10 Best Breweries in Iowa 2018

  • After Iowa State won the Big 12, a Cyclone made a wonderful offer to We Will that now increases our match. Now all gifts up to $400,000 between now and the Final 4 will be matched. Please consider giving at We Will Collective.
    This notice can be dismissed using the upper right corner X button.

laminak

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2010
6,369
9,522
113
Marion
The annual ranking of breweries in Iowa was released today:

https://iowabeerblog.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-10-best-breweries-in-iowa-2018.html

JUST MISSED THE CUT: SingleSpeed, Madhouse, Fat Hill, Iowa Brewing Company, Franklin Street and 515 Brewing.
10. Backpocket
9. Jackson St.
8. Exile
7. Lion's Bridge
6. Confluence
5. Alluvial
4. Barn Town
3. Big Grove
2. Topling Goliath
1. Pulpit

I haven't had Pulpit, Barn Town, and Jackson St, however all of the others are legit, except for Exile. I'd knock them off and add Iowa Brewing or 515 on it.

The article didn't mention 7 Hills in Dubuque, which was decent, and Third Base Brewing, which puts out excellent seasonal beers.

Odd that it has Thew on its watch list, as when we went there a few weeks ago, I'd say they're the worst microbrewery in the CR area.
 

Scruff

Well-Known Member
Mar 11, 2008
1,013
1,410
113
Coralville, IA
Their sample size must have been heavy Decorah. I like Pulpit and Topling, but not in my top 5. Of their top 10, Backpocket, Confluence, and Exile are my favorites. I appear to like places with solid flagships. Appears this list also skews towards those with crazy experiments.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jack Gladney

iahawks

Well-Known Member
Sep 7, 2012
11,247
7,929
113
Their sample size must have been heavy Decorah. I like Pulpit and Topling, but not in my top 5. Of their top 10, Backpocket, Confluence, and Exile are my favorites. I tend to like dark beers with strong flavor. Appears this list also skews towards those with hoppy and fruity tastes.

Every beer list in the past 10 years for sure. Always heavily slanted towards hoppy beers.
 

Scruff

Well-Known Member
Mar 11, 2008
1,013
1,410
113
Coralville, IA
Every beer list in the past 10 years for sure. Always heavily slanted towards hoppy beers.

Edited my post, just after you replied. Psuedo Sue comes to mind as a flagship hoppy beer that like. If your flagship is an IPA, you're probably lower on my list. Pulpit was great, but they didn't seem to have flagships, just constantly changing list of experimental beers. I was only there once.
 

iahawks

Well-Known Member
Sep 7, 2012
11,247
7,929
113
Edited my post, just after you replied. Psuedo Sue comes to mind as a flagship hoppy beer that like. If your flagship is an IPA, you're probably lower on my list. Pulpit was great, but they didn't seem to have flagships, just constantly changing list of experimental beers. I was only there once.

Pulpit is mostly hop forward too, but they do offer more maltier beers than TG does. They do have some flagships.
 

Messi

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 25, 2011
6,863
12,499
113
Cedar Rapids
The annual ranking of breweries in Iowa was released today:

https://iowabeerblog.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-10-best-breweries-in-iowa-2018.html


Odd that it has Thew on its watch list, as when we went there a few weeks ago, I'd say they're the worst microbrewery in the CR area.

I believe Iowa Beer Blog and Planned Sick Days are the same person/people and Thew did a partnership beer with them so makes sense he has them.

I actually don’t hate Thews beer but I’ve drank in nicer garages and basements than their tap room
 

NickTheGreat

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jan 17, 2012
10,436
4,290
113
Central Iowa
I like most of Confluence's beers, don't love any. I'm not sure it's number 6.

Exile??? I've never been big on them; their core beers are really boring. Their seasonal/specialty ones are decent enough.

I think 515 should be on it. I was really impressed with Fat Hill when I went, and they hadn't even been open all that long.
 

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
30,011
22,601
113
38
Driftless Region
Visit site
Pulpit is mostly hop forward too, but they do offer more maltier beers than TG does. They do have some flagships.

