Favorite Iowa brewed beers

[dmclone]

What are your top 10 Iowa beers?

Mine, in no order:

#1 Confluence-Thomas beck Black IPA
#2 Confluence-Chewbocka
#3 Confluence Des Moines IPA
#4 515-Dart Dodger
#5 Toppling Goliath-Golden Nugget-XHops Red Label was also good
#6 Singlespeed-Tank Six IPA
#7 Albia Brewing-Black Betty (Milk Stout)
#8 West O-10 Foot 10
#9 515-Stout of the closet
#10 Boone Valley-Iron Horse IPA

Surprise of the year-Lil Tart from 515. Normally don't like these types of beers and wouldn't want to drink it all the time but pretty good.

Surprise brewer of the year for me was Albia. Never even heard of it until I visited but was blown away.

Disappointment of the year-Haven't had an Exile that I've liked yet. Nothing from Peace Tree really does it for me.

Looking forward to-Never have tried Pseudo Sue for TG. Also need to try out Number 7 brewing from Ankeny.

2013 was a great year for craft brew in Iowa.

 

[is09span]

Mine, in order:

#1 Toppling Goliath - Pseudo Sue



#2 Toppling Goliath - Sosus
#3 515 Brewing - Hopititis C
#4 Toppling Goliath - Golden Nugget
#5 Confluence - Des Moines IPA
#6 Toppling Goliath - XHOPS Red Label
#7 515 Brewing - DART Dodger
#8 Confluence - Mosaic IPA
#9 Confluence - Thomas Beck Black IPA
#10 Peace Tree - Templeton Red


Excited to try more from 515. Phenomenal beer.

 

[cycloneG]

I'll agree with you on the Confluence IPAs. Peach Tree's Blonde Fatale is decent.

 

[bellzisu]

What are your top 10 Iowa beers?

Mine, in no order:

#1 Confluence-Thomas beck Black IPA
#2 Confluence-Chewbocka
#3 Confluence Des Moines IPA
#4 515-Dart Dodger
#5 Toppling Goliath-Golden Nugget-XHops Red Label was also good
#6 Singlespeed-Tank Six IPA
#7 Albia Brewing-Black Betty (Milk Stout)
#8 West O-10 Foot 10
#9 515-Stout of the closet
#10 Boone Valley-Iron Horse IPA

Surprise of the year-Lil Tart from 515. Normally don't like these types of beers and wouldn't want to drink it all the time but pretty good.

Surprise brewer of the year for me was Albia. Never even heard of it until I visited but was blown away.

Disappointment of the year-Haven't had an Exile that I've liked yet. Nothing from Peace Tree really does it for me.

Looking forward to-Never have tried Pseudo Sue for TG. Also need to try out Number 7 brewing from Ankeny.

2013 was a great year for craft brew in Iowa.

I haven't tried alot... So I'm limited.

1. Confluence Oktoberfest
2. Confluence Blue Corn
3. 515 Numb Nut
4. Raccoon River Vanilla Cream Ale
5. Raccoon River Pumpkin Ale
6. Confluence Farmer John
7. Olde Main- Dinkey Wheat
8. Peace Tree Red Rambler

Don't care for Exile either.

Also I really need to try some more Iowa beers

 

[dmclone]

Mine, in order:

#1 Toppling Goliath - Pseudo Sue



#2 Toppling Goliath - Sosus
#3 515 Brewing - Hopititis C
#4 Toppling Goliath - Golden Nugget
#5 Confluence - Des Moines IPA
#6 Toppling Goliath - XHOPS Red Label
#7 515 Brewing - DART Dodger
#8 Confluence - Mosaic IPA
#9 Confluence - Thomas Beck Black IPA
#10 Peace Tree - Templeton Red


Excited to try more from 515. Phenomenal beer.

Looks like we have similar taste. Is Sosus a limited release?

I'm thinking about heading up to TG some weekend for a beer run and may also hit the Wisconsin border to pick up a few others.

 

[Cyclonin]

I am not in the area any longer, but always enjoyed the Peace Tree Brews, especially Blond Fatale.

 

[Gunnerclone]

1. Confluence DSM IPA
2. TG Golden Nugget

That's the list right there for me. I don't need to "branch out".

 

[ianoconnor]

Sue & Zeelander are my top 2.

Top picks from other breweries:
Confluence - Des Moines IPA & Thomas Beck Black IPA
515 - Haven't had much, but Hopititis was good.
Millstream - Back Road Stout
Peace Tree - Hop Sutra & Rye Porter
Great River - 483 Pale, Red Band Stout
Keg Creek - Black IPA & IPA
Twisted Vine - Black Knight IPA

Love going to Rock Bottom as well to see what Eric has on tap.

 

[is09span]

Looks like we have similar taste. Is Sosus a limited release?

I'm thinking about heading up to TG some weekend for a beer run and may also hit the Wisconsin border to pick up a few others.

Not sure about Sosus. I just picked up a bottle when they delivered a bunch of Pseudo Sue. I really want to try ZeeLander but haven't come across it yet.

 

[pourcyne]

Blonde Fatale by Peace Tree.

Only Commies don't like it.

cool:

 

[cycloneted]

CABCo's Pointer Brown is pretty darn tasty.

 

[ketchupnmustard]

Iowa beers that I really like include:
Peace Tree: Black River Gumbo
Great River BC: Farmer Brown
Peace Tree: Imperial Stout

 

[GrindingAway]

I love my state but their beers could get a lot better. I'll admit I'm stuck in eastern Iowa and beyond Topping Goliath I don't get a lot of exposure amongst the Busch Light Hawkeye crowd over here.

Where's Confluence out of?

 

[ianoconnor]

I love my state but their beers could get a lot better. I'll admit I'm stuck in eastern Iowa and beyond Topping Goliath I don't get a lot of exposure amongst the Busch Light Hawkeye crowd over here.

Where's Confluence out of?

Des Moines. You don't like Great River's stuff?

 

[cyred]

Has anyone tried Backpocket?

 

[CycloneJL]

I love my state but their beers could get a lot better. I'll admit I'm stuck in eastern Iowa and beyond Topping Goliath I don't get a lot of exposure amongst the Busch Light Hawkeye crowd over here.

Where's Confluence out of?

I've had Millstream from Amana and Backpocket from Coralville and think both are good. Kalona Brewery is on my list to try.

 

[StClone]

Post from not too long ago: Best/Favorite Iowa Beer

 

[CycloneJL]

Has anyone tried Backpocket?

I like it. I believe they are now Iowa's largest brewery. They want to become a regional similar to Boulevard.

 

[Cybyassociation]

I think Confluence is the most consistent and has the best line up of any brewery in Iowa. Toppling Goliath has their stars with their stouts and can make an excellent IPA with Golden Nugget. Pseudo Sue is excellent from time to time but is way too inconsistent, especially for a brewery that gets the notoriety that TG gets. The rest of TG's line up? Mediocre at best.

I think that Confluence has a nice line up of beers. None of them are going to make it on to any top 100 beers in the world lists, but every single one of them is a solid offering and is consistent from batch to batch. My favorite from them right now: Milk Man milk stout on nitro. Just my opinion of course.

I really like what 515 is doing and Big Grove in Solon is also making some nice offerings. All in all, there is some great beer coming out of Iowa and things are only going to get better.

 

[ISUME]

I've had Millstream from Amana and Backpocket from Coralville and think both are good. Kalona Brewery is on my list to try.

Try Great River, I believe every HyVee carries them.