Though many things ground to a halt during COVID, the opening of local breweries was not one of them. Despite opening shortly before, or in the midst of, the pandemic, these four breweries managed to gain a footing and expand Eastern Iowa’s craft beer scene to new communities. Don’t forget your designated driver! BIT Brewery […]
Beer Reviews
Posted inFood & Drink
LV Recommends: House Divided Brewery
Buttery, salty and best of all, free. Now that I’ve gotten the popcorn review out of the way, let me dive into the bread and butter, so to speak, of any brewery: the beer. House Divided Brewery, located right across the street from the Ely Public Library, serves up creative lagers, stouts, sours and IPAs […]
Posted inBread & Butter Dining Guide
LV Recommends: Irish stouts
On St. Patrick’s Day, you’re entitled to a pint of Guinness (it’d be un-Irish not to) but if you’re looking for something a little different, give these U.S.-born Irish stouts a chance.
Posted inFood & Drink
Arms Race Pale Ale by Big Grove Brewery is LV’s July 2016 Brew of the Month
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 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
ReUnion Lager by ReUnion Brewery is LV’s June 2016 Brew of the Month
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 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
CocO Stout by West O Beer is LV’s March 2016 Brew of the Month
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 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Disaster at Meux is LV’s February 2016 Brew of the Month
February’s beer of the month is another world-class beer brewed in the City of Five Seasons: The Disaster at Meux. First brewed in 2014, The Disaster at Meux is named after the London Beer Flood of 1814. According to Lion Bridge brewer and co-owner Quinton McClain, English breweries at that time were racing to build […]
Posted inFood & Drink
12 oz Curls: Three cheers for holiday beers
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.
Posted inFood & Drink
Bell’s Best Brown Ale is LV’s October 2015 Brew of the Month
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. […]
Posted inDining Recommendations, Food & Drink
Workman’s Compensation by Lion Bridge Brewing Company is LV’s September 2015 Brew of the Month
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 […]
Posted inDining Guides, Dining Recommendations, Food & Drink
LV Recommends: Turner Alley’s Czech Pilsner
Turner Alley Brewing’s Czech Village Pilsner pays homage to the historic Cedar Rapids neighborhood that underwent severe damage in the 2008 floods and has since recovered to become a burgeoning cultural and commercial…
Posted inFood & Drink
Hannah Hefeweizen by Exile Brewing Company is LV’s June 2015 Brew of the Month
Even though many European-style beers brewed in the United States are considered the best in the world (all of the English-style beers that won gold…
