Favorite Iowa Craft Beer

[Big12Cy]

I posted a link in another thread where, based on some loose criteria, one beer was selected from each state to compete for "President of Beers".
http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/off-topic/168452-beer-lovers.html

That got me thinking about Iowa craft brews and which ones are the best. I am interested to see what all of you think.

What is your favorite Iowa beer, and favorite all around Iowa brewery?

 

[GoCubsGo]

As far as overall brewery, my favorites are Peace Tree in Knoxville and Angry Cedar in Waverly. Seems like there are several breweries that have recently opened that I haven't tried yet.

 

[2020cy]

Blond Fatale, Peace Tree, it will get you where you're going in a hurry too.

 

[SWCy13]

I'm a big fan of Toppling Goliath out of Decorah.

 

[LutherBlue]

Hop Wrangler or maybe Jacknife (off the top of my head)

 

[Gordyo5]

Love the Keg Creek Brewing Company out of Glenwood, a little bias being as it is in the town I live in, but am yet to try one I don't like. Love the IPA and the German Malz.

 

[Al_4_State]

Toppling Goliath is my pick. It's also the closest, so I'm probably a little biased, but if you love hoppy beers they make great ones. Peace Tree's Hop Sutra is excellent.

For something on the maltier side, I really like Backpocket's entire line up, and Olde Main's Scottish and stouts.

I haven't been there yet, but every Confluence beer I've had was a winner.

Iowa breweries I don't really care for: Raccoon River and Court Ave. I haven't had an Angry Cedar beer I really loved either.

 

[sunnysideup]

Toppling Goliath is my pick. It's also the closest, so I'm probably a little biased, but if you love hoppy beers they make great ones. Peace Tree's Hop Sutra is excellent.

For something on the maltier side, I really like Backpocket's entire line up, and Olde Main's Scottish and stouts.

I haven't been there yet, but every Confluence beer I've had was a winner.

Iowa breweries I don't really care for: Raccoon River and Court Ave. I haven't had an Angry Cedar beer I really loved either.

I tend to agree on Raccoon River but not Court Ave. They have one of the best "browns" I've had. Smooth and malty. It's probably one of the best brewed beers in the metro (I haven't had a chance to try 515 or many Confluence beers however so my opinion may change after that)

 

[ColoradoClone]

Backpocket Dunkel has my vote. They just started bottling their beer. I haven't tried it bottled yet, but on tap it's great.

 

[Al_4_State]

Backpocket Dunkel has my vote. They just started bottling their beer. I haven't tried it bottled yet, but on tap it's great.

They've done as good of a job transitioning from tap to bottle as I've seen. Had some Slingshot, Gold Coin (blonde lager) and Wooden Nickel (Peat lager) during the first round of March Madness. I'd go as far as to say that Gold Coin is better from the bottle.

I tend to agree on Raccoon River but not Court Ave. They have one of the best "browns" I've had. Smooth and malty. It's probably one of the best brewed beers in the metro (I haven't had a chance to try 515 or many Confluence beers however so my opinion may change after that)

A lot of folks like the Court Ave brown, but it hasn't really clicked with me. I don't think their beer is bad, I just haven't ever had one stand out to me.

 

[dmclone]

The new 515 place has some god brews that I tried out last night. I liked their Stout of the closet (nitro) brew but didn't like the IPA they had as well. Also visited Confluence yesterday and liked their Thomas Beck black IPA.

 

[ketchupnmustard]

Peace Tree's Black River Gumbo is something I get whenever I can find it. Love that stuff.