Eden Speciality Ciders Hitting Iowa Shelves Next Week via Abu Nawas Distro!

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If you’re a fan of ciders you can start rejoicing as Abu Nawas has announced that they will be getting Eden Speciality Ciders and the distro for those will be starting next week. Here’s more from Abu Nawas:

We’ve been working for years to bring you the incredible cider from way, way northern Vermont. We are honoured to bring you Eden Ciders of Newport, Vermont
Eden produces a wide range of unique Ciders with the jewel of crown being their Ice Ciders–their versions are the most sought after and highly prized examples of this unique form of cider made in North America. It takes over 8 lbs. of apples to make one 375ml bottle of ice cider! We have all their offerings in limited stock! All are 375ml Skinny Tall Bottles. Heirloom Blend, Honey Crisp and Barrel Aged Northern Spy.
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Another product from Eden that we are extremely excited about is the Orleans Aperitif Ciders. A Farm to Bar alternative to the more industrial European Aperitif Wines commonly used in cocktails. We will sell these as a mixed case of 2 bottles each of Herbal, Bitter and Wood. All are 750ml.
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In October of last year, the United States Association of Cider Makers released a set of style guidelines for cider.  The purpose was to start providing some broad standards to a category that is nearly as diverse as wine and beer.  The intention ultimately is to give cider drinkers a better chance of choosing a bottle off the retail shelf or the restaurant menu that they might actually enjoy drinking. One key distinction in the guidelines is between ‘Modern’ cider and ‘Heritage’ cider.  Heritage ciders are made exclusively from apples – without other fruits, spices or non-apple flavourings.  Modern ciders are made from dessert variety apples, whereas Heritage ciders are made with heirloom and cider variety apples and are likely made with more traditional wine-making approaches. Because of the very limited supply, we are doing a mixed case of each of the Heritage Ciders as well as one bottle each of Eden’s flagship ciders: Dry Sparkling and Imperial Rose.
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And Lastly, we have the latest addition which is Eden Authentic Heritage Cider in a Can. Hailed by the New York Times as “the best canned cider I have ever had.” Their words not ours, but we wholeheartedly agree. Made from 100% New England Apples, this off-dry cider is packed with flavor without the cloying sweetness of a lot of commercial ciders.  Refreshing, immensely drinkable, this cider will see you through your entire meal.
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Bricks Bar and Grill Announces Stout Wars 2018!

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Bricks Bar and Grill in downtown Cedar Rapids has announced the date for Stout Wars 2018. It will take place on Saturday, December 8th starting at 3:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow (Nov. 1st)! Here’s more deets on this event:

12 beers – 3 flights, coarsed meal, prizes, lots of fun!
Tickets are $70, one per person.
To be very clear, this is a ticketed event, you must purchase tickets at Bricks and you must have a ticket to participate the day of.
Tickets go on sale 11.1.18!

And the list has been announced!

Stout Wars Line Up:

Exile Jesus on a Forklift
Surly Darkness
Founders CBS
Sierra Nevada BA Narwahl
Lion Bridge Gazprom
Third Base Brewery
Reunion Imperial Banshee
Stone Mikhal Espresso
Backpocket 6th Anniversary
Firestone Parabola
Destihl Dosvidanya Rye
North Coast BA Rasputin XX

More deets and hopefully the brews will be released soon so stay tuned for more as the information comes in! Visit the Stout Wars’ Facebook page by clicking here.

Lion Bridge Releasing “Coconut Disaster” cans 11/24! Taproom Release!

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It’s been a wonderfully busy month in Eastern Iowa for beer releases, and another can’t miss release will be taking place on Saturday, November 24th as Lion Bridge Brewery will releasing “Coconut Disaster in their taproom starting at 11 a.m.! Here’s more from the brewery on this release:

Come celebrate Small Business Saturday in Czech Village, Cedar Rapids and enjoy our Coconut Disaster Porter!

6 packs available to-go! Food Specials available from our kitchen!

We will also have holiday gift baskets and some new really awesome merchandise for sale just in time for the holidays!

Cheers!

Film Scene Hosting Brewmaster Movie Showing Beer Tasting Nov. 5th!

filmscenceFilm Scene in Iowa City will be hosting a special showing of the documentary Brewmaster on November 5th. For $18 ($15 for Film Scene members) you get your ticket to the movie and beer tastings from some of Iowa’s finest breweries including Big Grove Brewery, Lion Bridge, and Iowa Brewing Company.

Along with those fantastic breweries they will be tapping a 2015 Goose Island Bourbon County Stout! Check out Film Scene’s link for more info on this special event and also check out the trailer to the documentary “Brewmaster”.

Film Scene Link

Thew Brewing Releasing “Planned Sick Days Pale Ale” this Friday Oct. 19th!

thewThew Brewing will be releasing a collaboration beer with internet celebrity Planned Sick days called “Planned Sick Days Pale Ale” this coming Friday in conjunction with the University of Iowa homecoming weekend! Looking forward to try this one! Here’s a bit more info on this collab: And follow Planned Sick Days on twitter with their handle: @PlannedSickDays

Happy homecoming, Hawkeyes! We’ll be releasing our newest beer, a pale ale brewed in collaboration with the internet’s Planned Sick Days. On tap and in crowlers starting at 3 p.m.!

Big Grove Easy Eddy hitting tap lines tomorrow! (10/13) + Easy Eddy Cans Return Next Week!

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Big Grove Brewery just made a bunch of beer lovers happy as they’ve announced that Easy Eddy will return to their tap lines tomorrow, (Saturday, October 13th)! This was announced through the Iowa City location so I’m not sure if both locations will have it on the lines.

What’s even more exciting is the announcement that Easy Eddy cans will be available next week at select Iowa City and Cedar Rapids stores! Here’s more from BGB!

Ready for good news? Your friend and mine, Easy Eddy returns to the taps Saturday 🙌 and we’re hosting a pre-release + Iowa at Indiana Gamewatch Party.
More good news? Next week, these cans will be sold in several of your favorite stores around Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.

Need Pizza Hosting Big Grove Brewery Luckiest Man Ales for ALS tonight! 10/11

A great cause going on tonight at Need Pizza if you are in the Cedar Rapids area as Big Grove brewery will have their “Luckiest Man” pale ale being tapped tonight. Every year this gets tapped by Big Grove every pint that gets sold benefits ALS research. Speaking of the beer, this years release is tasting fantastic! Grab a pizza, have a couple of pints and help out a great cause!

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The Royal Mile Hosting Wilson’s Orchard “Apples + Bees” a Cider and Mead Party October 20th!

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A fun event coming up in Des Moines at the Royal Mile. Wilson’s Orchard will be on hand hosting an “Apples + Bees” cider and mead party. Many samples of different ciders and meads across the country and the world will be available. Here’s more info on this upcoming event:

Join us on October 20th from 10AM-3PM for “Apples and Bees”, a cider and mead party! We will be featuring ciders from Iowa and the rest of the U.S., as well as France, Spain, and England. We will be releasing the full cider/mead list as we get closer to the event so stay tuned! We will also be featuring local apples and honey, as well as cheese from Maytag Dairy. Representatives from participating cideries and meaderies will be on hand to sample their ciders/meads and educate customers on their products and how their beverages are made.

Admission is free if you wish to just come down and sample or 10 tickets can be purchased for $30. Each ticket can be redeemed for one 5 ounce pour. There will also be a special “Apples and Bees” cider taster glass that can be purchased for $5. “Apples and Bees” will be happening on the Royal Mile patio (weather permitting) and is one you surely won’t want to miss!