Madhouse Brewing Belgian Golden Ale releases next week!

madhouseThe next part of the successful Madhouse Brewing (www.madhousebeer.com) Venture Series is due to hit Eastern Iowa shelves next week. Their summer seasonal Belgian Golden Ale will be making its way to Eastern Iowa. From the Madhouse Brewing Facebook page:

This Belgian Golden Ale features the Nelson Sauvin hop from New Zealand. This hop variety is named for its aromatic similarity to Sauvignon Blanc wines. This creates a complex aroma which mixes the spice and clove from the Belgian yeast with tropical fruit and citrus from the hops. This beer finishes clean and crisp to make it the perfect summer release. 

I’m really excited for this release as I’ve been exploring more Belgian style brews lately. Also, if you haven’t had their Maple nut-brown, I’ve seen some bombers still on the shelves. I really enjoyed that beer, give it a shot! Support Iowa craft beer!

Distribution News: Horny Goat Brewing Heading to Iowa

horny goatI’m not sure who’s going to get excited for this, but according to http://www.beerpulse.com, Horny Goat brewery out of Milwaukee, WI will started distributing their beers to Eastern Iowa shelves in the 2nd Quarter of 2013. I’ve had a few of their offerings, and the only thing I can say is that I hope they get a hell of a lot better and a name change might do them good as well. But anyway, the following news comes from beerpulse.com:

(Milwaukee, WI) – Horny Goat Brewing Company is starting their 4th year in the craft industry with new brews and new distribution. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Horny Goat prides itself on creating delicious beers that are both traditional and different. This summer marks the second year Watermelon Wheat, their best selling seasonal, will be available in markets. With real watermelon added during the fermentation stage this wheat ale is a great beer to enjoy during the summer. They are also perfecting new brews in preparation for mass distribution at their Milwaukee Brew Pub. Horny Goat Brewing Company is expanding its reach to many additional markets in the United States in the near future.

RECENT ADDITIONAL MARKETS
3rd and 4th Quarter 2012:
Texas, Nebraska, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee

1st Quarter 2013
Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri

2nd Quarter 2013
Iowa

Horny Goat Brewing Company currently serves 19 states. Horny Goat was founded in 2009 on the idea that craft beer should be fun and not so pompous. Horny Goat Brewing Company’s line includes a wide variety of flavors both traditional and unique: Exposed Cream Ale, Hopped UP ‘N Horny IPA, Horny Blonde Lager, Baby Got Bock, Watermelon Wheat, HornyCopia Pumpkin Ale, Oktoberfest, Stacked Milk Stout, Brownie Porter, and Chocolate Cherry Stout.

Beer Release News: Green Flash, Widmer, Goose Island

green flashSome news on some harder to come by beers has made its way to the Baron. Green Flash, Widmer Brothers, and Goose Island all have beers that should be making their way into our market in the next few months and a couple of these might be harder to come by than others. Here we go!

Green Flash Citra Session IPA – My sources tell me that is beer is only going to be available on draft at these locations (so far): Parlor Ciy, The Mill, Reds Alehouse, and Lot 1 (Dubuque). Should be seeing this brew this week! More on this beer:

citra sessionABV: 4.3%
BA Score: 81
RB Score: 87

From the brewery: A pale gold citrusy brew with notes of lemon and floral undertones, this is the perfect summer IPA.

 

 

kill devilWidmer Brothers Kill Devil – Kill Devil is a brown ale made with brown sugar and molasses and then aged in rum barrels. The date for this is not quite definite yet but hopefully in the next few weeks. More on this beer:

ABV: 9.5%
BA Score: 83
RB Score: 90

From the brewery: Aged in Puerto Rican rum barrels, and brewed with Sweet Barbados and Blackstrap molasses, palm sugar, and Calypso hops, Kill Devil’s flavor and name were inspired by the ingredients used by Caribbean distillers.”

Continue reading

Iowa Beer Review #105: Peace Tree Sidekick Kolsch

 peacetreeLooking for that beer that you grab out of your fridge in the garage after doing some yard work? Or a brew to grab and then sit in your lawn chair and listen to a ball game on the radio? Or just a nice, crisp, refreshing Iowa brewed beer that hits the spot in any situation? Well, look no further than Peace Tree Brewing’s Sidekick Kolsch (www.peacetreebrewing.com). When drinking a Kolsch style brew you should be light fruit flavor, minimal hop presence, slight bitter and dry finish to the beer, and Sidekick does is a very strong representation of this style.

