Tag: iowa beer baron

Odell Brewing Confirmed to Iowa in April

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odell.pngOdell Brewing will officially be hitting Iowa shelves coming this April! Check out their site for a list of their offerings: Odell Brewing

Stay tuned for tap takeovers and release details as we get closer to the date. Liquor stores start expanding yet? Shelf space is getting tighter in Iowa!!

**More from Odell:

“Iowa’s craft beer market continues to grow with a vast selection of regional and local breweries,” said Corland Egertson, Odell Brewing Regional Sales Manager. “We are excited to introduce our portfolio of beers to this expanding craft market and we think Iowa will be a great addition to our footprint.”

Odell Brewing plans to launch with bottles, cans, and draft. The brewery will bring its flagship, 90 Shilling, along with Odell IPA, Loose Leaf Session Ale, seasonal offerings including St. Lupulin, four packs including Myrcenary Double IPA and Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA, as well as limited release Cellar Series offerings starting with The Meddler Oud Bruin Ale. The brewery’s launch in Iowa will mark the 12th state within its distribution footprint and the first in two years.

“Odell Brewing has been one of the most requested and anticipated breweries from our social media fans and followers and we are ecstatic about bringing their award winning beers into Iowa,” said Lyle Stutzman, President of Johnson Brothers of Iowa. “Many of our customers and c​raft beer drinkers frequently travel to Colorado and have developed a love for the Odell Brewing portfolio of beers including 90 Shilling and Odell IPA. As a family owned company, Johnson Brothers of Iowa appreciates doing business with a family and employee owned company like Odell Brewing.”

The brewery will open in the state with events happening in Des Moines, Ames, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City the first week of April. For more information and launch week details, please visit odellbrewing.com/events/.

Read more at: http://mybeerbuzz.blogspot.com/#ixzz41JktxPMS
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Pullman Bar and Diner Jolly Pumpkin Beer Dinner Menu

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pullmanThe menu is set for the Pullman Diner and Jolly Pumpkin Beer Dinner on March 9th! Here’s more courtesy of Pullman Bar and Diner:

Here is the final menu and the pairings for our beer dinner with Jolly Pumpkin on Wednesday, March 9th. Cocktail hour starts around 5 pm and dinner will begin at 6 pm. Please call for reservations. 319-338-1808. Including the beers that you see on menu we will also have Fuego del Otono, La Parcela, Noel de Calabaza, and Forgotten Tales of the Last Gypsy. Bottles on hand that day will be Oro De Calabaza, Calabaza Boreal, Biere De Mars, La Roja, BA Biere De Mars. All 10 taps will be Jolly Pumpkin. It’s going to be a beautiful site!!

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Oskar Blues and Surly New Can Releases

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Surly Brewing and Oskar Blues Brewing will be introducing some new beers to their can lineup.

surlySurly will be canning #MERICA! a pre-prohibition style lager that will check in at 5.4%. Stay tuned for more info on the release date for this brew. Here’s more on this brew from Surly:

Light gold in color, #Merica! is an old-school pre-Prohibition American Lager that was brewed in 2015 for the Annual D4th of July party put on by the Minneapolis-based punk band Dillinger Four. One of the only beer styles truly born in the U.S.A, pre-Prohibition American Lagers used corn as an integral part of the flavor profile, rather than as a simple substitute for barley malt. The flaked corn used in #Merica! comes across as a subtle, fresh corn flavor, while soft hop aromatics come from Warrior and Willamette hops, which add a mild fruity, herbal character that stays in the background. #Merica! is perfect for a hot summer day and celebrating the country’s birthday and 21 years of Dillinger Four.

money shot*Oskar Blues will also be releasing a new can to their lineup with Moneyshot White Wit Wheat. It will be released in 12 oz cans. Stay tuned for more info on ABV and release date.

Blackstone Hosting Iowa Brewery Tap Room: Lion Bridge on Tap Friday, March 4th

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blackstoneBlackstone Restaurant in Iowa City will be hosting it’s first installment of Iowa Tap Room featuring Lion Bridge Brewery out of Cedar Rapids. Lion Bridge brewers and crew will be at

When: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Beer Lineup:
Workman’s Compensation (English Mild) lion bridge
Disaster at Meux (Brown Porter)
Herr of the Dog (Kolsch)
Yard Sale (Citra Hopped IPA)
Tomahawk Saison (Saison)
Olde No. 17 (Dry Irish Stout)
Oktobot 3000 (BA Imperial Oktoberfest)
GAZPROM (BA Russian Imperial Stout w/ Maple Syrup)
Maple Disaster (BA Brown Porter w/ Maple Syrup)
Cabernet Saison (BA Saison in Cabernet Barrel)

Restaurant Review: Daisy’s Garage; Cedar Rapids

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IMG_0059.JPGGive 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!

IMG_0060.JPGStarted 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.JPGroast, 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!

IMG_0061.JPGOur 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 witphoto 2.JPGh 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!

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Firestone Walker Confirms Coming to Iowa in 2016

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firestone.jpegSaw 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.

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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.”

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

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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:

tropical.jpeg**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.

 

waldo.jpeg**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 summitAnniversary 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.jpeg**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 bells.jpegcoming 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

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big groveBig 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

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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.

stave*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.

watermelon.jpeg*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.

thaiThai 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.jpeg*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!