Tap Rooms Iowa

[Al_4_State]

Saw that Kalona and Franklin Street brewing over in Eastern Iowa are shutting down beer production. The end of the craft beer craze is going to keep putting more of these breweries under.

I’m surprised by both. I never loved Kalona’s beer, but they had very good food in a thriving community that’s kinda underserved in terms of drinking establishments.

Franklin Street made legitimately good beer, but I guess I rarely grabbed it at the liquor store. Reading between the lines it sounds like they were burned out and couldn’t find someone to carry it on, but it’s still viable (hence the slow close). A lot of small businesses (especially breweries) are passion projects where the owners are satisfied with breaking even (as they have other income sources). Eventually that grind wears people down and they want more freedom in their free time.

But the craft beer bubble has undeniably burst and it will be interesting to see where the long term sustainable capacity ends up.

 

[Al_4_State]

Keep hearing that Twisted Vine is looking to sell. They do have a pretty nice set up. Heard that WestO was a possible suitor.

Would love West O in CyTown

 

[NickTheGreat]

I think I had the Limber Legs from Kalona and I was not impressed. IIRC it was way under carbed, even for the style. Clearly something was off in manufacturing.

That was my first and last experience with them.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Keep hearing that Twisted Vine is looking to sell. They do have a pretty nice set up. Heard that WestO was a possible suitor.

Would love that. The spot is pretty decent and will get better once the construction near there is finished.

Twisted Vine just has very mediocre beer.

 

[Clone1992]

Would love that. The spot is pretty decent and will get better once the construction near there is finished.

Twisted Vine just has very mediocre beer.

Twisted Vine was always bad. I'm surprised they ever moved from their old location instead of just shutting down and calling it quits.