More from the brewery:

This beer is brewed with pale malted barley giving the appearance of a golden pilsner style lager. It is actually brewed with a top fermenting ale yeast at cooler temperatures of a lager, giving a unique and refreshing character. This style is commonly filtered, we prefer to leave this beer unfiltered like a Kellerbier. Kolsch is actually a beer brewed in Cologne, Germany which is why we use the word “style”.

sidekickAfter mowing the lawn this beer didn’t stand a chance. Easy to drink, refreshing, and not just a mass-produced, flavorless beer. This beer has a great refreshing quality to it making it a mainstay in my beer fridge in the garage. Well done Peace Tree!

 

 

 

REVIEW

Style: Kolsch

ABV: 5%

Purchased at: Hy-Vee; Marion, IA

Pour: Light yellow pour, drank from the can.

Aroma: Grassy, malt, and some fruit on the nose.

Flavor: Nice malty flavor, crisp and refreshing, maybe a tad bit of hops to round it out.

Ratebeer.com rating: no score yet

Beeradvocate.com rating: no score yet

Overall: C

My recommendation: A really strong choice for a sessionable summer beer. Support Iowa craft beer and try a six pack!

Toppling Goliath Kentucky Brunch Release Review

tgToppling Goliath is making me want to pack up and move to Decorah, IA! After another great event and fun-filled weekend in Decorah, it’s pretty safe to say that Toppling Goliath (www.tgbrews.com) is becoming a midwest power in craft beer. Along with being able to hit up the brewery a couple of times, my wife and I got to spend an evening in Decorah checking out local businesses and eating some really good food.

We rolled into Decorah around 5 p.m. and I was just itching for a TG brew, so we headed right to the brewery with the intention of only having 1 beer and then grabbing a bite to eat. Well, after a pseudoSue for me and a rover truck for my wife, I went back to the bar and was going to buy some bombers of Sue, when all of a sudden I saw!…… a beautiful tap handle that can make your mouth water and your legs quiver….that’s right, Mornin’ Delight was just getting tapped! Now, the intent was to have one a go, but when you see something this rare and delicious being tapped in front of you, you must stay and enjoy….. so we did. The deliciousness of this beer has not been overstated at all; breakfast in a bottle folks, all the elements.

la ranaWhen we finally left the taproom we checked into our hotel, Hotel Winneshiek. (www.hotelwinn.com) My wife had read something about the best cook in Decorah being at a restaurant called La Rana. We had a really great meal there and they also had Toppling Goliath on tap. Highly recommend checking this place out on your next visit to Decorah as the burger was phenomenal!

In the morning, we had breakfast at T-Bocks which really impressed me because of them using local eggs, cheese, and meat. Really enjoyable breakfast, and we actually went back for lunch. My one complaint, if I have any, is that they don’t make their own ranch dressing, it’s hidden valley, but oh well.

We were also able to check out the co-op downtown which was really impressive! Great food options and also not a bad beer selection either.

Anyway, we got to the brewery for the Kentucky Brunch release at 7:45 and the people! OH THE PEOPLE! I couldn’t believe the amount for an 8:00 a.m opening! It just goes to show when you have a class act for a business the people are going to flock to you. I got sticker #12o something, and was hoping to get a taste of the Kentucky Brunch, but they were calling out by numbers and only got to the 90s before the keg went dry. Damn! Lesson learned though, get their earlier! As we waited we enjoyed some great brews, talked with some great people, and just enjoyed the day. As we got in line to get our beer it was great to see Clark from Toppling Goliath personally greeting everyone as they left. People from St. Louis, Minneapolis, Indiana, etc. had made the trek for this beer and I am very grateful I was able to get my hands on one!

If you are a craft beer lover, you have to take some time this summer and get to Decorah, the craft beer capital of Iowa!

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum has Arrived…..Finally!!

hoptimumIt seem I’ve been waiting on this beer to hit our shelves for a while now, and according to John’s Grocery’s facebook page, Sierra Nevada Hoptimum is currently in stock on their shelves. Along with Founder’s Devil Dancer, these two have made it a nice week of hops for Eastern Iowa hopheads. Enjoy the brew!