I don't know that I'd say that anymore. They're really focused on the pastry stouts, fruited sours, and BA stuff. They still have lots of good hoppy beers, but I was in on Friday afternoon and I'd say only 1/3rd of the beers on tap were hoppy. Saftig, Gravy Boat, and Mjau.

I like most of Confluence's beers, don't love any. I'm not sure it's number 6.

Exile??? I've never been big on them; their core beers are really boring. Their seasonal/specialty ones are decent enough.

I think 515 should be on it. I was really impressed with Fat Hill when I went, and they hadn't even been open all that long.

I was also at Fat Hill on Friday, and was super impressed. I'd been in once before, right after they opened, and thought it was good. They had a couple of excellent IPAs going this weekend. Plus, it's a really beautiful taproom.
 

iahawks

Well-Known Member
Sep 7, 2012
11,247
7,929
113
I don't know that I'd say that anymore. They're really focused on the pastry stouts, fruited sours, and BA stuff. They still have lots of good hoppy beers, but I was in on Friday afternoon and I'd say only 1/3rd of the beers on tap were hoppy. Saftig, Gravy Boat, and Mjau.



I was also at Fat Hill on Friday, and was super impressed. I'd been in once before, right after they opened, and thought it was good. They had a couple of excellent IPAs going this weekend. Plus, it's a really beautiful taproom.

Saftig is probably my favorite flagship IPA of any other brewery.
 

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
30,011
22,601
113
38
Driftless Region
Visit site
My bias is local but I think Firetrucker is woefully underappreciated. I'm not sure I can think of a beer I've had there that I didn't like.

I think Firetrucker gets a lot of love, and I've yet to be blown away by anything there. I think they make competent beers, but they wouldn't be in my Top 10.

Regarding this Top 10 list, I agreed with most of it. I would swap Singlespeed for Backpocket and 515 for Exile. The rest is solid.
 
  • Agree
  • Like
Reactions: isu81 and discydisc

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
30,011
22,601
113
38
Driftless Region
Visit site
Saftig is probably my favorite flagship IPA of any other brewery.

Agreed. At this point, I think it's clearly ahead of Psuedo Sue.

It cracks me up whenever I stop in at Dixie's in Decorah. It's the old TG taproom, and there's a a couple of guys who were all TG regulars back when it was there, but don't like going out to the new facility who swear up and down that Pulpit is merely "ok", but their IPAs can't touch Sue. My eyes roll. Hard. Good guys, though.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: iahawks

bawbie

Moderator
Staff member
Mar 17, 2006
52,731
42,664
113
Cedar Rapids, IA
I was also at Fat Hill on Friday, and was super impressed. I'd been in once before, right after they opened, and thought it was good. They had a couple of excellent IPAs going this weekend. Plus, it's a really beautiful taproom.

Have you ever been to Lake Time Brewery in Clear Lake? I'm surprised they don't get more love on these type of lists, I've liked everything I've had from there.
 

SWCy13

Well-Known Member
Nov 14, 2011
1,003
725
113
31
My bias is local but I think Firetrucker is woefully underappreciated. I'm not sure I can think of a beer I've had there that I didn't like.

Agree with this, they do a good job with a lot of their beers. I don't love their flagship IPA but Tropical Burn DIPA is delicious.
 

NickTheGreat

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Jan 17, 2012
10,436
4,290
113
Central Iowa
What a time to be alive, were there even 10 breweries in Iowa 20 years ago?

What, you didn't like Cabco or Raccoon River???
vauEUgn.gif
 

Al_4_State

Moderator
Staff member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Mar 27, 2006
30,011
22,601
113
38
Driftless Region
Visit site
Have you ever been to Lake Time Brewery in Clear Lake? I'm surprised they don't get more love on these type of lists, I've liked everything I've had from there.

****. I would actually probably slide them into, or right on the cusp of, the Top 10. I've been a fan of their's for awhile, and purchase their cans pretty regularly. I'm not super into the pastry stout thing, but the one they did that tastes like a monster cookie (One Tough Cookie, IIRC) is awesome. The Peanut Butter Porter and Haze of Our Lives NEIPA are consistently good beers as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bellzisu and bawbie