New Beer from Tallgrass and Distribution Updates

August 20, 20131 Comment

Tallgrass Brewing is at it again as joining their new farmhouse ale on the shelves is going to be a robust porter called Zombie Monkey. Not only is this great news as porters seem to be playing second fiddle style-wise, rumor has it that this canned brew will come with a tactile grip on the can!

Many people have been asking questions about updates on breweries hitting the Eastern Iowa market, and while news has been slow but rumblings still persist. One brewery I had heard about is Alaskan Brewery so I reached out to them and here is what I received in return:

It is true that we’re looking at our expansion options for 2014. This year, we successfully filled in one hole in our distribution by beginning to sell in New Mexico, which is great. So, we’re hoping that we can do something equally cool in 2014, possibly Iowa, possibly Illinois. We’ll see. In the meantime, stay excited. We’ve got a great Pumpkin Porter being released in our Pilot Series in a few weeks!

Cheers,

Alaskan Brew Crew

Hopefully more updates will follow. Still waiting to hear from Odell.

Beer Review #110: Clown Shoes Brewing Genghis Pecan Pie Porter

August 14, 2013Leave a comment

The name alone sold me on this beer. I hadn’t done any research, read any reviews, got any feedback at all on this beer. I just saw it on the shelves at Benz Beverage Depot and took a shot. This was my 2nd Clown Shoes beer to try, I first had their Clementine White Ale a few years back and thought it was ok. This beer however, I had high hopes for! I pictured a nut-brown type flavor with a bit more sweetness and a little more thickness and roasted flavor to along with the porter style. Here’s the brewery description:

Our new Pecan Pie Porter no longer uses extract, but rather brown sugar and pecans roasted by friends at The Gallows in Boston. Buddy Hadry, a rep at Bella Vista in PA, gave me the name for this beer, the second Pecan beer now that he has named. Thank you, Buddy!

This beer had in past been brewed with pecan extract and recently Clown Shoes changed to using fresh roasted pecans. The beer definitely had some roasted notes and a subtle pecan and brown sugar flavor but not as much as I was hoping. Definitely not liquid pecan pie.

This was not a bad beer, just didn’t hit the expectations that I had for it. I think it could have actually been a tad sweeter and for some reason, I wanted to be blown away the flavor of the pecans and I just wasn’t. The mouthfeel was a bit too thin for me and what I like for porters. Once again, not a bad beer at all, just missed the mark in some departments for me. I think pecan is an underutilized ingredient in beer and this was just the 2nd beer I’ve had with it in beer. The Stone Woot Stout I’ve enjoyed and I know Abita Brewing and Lazy Magnolia have a pecan beer, but if any brewers are thinking have using this nut in their beer my advice would be not to skimp on the pecan! The perfect balance of malts and nuts in a beer would Rogue’s Hazelnut Brown Ale. If that can be done with pecans, I’m in!

REVIEW

STYLE: Porter

ABV: 7%

PURCHASED AT: Benz Beverage Depot; Cedar Rapids

POUR: Medium sized tan head, dark black pour.

AROMA: Roasted malts, nuts, coffee.

TASTE: Very subtle, maybe too subtle, flavor of pecans and brown sugar. A bit thin on the mouthfeel.

Ratebeer.com rating: 92

Beeradvocate raing: 85

Overall: C

My recommendation: Decent porter, but once again, a bit misleading. Was looking for a post supper dessert beer but this wasn’t one to do that.

New Tallgrass Beer Hitting Shelves This Week

August 7, 20132 Comments

Another canned beer coming from Tallgrass Brewing is hitting shelves in Eastern Iowa this week. Going with a unique Wild Plum Farmhouse Ale and like all their other offerings it will be coming in a can! Here’s the release courtesy of Tallgrass Brewing’s website: www.tallgrassbeer.com.

Wild Plum Farmhouse Ale is a crisp, slightly tart, and uniquely refreshing beer. An infusion of wild plums, hand-picked at a genuine farmhouse, gives this beer a light tangy fruit flavor.

The perfect summer companion. Farmhouse ales are also known as “saisons” (French for seasonal), a style of summer beers traditionally brewed by Belgian farmers to serve farm workers as part of their wages. Not a bad deal, if you can get it.

Wild Plum is available each summer, June through July.

Beer Trip: 3 Floyds Brewery; Munster, Indiana

August 6, 2013August 8, 20131 Comment

A few weeks back as my wife and I were traveling to Chicago with her brother and his future old lady, the comment of someone saying we have time to either stop and shop at an outlet mall or head to Munster, Indiana to go to 3 Floyds brewery is a definite possibility. As tears of joy sprang to my eyes, everyone was on board for the trip to the brewery. Having traveling companions that also enjoy good food and great craft beer is always a plus and makes for an even better experience. No planning whatsoever, just a trip over, so the possibility of getting a few cases of Zombie Dust was really up in the air. So often I see a Facebook message from 3 F’s saying they are sold out of Zombie Dust, so I wasn’t going in with high hopes.

