Alluvial and Phase Three Brewing announce partnership with Pequod! Plus more beers from Untitled Art, Tripping Animals, Equilibrium, Blackstack, and Modist!

June 13, 2022June 13, 2022Leave a comment

Quite the update from Pequod this week with the announcement of two new breweries joining their portfolio. The first is a homegrown Iowa brewery, as Alluvial will start their distro footprint slowly with kegs only in the Des Moines/Ames market and slowly expand from there. Phase Three out of Lake Zurich, IL will be both keg and cans and their first update is below!

Pixel Density – Hazy IPA
Our core hazy, exclusively hopped with our hand-selected Citra. Clocking in at 6.5%, this beer is a versatile, full-of-flavor, not-too-heavy, bright, pillowy hazy IPA to reach for.

P3 Pilsner
This American-Style pilsner is made with 6-row American barley. This will provide a distinct character unique to American lagers. We took the ABV to 4.7% to further increase the drinkability. Lightly-hopped to provide balance to the malt. This beer isn’t hoppy, it isn’t malty, it’s simple at its core and the perfect companion to hiking, grilling, sitting by the pool, or enjoying in a hammock.

Aquatic Gardens – DBL Hazy IPA – 7.8%
Double IPA featuring a hop combination of Vic Secret, Amarillo and Wai-iti. Aromas of pineapple, strawberry and passionfruit, and tastes like candied orange wedges and mango dipped in blueberry resin.

DDH Protocol DBL Hazy IPA – 8%
Brewed with Citra, El Dorado and Galaxy for a smooth, creamy body, loaded with citrus and tropical fruit aromas and flavors.

Lulz R & R Smoothie Seltzer – Currently rated 5th best in the world
Smoothie-style hard seltzer with guava, coconut, pineapple + orange

Juice Drops Peach Nectaron IPA – This one is really good!
India Pale Ale with Nectaron hops, peach juice and peach flavor. Say hello to your new best friend for the summer. Notes of peach rings in this fantastic IPA

Everhaze – Hazy IPA
Ever Haze is an India Pale Ale brewed w/ Cashmere, Citra, and Amarillo

Juggling Five Dbl IPA
We’ve aimed at staying trippy when it comes to hops by using experimentals, playing with proportions, tweaking our hop schedules, all that jazzy stuff. We’ve come to really love a specific handful of them, so we went for a tripping FIRST and threw all FIVE of the bad boys into a DIPA. You’ll have a tropical rainforest of aromatics and notes, rounded out with a distinct crisp dryness.

Killer Kolsch
A clean, crisp beer, Kölsch offers a very slight fruity flavor and aroma. It is light gold in color, with a delicate head. This light-bodied beer appeals to nearly everyone who samples it.

No Mames – mexican Style lager
A crisp, clean, massively refreshing Mexican lager with subtle notes of flaked corn. Limitlessly crushable, beyond satisfying.

The Ultimate Trip -fruit sour
Fruited Sour conditioned w/ Blueberry, Pistacho, Vanilla, and Lactose

Who Loves Orange Soda? – soda inspired fruit beer
Introducing the second installment to our soda-POP inspired FRESCO SERIES, were bringing you animals the orange FIZZY right out of your childhood memories just pop, pour, sip and repeat Be careful with this one y’all, its not your average orange soda. Although it sure drinks like it and not a soul would be none the wiser.

**DBL Fractal Hilbert Curve DDH DIPA**
Pouring a bright mango yellow, aromas of tangerine and green grapes lead into flavors of dank grassy fields, OJ and papaya juice, pineapple, berry compote, and a touch of faint white pepper with our signature #EQJuice finish.

**Fluctuation DDH DIPA – KEG ONLY**
Fluctuation has bright tropical notes of passion fruit, mango, pineapple, and lychee with an undercurrent of sorbet and cream await!