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum:
Ratebeer.com: 100/100
Beeradvocate: 93/100

From the brewery:

A group of hop-heads and publicans challenged our Beer Camp (#19) brewers to push the extremes of whole-cone hop brewing. The result is this: a 100 IBU, whole-cone hurricane of flavor. Simply put- Hoptimum: the biggest whole-cone IPA we have ever produced. Aggressively hopped, dry-hopped and torpedoed with our exclusive new hop varieties for ultra-intense flavors and aromas. 

Hops, hops and more hops are the stars of this big, whole-cone Imperial IPA. Resinous ‘new-school’ and exclusive hop varieties carry the bold and aromatic nose. The flavor follows the aroma with layers of aggressive hoppiness, featuring notes of grapefruit rind, rose, lilac, cedar and tropical fruit – all culminating in a dry and lasting finish. 

Beer specs: 
ABV: 10.4%
Original Gravity: 22.8 Plato
Final Gravity: 4.5 Plato
Bitterness Units: 100 IBU
Color: Orange Amber
Bittering Hops: German Magnum
Aroma Hops: Simcoe & New Proprietary Variety
Dry Hops: Simcoe & New Proprietary Variety
Torpedo Hops: Citra & Chinook
Malts: Two-row Pale, Golden Promise, Munich & Wheat
Yeast: Ale

Founders Devil Dancer Has Arrived!

foundersNew to Eastern Iowa shelves is Founders Devil Dancer. Just the lastest great beer from Founders (www.foundersbrewing.com) to hit our shelves. Grab a 4 pack and enjoy! Here’s more about the beer:

Ratebeer: 99/100

Beeradvocate: 89/100

From the brewery: Founders most complex, most innovative, most feared and yet most revered ale produced. Massive in complexity the huge malt character balances the insane amount of alpha’s used to create this monster. More IBU’s than any brewery has documented, more than you would believe and dry-hopped for twenty-six days straight with a combination of 10 hop varieties. Dangerously drinkable and deliciously evil. We dare you to dance with the Devil. 112 IBUs

iabeerbaron’s 10 Beers for Summer

The weather is getting warmer, the grass has just been mowed, and there are various meats sizzling on the grill. You’re conflicted as you reach into your beer fridge and try to decide what beer to go with. Do you go with a lighter pils, a higher ABV IPA, or a dark, thick, stout? The answer? All three are perfect for summer weather! Now I know that most people like to have sessionable beers for summer, but don’t think that a stout doesn’t go down smooth and refreshing on a nice summer evening, or that a big IPA can’t be enjoyed on your deck as you watch your kids play. I could go the route of listing a bunch of sessionable beers but let’s make it fun throw everyone in the pool. All styles are fair game this time of year, and here is my breakdown of what to enjoy this summer. (All available in Eastern Iowa).  Sidenote: I know that I most likely left out some beers unintentionally so feel free to add your favorites.

madhouse10. Madhouse Hopburst
Brewery: Madhouse Brewing
       City: Newton, IA
       Style: American IPA
       ABV: 7.2%
Website: www.madhousebeer.com 
A wonderful American IPA brewed right here, in the great state of Iowa. A great balance of malt and hops make this an easy pick for a very enjoyable summer beer. Enjoy this beer with a bratwurst loaded with sauerkraut, spicy mustard, and onions or a thick ribeye cooked medium rare. Perfect!

big honey9. Millstream Big Honey Hefeweisen 
Brewery: Millstream Brewing
     City: Amana, IA
     Style: Weizen Bock
     ABV: 9.2%
     Website: www.millstreambrewing.com

Another Iowa brewed beer making the list and this is a big boy! A huge aroma and flavor of bananas, rounded out by cloves and tons of honey make this a fantastic beer for a crisp fall day/evening, but also makes for the perfect ending to a warm summer day as well. Enjoy this beer with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream to end the evening. 

 

bells8. Bells Oberon
Brewery: Bells Brewery
    City: Kalamazoo, MI
    Style: Wheat Ale
    ABV: 5.8%
    Website: www.bellsbeer.com
Moving onto a more “sessionable” and distinct beer for the summer. Bells Oberon ale is usually on everyones’ summer list when it’s time to talk summer beers, and rightfully so. Citrus and spice flavor make this a very refreshing summer beer pick. Pair this with some grilled fish and a tomato avocado salad and all will be well with your day. 

