The hits just keep coming for Eastern Iowa! Coming off of news and rumors that Oskar Blues and Left Hand Brewing will soon be adding their beers to our shelves, I just received word from a very reliable source that Southern Tier Brewing will be entering our market in July. Here’s the link to the beer lineup from Southern Tier: http://www.stbcbeer.com/our-beers/
Here’s more about the brewery itself: https://www.stbcbeer.com/about-southern-tier-brewing-company/southern-tier-brewery/
Found this little screen shot on Stones’ website. Hadn’t heard much about this release as I had the others but it looks like we are a go for the next batch of this terrific brew.
Following information comes from http://www.beerpulse.com:
The first new beer to make it to 6-pack form will be our No Coast IPA!
No Coast is the American counterpart to our Hop Wrangler 3 Belgo-style IPA. A variety of pale malts are used to give this beer a nice golden color and let the Amarillo, Citra and Simcoe hops shine through with big piney and citrus notes. It clocks in around 100 IBUs.
No Coast has been brewed and will be making its first appearance in bottles later this month.
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The next seasonal brew to appear in 22oz bombers will be Indecision Dark IPA!
Our beer naming sessions find us scouring the dark recesses of our minds for the one perfect title. After a year’s worth of planning and hundreds of possible names for our Dark IPA, we had yet to reach a consensus. What’s in a name? More importantly, “what’s in the beer?” The answer to that is complex dark malts and an abundance of hops. It’s a bold brew with deep flavor and character. We’ll let it speak for itself.
Indecision is 8% ABV and over 100 IBUs.
Indecision has also been brewed and should be making its way into bottles in the near future, as well!
Just received the following picture from a friend on twitter. If you read carefully the bottom of the first paragraph that is posted you will see the following, “Oskar Blues will also add distribution in Missouri, West Virginia and IOWA in 2014.”
Some great news here if it holds up, let’s hope it does, especially since we got the big N-O from Odell for distribution. Here is a quick list of beers available from Oskar Blues:
YEAR ROUND BREW
*Dales Pale Ale
*Mama’s Little Yella Pils
*Old Chub – Scottish Strong Ale
*Deviant Dales – IPA
*G’Night – imperial red
*Gubna- Imperial IPA
*Ten Fidy – Imperial Stout
What makes being beer drinker great is getting to try all the fantastic styles that are out there. I’ve spent a lot of my beer drinking time (and money) going after some of the big barrel-aged beers, imperials, and doubles that sometimes it feels great to just sit back and revisit some of the styles that have been around for while. With the eruption of craft beer on the market I love when breweries revisit and tweek or shake-up (no pun intended) classical styles. Boulder Brewing (www.boulderbeer.com) has done just that by taking what was their original porter and putting a little spin on it.
This chocolate porter can play into any part of your day. A nice breakfast brew with your coffee and pancakes, a nice midday brew with a bowl of soup, a nice supper of a ribeye and potatoes, or even better, perfect with that brownie and vanilla ice cream. A dark black pour with chocolate and caramel sweetness, this brew incorporates chocolate wheat into the mix. If you’ve had Young’s Double Chocolate Stout or Sam Smiths Organic Chocolate Stout then you will really enjoy this brew. Here’s more from the brewery:
Our twist on the traditional american porter, Shake chocolate porter is black in color with rich, dark chocolate aromatics and flavors and subtle coffee-like notes. This unique brew blends five different grains, including Chocolate Wheat, that along with cacao nibs create a devilishly delicious chocolate finish with a velvety mouth feel.
When you open up a rich, chocolatey brew like this you usually aren’t able to have 2-3, but with this one, you can easily put down a few and feel pretty good about yourself. No forced drinking with this one. I’m not too familiar with Boulders’ offerings but I know they really connect with this brew.
REVIEW
STYLE: Porter
ABV: 5.9%
PURCHASED AT: Johncy’s, North Liberty, IA
POUR: Deep black pour with a medium tan head.
AROMA: Chocolate and coffee dominate.
TASTE: Chocolate really shines through from the cocoa nibs.
Ratebeer.com rating: 97
Beeradvocate rating: 88
Overall: B
My recommendation: Really great for a dessert beer, but also works well on its own.