3 F’s is very easy to get to, 20 minutes or so outside of Chicago, a nice easy drive from Iowa. It was around 2ish in the afternoon when we pulled in on a Friday and the amount of people heading into the brewpub was quite impressive. A line to get in to eat, a line at the beer take out-door, but never fear! Once you reach this great destination, patience is the key. You CANNOT go in and hang by the bar and order a beer, you must wait for a table or chair, then sit and they will serve. So, after putting our names down for a late lunch, we got in line to buy some brew to take home. OUT OF ZOMBIE DUST was the greeting, but that was ok because I was to make up for not getting bottles to trying in fresh on tap for the first time, and then repeating a few more times. I was able to procure a case of Gumballhead and a few random bombers of greatness (Dreadnaught, Panzer Wolf).

The brewery is very hard rock/punk concept but at the same time there were multiple tables with their kids eating as well. We got a table in about 15 minutes and then tried to decide what to eat. The menu was very unique but intriguing at the same time. The table behind us commented a few times about how great the food was so it was tough to choose. My wife and spilt the brisket tacos, pulled pork, and tator tot poutine. All were fantastic! The brisket was melt in your mouth tender, the pork with flavorful without being overly sweet, and poutine had tons of flavor. All washed down with fresh beer making it a wonderful experience. (Check out their menu here). The artwork on the way to the pisser was great and worth time to check out as well, featuring the Gumballhead cat.

With the kind of food and beer you can get, mix in a great and knowledgable wait staff, Munster is a must visit location for all craft beer lovers. 3 1/2 hours or so from Iowa City is well worth the drive. I can’t wait to go back!

New to Shelves: New Belgium Pumpkick

August 5, 2013Leave a comment

I have yet to see it but apparently New Belgium Brewing is replacing Red Hoptober with a pumkin brew of their own called Pumpkick. Here’s the press release courtesy of http://www.beerpulse.com:

(Fort Collins, CO) – New Belgium Brewing Co. took the plunge earlier this summer, releasing its first seasonal pumpkin ale, though the company hasn’t officially announced it yet.

New Belgium Pumpkick replaces Red Hoptober in the company’s third quarter slot. Some info on the beer below via New Belgium’s website…

What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. PUMPKICK is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but its the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your tastebuds sailing. ABV: 6.0%.

According to Twitter reports, we can deduce the beer first hit the market just before the July 13th weekend but it may not have made its way around to all markets yet.

New to Shelves: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp, NB Lips of Faith + Hop Kitchen

July 31, 2013July 31, 2013Leave a comment

Some new beers are making their ways to Eastern Iowa shelves. Sierra Nevada Beer Camp has hit the shelves and also some new Lips of Faith and Hop Kitchen beers from New Belgium. Here’s a look at the new brews:

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp consists of three different beers. This year we get an IPA, Belgian Style Black IPA, and Imperial Red. Here’s the release from the brewery:

Our Beer Camp® brewhouse is where our best ideas are born. Here, we develop recipes, try new techniques and turn concepts into new beers. At Beer Camp, we invite our biggest fans to the brewery for a week of in-depth, hands-on learning. Each camp challenges our brewers to make a new and unique beer—the crazier the ingredients the better. Each year, we release some of our favorite Beer Camp creations in the bottle, but mostly, the beers are very limited draught-only rarities. If you see one at a bar near you, search out the lucky camper, buy them a beer and get their stories first hand because while the beers may disappear quickly, the memories will last a lifetime.

*Belgian Style Black IPA
Style: Black IPA
ABV: 7.7%

From the brewery:

This beguiling black IPA takes a tropical detour with a dose of new world hops, featuring lemony Sorachi Ace and fruity Nelson Sauvin varieties. A Belgian yeast works with the exotic hop profile, emphasizing its complex and fruity flavors.

*IPA
Style: IPA
ABV: 6.9%

From the brewery:

This IPA sacrifices nothing for its drinkability, flexing big time flavor and complexity. The light color disguises the dept of the malt backbone, a pillar that balances the potent whole-cones of the piney-citrus Cascade and tropical fruit-like Citra hops.

*Imperial Red
Style: American Strong
ABV: 8.5%

From the brewery:

Our aggressive Imperial Red Ale is a massive mix of smooth malts and West Coast hops that have no patience for the lupulin leery. This crimson beer starts with caramel-like malt flavor that can’t suppress the assertive, citrusy hop finale.