**HDHC Dream Wave Fluctuation (Other half Brewing Collab)**
HDHC Dream Wave Fluctuation glows while releasing aromas and flavors of deep saturated passion fruit, pineapple syrup, overripe stone fruit, and creamy lime pudding. Intense fruit flavors are explosive with a tropical fruit custard finish lined with our #EQjuice melon finish. HDHC Dreamwave Fluctuation is dangerously smooth and is sure to fluctuate your dream waves.

*Limited release* – Coconut Almond Delight – Imp stout (almond joy bar)
We wanted to liquify one of our favorite candy bars so we boiled up a big base stout and conditioned it on shredded coconut, almonds, Madagascar vanilla, and cacao nibs.

**Data Points – DBL IPA**
Pouring vivid yellow in color, aromas of OJ, rainbow melon, and a blueberry strain of the devil’s lettuce lead into dank flavors of passionfruit juice, ruby red grapefruit, Frankenberry cereal, melon, complex concord grape, and strawberry.

**To Space we go DDH DIPA –** Unseen Creatures Brewing & Blending Collab
Vivid yellow with a tropical aroma, flavors blast off into notes of syrupy pineapple chunks, mango candy, passionfruit, cannabis, complex berry and black currants all wrapped in super dank flavor.

Early Admission DBL IPA DIPA (8.0%)
Brewed with our buds & famed State Fair Craft Sud Slingers @ballparkcafe for their “Kick Off the Summer” Event at the State Fair Grounds. Featuring a particularly juicy quartet of Mosaic, Mosaic Cryo, Cashmere & El Dorado Hops. Better stock up before the hoarders get there.

Stack At the Lab DDH DIPA – Equilibrium Collaboration! (8.4%)
Had to catch a cab back to the lab with our buds at Equilibrium Brewery from Middleton, New York. We did some mind melding to intertwine our respective approaches to hop processes & brewing larger IPAs and this is where we landed: Hand-selected Strata, Strata CGX™, Mosaic, Mosaic Cryo™ & Australian Galaxy on a bed of Pilsner & 5 different types of Oats & Wheat. Primo Stack Sauce, Straight outta the Lab.

Pull Tabs – Hazy pale Ale

Citra, Strata, Idaho7 Cryo… Pull up, win those Dollas!

Local 755 Hazy IPA

Our Foggy Favorite. Azacca, Amarillo & a Gwop of Citra. Soft, Juicy & Hazy like 70’s Home Movies.

Fugazi – Italian Pilsner
Italian-Style Pils dry-hopped adoringly with Czech Kazbek. It’s the Real Deal.

Tater Tot Hotdish DDH DIPA – Other half Collaboration
We teamed up with our friends at Other Half to create this DDH Double IPA that’s sure to be the star at any potluck. Hot and fresh out the oven and being brought to liquor stores today is Tater Tot Hotdish!

ᴛᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴛ ʜᴏᴛᴅɪꜱʜ
DDH Double IPA w/ 2 row, wheat, oats, flaked oats & flaked rye. Whirlpool hopped w/ Citra Cryo, Idaho 7 & Motueka then double dry hopped w/ HBC586, Strata & Nelson Sauvin.

Sneak Peek: Backpocket 10th Anniversary Stout

June 8, 2022Leave a comment

Backpocket Brewing’s 10th Anniversary is coming up this Saturday (6/11), and over the years their stout release is one of Iowa’s most anticipated releases and this year will be no different. I was lucky enough to get a bottle a few days before this year’s release and give it a taste.

Our 10th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout is aged on roasted coconut, followed by 24 months in Mississippi River Distilling bourbon barrels with a heavy dose of vanilla bean. Rich whiskey flavors with accents of cinnamon, vanilla and oak.
Nose of vanilla, coconut and some chocolate. Head dissipates quickly, the flavor is a hint of sweet coconut up front, the barrel and vanilla mesh extremely well. Some coffee and chocolate notes in there as well, light, creamy, smooth and delicious. Definitely a beer worth seeking!
Along with the release of their 10th Anniversary Stout, Backpocket will have the following beers/food/events going:

Special releases include our TENTH Anniversary Stout, TWO special pin releases at noon and 2pm, BA Tiki Sour, Mallow Vibes, and Black Hive!
11am we’re kicking the day off with 9Round Fitness Hits and Hops workout
12pm The Albatross Food Truck
1pm James Tutson live music & Elida’s Bakery
4pm Harvest-The Band live music
7pm Marco’s Grilled Cheese and Silent Disco DSM
Yard games ALL DAY!

