After every year I like to run down my favorite Iowa brewed beers! This year, I’ve teamed up with one of my good buddies and an all-around beer connoisseur, the great and wonderful Duke of Drinking. We compiled our list of the 10 best Iowa beers of ’24 based on the following criteria: *The beer had to be unique to 2024 *The beer had to be the first time either of us have tried *Of course it has to be Iowa brewed
Of course, we didn’t get to try them all as much as we’d have liked to, so if there’s a beer that didn’t make our list but made yours, we’d love to hear about it! In fact, shoot me your list or check out this post on Facebook – Iowa Beer page and give us your top 10!
Before I ramble on with our list, a shout out to all of those wonderful brewers/breweries/restaurants/establishments that give us the opportunity to imbibe on the wonderful drink that is beer. Thank you all very much and we appreciate you! On to the list:
**Field Day Revel** – 12.55% ABV – Oak Aged Imperial Stout blended with a Fresh Imperial Stout than rested on Almonds, Marzipan, Vanilla, & Chocolate. Revel in the Drink, makes you want to dance and party during this Holiday Season. This beer packed a ton of flavor and you get the flavor of each ingredient throughout each sip. I was worried it would be too sweet, but it had just the right amount. Wonderfully done brew.
**Dimensional Gladius** – 14.6% ABV – Blend of Imperial Stouts aged in Heaven Hill and Blaum Brothers Bourbon barrels for 21-26 months. What I loved the most about this beer is that it was just a big ass imperial stout with no adjuncts. Dimensional let the barrels do the talking and they sure did. I was worried as the nose smelled hot, but damn, the flavor was delicious. Viscous and full of that lovely barrel flavor. Fantastic beer.
**Dimensional/Field Day Dang** 8% ABV – Hazy DIPA with Nelson Sauvin, Motueka Hop Kief, and Citra. Brewed in collaboration with Field Day Brewing. One of the best Iowa made IPAs of the year, and one of the best IPAs made in the world this year. Dang packed a well-balanced hop punch, and if you have Nelson Sauvin and Citra in there, it’s sure to taste good. Hoping this one gets brewed again, delicious stuff!
**Clock House Orange Stripe** 13% ABV – Long-Boil Imperial Stout aged in a Driftless Glen Bourbon De Naranja barrel for 12 months. Rested on a bed of Madagascar Vanilla Beans and Ghana Cacao Nibs. Tasting notes of Orange Cream and Dark Chocolate. The perfect timing of this release as it tastes just as those chocolate covered oranges you see during the holidays do. Clock House always does a wonderful job with their stouts, long boil which equates to a viscous bottle of greatness. The orange was the perfect subtle flavor at the end of your sip. Another winner from Clock House!
**Dimensional Survey Says** – 10% ABV – Hazy Triple IPA with HBC 1019 Cryo, NZH 105, and Citra. Brewed in collaboration with G5 Brewing. You want to talk about a scary triple IPA? Survey Says is just that…absolutely delicious and scarily drinkable for a Triple IPA. This was well-balanced and smooth. Just an outstanding job by Dimensional.
**Clock House Veltross** – 8% ABV – Sanction #2. Double NEIPA dry-hopped with premium lot selected Nectaron and Citra. Not only does Clock House excel at the big boy stouts, their IPA and double IPA game are always on point as well. This year they gave us Veltross, a definite beer of the year contender, part of their “Sanction” series, which hopefully doesn’t mean we won’t see it again. Maybe if we ask Todd and Blake nicely they will brew this baby up again? Pretty please?
**Big Grove Richard the Whale: Golden Ticket 2024** – 13% ABV – The 2024 Richard the Whale Golden Ticket variant is inspired by coconut almond macaroons and we blended this extra special batch of Richard The Whale infused with toasted organic coconut and almonds. Year after year this is an extremely sought after brew, and year after year Big Grove delivers it’s decadence. Hard to get, but if you’re lucky enough, savor this baby, it’s delightful.