 

tangerine7. Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat
Brewery: Lost Coast Brewery
    City: Eureka, CA
    Style: Fruit Beer
    ABV: 5%
    Website: www.lostcoast.com

Summer can’t be complete without a trip out west to California. A staple in my fridge throughout the summer months is Lost Coast’s Tangerine Wheat. Not only do I enjoy one or two of these but it is the perfect beer to have on hand for the BMC drinkers to enjoy as well. It seems that most BMC loyalists will always welcome a fruit beer, not sure why, but anyway, this brew has a low ABV and a refreshing tangerine presence. Tough to pair fruit beers but a light salad with a tangerine wheat vinaigrette would do nicely or some shrimp tacos with spicy salsa.

saison dupont6. Saison Dupont Farmhouse Ale
  Brewery: Brasserie Dupont
     City: Tourpes-Leuze, Belgium
     Style Farmhouse/Saison
     ABV: 6.5%
     Website: brasserie-dupont.com/
I have really taking a liking to saison styles in the last 6-7 months and it’s all thanks to this beer. Saison Dupont has everything you need in a saison: barnyard qualities, grassiness, banana, black pepper spice, and citrus. Amazing beer for a summer day. This beer would go perfect with a herb seasoned beer can chicken stuffed with lemons and onions!

 

all day ipa5. Founders All Day IPA
Brewery: Founders Brewing
    City: Grand Rapids, MI
    Style: IPA
    ABV: 4.7%
    Website: www.foundersbrewing.com 

Association sessionable to IPA isn’t usually ones’ first thought. But Founders Brewing has created a beer that will appease both hopheads and also people who want to sit around at a camp out and drink a six-pack or two of really good beer. Take it on a picnic with a bucket of fried chicken and coleslaw!

summit4. Summit Oatmeal Stout
   Brewery: Summit Brewing
     City: St. Paul, MN
     Style: Sweet Stout
     ABV: 4.7%
     Website: www. summitbrewing.com 

A popular summer destination for my family is supper at The General Store Pub in Stone City, IA. Why? Good bar food, a great locale, and Summit Brewing Oatmeal Stout on tap! A wonderfully, creamy stout, easy to drink and hard to put down your glass. Goes well with some fried foods or just on its own.

tank 73. Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
  Brewery: Boulevard Brewing
     City: Kansas City, MO
     Style: Farmhouse
     ABV: 8.5%
     Website: www.boulevard.com 

A beer that is moving up my “favorites” list is Boulevard’s Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale. Boulevard hits an absolute home run with this brew, and coming in a 8.5%, a bomber of this,  an all-beef hot dog with sauerkraut, jalapeños  spicy, mustard, dill pickle relish, and an L.A. Dodger game will do just fine.

 

green flash2. Green Flash Imperial IPA
 Brewery: Green Flash Brewery
     City: San Diego, CA
     Style: Imperial IPA
     ABV: 9.4%
     Website: www.greenflashbrew.com 

Man do I love this beer. The description of this beer says, “It’s all about the hops!” and there’s no doubt about it. An in-your-face Double IPA with amazing citrus flavor that is slightly balance by malts. My favorite Green Flash beer so far. Smokey, sticky, mouth-watering BBQ ribs and a bomber of this Imperial IPA make for quite an evening.

 

pseudo sue1. Toppling Goliath pseudoSue
Brewery: Toppling Goliath Brewery
    City: Decorah, IA
    Style: American Pale Ale
    ABV: 5.8%
    Website: www.tgbrews.com  

Described as an American Pale Ale this beer has more hop presence than some IPAs on the market. If you are craft beer lover from Iowa I’m guessing you’ve had this beer, if not, you must try! All craft beer lovers for that matter! Toppling Goliath is starting to put their name on the craft beer map nationally and this is one of the beers responsible for that. Hard to come by in bottles for the time being but hopefully soon they will be cranking them out quick enough to meet or come close to the demand. Second to none and goes great with some spicy chicken wings, a medium cooked hamburger with grilled mushrooms and swish or  just enjoy this work of art by itself.