Now, onto New Belgium. The Lips of Faith Series and the Hop Kitchen series continue to go strong and now they are adding Yuzu Berliner Weisse and Coconut Curry Hefeweizen to their Lips of Faith series. Being added to the Hop Kitchen series is French Aramis IPA. Here’s more of a breakdown on these three beers.

*Yuzu Berliner Weisse
Style: Berliner Weisse
ABV: 8%

From the brewery:

Yuzu is a strange fruit- citrusy and bold. Those three words: strange, citrus and bold are the perfect beginnings for a great beer. So, our brewers paired yuzu with the sourness of a Berlinerweiss to create this beerlicious Yuzu Berlinerweiss. Brewed with pale malt and wheat this Berlinerwiess was acidified with Lactobacillus for a light, dry mouthfeel and tart refreshment. Hazy and straw-colored, the yuzu fruit brings a tropical charm to a traditional beer.

*Coconut Curry Hefeweizen
Style: Hefeweizen
ABV: 8%

From the brewery:

Coconut Curry Hefeweizen has been pouring down the history of American Home Brewing for many years, from the legendary Charlie Papazian to the 2010 National Homebrewer, Remi Bonnart. The latter helped New Belgium brew this hazy, straw-colored gem to life. The aroma is bold and big with coconut and curry tones and a hint of banana from the hefe yeast. With a vast spice list of cinnamon, coriander, fenugreek, ginger, kaffir lime, and cayenne pepper this beer carries a bit of heat but the alcohol soothes the finish. Coconut Curry Hefe will leave an inquisitive smile on the drinker’s mug.

*French Aramis IPA
Style: IPA
ABV: 6.7%

From the brewery:

A drier IPA for the summer, brewed with French Aramis hops to create an aroma of fresh cut flowers and garden herbs.

If you try anyone of these beers I would love your thoughts so pass a line my way!

Beer(s) Review #109: Deschutes Mirror Pond, Black Butte, Chainbreaker

July 17, 2013Leave a comment

Welcome to Iowa Deschutes! For the next few weeks Deschutes Brewing (www.deschutesbrewery.com) will be all over Eastern Iowa with multiple release parties. If you are in Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, or North Liberty check out my link here for dates and times. I was contacted by a Deschutes Rep about the events and the possibility of attending a few and they were kind enough to send a few bottles of their beers to my place to try out. So, for the first time ever you are getting a triple beer review! Hooray!

I’ve had Deschutes multiple times, enjoyed it a bunch while I was in California last summer and since they started distributing to Illinois I hit up Family Beer and Liquor for some of their products. The only special release of theirs today I’m just focusing on the beer that was sent to my doorstep. A little bit less wordy than most of my reviews, but here we go:

Mirror Pond Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale
ABV: 5%
Ratebeer.com: 90
Beeradvocate: 88

Pale Ales seem to be getting closer and closer to just being IPAs lately. With 3 Floyds Zombie Dust and Toppling Goliath pseudoSue dominating the style and our palates, anything less just seems an afterthought. Mirror Pond however, holds its own. The citrus from the cascade hops shines through and is balanced perfectly with the malts. Maybe a bit sweet, but the bitterness from the hops is a great contrast to that. At 5%, this a perfectly sessionable pale ale and with the sweetness from the malts could make for a nice transition beer for the non-hopheads.

From the brewery:

This is base camp, where any craft brew exploration begins. A distinct hop nose and hop-forward flavor make Mirror Pond the quintessential Pale Ale. It is aromatically complex, multi-layered, and unmistakably “right.”

OVERALL: B

Brew #2:
Black Butte Porter
Style: Porter
ABV: 5.2%
Ratebeer.com: 97
Beeradvocate.com: 94
Along with the Mirror Pond this is the beer that put Deschutes on the map. A nice mix of roasted malts, coffee, chocolate. Not overally sweet, a nice balance between the bitterness and the sweetness. Maybe a bit thin on the mouthfeel, but this isn’t a stout either. A bit of tobacco on the aftertaste. This is a great, straightforward example of a terrific porter.

OVERALL: A-

From the brewery:

With a dark beer as our first and flagship brand, Black Butte defined Deschutes as a radical player. A slight hop bitterness up front enhances the distinctive chocolate and roasted finish. It’s prized for its creamy mouthfeel and intense complex flavors.