**Pulpit Rock Alma Mater**- 5.38% – Alma Mater pale ale is the official craft beer of Luther College. A portion of proceeds support The Luther Fund. Skal Norse! The official craft beer of Luther College should maybe be the pale ale of the state of Iowa! Extremely crushable, wonderfully refreshing, and full of flavor. Pulpit Rock really nailed this pale ale!
**Lua Respiro** – 16% – Made for Iowa Craft Beer Fest 2024. Aged in bourbon barrels for 21 months, then conditioned on Teddy Graham’s, coconut, Saigon & Korintje cinnamon, cacao nibs and vanilla soft serve. I was lucky to be in Des Moines when Lua tapped this brew. All the flavors shone and blended extremely well. Was hoping the cinnamon wouldn’t be overpowering and it wasn’t. Subtle, spot on brew. Excellent for dessert!
**Pulpit Rock BA $ticker $Shock** – 13% ABV – $ticker $hock 2024 is a blend of 35 and 38 month barrel aged imperial stouts then rested on copious amounts of toasted coconut and almonds. Pulpit wows with this one, extremely thick and full of coconut flavor, not too sweet, just the perfect amount and the barrel and chocolate blend perfectly. Another taste of decadence.
There you have it! Our “Pours of ’24”! Let us know what you think and what your list would look like! 2025 should be outstanding for Iowa Beer! Cheers! Join the Iowa Beer Facebook group by clicking HERE:
Phase Three Geo 6/4/16oz CANS – West Coast Pilsner Lager hits two of our favorite styles. The best of both worlds, a midpoint between an IPA and a crispy pilsner. A clean base of pilsner malt, Noble Hops, & German lager yeast with tons of Mosaic and Citra added after fermentation. Big, fruity, dank hops with a kiss or herbal character, all on a soft, crispy-clean base beer. 4.7% ABV – IL
Phase Three P3 Pils 6/4/16oz CANS – A craft lager fit for everyday drinking. A crispy clean lager with flavors reminiscent of lightly toasted bread, a touch of citrus, and herbal tea. 4.7% ABV – IL
Phase Three Proper Trollied 6/4/16oz CANS – English-Style Dark Mild Ale. Crafted for session drinking, with a delicate blend of English malts. 3.9% ABV – IL
Phase Three Proper Trollied – Coffee 6/4/16oz CANS – English-Style Dark Mild Ale with Heady Cup of Coffee. Crafted for session drinking, with a delicate blend of English malts. Refreshing and Absolutely Crushable 3.9% ABV – IL
Phase Three Mini Pixel 6/4/16oz CANS – Hazy IPA with Citra Hops. A favorite Pixel iteration that tones down the ABV of the flagship hazy to an exceptionally easy-drinking with no sacrifice to the tasty notes of lime peel, passion fruit, and pulpy grapefruit. 4.5% ABV – IL
Phase Three DDH Double Pixel 6/4/16oz CANS – Flagship hazy IPA, times two! This hazy double IPA has been double dry-hopped with our favorite 100% Citra hops. Enjoy dank notes of lime peel, tropical passion fruit, and pulpy grapefruit on our fluffy, hazy base. 8% ABV – IL
Phase Three Perception of Depth 6/4/16oz CANS – This Brown Ale lands somewhere between an American Brown and an English Brown. 100% English malts with some American hop character. Pale chocolate malt and biscuit malt provide subtle coffee and fresh baked artisan bread flavors. 6.5% ABV – IL
Phase Three Winter Lager 6/4/16oz CANS – German-Style Munich Dunkel with notes of bread crust, caramel, and roasted nuts. 5% ABV – IL
Phase Three Tinned 6/4/16oz CANS – West Coast Pale Ale with Mosaic, Amarillo hops. Delicious notes of Orange Zest, Pine and Grapefruit. 5% ABV – IL