Backpocket 10th Anniversary set for June 11th!

June 1, 2022Leave a comment

Set your calendars for Saturday June 11th and get to Backpocket’s 10th Anniversary party featuring the release of their 10th Anniversary stout and much more! Complete lineup below:

Mark your calendars and help us celebrate TEN YEARS!!
Special releases include:
TENTH Anniversary Stout, BA Tiki Sour, Mallow Vibes, and Black Hive!
11AM-12PM Hits and Hops Kickboxing inspired workout with 9Round Fitness
12PM-7PM Albatross Food Truck
1-3PM Live music with James Tuston
1PM Elida’s Bakery
4-6PM Live music with Harvest
7PM Marco’s Food Truck
7-9PM DSM Silent Disco
Yard games ALL day!

Big Drekker drop coming from Pequod next week!

May 25, 20222 Comments

Braaaaaaains Mango/Strawberry/Pineapple/ Coconut
a new Braaaaaaaains! We stuffed this one to the max with mango, strawberry, pineapple, and coconut then hit it with our double secret smoothie treatment of sea salt, lactose, and vanilla beans.

Chonk – Raspberry Rice Pudding Double Fruit Sour smoothie

Our loveable hefty boi is back at it again and this time he’s after all the rice pudding and raspberries he can get his fluffy little paws on.

Freak Parade – DBL IPA
We packed this beast with an absurd amount of Vic Secret, El Dorado, and Mosaic hops and the result is a juicy citrus, melon, and stone fruit burst of pure radness wrapped in a pillowy soft bundle of awesome.

Braaaaaaains Strawberry/Passion Fruit/ Apricot – dbl fruit sour
Braaaaaaaains that’s jam packed with Strawberry, Passionfruit, & Apricot. Then of course we hit it with our double secret smoothie treatment of sea salt, lactose, & vanilla so it’s insanely tasty and pairs perfectly with a warm breeze and a little sunshine.⠀

Involuntary Narcissistic Rage – DBL IPA
INR is a Lactose Double IPA brewed with Vic Secret, Belma, and Huell Melon hops. It’s soft and creamy with flavors of ripe cantaloupe and floral strawberry, slightly sweet but with a nicely balanced finish.

PRRRT These Days – fruit sour
PRRRTs These Days, amiright??? We’re bringing back PRRRTs These Days, a sour brewed with a huge pile of Sour Patch Kids®, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Raspberry, Apricot, Pink Guava, Pineapple, and Sea Salt for a flavor that’ll take you way, way back to the last time you ate Sour Patch Kids. Ok, so that was like an hour ago for us, but it’s still a cherished memory.⠀⠀

Slang Du Jour – Apricot Shortbread Fruit sour
A brand spankin’ new Slang Du Jour! Apricot Shortbread Cookie Slang is stuffed with Apricot, Almonds, Shortbread Cookies, Granola, Coconut, & Vanilla Beans and it’s suuuuuuper tasty just like the dessert Tom’s meemaw used to make!

Iowa Craft Brew Festival set for Saturday, June 4th!

May 10, 2022Leave a comment

One of the best beer events of the year is coming up and tickets are available! On Saturday June 4th, you could have the opportunity to sample the best of what Iowa craft producers are making! VIP tickets are sold out but general admission tickets are still available! The Iowa Craft Beer Festival is the perfect place for you to try craft beers, ciders, and food! Here’s more on this event and the link to purchase tickets below courtesy of the Iowa Brewer’s Guild:

It’s the unofficial start to Iowa summer- the Iowa Craft Brew Festival!
Join the Iowa Brewers Guild on Saturday, June 4th and sample beer, cider and more from over 70 Iowa craft producers. The Iowa Craft Brew Festival happens at Des Moines Waterworks Park and every ticket includes unlimited sampling and live music. Food trucks, free parking, water, and plenty of space- we’ve got everything to start summer right. Grab your friends and join us!
General admission is only $45 and gets you in from 1-4pm. Tickets are selling quickly so purchase yours today!