**Once again, a fun list to come up with, a fun list to drink, but I know I left some beers out. Feel free to add comments and let me know what your favorite beers of summer are. Cheers! **

iabeerbaron's 10 Beers for Summer

The weather is getting warmer, the grass has just been mowed, and there are various meats sizzling on the grill. You’re conflicted as you reach into your beer fridge and try to decide what beer to go with. Do you go with a lighter pils, a higher ABV IPA, or a dark, thick, stout? The answer? All three are perfect for summer weather! Now I know that most people like to have sessionable beers for summer, but don’t think that a stout doesn’t go down smooth and refreshing on a nice summer evening, or that a big IPA can’t be enjoyed on your deck as you watch your kids play. I could go the route of listing a bunch of sessionable beers but let’s make it fun throw everyone in the pool. All styles are fair game this time of year, and here is my breakdown of what to enjoy this summer. (All available in Eastern Iowa).  Sidenote: I know that I most likely left out some beers unintentionally so feel free to add your favorites.

madhouse10. Madhouse Hopburst
Brewery: Madhouse Brewing
       City: Newton, IA
       Style: American IPA
       ABV: 7.2%
Website: www.madhousebeer.com 
A wonderful American IPA brewed right here, in the great state of Iowa. A great balance of malt and hops make this an easy pick for a very enjoyable summer beer. Enjoy this beer with a bratwurst loaded with sauerkraut, spicy mustard, and onions or a thick ribeye cooked medium rare. Perfect!

big honey9. Millstream Big Honey Hefeweisen 
Brewery: Millstream Brewing
     City: Amana, IA
     Style: Weizen Bock
     ABV: 9.2%
     Website: www.millstreambrewing.com

Another Iowa brewed beer making the list and this is a big boy! A huge aroma and flavor of bananas, rounded out by cloves and tons of honey make this a fantastic beer for a crisp fall day/evening, but also makes for the perfect ending to a warm summer day as well. Enjoy this beer with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream to end the evening. 

 

bells8. Bells Oberon
Brewery: Bells Brewery
    City: Kalamazoo, MI
    Style: Wheat Ale
    ABV: 5.8%
    Website: www.bellsbeer.com
Moving onto a more “sessionable” and distinct beer for the summer. Bells Oberon ale is usually on everyones’ summer list when it’s time to talk summer beers, and rightfully so. Citrus and spice flavor make this a very refreshing summer beer pick. Pair this with some grilled fish and a tomato avocado salad and all will be well with your day. 

 

tangerine7. Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat
Brewery: Lost Coast Brewery
    City: Eureka, CA
    Style: Fruit Beer
    ABV: 5%
    Website: www.lostcoast.com

Summer can’t be complete without a trip out west to California. A staple in my fridge throughout the summer months is Lost Coast’s Tangerine Wheat. Not only do I enjoy one or two of these but it is the perfect beer to have on hand for the BMC drinkers to enjoy as well. It seems that most BMC loyalists will always welcome a fruit beer, not sure why, but anyway, this brew has a low ABV and a refreshing tangerine presence. Tough to pair fruit beers but a light salad with a tangerine wheat vinaigrette would do nicely or some shrimp tacos with spicy salsa.

saison dupont6. Saison Dupont Farmhouse Ale
  Brewery: Brasserie Dupont
     City: Tourpes-Leuze, Belgium
     Style Farmhouse/Saison
     ABV: 6.5%
     Website: brasserie-dupont.com/
I have really taking a liking to saison styles in the last 6-7 months and it’s all thanks to this beer. Saison Dupont has everything you need in a saison: barnyard qualities, grassiness, banana, black pepper spice, and citrus. Amazing beer for a summer day. This beer would go perfect with a herb seasoned beer can chicken stuffed with lemons and onions!

 

all day ipa5. Founders All Day IPA
Brewery: Founders Brewing
    City: Grand Rapids, MI
    Style: IPA
    ABV: 4.7%
    Website: www.foundersbrewing.com 

Association sessionable to IPA isn’t usually ones’ first thought. But Founders Brewing has created a beer that will appease both hopheads and also people who want to sit around at a camp out and drink a six-pack or two of really good beer. Take it on a picnic with a bucket of fried chicken and coleslaw!

summit4. Summit Oatmeal Stout
   Brewery: Summit Brewing
     City: St. Paul, MN
     Style: Sweet Stout
     ABV: 4.7%
     Website: www. summitbrewing.com 

A popular summer destination for my family is supper at The General Store Pub in Stone City, IA. Why? Good bar food, a great locale, and Summit Brewing Oatmeal Stout on tap! A wonderfully, creamy stout, easy to drink and hard to put down your glass. Goes well with some fried foods or just on its own.

tank 73. Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
  Brewery: Boulevard Brewing
     City: Kansas City, MO
     Style: Farmhouse
     ABV: 8.5%
     Website: www.boulevard.com 

A beer that is moving up my “favorites” list is Boulevard’s Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale. Boulevard hits an absolute home run with this brew, and coming in a 8.5%, a bomber of this,  an all-beef hot dog with sauerkraut, jalapeños  spicy, mustard, dill pickle relish, and an L.A. Dodger game will do just fine.