Brew #3
Chainbreaker White IPA
Style: White IPA
ABV: 5.6%
Ratebeer.com: 88
Beeradvocate.com: 83

This is a style that I haven’t been to fond of in the past, but this beer has given me a bit of hope. Take the citrus from IPA style beers, add the Belgian yeast from your favorite hefe, white ale, or saison, put them together and you get this refreshing white IPA! Neither the hops, nor the yeast overpower you. The blend is perfectly done, which makes this another sessionable brew from Deschutes.

Overall: B

From the brewery:

Brewed with wheat and pilsner malt; this IPA displays beautiful citrus aromas from Cascade and Citra hops that meld with the esters of Belgian yeast. Think thirst quenching hopped-up wit beer with enough IBUs to warrant the IPA name.

Iowa Beer Review #108: Confluence Brewing Des Moines IPA

July 8, 20132 Comments

As the state of Iowa starts getting more breweries opening up and more breweries bringing their beer from outside states in, the competition for shelf space becomes harder and harder. Luckily, there are a bunch of Iowa breweries holding their own in the craft beer world, and one of those is Confluence Brewing Company (www.confluencebrewing.com). Located in Des Moines, Confluence is right in the middle of the ever-expanding craft beer movement with the likes of Exile, Raccoon River, Court Avenue, and 515. From the brewery:

As the capital of Iowa, Des Moines constantly surprises first-time visitors with its mix of expected agrarian heritage and influences and unanticipated cosmopolitan flare. So too, with Des Moines IPA, an American take on a world beer: India Pale Ale (IPA). Iowa’s steady, well balanced nature is reflected in this IPA with its mix of medium body, lighter color and plenty of malt flavor to balance the massive hop impact. Citrusy and piney hops from the Pacific Northwest offset the robust malt flavor of the two-row barley and medium crystal malts. Des Moines IPA proudly represents the Hawkeye State in the category of American IPA, a favorite of beer connoisseurs all across the country.

As I finished my shopping at the downtown Cedar Rapids farmer’s market, I decided to hit up Benz Beverage Depot to grab a few brews. As much as I would love to see Confluence come in six packs, I think the quart bottles kick ass. A unique, refreshing look that stands out on the shelves, and that is what sucked me in.

I’ve heard mention of their Des Moines IPA from people of twitter and facebook, so that’s what I decided my first Confluence beer would be. Upon returning back home, I sat on my deck, opened up the quart jug and shared with my brother-in-law. Not knowing what to expect, the first impression that I got was the tropical fruit aroma that made way into the wonderful bitter, pineapple taste. The quart didn’t last long, and we both were really impressed at the balance and drinkability this beer presented.

I haven’t had any other offerings from Confluence yet, but if their IPA is a sign of their other offerings, I think it’s safe to say that this brewery can be a major playing the craft beer game, I’m just trying to figure out a time to visit the brewery to see what else they have in store. Awesome beer as the Hawkeye state slowly continues to find its niche in the craft beer world! Find this beer and enjoy!

REVIEW

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 6.8%

PURCHASED AT: Benz Beverage Depot; Cedar Rapids

POUR: Hazy yellow, thick white head

AROMA: Tropical fruit aroma is clear, as well as the hop presence.

TASTE: Pineapple shines and is rounded out nicely by the hops and malts.

Ratebeer.com rating: 81

Beeradvocate raing: N/A

Overall: B+

My recommendation: Very impressive offering and happy that this is an Iowa brewed beer. Get out and buy a quart, support the state, and get yourself a fantastic beer!

Deschutes Iowa Launch Parties Dates and Times

July 3, 20133 Comments

According to the Deschutes’ website (www.deschutesbrewery.com), the list below is where and when you will find the launch party as the brewery prepares to enter the Iowa markets. If you make any of these dates I would love to hear your experience!

DES MOINES
El Bait Shop
Friday July 19th, 5-7 p.m.

Downtown Des Moines Pub Crawl
Friday July 19th, 8-11 p.m.

Cityview Brewfest
Saturday July 20th, 3-7 p.m.

Official Brewfest Afterparty
The Keg Stand
Saturday July 20th, 8-11 p.m.

Meet, Greet, Sample
Zombie Burger
Monday July 22, 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Meet the Brewer
Court Avenue Brewery
Monday July 22, 5 – 6:30 p.m.