Reds Alehouse will be having a Central Waters brewing tap takeover Wednesday night and after visiting I saw a list of 5 brews that will be offered that night. One of them was their bourbon barrel-aged stout and their Peruvian Morning was another. Really looking forward to this event and hope to see a few beer lovers there. Also received this from Oakland Road Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids:
Welcome to Iowa, Central Waters Brewing Co. !
Here are their year round 6 pack offerings
· Glacial IPA
· Mudpuppy Porter
· Solitude Stout
· Hop Rise
· Slainte Scotch (Rotating Seasonal)
And here are a few of their Barrel aged limited release beers
· Bourbon aged Barleywine
· Bourbon aged Stout
· Peruvian Morning
We will be having a kickoff event Tuesday, February 25th from 4-5:30! A brewery representative will be here tasting out these great beers! Stop in and try these amazing beers!
I got the following message from reader Tom about Zipline Brewing company hitting Eastern Iowa Shelves.
ZIPLINE BREWING CO/JOHNSON BROTHERS OF IOWA
ANNOUNCE NEW DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP
Lincoln, NE — Thursday, February 20, 2014 — Zipline Brewing Company is pleased to announce the launch of Iowa distribution in partnership with Johnson Brothers of Iowa, Inc. Distribution commences in March throughout Johnson Brothers’ Iowa territory, including Des Moines, Iowa City and Council Bluffs. The partnership follows the dynamic growth of Zipline from a small startup in 2012 to its present capacity of over 3,000 barrels annually, pacing since July 2013 as Nebraska’s third largest production brewery. This marks the first time Zipline products will be sold outside of Nebraska.
“We are excited to bring what we consider an outstanding ‘local’ brewery across the River into Iowa,” says Lyle Stutzman, President Johnson Brothers of Iowa. The events kickoff with tap takeovers in two of the country’s premier beer bars: Reds Alehouse in North Liberty on March 5, and El Bait Shop in Des Moines on March 6.
Head Brewer and Chief of Operations Marcus Powers, who will attend both events and others as part of the launch, relishes the opportunity: “We already feel a solid connection to Iowa beer consumers given our close proximity and their appreciation for local craft. And, we couldn’t find better partners in Johnson Brothers. We’re committed to making some of the best beer in America and can’t wait to share it with our neighbors.”
Questions? Contact Marcus Powers at Zipline Brewing Company: 402 450 9804
Another beer festival in the books and another successful one as well. The city of Dubuque hosted their beer festival this past Saturday at the Ice Arena and were greeted with a huge turnout, terrific breweries, excellent meat and cheese booths, and an entertaining band. With the V.I.P. ticket I was able to go in an hour early and not have to wait in line to try the brews. Able to talk with the guys from Big Grove, Toppling Goliath, and others.
Toppling Goliath had a smaller booth than I thought they would have and had Dorothy’s Lager and Golden Nugget on tap but were also pouring Zeelander and XHOPS bottles. When Golden Nugget went try they tapped into pseudoSue. One of my favorite moments was while waiting in line for some Sue an older gentlemen had his first taste sue, and after drinking it, said “WOW!” and then proceeded to tell his buddy how amazing it was.
There were a lot of good beers to try as some of my favorites were Big Grove breweries Red Headed Stranger, Exile’s Mamie (Schwarzbier), Bent River’s Raspberry wheat mixed with their uncommon stout, Potosi’s barleywine, and of course TG’s brews. It’s always great to catch up with Joe Hotek who works for Tallgrass Brewing and try their beers as well.
One of the more memorable events of the evening was meeting Lance Rice, a beer historian with autism who is currently having a documentary of him touring breweries across the country. Being able to ask him questions about the history of beer in Iowa was definitely a high point. To learn more about Lance’s Brewery Tour visit his Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/lancesbrewerytour
Shout out to the folks at Coralville Brrr Fest this past weekend. Had another really good time and finally got to meet a few beer folks I’ve tweeted with frequently in the past. A lot of excitement for Eastern Iowa beer lovers again this week with the releases of Toppling Goliath XHOPS Orange and Zeelander. I have a couple of each in my fridge and will dig into them during the Iowa game tonight. Onto the list!
