I just received the following tweet courtesy of Founders Brewing Company:
Announcing KBS Week 2015, March 9-14: http://kbsweek.com/ . Distribution release = 3/30.
One of the most highly anticipated releases of the year is only a few months away. It will be interesting to see how liquor stores handle sales. Will it be similar to BCS releases or will they simply put it on the shelves and have first come first serve? Either way, can’t wait to get my hands on this once again! Cheers!
Prairie Trail Hy-Vee out of Des Moines just tweeted and confirmed that Funkwerks Brewing out of Fort Collins, CO will be hitting the Iowa market hopefully in the next 60 days. Here’s the tweet from Prairie Trail:
Well…
@Funkwerks is the BIG NEWS!!@IowaCraftBeer is hoping to have inventory in the next 60 days. Super excited for this!!!!!
Being a Saison fan I’m very excited for this news. To learn more about Funkwerks check out their website: http://www.funkwerks.com/content/OurBeer/Saison.aspx
I just read the following information regarding Stone releasing their next Enjoy By IPA and it looks like it will be a nationwide release. Here’s more from beerstreetjournal.com:
Stone Enjoy By IPA 02.14.15 is being bottled on 1/9/15 and hits the markets below as soon as possible. The IPA is brewed year round, but markets vary each release.
Style: Imperial IPA
Hops: Calypso, Super Galena, Simcoe, Delta, Target, Amarillo, Motueka, Citra, Cascade, New Zealand Nelson Sauvin, and Australian GalaxyAvailability: 22oz Bottles and Draft.
Markets: AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IA, IN, KA, KY, PA, RI, OH, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OR, NV, TN, SC, VT, WA9.4% ABV, IBUs 88
Some new beers should be making their way to Eastern Iowa shelves very soon. The yearly anticipated release of Bells Hopslam, Central Waters Bourbon Barrel aged stout and possible cherry variant, Rogue releasing a spring pumpkin beer and New Belgium coming out with a porter for spring. Here we go:
**Bells Hopslam** – the annual release should be hitting our shelves in the next week or two. It will be interesting to see how the sales go as l saw last years $19.99 six packs sitting for a while in a few stores.
**Central Waters Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout**- a highly anticipated release from 
Central Waters is now available while supplies last. I saw Johncey’s in North Liberty post that they had it but it would be gone relatively quick. If you are lucky enough to find some, snag it up, it ages well and this is an underrated brew. Going off of that, rumor has it some Iowa accounts might see the bourbon barrel-aged cherry variant of 
this brew. I cannot confirm this but have heard rumblings. This would be a most welcome beer, as I’ve longed to try it!
**Rogue Pumpkin Savior Ale** – Rogue will be releasing this witbier that uses pumpkins that had been frozen from their fall harvest for the spring of 2015. More on this beer from http://www.beerstreetjournal.com:
Created with pumpkins grown at rogue farms in
Independence, Oregon. This year we had an abundant harvest that left us with extra pumpkins after we brewer pumpkin patch ale. So rather than let our precious pumpkins rot in the field we decided to save them by freezing them whole and brewing a spring pumpkin wit.
Rogue Pumpkin Savior Ale will be available of 750ml bottles in Spring, 2015.
Style: WItbier (w/ Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Ginger, Cloves)
Availability: 750ml bottles
Arrival: Spring, 2015
**New Belgium Portage Porter** – this beer will be hitting the shelves soon and will be available through March. Here’s more from http://www.thefullpint.com:
With New Belgium Brewing so close to the Cache la Poudre river, there’s a lot of us at the brewery that love to kayak and paddle,” said New Belgium’s Collaboration Business Analyst, Tye Eyden. “This time of year is great because the snowmelt begins and the rivers start to rise. But, often times, that will bring precarious conditions and rapids that we might have to portage around. Portage Porter pays tribute to that awesome experience – the obstacles are part of the fun!”
**Oskar Blues PINNER Throwback IPA** – this beer will be available this month, but with the rollout of Oskar
Blues in Iowa so fresh, I’m not sure when we will see it. Dry hopped with many different hops including a new variety, this “session” IPA comes in at 4.9%. Hopefully we see it soon!
**If you see any of these beers available please drop me a line and let me know where! Cheers!**
Multiple sources have confirmed to me that Oskar Blues is indeed ready to hit the Iowa market. From what I am hearing it sounds like it will be in January of 2015. Rumors and speculation have been going on for the last few years about Oskar Blues hitting our state; especially since Stone, Deschutes, Green Flash, Founders and others have done so well here. Another great brewery adding to our shelves, making the decisions even more difficult than they already are! A great problem to have. If you want to know more about what beers Oskar Blues has to offer visit their website at this link:
Kona Brewing will be one of few craft breweries to be available in all 50 states as they fill in their final 9 states with their products. They should be available in Iowa starting in early 2015. For a full list of their lineup check out their website at:
From an earlier press release and courtesy of the Sioux City Journal:
“In early 2015 we are approaching our 21st anniversary of brewing high-quality craft beer, and this national push is a perfect tribute to that milestone,” said Kona Brewing Company brand manager Aaron Marion.
