Tag: iowa beer baron

February is “Stout” month! What stout are you drinking?

Leave a comment

Ever since 1993, February as been designated “Stout” month. What better way to celebrate the end of January than by cracking a bottle/can of your favorite roasty stout? There are so many great stouts to choose from in our great state, but here’s what I’ll be sipping on this month…plus any others I may cross paths with!

**Lion Bridge Percussive Maintenance** – the perfect beer to pop open during February. I was lucky enough to procure a few bottles and also has this decadent baby on tap. One of the best beers in the state in my opinion. 12% can be scary, but it’s extremely well hidden. Sip on this one and relish it, maybe share it, but make sure you are sharing with someone worthy of this brew.

**Singlespeed Tip the Cow** – sometimes we take for granted those things that are readily available to us. Tip the Cow happens to be one of those beers, You can find it in almost any grocery store in the area and also happens to be a fantastic stout. Coffee and chocolate and I think I’ll have at least two of these!

**Big Grove Richard the Whale** – another harder to get beer that you can’t just pick up at your local grocery store…BUT…this baby is currently on tap at my local watering hole, Chameleon’s Pub and Grub in Mount Vernon, and once I drink that dry I still have a few bottles stashed in the cellar. If you were lucky enough to attend Richard Day, you probably have some variants to drink as well….LUCKY!

**Backpocket Cookie Junkie** – when I first saw this can I thought for sure this beer would be too sweet, but the balance of the peanut butter and the 175 pounds of sandwich cookies was perfect at not cloying at all. After a big winter feast, this is going to be my dessert!

**Clock House Pet Elephant** – the new kid to the party. Just released last weekend. This is an end of nighter, nightcap, grand finale beer. 14% is frightening, and when you finish that last sip it may seem at the moment you could handle another….hold tight….save that next bottle for another evening…get the fireplace going, turn on some Lord Huron lightly in the background, and savor every last drop of this nutter butter filled brew.

There they are! Those 5 for sure and hopefully some more stouts I run into along the way. What stout are you drinking this month and what else do I need to try? Cheers to Stout Month!

Lion Bridge 9th Anniversary set for March 5th!

Leave a comment

9 years in the books for Lion Bridge Brewing on March 5th! And to celebrate they are releasing some wonderful sounding beers! Here’s what’s in store for this celebration courtesy of Lion Bridge’s Facebook page:

Save the date! Join us to celebrate our 9th Anniversary all day on Sunday, March 5th.

Live music by Dr. Z’s Experiment (2pm – 5pm)

FREE CAKE for everyone to celebrate all things Lion Bridge. (while supplies last)

Food Specials!

The release of 2 BRAND NEW beers!!

Wolf Shirt XXL (Imperial IPA w/Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, 8.5%) – More hops, more ABV, robot wolves fighting intergalactic space battles in front of an epic moon. What’s not to love?

Anniversary Imperial (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout w/Ghanaian Cacao Nibs, 12%) – A whopping 17lbs of cacao nibs per barrel of beer. Brewed for our 9th Anniversary! Cheers!

Lion Bridge has become the catalyst to conversation and community that we always dreamed it could be. Come join us, raise a glass, and enjoy some cake to celebrate an amazing 9 years of Lion Bridge Brewing Company!! 

Big Grove “Citrus Surfer” enters year round portfolio!

Leave a comment

Big Grove Brewery has added “Citrus Surfer” to their year round release portfolio. Released to markets earlier this week on now available on tap at all Big Grove locations, this is the perfect beer to get into the warmer weather mindset, or to add to your Super Bowl Party spread! Here’s the press release courtesy of Big Grove Brewery:

[Iowa City, IA]: Today, Big Grove announced a brand-new fruited wheat release to join their year-round beer portfolio. Now pouring in their Iowa City, Solon, and Des Moines taprooms, Citrus Surfer is loaded with real orange and lemon citrus at a crushable 4.8% ABV. Each taproom will feature citrus-inspired culinary dishes to celebrate the beer release. 

A refreshing new twist on Big Grove’s past award-winning wheat beers, Citrus Surfer offers fans “significant drinkability,” according to Andy Joynt, Director of Brewing. The brewery team produced ten concept batches spanning eight months, beginning with research and development at their Solon pilot brewery before scaling to their Des Moines system as an intermediate step, ultimately crafting the beer for full-scale production at the Iowa City brewery.

