Fitting for springtime garden work and the May flowers that should pop up after all those April showers, Dig is an earthy, grassy pale ale that offers a nice bite and hints of refreshing citrus and tropical fruit. The citrus is not as prominent as New Belgium advertises, but it is still a good seasonal brew.
Food & Drink
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Bread Garden hosting event for would-be wine tasters
Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Bread Garden Market is hosting a “Break into Wine” tasting event as a sort of crash course for would-be wine connoisseurs. Wine aficionados will still feel at home with approximately 70 wines from every major growing region across the world, though–as its name suggests–the event is designed to […]
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The bittersweet effects of the 2012 drought
Though brewers said the hot, dry summer of 2012 brought an increase in sales due to beer drinkers looking to quench their thirst, there were also consequences. Brewers say the drought’s effect on the corn and soybean crops will influence the cost of malting barley and potentially the price beer drinkers pay for their favorite six-pack.
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Chicken Little Reviews: Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack
Last weekend, I followed my beak down Lower Muscatine Road, just past Sycamore mall to one of Iowa City’s favorite BBQ joints, Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack. Owned and operated by James Adrian and Jack Piper (co-owners of Atlas and Basta Pizzeria Ristorante), Jimmy Jack’s is housed in a red and white barn-like structure that features […]
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Will the real Top Chef please stand up?
On Tuesday, March 26 foodies and local chefs came together to celebrate food and friendly competition at the Third Annual Top Chef Iowa City event held at Hotel Vetro. Fourteen restaurants and four breweries from the north side, downtown and beyond each took the preparation of food and drink to the highest level of the culinary arts. The event attracted foodies eager to try the culinary delights of many of Iowa City’s most notable chefs, mixologists and breweries.
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Big Sky IPA is our April brew of the month
Call me crazy, but I have been so eager to go camping that I set up my tent in my basement one afternoon. I even inflated my sleeping pad, put it in the tent and laid on it.
I cannot wait for the first time this year when my friends and I sit around a campfire and watch the hypnotic dance of the flames under the big, star-studded sky. When that happens, I think I will be doing 12-ounce curls of Big Sky IPA, brewed by the Big Sky Brewing Company of Missoula, Montana.
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Chicken Little Reviews Baroncini Ristorante
When planning a night of fine dining in Iowa City, one often gravitates north. The Motley Cow, Devotay and Linn Street Café have built their reputations on serving elevated cuisine with a focus on local flavor. But there’s a downtown option that offers classic upscale Italian fare in an atmosphere that counters the Northside’s trendy ambiance with a traditional, elegant setting.
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The Iowa City Beer Riots of 1884
In the second half of the 19th century three breweries operated along Linn and Jefferson streets. Their money and influence ruled much of the Northside’s economy, and they were known as the German Beer Mafia. Hundreds were happily employed in their operations but it all turned very dark one day in 1884. In the worst […]
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The Hops: Irish-Style Extra Stout by Schlafly Brewery
As if the Irish reputation was not already soaked in stout and whiskey, the county council in Ireland’s County Kerry approved a motion that would allow residents in rural areas to drink and drive. The measure supports the creation of a permit system which would, according to The Guardian, “allow rural drinkers to drive after having ‘two or three drinks.’” The councilor that proposed the measure, Danny Healy-Rae—who, The Guardian notes, owns a pub—“claimed it would help prevent depression and suicide in the county” by allowing residents of the sparsely populated countryside to drink and socialize at a pub and then drive home without the fear of losing their license.
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Crafty: Homemade soda perfect for taste tweakers
Fact: a project is way more fun if you can drink the final product. It seems like everyone today is brewing up small batches of beer while sipping on a glass of homemade kale-ginger juice. I’m personally all for this tasty trend, and wanting in on it, I decided to try my hand at homemade […]
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On the Table: Taking in Iowa City’s best minor indulgences
Post-holidays can be a tricky time and it seems like every year I eat a little more, drink a little longer and exercise a little less.
Having noticed my expanding waistline, my health-centric-physically-fit-yogi-fiancé decided to take drastic measures and put us on a three-week health kick called the “Crazy Sexy Diet.”
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Chicken Little Reviews: Nodo
Located across the street from Horace Mann School and conjoined with our friendly local Ace Hardware store, Nodo is one of the odder and more overlooked sandwich spots in Iowa City. Walking in the door, you will likely be met by the proprietor, Bryan Asklof, who will either be working diligently on an order or standing, arms crossed, in rapt attention to the latest international soccer game (which he will be happy to fill you in on.)
