Cedar Rapids/Iowa City corridor breweries 2018

[cc1091]

Most of us who grew up on the East side of the river wouldn't cross it unless we absolutely had to. There's nothing worth while on the West side of Cedar Rapids.

As a guy who grew up on the west side, left for 20 years, then came back to CR to live on the East side, little has changed. That huge division still runs through the city like the river, but has been made worse by the floods and the lack of city support for Westdale Mall in years past (though I have to agree that the "redevelopment" at Westdale as it is being handled now, is not well planned).

 

[cc1091]

Except for Lion's Bridge Brewery, Kernels, and Roughriders.

Many used to cross the river for Chapman's fun world. In my opinion, when Chapman's was sold, the final nail was added to the death of Westdale. Not many people used the 9 hole golf course. But the go carts and the miniature golf was always fun. MY vision for revitalizing Westdale would have included a massive go cart and miniature golf layout (and maybe a brewery), but heck, I know nothing.. (hmm...wonder what is happening on the former casino site...)

 

[laminak]

Just saw this list and it had Lion's Bridge Compensation on it:

https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/food-drink/g3244/the-best-american-beers/

 

[Messi]

Any fellow Cedar Rapidans (?) know some restaurants with good/extensive beer selections?

Went to the new Fongs in NewBo last night and was impressed with the Iowa beers they had on tap. I know Parlor City also has a good selection but i think their food is so/so

 

[FatNTired]

Any fellow Cedar Rapidans (?) know some restaurants with good/extensive beer selections?

Went to the new Fongs in NewBo last night and was impressed with the Iowa beers they had on tap. I know Parlor City also has a good selection but i think their food is so/so

Need Pizza has a great tap list, including Pulpit Rock. Butcher Block has a great beer list and patio. Their menu has plenty of options other than $25+ entrees.

 

[cc1091]

Any fellow Cedar Rapidans (?) know some restaurants with good/extensive beer selections?

Went to the new Fongs in NewBo last night and was impressed with the Iowa beers they had on tap. I know Parlor City also has a good selection but i think their food is so/so

That's Cedar Rapidians, Messi.

Aside from those already mentioned: Bricks has a large selection of beers, some used to be from Iowa, not sure what they have now. Quarterbarrel also has a fine selection of beers aside from their own. Also White Star has a few 'locals'. If you're looking for imports (or at least beers and ales that used to be brewed in other countries) in bottles and cans, try Fat Wally's pool hall.

BTW- Tried THEW brewing's Porter at White Star last night. I have a similar opinion to what my friends have said, "Needs some work."

 

[laminak]

Any fellow Cedar Rapidans (?) know some restaurants with good/extensive beer selections?

Went to the new Fongs in NewBo last night and was impressed with the Iowa beers they had on tap. I know Parlor City also has a good selection but i think their food is so/so

After Parlor City, for restaurants with decent beer selections, I recall White Star, Need Pizza, Becks, Emil's Hideaway, and (I think) Zepplins having them.

Outside of CR, Red's in North Liberty, Mellow Mushroom in Coralville, and Shorts in Iowa City all had decent beer selections.

 

[huntt26]

Any fellow Cedar Rapidans (?) know some restaurants with good/extensive beer selections?

Went to the new Fongs in NewBo last night and was impressed with the Iowa beers they had on tap. I know Parlor City also has a good selection but i think their food is so/so

Bricks Bar downtown, Parlor City, Zeppelins, Need Pizza, White Star Ale House and Fongs have the best tap selections in town IMO. Skip Parlor City if you're looking for good food.

 

[Messi]

Heard from a relative that’s involved with their city planning that someone is bringing a restaurant and brewery to Ely. Really smart move as that’s a growing community with really only 2 dining options (Casey’s pizza & a sports bar)

 

[huntt26]

Heard from a relative that’s involved with their city planning that someone is bringing a restaurant and brewery to Ely. Really smart move as that’s a growing community with really only 2 dining options (Casey’s pizza & a sports bar)

Nice! Easy to bike there too from CR

 

[Cybyassociation]

Planning on checking out Thew on Saturday. I had some of their beers at el Bait Shop last week and, while they were solid, they really didn't excite me much. Granted, they didn't bring their NEIPA offerings, but the core beers I tried, really didn't do much for me. I will certainly give them another shot and report back after my visit Saturday.

 

[Messi]

Planning on checking out Thew on Saturday. I had some of their beers at el Bait Shop last week and, while they were solid, they really didn't excite me much. Granted, they didn't bring their NEIPA offerings, but the core beers I tried, really didn't do much for me. I will certainly give them another shot and report back after my visit Saturday.

