Toppling Goliath is re-releasing their X-hops Red again but it will be under a new name: Sol Hunter Pale now has the label ready and now just to get the brew!
Tag: iowa beer baron
Beer Review #119: Great Divide Oatmeal Yeti
A new brewery that has hit Eastern Iowa Shelves is Great Divide. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting downtown Denver on multiple occasions and sitting outside at the brewery and enjoying a few Yetis after a Rockies’ game. A brewery that has a really solid arsenal of beers I had never had the pleasure of enjoying an Oatmeal Yeti until this past weekend. I can’t remember the price tag on this brew, but it’s matched beers I’ve paid $15-20 for easily. This beer is brewed with rolled oats and raisins.
Here’s more on this brew:
Much like its legendary predecessors, this Yeti is big, bold and dark. The addition of rolled oats softens Yeti’s notoriously roasty backbone and the small amount of raisins added in the brew kettle create a unique dark fruit character. Just as admired as those that came before it, Oatmeal Yeti Imperial Stout is a softer beast.
Now, for those big beer drinkers that have had or would like to have Cigar City Marshal Zhukov, this brew would be the perfect warm up for you. For me, Marshal Zhukov had too much dark fruit flavor to go along with that viscous stout consistency, glad I tried it, don’t need it again. However, Oatmeal Yeti, brewed with raisins, has that dark fruit, but not overpowering and then the creaminess of a fantastic oatmeal stout. The only that sucks is that this is only a seasonal brew. I’m kicking myself for not grabbing a few more bottles of this to enjoy during the fall months.
STYLE: Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.5%
PURCHASED AT: Oakland Road Hy-Vee
POUR: Dark black with a thick, tan head.
AROMA: Dark chocolate and coffee.
TASTE: Dark chocolate and coffee with a touch of dark fruits.
Ratebeer.com rating: 99/100
Beeradvocate rating: 93/100
Overall: B+
My recommendation: Really enjoyed this brew! My kind of dark fruit stout, not too much, just the right amount. I would like more of this!
Bells Planet Series “Venus” coming next!
I found the following information on http://beerstreetjournal.com/new-releases/. Bells Planet Series is coming with the follow up to Mars and 2nd of the series, according to Beer Street Journal, Venus is bottled and ready to ship. I really enjoyed Mars and and Venus will be quite a bit different but it sounds damn tasty all the same. It’s going to be a blonde ale with vanilla beans, cardamom, apricot juice, and honey. It will come in at 7.5% and be available in 12 oz bottles. Here’s more courtesy of Beer Street Journal and Bells press release:
The second release in our Planets Series starts with spicy, fruity and light citrus notes along with herbal notes from cardamom in the aroma. Apricots contribute a very distinct tart character and sweetness from the vanilla rounds out the finish. More than 60 pounds of hand sliced vanilla beans were used to ferment this strong fruit and spice beer with a complex herbal fruit character.
New Belgium releasing Slow Ride Session IPA in cans
The following comes from mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com. (http://mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com/2014/10/mybeerbuzzcom-new-belgium-to-release.html)
Another session IPA hitting the market, it will be interesting to see how it matches up with the likes of Stone Go To, Founders All Day, Lagunitas Daytime. Here’s more from mybeerbuzz.
Here’s your breaking craft beer news of the day so tell your friends where you saw it first.. New Belgium will be releasing a NEW session IPA named Slow Ride IPA. This beer will feature new artwork, it will be packaged in 12oz cans (and kegs) and come in at a sessionable 4.5% ABV.
What to drink? What to drink?
Three breweries have/are entering the Eastern Iowa market in the next few weeks. Great Divide is here, New Holland Brewing is on their way, and Lagunitas has had a little trickle of their beers around but a big rollout is coming. Adding those three breweries along with all the others that are currently on our shelves, the wonderful dilemma of what to buy because there are so many choices is out there. Now, I know the talk of some oversaturation is out there and that is for a different blog post, but I would like to know what beer are you looking forward to the most from these breweries? We will be able to do the same thing once Surly, Southern Tier, and whoever else decide to enter the market. Would love to hear some comments as well!
Next Founders Backstage Series Release: Big Lushious Chocolate Raspberry Stout
Founders Facebook page has given their Backstage Series Release for this winter and I’m very excited to get my hands a bottle of this outstanding sounding brew. Here’s the brewery update:
Announcing the next beer in our Backstage Series: Big Lushious, a chocolate raspberry stout that will be released for the holidays.
We plan to introduce Big Lushious, a chocolate raspberry stout, this December to mark the eleventh installment in our Backstage Series. Like all of our Backstage Series beers, Big Lushious will be sold in 750mL bottles, with a suggested retail price of $16.99 per bottle.
Big Lushious is a deep, rich stout that’s packed with flavor: roasted malts, all-natural dark chocolate, a subtle suggestion of burnt coffee grounds and a kiss of tart raspberries. At 7.8% ABV, it’s big, sumptuous and extravagant, but also balanced.
“We thought Big Lushious would make a great release for the holidays,” said Co-Founder and Vice President of Brand & Education Dave Engbers. “It’s a luxurious beer for us. It’s meant for bringing to parties and is perfect for sharing with friends and family after a feast.”
Big Lushious will be released in limited quantities across our distribution footprint beginning on Monday, December 1, and will be available at our taproom that same week. This will be our last Backstage Series release in 2014—look for more in 2015.
7.8% ABV
Deschutes Zarabanda Ale coming this Fall
A new brew coming this fall from Deschutes will join the likes of Jubelale, Hop Trip, Chasin’ Freshies, and The Dissident. Zarabanda is a collab beer with chef Jose Andres and will come in 22 oz bottles. It is a saison spiced with pink peppercorns, dried lime, lemon verbena, and sumac. Really looking forward to trying this!