MEET, GREET, SAMPLE
Tue, Jul 23, 11 am – 6 pm
Wellman’s Pub, Gateway Market , Whole Foods, Saints Pub and Patio, Dublin Bay, The Point Des Moines & Surrounding Areas, IA

BEER-LESQUE: TASTINGS AND TASSELS!
Wed, Jul 24, 9 pm – 11 pm
The Gramercy Tap
400 Walnut St.
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 288-9606
www.gramercytap.com

HATS OFF TO HOMEBREWERS

Thu, Jul 25, 7 pm – 10 pm

Red’s Alehouse

405 N. Dubuque St

North Liberty , IA 52317

(319) 626-2100

www.redsalehouse.com

DESCHUTES BREWERY FLIGHT NIGHT

Fri, Jul 26, 6 pm – 9 pm

Blackstone

503 Westbury Drive #1

Iowa City, IA 52245

(319) 338-1770

www.blackstone-ic.com

Update on Deschutes

July 2, 2013July 2, 2013Leave a comment

With Deschutes brewing coming to Iowa in late July, many people have been asking what beers can we expect. I’ve been talking to quite a few people about this and it sounds like their regular lineup is what they will start with and then slowly incorporate seasonals and special releases. In fact, http://www.beerpulse.com just posted an update on future Deschutes releases, when to look for them and where:

Deschutes Green Monster

When: August/September (one time release, VERY limited)

What: Reserve Series (22-ounce bottles)
Here at Deschutes Brewery, we’re always on the lookout for a chance to create something new for our fans. In short, we don’t leave well-enough alone. That’s why, more than two years ago, our brewers decided to pack up some extra beer in French oak barrels, infect it with Brettanomyces, and then wait for the transformation. Dubbed affectionately around the brewhouse as “Green Monster”, the name stuck. At the end of this experimentation story, you will find a monstrously fantastic, brand-new sour beer, with slight cherry and barnyard scents and dried fruit aroma. In fact, the only scary thing about this beer is that it is so darned limited and will never be brewed again.

Where: You’ll be lucky to find this at all.

Beer Geek Information:
~7% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

Deschutes Jubelale – A Festive Winter Ale

When: September-December

What: Winter Seasonal (6-packs, 12-packs and draft)
We often hear that nothing starts off the brisk fall season quite like seeing Jubelale show up on the shelves and on tap for the first time. Dark and malty, layered flavors unwrap to reveal chicory and earth notes and a hoppy kick to finish. Hints of the holidays are in every sip of Jubelale – to beer lovers, it’s like a cozy fireplace gathering. Almost as exciting as taking your first sip of this festive brew is seeing what creation a local artist has come up with to grace the label and packaging. This year’s label features a mysterious owl in an illustration by Avlis Leumas, a Bend Oregon artist who was excited to be selected to create this year’s artwork.

Where: Available in all 21 states where Deschutes is sold

Beer Geek Information:
6.7% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
60 IBUs

Deschutes Chasin’ Freshies Fresh Hop IPA

When: October until it’s gone

What: Bond Street Series (22-ounce bottles and draft)
Born in a ski town, Deschutes Brewery knows what it’s like to be endlessly in pursuit of untouched perfection – chasing pristine powder slopes on mountain flanks. In similar fashion, Deschutes Brewery will chase down Gamache Farms’ famed fresh Amarillo hops for this year’s vintage. Chasin’ Freshies, which first appeared in the Bend pub and came out in its bottle debut last fall featuring heirloom Cascade hops, is a nod to the snow and hop enthusiasts we’ve entertained for the last 25 years at our downtown gathering spot. You’ll most definitely want to seize the moment and enjoy the bold, juicy aroma and flavor that comes but once a year.

Where: Available in most states where Deschutes is sold

Beer Geek Information:
7.2% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
65 IBUs

Deschutes Hop Trip Fresh Hop Pale Ale

When: October until it’s gone

What: Bond Street Series (6-packs and draft)
We know we’re lucky to be located right in the heart of hop-growing country. And the beer that ensues from this proximity is big and bold. When the Crystal hops at Sodbuster Farms are ready for harvest, our crew gets in the truck to go pick them, bag them, load them and dump the freshly harvested jewels into the brew kettle – all in just a few hours. The results of this hurried journey? A pale ale with a uniquely bright citrus punch to the nose. Worth the trip, every time.

Where: Available in most states where Deschutes is sold

Beer Geek Information:
5.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
38 IBUs

Deschutes The Abyss

When: November

What: Reserve Series (22-ounce wax-dipped bottles and draft)
It’s hard to believe our brewers have been lovingly creating this magical liquid for eight years now. That’s right, 2013 marks the eighth time that beer fanatics have been able to crack open the wax-dipped tops of these bottles and fall right into the complexity that is The Abyss. This imperial stout is the heart and soul of Deschutes Brewery’s Reserve Series beers, with an endless crevasse of flavor that reveals itself each November (or, if you are the patient sort, whenever this brew is uncellared and dusted off for consumption).

Where: Available in most states where Deschutes is sold

Beer Geek Information:
11% Alcohol by Volume (ABV)
70 IBUs