ISU was founded in 1858 as Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. Using the growing microbrew industry and Ames Lager as inspiration, let’s open a brewery on campus and use the profits to pay our student athletes.
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Profits in brewing. Now that is a good joke.ISU was founded in 1858 as Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. Using the growing microbrew industry and Ames Lager as inspiration, let’s open a brewery on campus and use the profits to pay our student athletes.![]()
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Proof of concept has worked and now they are moving towards a small commercial production. Space is limited (especially in the wine lab) but there are plans in the works.It might be surprising, but Iowa State does actually have a brewing lab, as well as a winery. That being said, they aren't about commercial production as much as they are about research and teaching, but they do have some products for sale.
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Brewing lab | Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute
Our brewing science laboratory is situated at 1598 Food Science Building, and it boasts a 2,800-square-foot pilot plant facility that is adjacent to a...www.extension.iastate.edu
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Iowa State’s Brewing Science Program
Iowa State students experiment with different grains and hops to produce various kinds of beer. Writer: Emmett McMenamy Photos: Duane ...dsmmagazine.com
Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
www.extension.iastate.edu
I've seen it on tap at Welch Ave Station and a couple other places around Ames. I think Flight in Huxley as well.Proof of concept has worked and now they are moving towards a small commercial production. Space is limited (especially in the wine lab) but there are plans in the works.
Yeah they have started pushing more beer out into the public now that they have a canner. Their little speakeasy between the beer lab and wine lab is fun.I've seen it on tap at Welch Ave Station and a couple other places around Ames. I think Flight in Huxley as well.
Yeah they have started pushing more beer out into the public now that they have a canner. Their little speakeasy between the beer lab and wine lab is fun.
Lol. So at the back of the beer lab, there's a door behind this rolling shelving. You don't notice it if you aren't looking for it. You go through there and it's a backroom where they have some supplies amongst other things. They have what looks like a metal fusebox on the wall. You open that sucker up and its just a bunch of taps. Nobody really knows it's there. I luckily got to tour it and sample both beer and wine. Even got to see the (at that point yet to be debuted) beer labels for the cans.


If things come to fruition, you could see a major similar to the Fermentation Science program at Colorado State. They just need more space. Right now the brewing class is limited to 1 class a semester due to space.Iowa State has some alumni with good brewing pedigrees. It's good to see a program finally being built.
I think I heard they are scaled to the point of being break even or slightly better.Proof of concept has worked and now they are moving towards a small commercial production. Space is limited (especially in the wine lab) but there are plans in the works.
I know the plans and potential timeline but I'm not at liberty to discuss it currently.I think I heard they are scaled to the point of being break even or slightly better.
Blichman is an ISU alum that donated a bunch of stuff or gave a massive discount. The equipment in there looks really nice.Iowa State has some alumni with good brewing pedigrees. It's good to see a program finally being built.
Man, I wish you were wrong. I'm about to go on a podcast and predict some stabilization in 2026 for our industry but I'm not sure i believe myself.The entire craft alcohol industry is already overbuilt. Beer especially and breweries are closing monthly around the country.
It doesn't help that Gen Z doesn't drink alcohol like the prior generations either.Man, I wish you were wrong. I'm about to go on a podcast and predict some stabilization in 2026 for our industry but I'm not sure i believe myself.