**Boulevard Saison-Brett**
If I remember correctly I enjoyed this for the 1st time during the warm month of August. I had just finished doing some random yardwork around the house and poured this brew. It was almost a goose bump moment when I took a nice long drink, I then immediately drove to a few Hy-Vees around the area and bought a bunch more bottles. Boulevard says it’s okay to cellar this beer if you want more of the “brett” to show through, and that’s what I’ve been doing but the temptation to bust out a few more is always there. More from the brewery:
Saison-Brett, based on our very popular Tank 7, is assertively dry hopped, then bottle conditioned with various yeasts, including Brettanomyces, a wild strain that imparts a distinctive earthy quality. Though this farmhouse ale was given three months of bottle age prior to release, further cellaring will continue to enhance the “Brett” character, if that’s what you’re after.
RATEBEER: 100/100
BEERADVOCATE: 96/100
**Schlafly American IPA**
Schlafly had been a hit and miss brewery with me until I tried their Tasmanian IPA and then their American IPA; both fantastic brews. American IPA barely beat out the Taz as I thought the Taz got a tad to sweet the longer it sit. Both are great, but Taz is nearing the end of its market time for the year and now we get to enjoy the American IPA. One great brew to another. From the brewery:
Exploding with hop flavor and aroma, this citrus/piney/floral ale has enough of a malt backbone to stand up to the intense bitterness.
RATEBEER: 98/100
BEERADVOCATE: 92/100
**Founders All Day IPA**
Session IPAs are getting more and more pub as more and more breweries start to make them. However, no one has hit the nail on the head as Founders did with their All Day IPA. Cans and bottles, this IPA comes in at 4.7% and you consume quite a few of these without the normal result that an IPA brings such as puking all over a nice white carpet, waking up on a cold basement floor, pissing your pants (Mr. Haywood) …. you get where I’m going. This has become so popular we can expect the first (I believe) 15 pack of beer available coming this spring/summer. My go-to tailgate for Iowa Hawkeye football games. From the brewery:
The beer you’ve been waiting for. Keeps your taste satisfied while keeping your senses sharp. An all-day IPA naturally brewed with a complex array of malts, grains and hops. Balanced for optimal aromatic and a clean finish. The perfect reward for an honest day’s work and the ultimate companion to celebrate life’s simple pleasures.
RATEBEER: 96/100
BEERADVOCATE: 86/100
**Toppling Goliath Kentucky Brunch**
I’m not sure there will be any sense of normalcy when it comes to crowds when Toppling Goliath does a special release, but at the 2013 Kentucky Brunch release times were still relatively normal. A huge crowd, yes, busy bar, but for the most part, containable. And even though I didn’t get to try it on tap (ticket #117), I was able secure 2 bottles. Saved for my wedding anniversary and shared with my wife (who loved it more than I was hoping), this brew met all the hype and I can’t wait to go to Decorah the next TG does a release. (Can I put up a tent in the parking lot?) From the brewery:
Beer Aged in Whiskey Barrels with Coffee.
RATEBEER: 100/100
BEERADVOCATE: 100/100
**Founders Breakfast Stout**
A silky, creamy, stroke of genius. The “big” stout that got me to appreciate what a higher ABV stout can bring. Chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and the fact that Founders pretty much says I can enjoy this for breakfast, = great beer. Founders might be one of the best things to happen to Eastern Iowa beer shelves because of the amount of great stuff they supply. More from the brewery:
You’ve got to love coffee to truly appreciate this phenomenal brew. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and sweetened imported chocolates, Sumatra and Kona coffee. We’re actually not sure if this is some type of coffee cake or a beer. Either way you can drink this ale with a fork. Breakfast Stout has an intense fresh roasted coffee nose toped with a cinnamon colored frothy head that seems to never fade and makes you wish breakfast could last forever.
RATEBEER: 100/100
BEERADVOCATE: 100/100
One more list of 5 to go! Do my first 20 come anywhere close to yours? What have I missed or did I come pretty close to yours? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Continuing on with my picks for the best beers in Eastern Iowa in the year 2013, I will start with another offering from Toppling Goliath. Now be warned, this won’t be their last entry either. They are one of the hottest and most sought after breweries right now and rightfully so. Back to the list………..
