoming. I’m not quite sure on their availability for us in Iowa but I will keep you posted with news on their releases. Lots of info on the releases of: Persica, Motif, L’Brett, Petite Sour, Salvador Cybies, Silly Cybies, Serenata Notturna, Hop Savant, Colorado Wild Sage, Surette, Nightmare On Brett at mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com here.

*Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado and Thai Chili Wahoo – two new beers from Ballast Point that sound interesting. First is Watermelon Dorado, a double IPA brewed with….you guessed it! Watermelon! It checks in at 10% and sounds pretty damn refreshing. More on this beer courtesy of Ballast Point:

This Double IPA is not one to back down from big flavors. Mash, kettle, and dry hopping blend to create a huge hop profile that is balanced with a blast of watermelon.

thai Thai Chili Wahoo is wit beer brewed with thai chili, lime and ginger and checks in at 4.5%. More on this beer from Ballast Point:

Our Thai Chili Wahoo is a favorite in our tasting rooms for its complex balance of ingredients. Citrus and spice have long been a part of our Wahoo White. In this edition, we added a dose of Thai chilies, even more head from ginger, and a counterpunch of lime. The flavors in this beer need to be experienced first-hand, so grab one and try it for yourself.

*Lagunitas Aunt Sally – last but not least is the beer I’m most looking forward to besides Crooked Stave. Aunt Sally from Lagunitas Brewing is a sour ale that is dry-hopped and comes in at 6.2%. For those wondering….I believe it’s a kettle sour…I’m still looking forward to it! Stay tuned for more on this brew!

**Anything I’m missing? Drop me a line @benmed15@yahoo.com. Love to hear from Iowa breweries as well as bars for upcoming events! Please let me know and I will post your info! Thanks!

Backpocket Brewery to open Backpocket Pilot Pub in Cedar Rapids in 2016

February 4, 2016February 4, 2016Leave a comment

The following press release comes from Backpocket Brewery:

Backpocket Brewery opening new Pilot Pub brewery in Cedar Rapids Coralville, Iowa

— Backpocket Brewing, the craft beer brewery in Coralville, Iowa, announced at Brrrfest on Saturday that they will be opening a new experimental brewery in Cedar Rapids this year. The second location, named Backpocket Pilot Pub, will be a small, fullservice brewery and pub located in the heart of Cedar Rapids. “We are excited to open a second brewery in the heart of Cedar Rapids,” cofounder and brewmaster Jake Simmons said. “The community of Cedar Rapids has advanced so far since the flood in 2008 and it makes sense for us to have a brewpub in such a bustling city so close to our home brewery.” At the Backpocket Pilot Pub, brewers will brew experimental and small batch beers that are not commonly brewed in Iowa. “In this experimental brewery we will have the opportunity to take more chances on styles and recipes that we don’t want to brew on as large of a scale that we would have to at the brewery in Coralville,” Mike Wing, Backpocket’s Head Brewer said. “With our new small batch brewery, it is our expectation that we will be able to quadruple the number of new beer releases we have each year. Who doesn’t love more beer?” The Backpocket Pilot Pub will open at 415 Third Street SE in Cedar Rapids, in the old Sokol building gymnasium space. The Backpocket team is working with developers now to renovate the space, which is currently under construction. Current plans consist of 28 foot tall ceilings, lofted seating areas, and even a stained glass mural of Prague in the Czech Republic. Backpocket Pilot Pub plans to be open in summer of this year. Learn more about the Backpocket Pilot Pub on the pub’s Facebook, Twitter, and webpage http://www.backpocketbrewing.com/pilotpub. This isn’t the first brewery the team at Backpocket Brewing Company has opened. The brewery itself was founded in 2009 at Old Man River Brewing Company in McGregor, Iowa, but quickly grew out of its home. As demand for craft beer in Iowa and the Midwest grew, the team decided to expand into their own space. In 2012, they opened Backpocket Brewing in Coralville’s Iowa River Landing. Backpocket beer can now be found in bars, restaurants, and stores across the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. For more information, visit backpocketbrewing.com.

2016 Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Lineup

February 4, 2016February 4, 2016Leave a comment

Pictures courtesy of Sierra Nevada’s webpage. Here’s more on each beer and who the collaborators are:

*Sweet Sunny South – southern table beer brewed with fruit, tea, and herbs. Sounds like a perfect summer beer. Collaborators include Funky Buddha and Wicked Weed Brewing.

*Moxee Moron– 7.5% session IPA? That’s what we have with this brew. Tropical fruits and berry shine in this brew. Collaborators include Odell and Bale Breaker.

*Family Values – Imperial brown ale with cocoa checks in at 8.5%. Minnesota wild rice along with oats used in this brew. Collaborators include Schell, Dark Horse, Perennial, Half Acre, and Sun King.

*West Latitude – a session rye w/Hibiscus checks in at 5.5% and collaborators include Bear Republic and Maui Brewing.

*Pat-Rye-Ot – revolutionary pale ale where “old meets new”. Rye, apples, and hops round out the flavor profile of this pale. Collaborators include Dogfish Head, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Trillium Brewing, Stoudts, and Devil’s Backbone.

*Stout of the Union – robust stout with flavors of caramel, coffee, and cocoa. This beer checks in at 7.3% and the collaborators are Beachwood Brewing, Lost Abbey, and Smog City.

Keg Stand Winter Brewfest Feb. 28th Taplist Update

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016Leave a comment

The Keg Stand in West Des Moines is going to be hosting Winter Brewfest on Sunday February 28th. The festival will be from 1-4 pm. Here’s more info, including an impressive updated tap list for this event:

Winter Brewfest returns Sunday, February 28th with expanded hours. This years event will once again be held at The Keg Stand from 1pm-4pm. This years new additions will include an outdoor heated tent, featuring cask beers, along with live entertainment and food trucks. Inside, find over 80 beers on draft and two full rooms of bottles for sampling. Ticket price includes a tasting glass, stocking cap, 32oz growler fill and much more. This is your chance to try many hard to find and vintage beers from all over the world. Beer list and entertainment will be annouced closer to event.

*Bring your own growler for a free 32oz. fill

*32oz growlers will be available for purchase

*Other growler sizes may be filled for additional charge

*Food is not included in ticket price

Lion Bridge to Start Distro to Des Moines Area

January 28, 2016January 28, 2016Leave a comment

News from Facebook today that Lion Bridge Brewery out of Cedar Rapids will start shipping their award-winning beers to Cedar Rapids in the coming weeks. No specific date announced but here’s the info I got from Lion Bridge:

We are looking to roll out 15-20 accounts initially and make sure we can keep up and expand if possible. Probably in Des Moines and surrounding areas, Ankeny and Ames. They will be getting Work Comp, Disaster at Meux, Kölsch, some of the saisons and some of the barrel-aged beers. We are dialing in a more concise line up for 2016 with seasonals and specialties which we haven’t released yet.

We’ve been cautious with growth and wanted to make sure we can supply our home market and taproom before branching out. We are now ready to get on at some bars and restaurants outside of Eastern Iowa.

Awesome news for Des Moines! Drink it up folks!