Tag: Iowa

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Midwestern Brewery # 3 – Pulpit Rock Brewing Company


Last April stop is in Iowa and Pulpit Rock Brewing founded by four alumni from Luther College who have converted an old dairy facility into a brewery.

Here is what I would choose from their rotating tap list:

Heavy Lifter Lager – “Classic pale, golden lager. Biscuity notes and an aromatic aroma.”

Decorah’s Sweetheart – “One part Vic Secret, two parts Citra, all parts Party Starter.”

Glass To Mouth IPA – “2/3 Citra, 1/3 Mosaic, 100% delicious! Grain-to-glass, glass-to-mouth.”

Clarion ESB – “Fancy-speak for “loud & clear,” this English-style pale ale is a delicious balance of malt & hops and pours a copper/amber hue.”

Colombian Pour-Over Porter – “This special Pour-Over variant is infused with beans that are initially picked as ripe purple cherries (Castillo) by farmers in the Jambalo region of Columbia.”

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Iowa Brewery # 3 – Exile Brewing Company

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Our last stop in Iowa is Exile Brewing and if you are in the mood for German style beers for a hot night, then this is the place to be. You can get one of the following names to quench your craft thirst. They are aiming for “European Style, American Craftsmanship”

Ruthie

Munich Gold Lager

Gigi

Munich Dunkel Lager
And what better place to enjoy your lager? “An American Beer Hall housed between the brew house and fermentation room.  With clear views of the brewing process, the Beer Hall is a perfect spot to sample our beers and grab a quick lunch during the day, or to indulge a tankard and cocktail in the evening.  The historic, industrial hall greets our beer garden through a roll-up door that transforms the entire area into a patio.  The Beer Hall is great for a casual beer, private get-togethers, and spontaneous parties alike.”
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Iowa Brewery # 2 – Okoboji Brewing Company

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The second stop in Iowa is Okoboji Brewing Company. And these are the beers that caught my eye from their brewhouse in Spirit Lake off of Highway 71.

Boji Beach Golden Rye Ale

“Light golden in color, crisp, smooth and dry with slight bitterness to balance the sweetness of the malt. This beer will be well received by American Lager fans even as an ale. The rye adds a bit of spicyness and some bakery qualities which enhance the complexity of this beer.”

Midwest Charm Farmhouse Ale, with Ginger

“Traditionally brewed seasonally in the barn and other farmhouse buildings, thus the name. This style almost died out due to the perception of being a “regular person’s beer” but was revived by craft and home brewers with the love of its diversified flavors. Cloudy amber color with some spicyness and earthy flavors from the yeast. This semi-dry, medium bitterness beer has been revitalized because of “regular people” loving great beer.”
 

They also have an adjacent homebrew shop so that Iowa home brewers have a spot to find their ingredients and equipment!

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Peace Tree Brewing

Who says that there isn’t good beer in the heartland?

Maybe if I am lucky, I will be able to mark Iowa off my list with one of the fine craft beers from…..
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Here is a little backstory (from their website) about the name Peace Tree.
“Our name, Peace Tree Brewing Company, is also a reminder, a prompting of our past where different cultures met to discuss, trade, and come to agreements. The Peace Tree is a historic grand sycamore tree that was located near the town of Red Rock under what is now Lake Red Rock. Supposedly the old sycamore was a place where Indians met for generations, then became a meeting place for fur traders. Indian treaties were negotiated here and there is some speculation that it marks the Red Rock Line.

Our hope is that the beer made under the Peace Tree label will be a shared with friends and strangers alike and catalyst for conversations, new friendships and important agreements – in line with the lore of infamous Peace Tree of Red Rock.”

And it seems they have an IPA that would be to my liking…
“Hop Wrangler: Joe’s multinational take on a classic IPA. IPA’s are known for their intense hop bitterness, flavor and aromas. First, Joe used American and English malt, then American and English hops are added during the mash, first wort, boil, and finally it’s dry hopped for aroma. Belgium gets involved with the yeast and a special candy sugar finish for smoothness and flavor.”

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Millstream Brewing

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Since 1985, Millstream Brewing has been serving beer to Iowa.
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The beer that got my attention was an Oatmeal stout. Here is what the brewers say about it…”Colony Oatmeal Stout Colony Oatmeal Stout used to be just a winter seasonal brew when it first was introduced back in 1996. But since then popular demand has made it into an all year affair. The ‘oatmeal’ in the name is due the 10% oatmeal in the the grist of this brew. Oats give beer a real thick mouthfeel, something definitely desirable in a stout! But the real secret is in our lager yeast. Most stouts are made using ale yeast, but we wanted ours to be a smooth as our lagers! Black malt and roasted barley give the beer its color, and coffee-like flavors. If you like thick full-bodied stout, this beer is for you! We now only make the Stout in the colder months, because that is when it is the most popular. In the winter, you’ll find it in stores in its own ‘stout’ packaging.”