**Toppling Goliath pseudoSue**
A no-brainer really. I’ve talked this beer to death and I think that the 
only thing I can say is that I can’t wait for the day that I can get this anytime, any day, I want. This is one of my favorite all-time beers. The comparisons between this and Zombie Dust continue with beer geeks that have had both. I can honestly say, that I would much rather has Sue than Zombie, and I’m not being homer. I think this is the better beer overall. Here’s more from brewery:
This single hop ale showcases the Citra hop. Named for the largest T-rex fossil ever discovered, she roars with ferocious aromas of grapefruit, citrus, mango and evergreen. Delicate in body with a mild bite in the finish.
Ratebeer: 100/100
Beeradvocate: 100/100
**515 Brewery O.J. IPA**
Ok, ok, I know that Clive, IA isn’t exactly Eastern Iowa, but piss on it, this is my blog and it’s close enough. I was lucky enough to stop by 515 Brewery in Clive (www.515brewing.com) on a trip back from Kansas City. I got a flight of brews and enjoyed them very much, but the O.J. was the one that shined for me. This beer is scary drinkable. Refreshing, crisp, clean, with the perfect amount of hops. An awesome beer! Hopefully 515 will soon have growler fills (fingers crossed) or even start bottling (down the road???) so more people can enjoy their brews. But if the Des Moines area, this place is definitely worth the trip!
Ratebeer: N/A
Beeradvocate: N/A
**Evil Twin Barrel-Aged Biscotti Break**
This brew definitely came with a hefty price tag. I wasn’t able to secure one in Iowa but found the last bottle at a Steve’s in Madison, WI. I balked a bit at the $25 price tag, but went ahead with purchase, after my wife told me to just do it so I wouldn’t talk about not getting to try it. Great wife. Anyway, I’ve seen this on a lot of “Best Of 2013” lists. If you enjoyed the regular Biscotti then this is your next step. If you could get two, then lucky you, one now and one in a year or two. From the brewery:
Imperial Biscotti Break aged on Bourbon barrels for 9 months.
RATEBEER: 99/100
BEERADVOCATE: 99/100
**Boulevard Tank 7**
This beer has been on our shelves for so long, and saison/farmhouse ales aren’t as glamorous as Imperial IPAs or barrel aged beers, but man, I love a great saison, and this is a great saison. This is a brew that is good anytime of the year. If you are looking to get into a new style of beer, try saisons. There are so many good ones that we have on our shelves (2 more will appear on my list:) that there is no excuse not to try them. More from the brewery:
Most breweries have at least one piece of equipment that’s just a bit persnickity. Here at Boulevard it’s fermenter number seven, the black sheep of our cellar family. Ironically, when our brewers were developing variations on a traditional Belgian-style farmhouse ale, the perfect combination of elements came together in that very vessel. You could call it fate, but they called it Tank 7, and so it is. Beginning with a flavorful surge of fruity aromatics and hoppy, grapefruit notes (Amarillo hops), this complex, straw-colored ale finishes long, dry and spicy.
RATEBEER: 99/100
BEERADVOCATE: 93/100
**Bells Two Hearted Ale**
It’s been around a while. It’s still one of the best beers we have available year round on our shelves. This beer gets overlooked a lot of the time with all the anticipation of limited releases or seasonals, but when in doubt, you can always go to Two Hearted Ale. I used to pass this beer up, way back in the day, not taking the fish on the cover serious as a possible good-tasting brew. Don’t make the mistake of judging a beer by its cover because this is one tasty brew. I have since grown to love that fish. More from the brewery:
India Pale Ale style well suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula. American malts and enormous hop additions give this beer a crisp finish and incredible floral hop aroma.
RATEBEER: 100/100
BEERADVOCATE: 95/100
So there’s the next ten. I am on my way tonight to Big Grove Brewery in Solon to try their new Citra hopped pale ale. I’ve heard nothing but great things and some have even said that it is better than……GASP……PSEUDOSUE!! DOUBLE GASP!! If that’s the case then they might have kick me out of the joint because I’m not leaving! CHEERS!!
