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Coming to Shelves: 2 New Beers from Boulevard, Gubna,, Sierra Nevada Barrel-Aged?

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A few updates for this week has Boulevard releasing two new beers into their lineup. Boulevard has a very busy looking schedule for 2015 and with the successful release of Coffee Imperial Stout one can assume that the next two will be just as successful. Here’s what’s coming:

the calling*Boulevard The Calling IPA – a new addition to the Smokestack Series, this beer will be released in 4 packs and comes in at 8.5% ABV.It will be available starting March 3rd. More from Boulevard:

The Calling, which will be available on draft and in four packs of twelve ounce bottles, is the result of several months of hard (delicious) work by our brewing team who sought to create an IPA with a juicy, tropical fruit aroma that leaps from the glass. A simple malt base composed solely of our two row base malt serves as a platform for giant, punchy hop flavor and aroma provided by a blend of Simcoe, Bravo, Topaz, Cascade, Mosaic, Equinox, Galaxy, and Amarillo hops. Read that sentence again. We are not messing around here, folks. The Calling also receives an addition of lemon peel during the last five minutes of the boil to add an extra citrusy punch. At 8.5 ABV and 75 IBU, The Calling is the IPA we knew we had to brew. As of this minute, our goal is to get The Calling out to you on draft in early to mid-February with bottles to follow soon.

spring belle*Boulevard Spring Belle Saison – this new Saison from Boulevard will be available in 6 packs and will be their new spring season offering. Using magnum and simcoe hops for bittering and lemondrop and calypso for flavor this beer also has flavor of roses, chamomile, and elderflower and checks in at 6.2%. More from Boulevard on this brew:

At 6.2 ABV and 35 IBUs, Spring Belle is composed of a fairly traditional saison malt bill of our two-row base pale malt and a touch of malted wheat. Magnum and Simcoe hops are utilized for bittering while late hopping with Calypso and Lemondrop lends bright, pear/citrus notes to the beer. During whirlpooling, the time when beer rests briefly after boiling before being cooled and transferred to the fermentation cellar, our brewers infused the wort with just over 70 pounds of a blend of rose petals, chamomile and elderflower. Infusing these flowers while the wort is still hot, but not boiling mimics the extraction you would see when brewing tea that incorporates these flowers. We find that this method lends subtle floral aromas and flavors that play nicely with the spicy phenolic notes contributed by fermentation with our house Belgian yeast strain.

sierra nevada
*Sierra Nevada is releasing two new barrel-aged beers and according to mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com they will both be Bock style beers with one being aged in bourbon barrels and the other aged in whisky barrels. No word on whether or not these will be bottled or just keg release, or even if Iowa will see them at all. I’ll keep you posted on this.

oskar*Oskar Blues Gubna- coming in March is this imperial IPA from Oskar Blues with a slight tweak to the hop profile. According to beerstreetjournal.com the 2015 version will have whole leaf Galena hops, Sorachi Ace, and Columbus and dry-hopped with El Doroado, Comet, and Chinook. It will check in at 10% ABV. More from the brewery:

Emphasizing that complexity of character can arise from simple elements, this ale is made with three malts and one hop. Its light amber color and slightly spicy malt character are derived from the use of German Dark Munich Malt and Rye Malt respectively. North American 2-row barley combines with the other grains to lay the foundation for the hop onslaught to come. Summit hops are used exclusively in the boil for bitterness, flavor and aroma but it doesn’t end there. Post-fermentation dry hopping allows the 10% ABV monstrosity to gently coax the citrus rind and grapefruit aroma to join the 100 IBUs already present. This beer should greet you with a pungent citrus blast, provide a spicy yet round middle and finish with a brisk, clean bitterness. Columbus in early and mid kettle.

Surly Des Moines Launch Update

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**UPDATED** For Eastern Iowa folks: The following comes from Reds Alehouse Facebook post:

BIG NEWS!! Surly Brewing Company will make their way to our tap lines Saturday March 7th! And not just one or two lines; we’re talking TEN lines! 10!! They include: Hell, Todd the Axeman, Furious, Coffee Bender, Smoke, Cynicale, Mild, Doomtree, and Fiery Hell. These will all be tapped at 11am Saturday with a special early tapping of Furious Tuesday morning that will last all week, just to get you familiar with Surly.

The dudes from Surly will be hand that evening sometime around 6:30-7:00. Then the party really gets started!

Wait a minute, that’s only 9 beers.