 

green flash2. Green Flash Imperial IPA
 Brewery: Green Flash Brewery
     City: San Diego, CA
     Style: Imperial IPA
     ABV: 9.4%
     Website: www.greenflashbrew.com 

Man do I love this beer. The description of this beer says, “It’s all about the hops!” and there’s no doubt about it. An in-your-face Double IPA with amazing citrus flavor that is slightly balance by malts. My favorite Green Flash beer so far. Smokey, sticky, mouth-watering BBQ ribs and a bomber of this Imperial IPA make for quite an evening.

 

pseudo sue1. Toppling Goliath pseudoSue
Brewery: Toppling Goliath Brewery
    City: Decorah, IA
    Style: American Pale Ale
    ABV: 5.8%
    Website: www.tgbrews.com  

Described as an American Pale Ale this beer has more hop presence than some IPAs on the market. If you are craft beer lover from Iowa I’m guessing you’ve had this beer, if not, you must try! All craft beer lovers for that matter! Toppling Goliath is starting to put their name on the craft beer map nationally and this is one of the beers responsible for that. Hard to come by in bottles for the time being but hopefully soon they will be cranking them out quick enough to meet or come close to the demand. Second to none and goes great with some spicy chicken wings, a medium cooked hamburger with grilled mushrooms and swish or  just enjoy this work of art by itself.

**Once again, a fun list to come up with, a fun list to drink, but I know I left some beers out. Feel free to add comments and let me know what your favorite beers of summer are. Cheers! **

Beer Review #104: Founders All Day IPA

alldayAs the summer months approach and temperatures heat up, that means more time for outdoor activities. I’m a huge IPA fan but sitting outside on a hot summer day and drinking IPAs all day long would lead to a good amount of drunkenness. Thankfully, Founders Brewing (www.foundersbrewing.com) has saved the day! A few months back Iowans have been able to get their hands on one of their newer releases, a sessionable IPA named All Day IPA. For those unsure of what a sessionable beer is, they are essentially a low ABV beer that you can enjoy in multitudes.

Founders really hits a home run with this beer. From the labeling on the bottle of a family car looking to go on a camping trip, to the great use of the hops, and finally the ability to make this IPA sessionable makes this a wonderful beer perfect for summer and will be even better when it gets released in cans just in time for college football tailgating season.The days of drinking any BMC (bud, miller, coors) products during the summer just because of their low ABV are gone. Welcome to the new revolution of beer drinking!  From the brewery:

The beer you’ve been waiting for. Keeps your taste satisfied while keeping your senses sharp. An all-day IPA naturally brewed with a complex array of malts, grains and hops. Balanced for optimal aromatic and a clean finish. The perfect reward for an honest day’s work and the ultimate companion to celebrate life’s simple pleasures.

I have had both Founders All Day IPA and Lagunitas Daytime, and I much prefer the Founders product. If you are going into this looking for the next blow your mind, in your face, biter hop dominance, then you are looking in the wrong spot. This beer gives you the wonderful citra hop flavor, but it doesn’t have the bitterness of some/most IPAs. It is smooth and creamy and all-around delicious. So grab a sixer, get the grill or smoker fired up, throw your favorite food on the grill, pull up a lawn chair, and enjoy as many as you’d like!

REVIEW

Style: IPA

ABV: 4.7%

Purchased at: John’s Grocery, Iowa City, IA

Pour: Dark gold pour with a medium-sized white head.

Aroma: Pine, citrus hops aroma dominate along with some dankness on the nose.

Flavor: Citrus hops dominate the flavor, maybe a tad of floral taste as well. The bitterness is missing but doesn’t take away from the brew.

Ratebeer.com rating: 96/100

Beeradvocate.com rating: 87/100

Overall: A-

My recommendation: A go to beer for the summer for sure. A great concept, and they come through by providing a very tasty sessionable beer.