Thoughts on Beer

Some of the Backpocket Offerings

As we stated back in February, Old Man River Brewing (or as they are officially known, Backpocket Brewing) will be coming to the Coralville Landing area, just south of interstate 80, exit 242 in Coralville.  The company announced the news yesterday, with a planned opening next summer.

We look forward to welcoming the new brewery!

New Glarus's Riverside Brewery

American Craft Beer Week is May 16-22, 2011.  So this week, when you have a beer, enjoy one from one of America’s craft brewers!

It’s been a heck of a year for craft brewing, and thanks for letting me spend some of that time with you.  Be sure to try some of the beer from breweries we’ve visited in the last year:

• Samuel Adams
• Millstream Brewing
• New Glarus Brewing
• Old Man River Brewing
• Peace Tree Brewing
• Court Avenue Brewing

… and to some we were close to, but couldn’t get enough time to stop by …

• Brooklyn Brewing
• Boulevard Brewing
• Madhouse Brewing
• Abita Brewing
• Spoetzel Brewing (Shiner)
• Bell’s Brewing
• Goose Island Brewing

Have a great week!  Cheers!

Old Man River Brewing

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the local brewpub in McGregor, Iowa: Old Man River Brewing Company. Over the course of the meal, we got the scoop of several expansions the brewery was planning:

1. There are plans in the works to possibly expand to a location in Dubuque, Iowa, including the restaurant and brewery
2. Also, and more exciting for us personally, there is a rumor that the brewery is looking into expanding to Iowa City and create a production brewery. This will allow them to distribute the beers created at the brewpub, including a dunkel and a helles (also which happen to be the beers I had while at the restaurant – both were great). Hopefully a tasting room is in the plans.

This wasn’t the first time I had heard the rumor of the brewery coming to Iowa City, but I was glad to have it confirmed by another source who worked there.

What do you think? Have you heard about either one of these rumors?

Joey (right) and I (left) at the Festival

This past Sunday, the sixth annual Iowa Festival of Beers was held in Amana, next to Millstream Brewing.

This year was very exciting because of the opening of a few new breweries in the past year, including Peace Tree Brewing and Madhouse Brewing, along with the availability of “high-proof” beers.

In addition to the Iowa breweries, several of the area homebrew clubs, including those from Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, were able to share beers by several of their members.

Some of my favorites included Peace Tree’s Cornucopia, a farmhouse ale (saison), made with sweet corn.

Also, there were several beers from Old Man River Brewery and Restaurant in McGregor, Iowa that were very good, including a dunkel.

The local news was also there, and my friend, Joey, and I ended up in one of the cutaway shots (see the photo).  It was a great day with great beer.

Did you get to the Festival of Iowa Beers 2010?  What was your favorite?