I must be forgetting something…

Isurly just received the following information regarding the upcoming Surly Brewing Iowa launch on Tuesday. If you are in the Des Moines area make sure you get to one of the following venues and enjoy some Surly beer!

Three buses are coming down from Minneapolis, full of fans and the whole Surly crew and all the Doomtree guys. Each bus will stop first at one of either Ingersoll Tap, Quinton’s or Mullet’s at 5pm. People are encouraged to share a beer there with us.
Then all three groups converge on Up-Down at 7:30p, then upstairs for the Doomtree show at Wooly’s. Big thing is tickets are still available. $10. 
Each bar has a slightly different beer mix, but people can expect to see Furious, Bender, Hell, Cynic and Doomtree and some or all of the venues.

Toppling Goliath will be canning by Summer!

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toppling goliathThe following tweets have been sent out by Toppling Goliath Brewing out of Decorah, IA and the news is very exciting to say the least!

  1. 14m14 minutes ago

    “: you messing with us this morning?” Nope big news for you. We should be canning by mid-summer.

    Details

  2. 2h2 hours ago

    Hey how is that art coming for the 16 oz can? 🙂

Lunch at Pullman Bar and Diner; Iowa City, IA

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pullmanThe latest venture from the folks at Reds Alehouse/Big Grove/30 Hop/Blackstone brings us a retro diner feel with an eclectic menu consisting of a burger to fried chicken to bone marrow. Add in a nice tap list of craft beers and the IC/CR area just got another gem of a restaurant to go to.

When any announcement that a group consisting of the Swifts are opening up a new restaurant, the excitement hits right away and your counting the days down to opening. That was the case with Pullman. My first experience was a Friday afternoon for lunch and luckily the only two seats open in the place were at the bar. Upon entering you get the feel of 50-60’s diner, from the old school stereo, the visibility of the chefs cooking up your meals, and some things on the menu with a new age twist.

photo (3)Usually when I go to a new restaurant I usually try a burger if it’s on the menu. I was recommended the burger here by a few folks on Twitter and that’s what I went with. My wife opted for the Quiche Lorraine and I was happy to see Big Grove Brewery arms race on tap. The burger was double patties with american cheese, house made bread and butter pickles and a “special sauce” which seemed like a garlic aioli. I’ve made many Top 5 lists in my day, Top 5 beers, top 5 books, top 5 movies, etc. Well, if I had a Top 5 burger from area, this Pullman Burger might be at the top, or at least close to it. Juicy burger, the sauce and cheese seem to melt together, and their hand cut fries were crisp on the outside and nice and soft in the middle. Paired with the arms race it was close to a perfect lunch. The Executive Chef is Benjamin Smart who is the chef at Big Grove Brewery so you know the meal is going to be of supreme taste and quality.

As we paid our bill I was very happy with my selection for lunch…….until I saw the fried chicken come out. My god! Two big pieces of chicken, fried until crispy as hell. I was tempted to sit back down and order but I’m trying to put a damper on my gluttony. I do know what I’m going to order next though. For all those folks waiting in line for 3 hours to get yourself some Popeyes, maybe take a trip to Iowa City and try Pullman’s fried chicken. I guarantee it will be 100 times better.

Overall, a wonderful addition to the downtown Iowa City area. The food was wonderfully prepared, beer selection was good, and the atmosphere makes you want to come back and bring friends and family next time. What’s next for this group of investors? I don’t know, but I can’t wait for the next announcement if there is one. Check out the menu items here: http://pullmandiner.com/

Tap Wars Rd 3: Deshutes v. Stone Brewing @Blackstone Restaurant Lineup for 2/28/15

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blackstoneHere is the lineup and tapping times for the 3rd round of Tap Wars presented by Blackstone Restaurant. After 2 very successful tap wars, this one pits 2 west coast powers against each other. Get to Blackstone restaurant on February 28th to try the following beers:

Tap Wars – Round 3 – puts two west coast powerhouses to battle!

Saturday
02.28.15
11:00 AM

Lineup with aprox. tapping times:

stoneStone:
Green Tea IPA 11:00
Enjoy by 3.14 11:00
Old Guardian w/hops 11:00
12.12 Vertical Epic 12:12
Arbalest 12:30
Bang Bang 1:30

deschutesDeschutes:
Hop Henge 11:00
Chainbreaker 11:00
Fresh Squeezed 11:00
Black Butte 25 11:30
Super Jubel 2015 1:00
2012 Abyss 2:00

West Coast themed entree specials will also be available as well as custom cali inspired t shirts for sale.
A few highly limited and rare bombers will be on hand for samples throughout the day as well.