“The finish and aromatics were something we focused on. We wanted pop with the right citrus flavor, plus a clean and satisfying finish, bringing you back for another sip,” remarked Joynt. 

The beer is anticipated to create a big wave in Iowa, giving Blue Moon Belgian White and Leinenkugel’s Wheat drinkers a more widely available, Iowa-made alternative. “Although Iowa is not coastal, nor is it a state known for its surfing, Citrus Surfer represents that mentality and a laid-back approach to life and the moments it brings,” said Bryan Farrell, Director of Integrated Sales & Marketing. “Iowans love to seek out new experiences and travel, especially in the winter months. We’re offering a call-to-action for fans to ‘Find Your Moment’ through trip and experience giveaways.” 

Throughout 2023, Big Grove will be giving away flights, Airbnb gift cards for unique Iowa rentals, and other fun offers and experiences. Fans can enter to win flight vouchers to any destination of their choosing, redeemable at major Iowa airports (CID, DSM, DBQ, SUX, ALO). Keep an eye out for more waves of giveaways and experiences throughout the spring and summer months. To enter, go to biggrove.com/pages/find-your-moment.

Check out your favorite local beverage shop to catch the closest Citrus Surfer near you. Citrus Surfer is available on draft, six-packs, and 12-packs at a majority of retail locations across Iowa. 

Jolly Pumpkin getting re-launched in Iowa via Abu Nawas!

Leave a comment

The first brewery that Abu Nawas brought to Iowa will be making their way back to our lovely state starting next week and will also be bringing cans with them! Here’s more courtesy of Abu Nawas!

JOLLY PUMPKIN CANS:

  • Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere 6/4/16oz CANS – Farmhouse Ale. This delicious, low-calorie, farmhouse ale is named for Ron’s Jack Russell who was struck by a car but bounced back in fine tenacious Jack Russell fashion. This farmhouse ale is brewed for those of us who have been knocked down, have picked up, dusted off, and carried on undaunted. Golden, naturally cloudy, can-conditioned, and dry-hopped for a perfectly refreshing balance of spicy malts, hops, & yeast. TIME IN OAK: 2 Months. 4.5% ABV – 24 IBU – MI
  • Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Blanca 6/4/16oz CANS – Farmhouse Witbier. Blanca is a low-calorie farmhouse witbier brewed in Belgium’s beer blanche tradition. Spiced with orange peel & coriander, you’ll find it refreshingly tart, with a wonderfully dry finish. A year round favorite for sure. TIME IN OAK: 2 Months. 4.8% ABV – 15 IBU – MI
  • Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza 6/4/16oz CANS – Wild Artisan Golden Ale. Oro is brewed in the Franco-Belgian tradition of strong golden ales. Spicy and peppery with a gentle hop bouquet and the beguiling influence of wild yeast. Named one of the top 25 beers in America by Men’s Journal. Great American Beer Festival Gold medal winner for the Belgian & French Ale category. TIME IN OAK: 6-9 Months. 8.0% ABV – 30 IBU – MI
  • Jolly Pumpkin iO Saison 6/4/16oz CANS – Wild Saison. Aged in oak with wild yeasts & can conditioned, iO Saison is a unique creation brewed with rose hips, rose petals, & hibiscus giving this saison a character & color all its own. This very vibrant, bright, rose-colored saison has floral & spice notes mixed with hints of tartness from foeder aging & the hibiscus flowers. A beautiful piece of art presented in a glass. Cheers and mahalo plenty! TIME IN OAK: 3 Months. 6.4% ABV – 15 IBU – MI

Cerebral Brewing coming to Iowa via Pequod!

Leave a comment

New Brewery: Cerebral Brewing
 

  • Neon Lite– American Lager
  • Rare Trait- Flagship IPA
  • Forever Awake– Imperial Coffee Stout NOLA Style
  • Momentum Shift– IPA w/ Nelson, Citra & Moteuka
  • Cryptic Message– Foeder Fermented Schwarzbier
  • Dark Galaxie- 6.5% Oatmeal Stout
  • Inhabited Form- DH Oat Lager w/ Galaxy & Citra

Here’s more on the brewery courtesy of their website, super excited for this!

Cerebral Brewing was brought to life in 2015 by co-founders Sean Buchan and Dan McGuire in Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood along the city’s famed Colfax Avenue. Since the beginning, Cerebral has focused on quality, innovation, and evolution in all endeavors, from the beer we brew to the culture we create. We’re here to serve our community through our craft – raising funds and awareness for local causes we care about.