When: October
What: Collaboration Beer with Chef Jose Andrés (22-ounce bottles and draft)
An energetic and passionate combination of the culinary and craft brewing worlds, Zarabanda is a spiced Saison that’s been years in the making. Created through a unique collaboration between renowned chef José Andrés and Deschutes Brewery brewers. They worked together throughout this spiced Saison‘s development, infusing the final product with the authentic and distinctive flavors that represent Andrés’ innovation along with Deschutes’ enthusiasm for experimentation and adventure. Zarabanda provides a complex malt body formed from a generous use of Vienna and Spelt malts. A classic Saison yeast strain contributes light fruit esters, which are complemented by aromatic dried lime, flowery pink peppercorn, lemon verbena and savory sumac. Stay tuned for detailed launch event announcements.
Where: Limited year-round availability in most states where Deschutes is sold
Beer Geek Information: 6.1% ABV | 13 IBUs
Restaurant Review: 30hop; Coralville, IA
The trend of some excellent craft beers and tasty food continues to strike in Eastern Iowa, this time in the Iowa River Landing area in Coralville. A location that already hosts Backpocket Brewing the newly opened Winestyles continues its impressive dedication to craft beer and food with 30hop. More from their website:
Trendy and yet a comfortable, urban-industrial, dining and drinking establishment will feature the area’s first rooftop patio. The contemporary menu will focus on simple, fresh, delicious offerings and will include 60 beers on tap on the main level and 30 beers on the rooftop. Through constant focus on superior service, exquisite food, and craft beers, guests will be eager to make 30hop a new hangout. Welcome to the newest addition to Iowa River Landing, Coralville’s gateway to the corridor.
As you approach it’s hard to ignore the rooftop seating and the view that you will experience when you get up there. But once you get in it’s hard to ignore the view of the 60 beers on tap! A fantastic looking chalkboard with ever-rotating lines of deliciousness greets you as you enter. I think I was too busy focusing on the board of beer as the hostess was trying to ask how many in my party, but eventually she got through to my beer-numbed mind and we took a spot near the back wall with the sweet looking giant American flag. 
The beer menu was up-to-date and I noticed Toppling Goliath pseudosue, which I 
hear is good:), so I order a glass of greatness as my wife and I pondered our food move. So many things that looked intriguing and unique but I usually test a place by their wings. It might be a bit cliche but damn, I love wings. These were called Firecracker wings and they had an asian flare to them. Soy, sesame, cilantro with a cool blue cheese dipping sauce and fried crisp to perfection was the perfect starter and went well with my Sue.
And then it was on to the beast. Now, it wasn’t a huge burger size wise, but it was huge in flavor. The 50/50 burger at 30hop is 50% beef and 50% bacon and is mouth watering delicious. My wife and I agreed we would share it, (I could eat 2 by myself and then die a happy heart-attack death) and after our first few bites she made me promise I wouldn’t order it again because…..IT WAS SO FREAKING AWESOME! I loved this burger! A bit messy, but you really can’t go wrong with that mix of ingredients. Burger went terrific with a Deschutes Black Butte Porter and the trip overall was great. Was happy to meet a few beer lovers there as well!
After leaving I took a trip to Winstyles and picked up a few bottles of brew. (Evil Twin BA Imperial Biscotti Break!) This area really has it all, great food, shopping, and not too far from University of Iowa athletics. We will be back (and have been!).
Boulevard Joins up with Brewery Ommegang for Collaboration #4 Saison!
The following information comes courtesy of the thefullpint.com:
Kansas City, MO – There is no sibling rivalry between Duvel Moortgat’s US-based Boulevard Brewing Company and Brewery Ommegang. The sister craft breweries recently partnered on Boulevard’s newest edition of its Collaboration series. Collaboration No. 4 is a Spiced Saison, which will be distributed in 750mL bottles and 1/6 barrel kegs throughout Boulevard’s distribution network later this month (Kansas City distribution begins on September 22nd for draught and September 23rd for bottles; other markets to follow soon after) .
Ommegang’s brewmaster Phil Leinhart traveled to Kansas City in July to make the beer alongside Steven Pauwels, brewmaster at Boulevard and his team of brewers. After the brewing process, the wort was transferred into two fermentation vessels. Boulevard’s primary Belgian yeast strain was added to one, and the other tank received Ommegang’s house yeast strain. The two batches were blended during the filtration process resulting in Collaboration No. 4. In addition to a variety of malts and hops, sweet orange peel, lemon peel, coriander and grains of paradise played key roles in the beer’s characteristics.
“Brewery Ommegang excels in using spices to add complexity and character to their Belgian-style beers while we’ve become known for our saisons at Boulevard,” said Pauwels. “The mutual admiration each brewery has for the other worked well as we combined our strengths into a complex, yet approachable beer that serves to reintroduce our breweries as Boulevard joins the Duvel Moortgat family.”
Previous beers in Boulevard’s Collaboration series include an “Imperial Pilsner” made in 2010 with esteemed Orval brewmaster Jean-Marie Rock, a “White I.P.A.” with Deschutes in 2011, and a “Stingo” with Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project in 2012.
Blackstone Restaurant Presents: Goose Island One Night Stand 9/19/14
Per Blackstone’s Facebook Page:
Our Goose Island Beer Co. One Night Stand lineup is official! This Friday the 19th – 10 beers(3 Bourbon Counties!) – 1 night – entree specials from Chef Will, Chicken and Waffles may be making a comeback…. Cheers!