Wood-Aged Weekends: Presented by Madhouse Brewing Company

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I just received the following email from Madhouse Brewing. The food sounds amazing and the beer sounds even better. Check it out if you are in the area!

madhouse

When: Fridays, 5-9pm.

Where: Madhouse Brewery, 501 Scott Ave Des Moines, IA 50309

What: This winter, Madhouse will be releasing 4 barrel-aged beers in subsequent weekends, each representing a particular country of origin. These brews will be available on tap throughout the weekend of their release (Thurs-Sat), and thereafter will be available in 750ml bottles at Madhouse Brewery. (el Hefe will be distributed to select retailers on a very limited basis)


The Friday evening of each weekend, HoQ restaurant will be onsite serving paired dishes from 5-9pm. Food options will cost around $6 and the cuisine will draw inspiration from the featured beers country of origin. 

Feb. 20: Mussel Frites paired with High Tucker Belgian Dark Ale 

Feb. 27: Seafood Shepherds Pie paired with London Harlot English Stock Ale

March 6: Potato Fritters paired with Weak Ender Scotch Wee Heavy

March 13: Big Steak Tacos paired with el Hefe Mexican Stout

Also Check out our Deal on Living Social Here!

                                                                                          

For more info-

Brewing phone- 515-988-5535

info@madhousebeer.com

sLim Reviews Wellman’s Pub and Rooftop: West Des Moines, IA

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wellmansThis post is as much of a restaurant/bar review as it is a celebratory article on the success of craft brew in Iowa. Just a couple years back, I would “hate on” a place like this because the beer selection was terrible and it was popular. And most places that would have fit the criteria of that kind of establishment wouldn’t have cared that people like me thought the place sucked because they don’t  need my money; they do just fine on their own.
I would have thought Wellman’s to fit directly into that category and for awhile I’d say they did. But the last few times I’ve been there I’ve noticed some changes; namely, a fine tap selection for a place that I would normally consider somewhat of a swanky nightclub. So it turns out I’m wrong, my jaw nearly hit the floor when I happened upon this place around midnight on a Friday, scratch that, early Saturday morning and saw that Tallgrass Zombie Monkey was on tap.
Wellman’s is clearly trying to improve their restaurant by catering to all types of individuals. In this case, they’ve reached out to the craft beer fan. They feature fine beers from the likes of New Belgium, Boulevard, Deschutes, Peace Tree, and they even have bottles of Rogue (Dead Guy). Only the most snobbish of beer snobs would turn their nose up at such a selection offered by a place that mostly caters to the bud light/cran-vodka type of crowd…or this guy.
Guy+Fieri+NBC+Universal+2011+Winter+TCA+Press+cEz7SheA-7Ll
The rest of the restaurant speaks for itself. The interior is expansive and modern. There’s an enjoyable lower level patio that is complete with its own bar. The rooftop is what it’s most known for. It is the biggest rooftop bar in all of Des Moines and you can make a solid argument that it’s the best outdoor hangout in the metro on a stunning summer evening. They keep it heated in the winter but regardless of the conditions, you’ll have to venture downstairs if you want a good beer as the craft selection is only offered at the main bar. A small price to pay in order to enjoy a good beer amongst the rest of the crowd who more interested in “getting their drink on”
I don’t have a lot to say about the food. I’ve only eaten there a couple of times but I remember their nachos being good. The foods not going to blow you away but wing night (Thursday) is worth checking out. It’s definitely passable for a place that’s not known for its food.
In closing, Wellman’s is a hot-spot that I don’t mind going to. Even though I’m not all about the ambiance that the music/decor creates there, being able to enjoy a great tasting beer makes it very tolerable. The staff here works hard and is managed very well. If you find yourself in the Jordan Creek area, resist the urge to stop at one of the legions of chain restaurants and visit Wellman’s. You’ll be glad you chose a restaurant that has more character and caters to a much larger crowd than a typical chain.

Founders Blushing Monk Returns March 2nd

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blushing monkThe following comes from Founders Brewing company’s Facebook page:

Today we are bottling Blushing Monk. Look for it beginning March 2!

Blushing Monk is part of the Founders Backstage Series and is a Belgian style ale fermented with raspberries. From beeradvocate: Essentially an “Imperial Rübæus,” this ale contains four times the amount of raspberries as Rübæus and is fermented with a Belgian yeast strain.

Scores from ratebeer at 100/100 and from beeradvocate at 95/100.

