The “chew” in the beer of the month — Confluence’s ChewBOCKa — is the unintended but delicious result of a common brewing complication. One of the problems that can vex brewers is what is known as a “stuck mash.” When separating the mash — a hot porridge of crushed grains and water — finely ground […]
It’s cold — or at least it’s supposed to be cold in December. Regardless, it’s not an ideal time of the year for citrusy and tropical IPAs. They’re still drinkable, sure, but much less fitting (double IPAs are a different story, however.) Stouts, including imperial stouts, are a much better fit for the cold temperatures […]
Dust off your one-liter beer mug because September is the time to enjoy the many Oktoberfest beers being brewed in eastern Iowa — perhaps even at one of the area’s many Oktoberfest festivals. Here’s a run-down of the Oktoberfest beers being released by local breweries. Another Road: The Marion brewery will release its Oktoberfest, along […]
The beer of the month is a tart but tasty and drinkable brew that should wet your whistle on the hot, sticky, long days of August — Gose Shore, brewed by the Exile Brewing Company of Des Moines. Gose Shore is best served in a weizen glass or a stange, which is a tall, skinny, […]
It’s that time of year when bicyclists are hitting the trails and country roads hard, training for RAGBRAI. One popular and effective (some may even say masochistic) route runs from Iowa City to the old Sutliff Bridge via the beastly hills of Sugar Bottom Road. It is a ride worthy of the beer of the […]
Lager gets a bad rap. Commonly associated with the macro pilsners stacked ceiling-high in walk-in coolers across the nation, lager is panned by many craft beer enthusiasts as boring and simple, worthy only for the unenlightened to drink from plastic cups. Sure, it is simple, but dismissing it overlooks the fact the lagers being brewed […]
The beer of the month, Pompeii, is a tropical and citrusy dream come true, ideal for enjoying on warm, early spring afternoons when wearing t-shirts and shorts feels weird, but oh-so-familiar and awesome. Part of Toppling Goliath’s Hop Patrol series of IPAs, Pompeii is inspired by the House of Faun in Pompeii, Italy, where beautifully […]
This St. Patrick’s Day, enjoy the world-class, Iowa-brewed cream stout that has brought two straight gold medals home to West Okoboji: CocO Stout, brewed by West O Beer. According to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) style description, a sweet/cream stout should be dark, sweet and full-bodied; its flavor should be dominated by chocolate and […]
Holiday cheer makes its way to the beer aisle in the form of cherished seasonals and festive one-offs, perfect for enjoying and sharing at holiday gatherings and ugly sweater parties. Among the many tasty holiday beer options are these three beers of the month. […]
Iowa City’s Wilson’s Orchard just added hard cider to their list of apple offerings — “Goldmine.” I found a bottle of it at the Co-Op (it’s also available at John’s Grocery) a few weeks ago and I’ve been enjoying it ever since. Wilson’s debut hard cider is named “Goldmine.” Out of the bottle, the cider […]
It doesn’t get much better than October. Cooler temperatures perfect for hooded sweatshirts, colorful autumn foliage, hayrack rides, football, peaceful walks along leaf-covered trails and Friday the 13th marathons. It’s a magical month, indeed. The beer of the month, Best Brown Ale by Bell’s Brewery, evokes everything there is to love about October and autumn. […]
In honor of Labor Day, this month’s beer of choice is an award-winning, tasty, low-alcohol compensation that is perfect to enjoy after a hard day of work: Workman’s Compensation, brewed by the Lion Bridge Brewing Company of Cedar Rapids. Lion Bridge classifies Workman’s Compensation as dark mild—a malty, low-alcohol style that originated in Britain. Lion […]