Best/Favorite Iowa Beer

mikeiastat

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There's a lot more to New Glarus than Spotted Cow.

I had their Wild Sour yesterday. Now THAT is an interesting beer.

Strangely, I'm a huge New Glarus fan, but think Spotted Cow is one of the most over-rated beers in Wisconsin. My opinion of SC is that if you're gonna just drink that, you might as well save yourself 3$ a sixpack and drink Miller light.

I love their Fat Squirrel, and Two Women and their Bock. I know their Ales are top notch too, but I don't typically go for any ales so I'll leave that to the others. Capital isn't all world, but again I like their Bock and amber. I really would love to make some stops on the way to ames from madison this fall and try some of the Iowa craft beers, but the midwest seems so ale crazy. Anybody have some bock or Lager slanted recommendations on the way through eastern Iowa?
 

BlackHawk

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Strangely, I'm a huge New Glarus fan, but think Spotted Cow is one of the most over-rated beers in Wisconsin. My opinion of SC is that if you're gonna just drink that, you might as well save yourself 3$ a sixpack and drink Miller light.

I love their Fat Squirrel, and Two Women and their Bock. I know their Ales are top notch too, but I don't typically go for any ales so I'll leave that to the others. Capital isn't all world, but again I like their Bock and amber. I really would love to make some stops on the way to ames from madison this fall and try some of the Iowa craft beers, but the midwest seems so ale crazy. Anybody have some bock or Lager slanted recommendations on the way through eastern Iowa?

Two Women is really good. So is their Blacktop IPA.
 

StClone

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Anybody have some bock or Lager slanted recommendations on the way through eastern Iowa?
Don't look in Dubuque. Not long ago I found myself there and thought it would be easy to find some good brew with the tradition of brewing there (Pickett's, Star). Brick Town was bad and closed, and others are not worth a mention from my knowledge. Jurbeck is largely unkwown as is Stone Cliff and one I heard called Backwater or something.
 

bellzisu

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I really love Confluence.. They really don't have one beer that stands out above another. They just have a bunch of extremely solid beers. First place i have tried that i can say that. Usually I'll find one beer i can't stand.

That said... Has one tried the corn whiskey from Iowa Distillery in Cumming?
 

Al_4_State

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Strangely, I'm a huge New Glarus fan, but think Spotted Cow is one of the most over-rated beers in Wisconsin. My opinion of SC is that if you're gonna just drink that, you might as well save yourself 3$ a sixpack and drink Miller light.

I love their Fat Squirrel, and Two Women and their Bock. I know their Ales are top notch too, but I don't typically go for any ales so I'll leave that to the others. Capital isn't all world, but again I like their Bock and amber. I really would love to make some stops on the way to ames from madison this fall and try some of the Iowa craft beers, but the midwest seems so ale crazy. Anybody have some bock or Lager slanted recommendations on the way through eastern Iowa?

Backpocket in Coralville makes mostly lagers and they are solid.
 

RunDMCyclone

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Don't look in Dubuque. Not long ago I found myself there and thought it would be easy to find some good brew with the tradition of brewing there (Pickett's, Star). Brick Town was bad and closed, and others are not worth a mention from my knowledge. Jurbeck is largely unkwown as is Stone Cliff and one I heard called Backwater or something.

Stone Cliff is a winery and I don't think Jubeck is even up and running yet.

There isn't really anything for breweries in Dubuque, but Lot One has a nice selection of breweries on tap including some TG.

For breweries in Iowa, the Quad Cities is the mecca with several good breweries all within a few miles of each other (Great River, Bent River, Front Street).
 

GoCubsGo

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Backpocket in Coralville makes mostly lagers and they are solid.

Seems like they've had some issues ramping up production. I really liked their beers the first several times I tried them. Recently though, something just tastes "off."
 

Al_4_State

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Seems like they've had some issues ramping up production. I really liked their beers the first several times I tried them. Recently though, something just tastes "off."

Haven't been to the new brewery, but I like what I've found in bottles and always enjoyed them when they were located up in McGregor.

A bit of departure from my usual tastes, but I think they do what they do well.
 

GrindingAway

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Don't look in Dubuque. Not long ago I found myself there and thought it would be easy to find some good brew with the tradition of brewing there (Pickett's, Star). Brick Town was bad and closed, and others are not worth a mention from my knowledge. Jurbeck is largely unkwown as is Stone Cliff and one I heard called Backwater or something.

There's a brewery trying to get going in Dubuque. It was on kickstarter a while back and I thought I heard they made their goal. If it's the guy I think it is it should be really good.

There isn't much now though. Bricktown was awful. Some good bars that have good stuff on tap. The busted lift being my preference. You're better off crossing the border to Wisconsin though.
 

StClone

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Stone Cliff is a winery and I don't think Jubeck is even up and running yet.

There isn't really anything for breweries in Dubuque, but Lot One has a nice selection of breweries on tap including some TG.

For breweries in Iowa, the Quad Cities is the mecca with several good breweries all within a few miles of each other (Great River, Bent River, Front Street).

Thanks for the information. Hotel staff and a liquor store was where I inquired and that was the basis of what I posted.
Up the river in McGregor is Old Man River still open? Old Man River Brewery
 
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TruClone

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Had not ever had Number 7 before so I tried the Drunken Sailor IPA at the fair Saturday night. Could not get past the first sip. It was absolutely the worst IPA, or maybe even beer, that I have ever had. Thank goodness the guy from Confluence was there and poured it out, giving me the Des Moines IPA. It was much, much better.
 

ianoconnor

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There's a lot more to New Glarus than Spotted Cow.

I had their Wild Sour yesterday. Now THAT is an interesting beer.
Just had one of these yesterday too. Great beer. Friend brought a 4 pack of it back along with a Raspberry Tart.
 

CYclist

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Olde Main's original brewmaster just left for another job. It will be interesting to see how this changes the beer as time goes on.
 

Al_4_State

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Olde Main's original brewmaster just left for another job. It will be interesting to see how this changes the beer as time goes on.

It seems that they've been making beer aimed at enticing Big 3 drinkers. Tasty, but not very hoppy or too complex. Maybe the next guy will move into those territories a little more.

Me and a buddy were discussing what some good brewery markets in Iowa would be, and I think Ames could handle another one. Would be cool to see it in the Campustown area.
 

Clones21

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Why are so many people into the IPAs? Wayyy too bitter for me. I have to have a good amount of malt in my beer. Which is exactly why I'm a Brown Ale, Stout and hefeweizen kind of guy.
 

Al_4_State

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Why are so many people into the IPAs? Wayyy too bitter for me. I have to have a good amount of malt in my beer. Which is exactly why I'm a Brown Ale, Stout and hefeweizen kind of guy.

Because they like the taste of hops more than the taste of malt?

It's just a personal preference.