Beer Review #120: Nomader Weisse by Evil Twin Brewing

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Now, I was in the dark when it comes to the difference between a gose and berliner weisse, but I believe the difference, and please correct me if I’m wrong, is a Gose style beer is more on the salty side and a berliner weisse is more tart and is obviously made with wheat…could be wrong, but that’s the interpretation I got.

Anyway, this brew was given to me by a buddy at work who has become a fan of the gose/berliner weisse beers as well. He found it at Oakland Road Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids, and I haven’t seen it anywhere else. Although it’s available now it would be an ideal beer for the spring and summer months. This beer is much more tart than a gose, but there is some salt as well. A bit of sweetness from the wheat and some funk and a bit of tropical fruitiness.

Here’s more on this brew:

Nomads; constantly moving, ’round and ’round; sometimes settle, if just for a bit. Perhaps the muse moves one to brew a sharp and clean session beer, one inspired by the Berliner-weisse of old, and the nomad rests. Enjoy this beer, here, there, perhaps north of Madison Square Park, in lovely New York City. Wherever you are, this beer was made nice, simply for you.

Glad to see this in cans as well and once again, a perfect session beer. My only problem is that with multiple sours for the Baron comes the awfulness that is acid reflux..but that’s why tums are made, so I drink this brew! I’m not sure on the release schedule of this beer but I would love to see it again this spring and specifically a few of these for opening day for my Dodgers.

STYLE: Berliner Weisee

ABV: 4%

PURCHASED AT: Oakland Road Hy-Vee

POUR: Hazy golden pour with a medium white head. 

AROMA: Lemon smell with a bit of malt. 

TASTE: Lemon/citrus flavor with sweetness from the wheat. You get the vinegar/brine as well. 

Ratebeer.com rating: 89/100

Beeradvocate rating: 87/100

Overall: B+

My recommendation: If you need your sour fix this is definitely the beer for you. Tart as can be with a bit of saltiness. I hope to have more of this in my fridge for March Madness going into MLB opening day. Dodger dog and this beer would be just perfect. 

Guest Beer Review by sLim: Firetrucker Under Lager: Search and Rescue IPL

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Thanks to sLim for taking the time out for a review. If you’re in Des Moines you might find him slinging some suds at El Bait Shop! Always good to have sLim keep us posted with Central Iowa happenings in the beer world.

aviary_1422738811110A new beer from a new central Iowa brewery is Firetrucker’s Under Lager: Search and Rescue IPL. Once again, Firetrucker takes on a style that is hard to find on shelves and in drinking establishments. They’ve previously brewed a California Common, a smoked sour porter (collab with C.I.B), and a hard ginger beer. The hops that were used during the boil were magnum and cascade. It was dry hopped with cascade and northern brewer.The india pale lager is a style that is best described as a hybrid type of brew.TIt was dry hopped with cascade and northern brewer. Per Greg Kitsock from Washington Post,  It’s brewed at colder temperatures like any lager would be; but then is hopped much past the point that a typical lager would be. One has to be careful during that process as a lager cannot withstand too aggressive of hopping.

Here’s more on this beer from the brewery: “Our India Pale Lager has a complex flavor profile with sweet grapefruit and citrus up front that leads into a lingering minty bitterness”

My personal opinion…I get more of the citrus flavor than anything else. It’s a balanced, hoppy front but the back end is where this beer shines. It has a lasting, floral taste that creates a merge between a fine pilsner and a flavorful, sessionable ale. I applaud Firetrucker’s efforts to think outside the box and release a beer that no other local breweries have tried their hand at. This beer is a hit and I look forward to seeing them try their hand at various other styles…sour, imperial stout perhaps? We can only hope but the word on the street is the next seasonal to be released is a double-mango IPA; which I’m extremely excited for. Des Moines already had some breweries come out with great double IPA’s like Confluence’s Rock Dodger and 515’s Hopititus C. It’ll be interesting to see how Firetrucker’s take on this highly popular style goes over.

STYLE: India Pale Lager (IPL)

ABV: 4.9%

PURCHASED AT: Firetrucker Brewery, 716 Southwest 3rd Street in Ankeny

POUR: Dark gold with a thin, white head.

AROMA: hoppy with a touch of grapefruit.

TASTE: definitely hoppy up front but with a thicker, malty finish that more resembles a lager than an ale

Untappd rating: 3.4/5

My rating: 3.75/4

My recommendation: I enjoy this unique style. At 4.9% ABV it’s sessionable and delivers plenty of hoppy, ale flavor.