GET YOUR TICKETS BY CLICKING HERE !!!

Humble Forager, Modern Times, and Untitled Art coming from Pequod!

April 25, 2022Leave a comment

Enchanted Island v1 – Imperial Tiki Sour ale – 16oz cans

Enchanted Island v1 is returning in 16oz format featuring pineapple, orange, coconut and nutmeg

Coastal Sunshine v3 – 16oz cans
The return of one of the best sellers – version 3 features Tangerine, Passion fruit, mango and Soursop

ElectroJet Hazy IPA 6.8%
This herculean feat of haze-craft is an IPA of singular bomb-diggityness, packed to the rafters with Galaxy and El Dorado hops, and just enough Simcoe to tie the room together. The result of this lupulin-laden trifecta is an unquestionably choice adult beverage that explodes with thunderous notes of juicy peach flesh, bright citrus, ripe mango, and stone fruit. It’s a breathtaking bouquet that’s going to ignite your sensory synapses in a rapturous conflagration of pure pleasure.

Dingo Magic IPA

Should you choose to unleash the contents of this can, you’ll be met with an unrelentingly delightful barrage of bright citrus, guava, peach, and sundry tropical radness, all coming together to form a liquid palanquin upon which to gently deliver your tastebuds into the loving arms of the flavor gods. Should you choose not to open this can, that’s also totally fine. We respect your agency.

German Chocolate Cake Stout 8% ABV
A Collaboration with XUL brewing, this beer features Cocoa Nibs, Coconut and Pecan Nuts to give a delightful and dessert filled experience. It unsurprisingly tastes just like cake.

Double Mango Sour – 6% ABV

Next up is Double Mango sour, made with both Mango Puree & Mango juice… Untitled art does Mango incredibly well, so I’m personally excited to sip on this one and enjoy the upcoming weather.

Iowa Eats: Shuey’s Restaurant and Lounge; Shueyville, IA!

April 19, 2022Leave a comment

This past weekend I had some time to hang out with my oldest and I asked him where/what he wanted to eat. He simply responded, “Bar food”. So after a quick trip to Big Grove in Solon we headed to Shueyville, about 10-15 minutes from Solon, and hit up Shuey’s Restaurant and Lounge.

We were greeted right in by a very friendly staff and had drinks ordered within seconds. Easy Eddy for me, root beer for the lad. Tap lines were typical of your small town bar with some craft on, Easy Eddy seems to be an option no matter what bar you hit and tastes good all the time so the choice was relatively simple.

Although I wasn’t very hungry, their menu has a lot of intriguing options. I let my sign go crazy, if queso is on the menu, he’s going to order it, that with an order of sliders and a mushroom swiss burger. A lot more than I anticipated but was game to try it all.
Queso came out first and was delicious, warm and crispy tortilla chips. Paired well with the beer.
Sliders and burger next, meat quality tasted wonderful, perfectly seasoned. The crinkle cut fries served as the side also went well with the queso dip.

Overall, so much more I want to try. The food was delicious and tasted fresh, the staff was friendly and welcoming, the feel of your small town bar was definitely there but also a place you could bring your whole family for a delicious meal. A place I will frequent and a place you should check out too!

Drekker beers coming from Pequod!