Need Pizza announces “Craft Beer Dinner” with Dimensional Brewing on Feb. 21st!

Leave a comment

Need Pizza’s next beer dinner paired with some of Iowa’s finest beers and breweries will showcase not only the talents of Need’s kitchen staff but also beers from Dimensional Brewing out of Dubuque! This will be a five course ticketed meal. Stay tuned for more info or visit Need’s event page on Facebook by clicking https://www.facebook.com/events/871698500746249?ref=newsfeed

Eden Heritage and B. Nektar bottles and cans coming from Abu Nawas!

Leave a comment

Eden Heritage Cider CANS & Bottles:

  • Eden Heritage Cider 6/4/16oz CANS – Authentic Heritage Cider. Locally grown Heritage Dabinett • McIntosh • Empire • Spartan • Esopus Spitzenburg varieties. Pressed at harvest, fermented slowly and cold to preserve every drop of flavor. No added sugar, color or flavoring. Kingston Black, McIntosh, Empire, Bulmers Norman, Gravenstein. 6.2% ABV – VT
  • Eden Brut Nature Sparkling Champagne Cider 12/375ml – Half-Bottles – Naturally sparkling dry hard cider made from heirloom and bittersweet apple varieties. Bubbly, very dry, balanced flavors. 8.4% ABV – VT
  • Eden Imperial Rose Cider 12/375ml – This elegant hard cider is reminiscent of Champagne. Barrel-fermented and aged 1 year in French Oak puncheons • Secondary fermentation in the bottle using juice, no sugar added.100% Vermont Apples. 8.5% ABV – VT
  • Eden Brandy Limited Release Barrel-Aged Heirloom Blend Ice Cider 6/375ml – This special limited release of Heirloom Blend ice cider has been aged in apple brandy barrels for 8 months. 13% ABV – VT
  • Eden Heirloom Blend Ice Cider 6/375ml – Ice Cider brings the essence of pure apple to a sophisticated dessert wine. Vermont’s natural winter cold is used to concentrate cider to the optimum balance of sweetness and acidity. Our unique blend of traditional and heirloom apples produces a complex, delicious flavor that compliments food yet may be savored on its own. It takes over 8 lbs. of apples to make just one beautiful bottle! 10% ABV – VT
  • Eden Honeycrisp Ice Cider 2015 6/375ml – This tangy, elegant ice cider is made 100% from Vermont-grown Honeycrisp apples. The Honeycrisp is a prized Northern USA apple variety. As its name suggests, there is a honeyed quality to its sweetness, accompanied by sufficient acidity to keep the flavor fresh and crisp. Enjoy with cheese, maple crème brulee, or butter cookies. 10% ABV – VT
  • Eden – Superstition Meadery Collaboration. Beeflustered 6/375ml – Limited Edition Heirloom Blend ice cider aged in Superstition Meadery cherry mead rye whiskey barrels. 13% ABV – VT
  • Eden Cellar Series: Guinevere’s Pearls 12/750ml – Single variety semi-sweet sparkling cider, bubbly, and intensely fruity. APPLE VARIETIES: 100% Northern Spy. Gluten free, Vegan friendly. 11% ABV – VT
  • Eden Iapetus Wines Collab: Orogenies 12/750ml – Collaboration with Iapetus Wines of Shelburne, Vermont. Apple-Grape Petillant Naturel with white wine grapes and heirloom apples. GRAPE VARIETIES: Louise Swenson • Itasca • APPLE VARIETIES: Gravenstein • St. Edmunds Russet • Rubinette • Binet Rouge • Cherry Cox.
  • Eden Puck Barrel Aged Ice Cider (2012) 12/375ml – In Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, Puck’s errand is to search out the sweet liquid of the magical Flower named ‘love in Idleness’. The potent potion leads to much mischief and unintended calamities. For your own love in this time of necessary idleness, we suggest sharing this deeply complex sweet cider that has aged for eight years in one stalwart French oak barrel. It will weave its own merriment without accident. • 8-Year Barrel-Aged Ice Cider. • APPLE VARIETIES: Ashmead’s Kernel. 10% ABV – VT