”It’s been two years since Kona first touched down in the heart of the country, and the reception of our Hawaiian brews has provided a nice groundswell. We look forward to bringing some warmth and a taste of Hawaii to the growing market of craft beer drinkers in the central U.S., especially during these cold winter months,” Marion said.
Their award winning Longboard Island Lager and Big Wave Golden Ale will both be represented, available on draught and in six-pack bottles.
Free State Brewing recently released the following information:
Iowa, we are coming to you! The Free State Brewing Co. will begin distribution in The Hawkeye State mid-November. Stay tuned for more info.
Wednesday | 11 – 12 >> Saturday | 11 – 15
If you are in the Des Moines, Ames or Iowa City area, look for Free Staters making appearances at select locations around town as we launch in Iowa. Stay in touch via Facebook or Twitter for details on time and place.
Follow this link to view their full list of beers! http://www.freestatebrewing.com/beer/
The following comes from a New Holland press release and is courtesey of http://www.beerpulse.com. More beer coming our way, can’t wait!
(Holland, MI) – Holland, Michigan-based craft brewery and artisan distiller, New Holland Brewing Co. has announced plans to distribute their products to four new markets across the great plains and into the Rocky Mountains beginning mid-August. Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa will soon be a part of the brewery’s now 24-state territory for beer and 17-state territory for spirits, including Washington D.C. To celebrate, New Holland will be hosting a handful of events in each state in August and September to kick off their launch in Central U.S.
“We are inspired by our mission to contribute flavorful choices to the passionate and thirsty craft drinkers,” stated Fred Bueltmann, VP of Brand and Lifestyle. “We feel connected to these markets for so many reasons, and have heard the call of demand for our beers and spirits. It’s clear there is a strong and growing craft scene, with passionate and dedicated people moving it forward”
New Holland has tapped several respected companies as their distributors for the new territories. CR Goodman in Colorado, Quality Brands of Omaha and Double Eagle in Lincoln, Nebraska, Worldwide Wine and Spirits in Kansas, and Glazer’s of Iowa. “It is amazing to see the remarkable level of service in the craft distribution game,” stated Bueltmann. “We have come a long way as an industry and we are impressed and excited to work with our new partners.”
New Holland will release their Year Round series of craft beer (Mad Hatter IPA, Sundog Amber Ale, Full Circle Kolsh, Monkey King Saison, The Poet Oatmeal Stout and Dragon’s Milk Barrel-Aged Stout) and many of their spirits (Knickerbocker Gin, Hatter Royale Hopped Whiskey and Clockwork Orange Liqueur), as well as several seasonal offerings, with their popular but allocated Beer Barrel Bourbon to follow as production allows. Additionally, the New Holland and Carhartt collaboration brew – The Carhartt Woodsman – will be launched in mid-September.
“As Midwesterners, we have great affinity for the lifestyle of the Great Plains and the Rockies. We embrace the outdoors, craftsmanship and taking time to linger over flavors and conversation. We’re looking forward to sharing New Holland’s Stop and Taste way of life.”
If the following news comes to fruition, Iowa craft beer lovers will be swimming in a bunch more great craft beer! Here’s the latest rumblings from the craft beer forum world:
**For Eastern Iowa Fleck Sales will start distribution Lagunitas in July.**
**Left Hand Brewing will follow Lagunitas and will become available in August.**
**And finally…….Surly brewing should be going to statewide distribution in January.**
Lot of great things on the horizon to go along with the great things we already have. Cheers to a great weekend!
I haven’t seen or heard anyone picking up or seeing bottles of this on the shelves, but according to a Ratebeer email this brew hit shelves the 27th. Still waiting on confirmation from a few beer retailers but it should be here soon. Here’s the press release:
26th Birthday Reserve
Unavailable
Porter
Limited Quantities
Alc. 10.8%
22 oz serving
Our 26th anniversary Imperial Porter was aged in bourbon barrels and dry spiced with Theo Chocolate’s cocoa nibs, revealing hints of vanilla and chocolate. Pomegranate molasses and Oregon cranberries complement the robust flavor with a hint of fruit and just enough tart to make you smile.Malt: Pale, Wheat, Midnight Wheat, Chocolate, Crystal
Hops: Millennium, Cascade, US Tettnang
Other: Theo Chocolate Cocoa Nibs, Pomegranate Molasses, Cranberries
Barrel-Aging: 6 Months in Bourbon (50%)Released June 27th, 2014
Pairings
Toasted Walnut Buttermilk Pancakes with Cranberry Maple Syrup
Black-Pepper Crusted New York Steaks with Black Truffle Vinaigrette
Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with Prosciutto