Phase Three Hazy Methods 6/4/16oz CANS – Hazy DIPA with Amarillo, El Dorado and Galaxy hops. Notes of Peach Rings and Pineapple. 8.4% ABV – IL
Phase Three F-Stop 6/4/16oz CANS – Hazy DIPA with Citra, El Dorado, Vic Secret hops. Notes of Orange Pulp, Passionfruit and Pineapple. 7.5% ABV – IL
Phase Three DDH Unchecked Imagination 6/4/16oz CANS – Hazy DIPA with Citra, Motueka hops. Notes of Fluffy Clouds, Tropical Fruit and Lime Zest. 7.8% ABV – IL
Phase Three Snow Pants 6/4/16oz CANS – Hazy DIPA with Meridian, Motuere, Mosaic hops. Notes of Fresh Berries and Pineapple. 7.9% ABV – IL
Humble Forager Enchanted Island V1 (Painkiller) 6/4/12oz Sleek CANS – Painkiller CocktAle Inspired by one of our favorite Caribbean cocktails, The Painkiller. Packed with pineapple, orange, coconut cream, and nutmeg, we gave this creamy delight a gentle carbonation for extra refreshment. Drink it straight from the can, over ice, or with a shot of coconut rum. Our Painkiller Cocktale is sure to give your tastebuds a tropical beach bar vacation. 9% ABV – MN
Humble Forager Enchanted Island V2 (Jamaican Punch) 6/4/12oz Sleek CANS – This version of Enchanted Island is inspired by a Jamaican Punch cocktail. Vibrant passion fruit, juicy orange, and smooth coconut take center stage, backed by zesty lime, a touch of cranberry and sweetened by pomegranate simple syrup. VEGAN 9% ABV – MN
Humble Forager Enchanted Island V7 (Lava Flow) 6/4/12oz Sleek CANS – Tropical tones blend with the bright berry vibes from some delicious strawberries, We modeled this after the lively creamy Lava Flow cocktail. CocktAles brings inspiration from tropical beach drinks from around the world. VEGAN 9% ABV – MN
Humble Forager Humble Bumble CITRUS V1 4/6/12oz Sleek CANS – Made with 100% real fruit and sweetened with honey. They are gluten-free, packed with bold flavors, and contain absolutely no artificial flavoring and are very low calories. Version 1: Blood Orange and Calamansi Lime. 5% ABV – MN
Humble Forager Humble Bumble MANGO AND MANDARIN V7 4/6/12oz Sleek CANS – Made with 100% real fruit and sweetened with honey. They are gluten-free, packed with bold flavors, and contain absolutely no artificial flavoring and are very low calories. Version 7: Mandarin, Mango, Calamansi, Chamomile, Wildflower Honey. 5% ABV – MN
Humble Forager Humble Bumble PINEAPPLE AND MORELLO CHERRY V8 4/6/12oz Sleek CANS – Made with 100% real fruit and sweetened with honey. They are gluten-free, packed with bold flavors, and contain absolutely no artificial flavoring and are very low calories. Version 8: Pineapple, Morello Cherry, Calamansi, Honeysuckle, Basswood Honey. 5% ABV – MN
Humble Forager Humble Bumble POMBERRY V9 4/6/12oz Sleek CANS – Made with 100% real fruit and sweetened with honey. They are gluten-free, packed with bold flavors, and contain absolutely no artificial flavoring and are very low calories. Version 9: Pomegranate, Blueberry, Black Currant, Rose Hips, And Alfalfa Honey. 5% ABV – MN
SOLVEIG (Faction #4) is a Wild Ale that was inoculated with a blend of Lactobacillus, Brettanamyces, and Pediococcus. After resting in a Tawny Port Wine Barrel for 3.5 years, we emptied and refilled the same barrel with a golden ale base. 1.5 years later these two beers were blended together to create a luscious and fragrant wine like beverage. Expect notes of caramel, tart cherry, and oak. Available in 500ML bottles only. Bottles can be consumed in the taproom.