B. NEKTAR CANS & Bottles:

  • B. Nektar Zombie Killer 6/4/12oz CANS – Hard Cider with Honey and Cherry Added. Crisp, clean apple cider, round, ripe tart cherry. 100% Gluten Free. 5.5% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Black Fang 6/4/12oz CANS – Mead with Blackberries, Clove, and Orange Zest. Sweet and smooth with a full-bodied, dark berry wine character. Reminiscent of Spanish sangria and Garnacha grape wine. 100% Gluten-free. 6.4% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Blood Amulet 6/4/12oz CAN – Hard Cider with Raspberry & Cranberry. Floral bold cranberry, earthy apples, and light raspberry notes. 6.2% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Sunrise Bay 6/4/12oz CANS – Mead with Pineapple. Delicate notes of fresh pineapple lend a subtle sweetness to the understated honey character. Mild citrus acidity compliments and balances the gentle sweetness. Light body and soft mouthfeel with a semi-dry finish. 4% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Mango Sorbet 6/4/12oz CANS – Mango mead w/ a hint of black peppercorns. Bright and crisp with fruity mango, sweet honey, and citrus notes. Light-bodied and clean with a lingering subtle black peppercorn finish. 100% Gluten Free. 6% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Orange Cream Delight 6/4/12oz CANS – Mead with Natural Orange and Vanilla. 100% Gluten Free. 5.9% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Lime Cream Delight 6/4/12oz CANS – Mead with Natural Lime and Vanilla. A refreshing lime and vanilla beverage with added lactose for a creamy texture. It’s the adult version of a popsicle. 100% Gluten Free. 5.9% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Punk Lemonade 6/4/12oz CANS – Raspberry & Lemon Hard Cider. Mildly tart apple and lemon character that flows into a light raspberry sweetness. 100 % Gluten Free. 6.3% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar New Wave Lemonade 6/4/12oz CANS – Mead with Blueberry & Lemon. Sweet blueberry and creamy honey followed by notes of blueberry ski and tart lemon. 100% Gluten-free. 6.4% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar New Wave Lemonade 12/500ml – Mead with Blueberry & Lemon. Sweet blueberry and creamy honey followed by notes of blueberry ski and tart lemon. 100% Gluten-free. 6.4% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Ow! My Mangos 12/500ml – Honey Mango Wine with Natural Flavors and Habaneros. Originally started as a B. Nektar’s B-Side, a rare collection of limited edition batches that are often our mead makers’ pet projects. 100% Gluten-free. 11% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Punk Core Crusher 12/500ml – Bone-Dry Hard Cider. Fresh Rich Apples. 6.8% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar The Dude’s Rug 12/500ml – Hard Cider with Tea and Chai Spices. Sweet, fresh apples with notes of cinnamon, clove, cardamom, ginger and raisin. 100% Gluten Free. 5.9% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Prickly Pear Kill All The Golfers 12/500ml – Mead with Prickly Pear Black Tea, Lemon. 100% Gluten Free. 6% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Wildberry Pyment 12/375ml – Mead with Natural Wildberry. Striking aroma of Blackberries, Strawberries, Orange Blossom Honey and Red Grapes. 15% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Mutant Killer Zombie Manhattan Project Thingy 12/500ml – Apple Mead with Cherry Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. 100% Gluten Free. 10% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Zombies Take Manhattan 12/500ml – Apple Mead Aged on Ryes Whiskey Barrels for 9 Months. 100% Gluten Free. 11.8% ABV – MI
  • B. Nektar Dragons Are Real (Dragon’s Milk barrel aged mead) 12/375ml – Cherry Chipotle Mead Aged in New Holland Brewing – Dragon’s Milk Barrels with Cacao Nibs. 14% ABV – MI

Clock House Brewing releasing “Forgotten Time” barleywine and Brrberry Sour this weekend! (1/21)

Leave a comment

Downtown Cedar Rapids is going to be booming with beer releases this weekend! Along with Lion Bridge’s big Saturday, Clock House will be releasing 2 new beers, one of which is a collab with Lion Bridge! “Forgotten Time” is a barrel-aged barleywine and Brrrberry Sour will be coming at you when doors open at noon! Here’s more from Clock House’s Facebook page:

Forgotten Time: A collaboration brew with our friends at Lion Bridge Brewing. Forgotten Time is a Barrel-Aged Barley Wine that was brewed at Clock House then barrel aged at Lion Bridge for 18 months in 10-year-old Templeton barrels. Sherry, chocolate, dark fruit for days.

Available on draft and in 500 ML bottles. $19.99 per bottle.

Brrrberry Sour: A frosted Blueberry inspired sour! This super fruited beer features 42 pounds of blueberries per barrel with a touch of blueberry glaze. Draft Only

Doors open at Noon!