Barrel-Aged January Returning to Lion Bridge Brewery

December 2, 2016December 2, 2016Leave a comment

It used to suck to have a birthday in the month of January, but thankfully Lion Bridge Brewery just turned what is usually a shitty, cold, dark, month into a glorious, beer-filled month! Lion Bridge Brewery in Cedar Rapids just released the details on their Barrel-Aged January releases and lineup looks outstanding. These are going to be some can’t miss beers folks so I hope you get to try as many as possible. Here’s the release deets courtesy of Lion Bridge’s Facebook page which you can view here:

You have all patiently waited for the past year. We have been carefully filling barrels and planning how best to counteract the frigid month of January with soul-warming beers.

Here’s the lineup for 2017’s Barrel Aged January:

Tues 01/03 – CSA member private event. This event is for members only. If you aren’t a member of the our Community Supported Ales Program, be sure to get one for you or as a gift for your loved ones for the holiday. It’s the gift that keeps on giving: http://www.lionbridgebrewing.com/store/
*Lion Bridge Barrel-Aged January 2017 Rastal glassware for pre-sale!

Wed 01/04- Winter Warmer (English Old Ale aged in Templeton Rye Barrels, 10.5%) – A big, complex beer that is sure to warm the cockles of your heart. And let’s face it, who doesn’t want their cockles warmed?
*Featuring live acoustic music 6-9pm from Kevin Burt, Brett Messenger & Ben Soltau

Wed 01/11-Barrel-Aged Click Bait – (Double IPA kissed by Whiskey Barrels, 9%) – 3 short weeks in Cedar Ridge barrels contributes slight vanilla and whiskey characteristics, but a big dry-hop post aging produces a unique addition to our barrel-aged line-up.
*Featuring live music 6-9pm by Devin Scott The Duke of Uke

Sat 01/14- Sour Cherry Ale (6%)- A low-hopped version of our Kundera Kölsch went into 2 wine barrels dosed with Brettanomyces and Lactobacillus and almost 100lbs of sour cherries. Here it is!

Wed 01/18- The Royal Wee (Strong Scotch Ale aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels, 9%)- A Strong Scottish Ale that is malty, rich, and slightly smokey.
*Featuring Lion Bridge Barrel-Aged January 2017 Rastal glassware giveaway!

Wed 01/25- GAZPROM! (Russian Imperial Stout aged in Buffalo Trace Barrels, 12%) – Viscous and black. After primary fermentation this oily, Russian giant is re-fermented with dark maple syrup in bourbon barrels then blended back together to add consistency and complexity. 2016 GABF Bronze Medal Winner for Specialty Beer!
*Featuring live music 6-9pm by Cedar County Cobras

Sat 01/28- 2015, 2016, 2017 GAZPROM! Vertical @ 3pm along with a keg of an unoaked GAZPROM!

Cheers and hope you can join us for a great January!

Boulevard 2017 Release Schedule

December 1, 2016December 1, 2016Leave a comment

Here’s a look at Boulevard’s 2017 release schedule with a few new brews that will be making their way to our shelves. A kolsch will join the year-round lineup while a new imperial stout and imperial pilsner will make it’s way to the Smokestack Series. Two new beers have been added in the sour series and a milk stout is added to the seasonal rotation. The Limited Releases will have 7 new beers so stay tuned on their releases. Here’s the full schedule:

Big Grove Releasing Business Time Double IPA 11/30 @5 p.m. + Citra Triad Release Announcement

November 29, 2016November 29, 2016Leave a comment

Big Grove Brewery will be releasing a new double IPA tomorrow, Nov. 30th, at 5:00 p.m. To go along with that, they will also be bringing back their Citra Triad and will be releasing those three beers December 21st at the brewery and then hitting the market the 22nd and 23rd. Stay tuned for more on the Triad release and here’s more information on Business Time Double IPA:

Business Time
Double IPA
7.8% ABV

I know what you’re trying to say, you’re trying to say it’s time for business. It’s business time. Ooh!

Our all New Zealand hopped Double IPA is rich with guava and passionfruit aroma. It starts off with a light caramel sweetness, spicy hints of black pepper, finishing with an assertive bitterness.
You know how I know? Because it’s Wednesday.

Dry Hop: Green Bullet & Wakatu
BGB uses a variety of local honey from around the area including Ron Puettmann & Tony Pagliai that have hives near Solon.

Business Time you say?

Bell’s Brewery 2017 Release Calendar

November 29, 2016November 29, 2016Leave a comment

bells Here’s Bell’s 2017 release calendar. They will be giving Mars: The Bringer of War double IPA its second-go round. Check out the calendar below for more releases. Cheers!

Prairie Christmas Bomb Hitting Stores Soon

November 27, 2016November 27, 2016Leave a comment

Expect to see Prairie Christmas Bomb hitting our shelves in the next week or so as the beer has been released for distro. Here’s more on this brew:

Fall is bleeding out into chilly nights, and we’re at that time when the seasons start to shift and the spice hits the fan. Cuddle up into that ugly seasonal sweater, grab your best glass, and get ready to welcome Prairie Christmas Bomb! back into your life. Christmas Bomb! is our signature stout spiced with cinnamon. It has become a tradition here at Prairie Artisan Ales to produce this seasonal treat. This is our third brew, and as always we’re bringing you a brand new label.