Be sure to bring in your Centra of Factions map to earn your 4th stamp! Those who collect all 5 stamps will be able to redeem a free signature collectible after the final release in the series!
Cozy Campfire is an American Porter that was rested on Comoros Vanilla Beans and specialty Ecuador cacao nibs. Bold flavors of toasted marshmallow, chocolate, and vanilla can be found throughout every sip! Available in 16oz 4-packs and draft!
Guava the Nut is filled with coconuts and pink guava; you’ll get creamy coconut & sweet, bright floral notes from the guava. Beat the winter blues & pretend you’re at the beach with this one! 5.4% ABV
Berry Boo v2: Blackberry-Raspberry Edition {yes, that’s the entire name } is FULL of blackberries and raspberries; its got a bright, jammy berry flavor with a 5.8% ABV
**Both sours will be on tap only; no to-go cans this time around**
It’s also PIZZA POP-UP today from 12-8pm; the menu is in the comment section!
Reminder: we’re doing pizzas 12-8pm TODAY {Friday}, 12-8pm TOMORROW {Saturday} and 12-5pm on Sunday. Pizzas this Saturday are a one-off; NOT a permanent addition to the weekly schedule!
We’re excited to announce the return of Boa Constrict this Friday, December 6th!
A true to style West Coast IPA showcasing classic American hop varieties. Crystal clear in appearance with a plentiful 120 IBU’s. Huge notes of Floral Citrus rounded out with a clean snappy bite.
(Irish-style Stout, 4.8%) – The official beer of the Cedar Rapids St. Patrick’s Day Parade Society (SaPaDaPaSo) and 2023 World Beer Cup Silver Medal Winner. This is the classic pub stout you know and love. Roasty, with hints of dark chocolate, nuttiness, and a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Sláinte!
AVAILABLE 12/4
Beer at Work
(Australian-style IPA, 6.6%) – Heavily dry-hopped with Australian Vic Secret and some Citra for good measure, this beer exhibits strong tropical fruit flavors known to come from the land down under where women glow and men plunder.
Very excited for this one! News from Clock House Brewing’s Facebook page:
Releasing on Black Friday, November 29th at 3 PM.
Orange Stripe is a Long-boil Imperial Stout that was aged in a Driftless Glen Bourbon De Naranja barrel for 12 months and later rested on a bed of Madagascar Vanilla Beans and Ghana Cacao Nibs. Expect tasting notes of Orange Cream and Dark Chocolate.
Double Release this Friday, December 20th!
SOLVEIG (Faction #4) is a Wild Ale that was inoculated with a blend of Lactobacillus, Brettanamyces, and Pediococcus. After resting in a Tawny Port Wine Barrel for 3.5 years, we emptied and refilled the same barrel with a golden ale base. 1.5 years later these two beers were blended together to create a luscious and fragrant wine like beverage. Expect notes of caramel, tart cherry, and oak. Available in 500ML bottles only. Bottles can be consumed in the taproom.
Cozy Campfire is an American Porter that was rested on Comoros Vanilla Beans and specialty Ecuador cacao nibs. Bold flavors of toasted marshmallow, chocolate, and vanilla can be found throughout every sip! Available in 16oz 4-packs and draft!
Guava the Nut is filled with coconuts and pink guava; you’ll get creamy coconut & sweet, bright floral notes from the guava. Beat the winter blues & pretend you’re at the beach with this one! 5.4% ABV
} is FULL of blackberries and raspberries; its got a bright, jammy berry flavor with a 5.8% ABV
Reminder: we’re doing pizzas 12-8pm TODAY {Friday}, 12-8pm TOMORROW {Saturday} and 12-5pm on Sunday. Pizzas this Saturday are a one-off; NOT a permanent addition to the weekly schedule!
