Iowa Brewery top 10 2017
- Thread starter dmclone
- Start date
TG is great but I echo the inconsistency at times. I was extremely underwhelmed by Fire, Skulls and Money. XHops Gold was actually really solid. DDH Galaxy Pseudo was so-so. I am completely over OG Psuedo Sue.
Really excited to try "Fields of Dream" from Barn Town next week when I get into town.
Really excited to try "Fields of Dream" from Barn Town next week when I get into town.
Had a buddy stop by Reclaimed Rails. He said their Blonde Stout was excellent. Anybody else tried it? Haven't really been impressed by anything from them, but looking for a reason to stop in.
I dont trust this list if Confluence isnt on it but Madhouse and Exile are. Never been a big fan of Exile.
I have a buddy who lives in Bondurant, and we'll stop up there because it's close. I've always thought it was solid, but wouldn't put it in the Top 10 slot. Really nice place to boot.
Des Moines IPA that Confluence makes is pretty high up on my list of beers. Also really enjoy the Greys Lake Nessie.
Haven't tried too many from Confluence outside of those two.
As for Breweries in the DSM area, I have been to Confluence, 515, Firetrucker, Exile, New American. Also have been to Alluvial in Ames, Toppling Goliath in Decorah, and Big Grove in IC.
I'd put Alluvial up against any.
Haven't tried too many from Confluence outside of those two.
As for Breweries in the DSM area, I have been to Confluence, 515, Firetrucker, Exile, New American. Also have been to Alluvial in Ames, Toppling Goliath in Decorah, and Big Grove in IC.
I'd put Alluvial up against any.
Freaking love Pulpit Rock and TG is awesome too as is Decorah. I just may retire in Decorah no lie it’s beautiful and outdoorsy with trout run, camping, hiking. Every time I visit I never want to leave.
Alluvial is great, solid list but for me Confluence should be on their they make quite a lot of solid beer.
Great River makes some decent stuff - I like their Redband Stout. It's been a while since I've been there, though.
The more and more I hear about Alluvial, the more I want to go. Especially in the summer.
Had some on Saturday.
I predict an internet meltdown. It was a good beer, but it's much more akin to Florida Sue than OG Decorah Sue, or the stuff that's been on tap in Iowa up to this point. Not really hazy at all, and no nose to it. A tasty pale ale for sure, but the stuff of legend it ain't.
I see TG becoming Iowa's Surly, if they can't get this Decorah canned Sue dialed in.
This will probably expose me as not really a beer snob, but in my book the fact that places like Exile make it so that I can walk into a QT or Casey's, much less your average grocery or liquor store, and get a pack of good, locally-made beer should absolutely score them points in rankings like this.
I haven't been out today, but Urbandale HyVee had a fair amount on Saturday evening. Hell, even Johnston had a lot late last week. YMMV, but you should be able to find it, I would think.
TBF, I like FL Sue more than most, so it's not like I found it an unpleasant product. It just definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Maybe they're getting more used to the new system.
I'm not losing any sleep over it. Saftig has been better than Sue for awhile now, and you can always get growlers.
If they made better beer, I would agree. The top 10 on this list all have at least 3-4 beers that are really good. Exile has been around for 5 years and have made a ton of different varieties yet I can't think of one that is something I seek out. I do like their Cherry Bohemian. Their core beers like Gigi, Ruthie, Hannah, etc. are just blah IMO.
I've found myself coming around on Exile over the years. I appreciate that they can make a good beer that isn't an overpowering IPA or a big stout. Ruthie was definitely my tailgating beer.
I really like TG, especially the G.Nugget, but they seem to just roll out slight variations of their IPA's and pale ales. That's fine because they sell. Pulpit Rock has taken over as my #1 in Decorah.