Christmas Bomb! will bring you great comfort and joy in this dark and roasty brew. You’ll find the coffee, ancho chilies, vanilla, and cacao nibs you know and love, but they brought a friend this time. The addition of cinnamon warms this brew evoking the seasonal spirit of spice and cheer.

Prairie Christmas Bomb! is a seasonal favorite that can be found in 12oz bottles and 1/2 and 1/6 Kegs. Shipping started this week and will finish up next week, so get ready start seeing it in stores soon.

Cheers!

Also the brewery will be releasing a barrel-aged version of xmas Bomb in a brewery only release on December 3rd. If you know of anyone in the Oklahoma City area. Here’s more on this release:

Brewery Release: Barrel Aged Christmas Bomb

If there’s one thing we really enjoy doing over here at Prairie Artisan Ales, it’s putting delicious stouts in delicious barrels and spreading barrel aged cheer to all our faithful friends. This year, to ring in the holiday spirit just a little more, we’ve decided to have our next brewery only release on Saturday December, 3rd. Making this day extra special, we’ve also decided to release two limited barrel aged beers. That’s right, two. First, is our beloved imperial stout, Noir, aged in sherry barrels from our friends at Rocky Mountain Barrel Company. Appropriately named Sherry Barrel Noir. There’s only 850 bottles of this delightful, boozy fare. Next, we decided to take our famous seasonal Christmas Bomb! and age it in whiskey barrels because nothing says Christmas like cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, Spaceship Earth coffee, ancho chiles, and WHISKEY. There will be roughly 2800 bottles of this seasonal delight but we know it won’t last long.

A few details to highlight the day of the release:

– This will be held at our production facility located at 120 S West 8th St. Krebs, OK. 74554

– Bottle release hours: 10am – sold out

Draft hours: 10am – sold out

– Sherry Barrel Noir, 12oz bottles – $12 each, 6 bottle limit.

– BA Christmas Bomb!, 12oz bottles – $12 each, 6 bottle limit.

– First come, first serve.

– Specialty draft and growlers TBD.

– Only newly purchased and the 16oz growlers from our previous released will be filled.

– Cash and credit accepted.

Drink This! Lion Bridge Brewing Gobble Wobble

November 19, 2016November 19, 2016Leave a comment

lion bridge.jpg Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner and with these cooling temps, fall is definitely in the air and winter is right around the corner here in Iowa. What better way to get in the holiday spirit than hitting up your local and gold medal winning brewery and enjoy their latest barrel-aged creation!

Lion Bridge Brewery introduced the world to Gobble Wobble last weekend and I was lucky enough to hit up the brewery and taste not only Gobble Wobble but their Smores Gobble Wobble which was on cask. In fact, I wish I had a pint to sip on right now. Even if you missed out on the cask of Smores Gobble Wobble, you still have some time left to get down there and try Gobble Wobble which is a brown ale aged in Wild Turkey barrels. It might not last much longer folks, and after some weekend shopping with your significant other in Cedar Rapids, the perfect warmer would be a nice glass of barrel-aged deliciousness from Lion Bridge!

You definitely get a nose full of barrel with this brew. Malty sweetness really mellows the barrel but you still get some great nuttiness from the brown ale as well. Perfect balance, and not to sound too much like a holiday homer, but this would pair perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner or grab a some sausages at the Sausage Foundry and have a fall grilling party while sipping on some Lion Bridge Gobble Wobble to warm you up. It’s limited folks, get there and grab a glass because you must drink this! Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving!

Mt. Vernon Rd. Hy-Vee in CR Releasing Lion Bridge Brewing Maple Disaster Bottles: 11/22/16

November 14, 2016November 14, 2016Leave a comment

Mt. Vernon Road Hy-Vee in Cedar Rapids will be releasing Lion Bridge Brewing Maple Disaster bottles starting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday November 22nd. This brew has been aged on Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels. There is a 1 bottle limit on from 5-6 and any bottles left will be up for sale. The bottles will be 750 ml flip tops.

Lion Bridge will be on hand to sample some brews. Cedar Ridge will be here to sample the bourbon that was in the barrels used to make this Maple Disaster. That bourbon will also be for sale so you can get bourbon and beer that were created in the same barrels.

lion bridge

Surly Abrasive Returning to Shelves this Week

October 31, 2016October 31, 2016Leave a comment

It seems like forever ago since we saw Abrasive on the shelves but this week it should be making its long awaited return. Surly Abrasive should be hitting the shelves in Iowa as early as tomorrow! Here’s more on this brew:

Hazy gold in color, this Oatmeal Double IPA has aggressive aromas of candied grapefruit/tangerine and tropical fruit. Malted oats greatly enhance the body and the high level of bitterness is balanced by this sweetness. Citra hops are used for aroma & flavor additions and for dry-hopping, while Warrior hops are used primarily for bitterness.