April 6, 2022Leave a comment

Ice Ice Prrrty 6.2% ABV
Ice Ice PRRRTY is a Slushy Style Sour that’ll grab ahold of you tightly, then flow like a harpoon daily and nightly. Will it ever stop? That’s up to you to put down this absolute banger stuffed with lemon, cherry, plum, coconut, and lemon slushy mix. ⠀

Lizard People IPA DBL IPA
The world is run by interstellar lizards in people suits, and as a nod to those who are really pulling the strings is Lizard People. Our reptilian overlords concocted this soft, juicy, & citrusy double IPA in some smoky back room of a super secret, non-descript, possibly government building – we don’t know or really care to know for that matter. It’s delicious and we don’t want to find out what happens when you ask too many questions.⠀

Slang Du jour Cranberry/Raspberry/Lemon/Strawberry
Y’all ever had a Cranberry Raspberry Lemon Strawberry Cobbler? Ok, us neither. But we thought it sounded amazing so we loaded up this Slang with Cranberry, Raspberry, Lemon, Strawberry, Granola, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, Lactose, & Vanilla Beans. This cacophony of awesomeness is the cobbler mashup that dreams are made of and we’re pretty sure you’re gonna dig it as much as we do.⠀

Struggle Bus – Breakfast Sour 6.4% ABV
a Breakfast Sour with Orange, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, a little Coconut & cinnamon, and Maple Syrup seems a little weird but not THAT weird, right? So we’re bringing it back and we think it’s goddamn delicious, and we can’t wait to hear what you think!

Ectogasm IPA
Ectogasm is a juicy, hazy, and soft NE IPA brewed with Citra & Mosaic hops. The Flagship IPA of Drekker brewing!

Berry Prrrrty Paradise
he newest PRRRT, a fruited sour loaded up with Blueberry, Blackberry, Plum, Key Lime, and Cream of Coconut for a stupidly tasty tropical berry flavor!⠀

Braaaaaaains Lemon Apricot – 7.3% ABV
a new Braaaaaaaains! We stuffed this one with all of the lemon & apricot we could find and then hit it with our double secret smoothie treatment of sea salt, lactose, and vanilla beans.⠀

Garbage People DBL IPA – 8.5% ABV
Don’t know about you guys, but we were always a little more Garbage Pail Kids than Cabbage Patch Kids. We grew up (technically, but not really) and we aren’t kids anymore so we’re just Garbage People. This Double IPA is hopped with Mosaic, Galaxy, Citra, and Vic Secret with some serious dank, orange zest, bubble gum, & apricot flavor and aroma. So crack one of these and decide which Garbage Pail Kid you feel like? Nasty Nick? Maybe a little more like Spacey Stacey? Let us know, we’ve got a feeling you’re Garbage People too.

Heaps – Coconut Milk Stout
Heaps is a Coconut Milk Stout brewed with a big, smooth, chocolatey malt bill with a chef’s kiss of lactose to pump up that body and then it was conditioned on cacao nibs and heaps on heaps of toasted coconut! Heaps, we tell ya! ⠀

Clockhouse “I Know Jack” NE IPA releasing April 8th! Proceeds to the “I Know Jack” Cancer Awareness Foundation!

April 2, 2022Leave a comment

When local breweries/restaurants get involved in raising awareness for non-profits, it sure makes your heart full. Clockhouse Brewing continues this wonderful tradition as they have teamed up with the “I Know Jack” foundation to raise awareness for cancer patients and their families. Let’s drink this beer, let’s keep this fight going…here’s more from Clockhouse:

We’re very excited to announce we recently teamed up with the I Know Jack Foundation and brewed a delicious NEIPA to help spread awareness and raise funds for this incredible local non-profit.
By raising funds, they support cancer patients and their families through survivorship.
We are collaborating to help further their goal to raise awareness about cancer, support those affected by cancer, assist with cancer research, and improve the survivor’s quality of life.
We understand that cancer affects the entire family and that it takes a community to beat cancer.
With that in mind we be donating a part of the proceeds of I Know Jack NEIPA back to the foundation.
I Know Jack NEIPA is dry-hopped with Azacca, Nelson, and Strata which leaves notes of white wine, lemon peel, and citrus. Available in 16oz 4-packs, growlers, and draft.