Went there Friday night. i think they know how to make solid beer but i got the feeling they have little to no experience in running a bar. Very odd interior and decor. Felt like i was drinking in someone’s unfinished basement.

 

[Cybyassociation]

Went there Friday night. i think they know how to make solid beer but i got the feeling they have little to no experience in running a bar. Very odd interior and decor. Felt like i was drinking in someone’s unfinished basement.

Ehhhhh, that Another Road vibe? I'll give them some time before I really make a decision on what I think of them.

 

[Messi]

Ehhhhh, that Another Road vibe? I'll give them some time before I really make a decision on what I think of them.

Yeah even with the weird decor I’ll probably go there becasue that Kingston village area is getting some good restaurants. Local Pour right next door has already had my business 4 times in the 8 weeks they’ve been open.

 

[Cybyassociation]

Quick review of Thew: I agree, it's kind of got that basement vibe to it. I think part of it is they are brand new and just don't have much "stuff" to decorate with. I got the impression they wanted to open, serve their beers, worry about ambiance later, which is fine by me.

I had Nube Dorada, their NEIPA and thought it was really nice. Wanted to buy a crowler but the fella ahead of me bought the last one. Tried Euchre, it's got potential, but it was really meh. There are so many hoppy wheat beers done incredibly well that this one really just fell flat to me. Got a sample of their brown ale because one of my buddies recommended it. I'm not a brown ale drinker, I think it's lazy for new breweries to just pump out color beers (brown, amber, red, blonde, golden). Thew's brown ale, however, was phenomenal. I had to ask the bartender if there was coffee in it because the roast was so coffee forward.

Overall, it felt like they were a brand new brewery who is still working out some kinks and trying new things on their system. I'll definitely give them another shot, but if I lived in CR, I'm not sure it would be my weekly hangout.

 

[cc1091]

BTW- the former Stella's (now called The Map Room, across the street from the Backpocket satellite brewery in CR) has a few micro brews on tap.

Also wondering if anyone has tried the ... what is it.. Clockhouse (?) brewery in the Black Sheep restaurant? Would like to see a post from people who have had a good sampling of their beer(s?).

(YES, I wish I could get out and devote more time to doing the sampling myself, but this just isn't going to happen right now).

 

[Cycl1]

Excited to hear about the possibility of Ely getting a new place. It is in need of better food. Tried thew brewing on Friday. The nube was good. 2 Other beers I tried were meh. 4th beer was a wit, and was good.

 

[cc1091]

I visited Thew this past week. I only had their NEIPA called Nube Dorada. I could not get over the distinct side note flavor of rubber hoses. I also felt it was 'watery' in the 'Another Road Brewing' sense. Before my visit, I could not imagine the 'basement bar feeling' that others have used to describe this place I once knew as a very warm print shop. After my visit, I understood: Despite their above ground location, the place was very humid and slightly musty smelling. This factor was not helped by the formed concrete with clear poly finished bar tops. The place is barren looking except for the piles of junk behind the bar on metal racks. Anyhow, I could not finish the Nube and at $5 a glass minimum, and with the knowledge that this was probably their best beer, I left.

I also visited Local Pour (the south end of that same block). A nice but small selection of beers at $5 and $6 a glass. Their 'street food' certainly shares no common claim to the pricing of food from street vendors. A very nice place to come, have a drink, and perhaps have some food. But I found one beer and their street tacos to not be a great value.

 

[laminak]

Also wondering if anyone has tried the ... what is it.. Clockhouse (?) brewery in the Black Sheep restaurant? Would like to see a post from people who have had a good sampling of their beer(s?).

My wife and I went there in November and this was my thoughts (to my friends) at that time (so sorry if not too detailed):

They had seven different beers on tap. My wife really liked their IPA and red rye ale, while I liked their porter and Belgian Wit beer. I thought their lager was good and we both thought their stout was okay, however nothing spectacular. We didn't try their pale ale.

For its atmosphere, it was in a small/medium sized room inside the Black Sheep Supper Club. It had a bar, a few tvs, and a handful of tables. I'm assuming one could order food from Black Sheep, however we already ate at that point and didn't check out anything outside of beers.

I recall at that time, we still considered Lion's Bridge the gold standard and this wasn't up to their level. My wife liked it about the same/better than her second favorite, Third Base Brewery. I thought it was on the same level as that and Iowa Brewing Company.

 

[baller21]

If you’re near Coralville I’d give Reunion Brewing a try. Their DDH galaxy tank puncher is really good.