OG 19.5 Plato
Color 5 SRM
Hops: Citra, Warrior
Yeast: English Ale
Malt: 2-row, Golden Naked Oats
ABV: 9%

Plate Magazine Names Big Grove Chef, Ben Smart, “Chef to Watch in 2016”

October 17, 2016Leave a comment

A terrific honor bestowed upon Big Grove Brewery Head Chef Ben Smart as Plate Magazine has named him to the “Chefs to Watch in 2016” list. To make it on the national culinary scene while being based in small town Solon, IA shows the talent and skill that Chef Smart has.

To be able to make the 10 minute drive from my home in Mt. Vernon to Solon and visit Big Grove and to try Chef Smart’s dishes is a treat. For him to be able to hit the national stage of the culinary world can only be a good thing for other chefs and restaurants in the state of Iowa. I love the quote that Chef Smart gave about the reason for coming back to Iowa:

“I want to create a sustainable life for myself, take the morals I learned growing up on the farm and apply them to where I work,” he says. “I definitely like to develop relationships with local farmers; you can’t cook great food without great ingredients. Doug and I have learned a lot about how people eat in New York, Chicago and Napa, and the focus on local and seasonal ingredients. That was underutilized in Iowa. It was one of those moments in life where you roll the dice and go for it.”

For most of us, Big Grove Brewery isn’t a hidden treasure any more, unless you haven’t visited, which shame on you. It’s a weekend dinner with family, it’s after church lunch, it’s a place to grab a few beers and appetizers with some buddies and watch the game, but for others outside of Iowa, this accomplishment will be bring more national notoriety and those folks on the outside of Iowa will find that great things can happen in small places. Cheers to Chef Ben and Big Grove, amazing!!

To read the full article click here.

A Quick Look at the Dubuque Beer Scene: Spotlight on Jubeck New World Brewing

October 3, 2016October 3, 2016Leave a comment

jubeck A few months ago I attended the Potosi Beer Festival in Potosi, WI. A very fun event that I recommend you to check it out, if not for the beer but the scenery as well. After that event, my sister and brother-in-law took me to Jubeck New World Brewing. I’ve intended on going to this place for quite some time and I finally got the chance.

Upon entering the first thing I noticed was the eloquent decor and the comfortable vibe that the brewery gave out. No tvs, no loud music, no kitchen, just a place to order a brew, have some pretzels and converse with a friend or patron sitting at the bar with you. Old-school, throwback feel that made me feel like I was in an episode of cheers, which to me, is very complimentary. A very nice change of pace to the hustle and bustle of some places where you try to talk over the TV, music, or loud patrons.

Jubeck New World Brewing is a small microbrewery located in downtown Dubuque, Iowa. Our mission is to create interesting and delicious craft beer while providing a social space that cultivates conversation and camaraderie. Our community is important to us—it literally funded our startup and continues to shape our business.

The Beer

What seems to be a pretty rotating lineup had a few things that caught my eye. I started with their Apricot IPA. Here’s Jubeck’s description of this beer:

American pale ale style beer finished with a healthy dose of Citra hops and dried apricots, added late in the boil, for a subtle fruity flavor. This is one of Jubeck’s signature brews.

Citra hop definitely present and then fades into a fruity finish. Tasty brew, especially on the warm day we had it. The second beer I tried was their Saison. A style I’m really into and a style a really enjoy trying from the local breweries to get their take. Jubeck didn’t have any adjuncts to their saison, it was the pretty straightforward belgian yeast strain saison, which isn’t a bad thing at all. It was refreshing and did the trick.

They don’t have a kitchen but pretzels and gardettos can hold a guy over. However, there are a few places in Dubuque that foodies and beer lovers can congregate.

*Lot 1 – very solid beer selection that rotates constantly. I’ve been there when they’ve had TG, Surly, and Hoptimum on tap. I can’t comment on the food since I don’t believe I’ve eaten there.

*1st and Main – I had a very good burger and some shrimp tacos here. The beer selection was pretty solid as well. A coffee bender from Surly went well with the burger.

*Copper Kettle – always has Bells Two Hearted (underrated/underappreciated brew) in a bottle and their wings and pork nachos are excellent!

*Brazen – I’m missing out on this one as my brother frequents this place and is bragging about it’s greatness! I definitely need to make this a priority of places to go when I’m in Dubuque next. He’s enjoyed cans of Sue many a time here.

*L May Eatery – terrific pizza. Thin crust with sausage and mushroom was excellent and I believe I enjoyed it with a few Sierra Nevada Pale Ales.

Dubuque may be the biggest untapped (no pun intended) market in the Iowa, especially Eastern Iowa. The beer movement has been slow in Dubuque but is slowly starting to show thanks to the efforts from the folks I listed above. Make sure you get local and check out Jubeck, awesome place and great experience along with super friendly staff. If you’re in the area, give a few of these places a try!