Meet the Brewer: James Heckathorn, Court Avenue Brewing!

March 30, 2022March 30, 2022Leave a comment

Who are the people that are brewing the wonderful beer in the state of Iowa? I’m sure some of you know many of them and others, maybe not. I thought it would be great to get to know the brewers of Iowa, their backgrounds, their likes, and what they have coming up in the future. First up, Court Avenue Brewing’s James Heckathorn!

NAME: James Heckathorn

BREWERY: Court Avenue Brewing Co.

LOCATION: 309 Court Avenue; Des Moines, IA

How long have you been brewing and where have you brewed?

I will have been brewing professionally 2 years in August of this year. Before that, I worked at various other breweries in FoH positions – Twisted Vine, 515 and then Reclaimed Rails, where I was given the opportunity to brew on their pilot system. I had about 3-4 beers that were well received, especially under the tutelage of Mike Street, who gave me excellent guidance and advice throughout. It’s how we became such good buds!

Aaron Knapp, the brewer before me at CabCo, was also bartending at Reclaimed with me and when he was getting ready to take on his new adventure at Epic Brewing in Colorado, he asked me to apply for his position at CabCo. I didn’t feel ready but my friends and family rallied behind me and encouraged me to apply and the rest is history.

What is the size of your brewery?

Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company is a 7bbl system. A Specific Mechanical 2 vessel that has seen its fair share of brewers, hah! We are nearing 26 years here at CabCo and this system is at least that old. Being so manual and involved, it really brings a certain aspect of romanticism to brewing that I find appealing. Most days, at least!

What beer from Court Avenue would you pick to give to complete
stranger to try and why?

I would honestly give people two beers, one to show where we come from and one to show where we are going.

Pointer Brown Ale is the oldest recipe in house, a beer that has been consistently brewed since we opened our doors in 1996. It’s an English Brown Ale, so expect chocolate, caramel with a touch of dark fruit and a full mouthfeel that is infinitely drinkable. A true Iowa classic.

Earthbound NEIPA is our newest flagship that I began developing about a year ago. Hazy IPA is the style that got me into brewing and it continues to be a style I am passionate about. This is my take on the archetypical representation that everyone has come to expect in hazy IPA. Citra, Mosaic and a bit of El Dorado, plenty of oats and wheat malt and a low flocculating yeast strain. Earthbound is the first step forward in a modern vision of CabCo.

Who would be at your drinking table, dead or alive, to share a beer with?

This is a great question! Fritz Maytag – he did so much for craft beer and it would be cool to get insight into the beginnings of modern craft beer; Christopher Hitchens – He was a witty guy and I think he’d keep drinking long after everyone else had left the table. Would be a bender for the ages; Conan O’Brien – I could be his friend, definitely.

Do you have a favorite food and beer pairing?

A pilsner and sushi or spicy wings with an IPA!

What is your favorite beer in the world not made by Court Avenue and why?

Ayinger Bavarian Pils is a beer that continues to stay with me and luckily we can get it here. Any well done German pilsner, really.

Anything you’d like to pub for Court Avenue?
We will be releasing our 4 -way collaboration with Flix Brewhouse, Reclaimed Rails and Brightside Aleworks on the 31st of March. Cosmic Bear is a massive imperial pastry stout that was aged on star crunch and marshmallow.

I also gotta mention our Mug Club – It’s the best way to become a CabCo insider and it comes with a whole mess of perks for $40 a year. 10% off your tab, 24oz pints in your mug for the same price of a regular pint, a Mug Club Party every month where we shower you with a new beer release and free food, and last but not least, exclusive bottles that are only available to Mug Club members. Rumor has it the next bottle is an Eagle Rare BA imperial stout aged on a ton of vanilla beans…..

Huge thank you to Mr. Heckathorn for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions! Make sure to say to him and the other staff at Court Avenue Brewing when you visit, sign up for their Mug Club and keep an eye out for the Eagle Rare BA imperial stout! Cheers!