Madhouse Brewery (IA-NE)

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by Herky21, May 30, 2012.

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  1. Herky21

    Herky21 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Iowa

    I've recently fallen in love with Hopburst IPA and Pastime Pale Ale from Madhouse Brewery (Newton, IA). Anyone else had the chance to try these or other Madhouse Beers and really liked them?
     
  2. jlpred55

    jlpred55 Initiate (0) Jul 26, 2006 Iowa

    I've tried most of them. They are reallyhit and miss. The Pastime Pale Ale is a nice solid pale ale- though it leans more into Amber Ale, IMO. It is ok either way. The Hopburst is prettygood, thankfully this came on the heels of one of the worst beers I've ever had, Iowa Grown IPA. This one was a real stinker, awful in fact. The Coffee, Honey Pilsner and Dunkelwezen are are middle of the road for me, better than I expected however. The wheat beer is another one that gets the terrible rating. They seem to be getting better but with a few stinkers in the bunch I don't reach for them much with the other options that we have- after paying 5.99 for a bomber of that Iowa Grown IPA I still feel the sting and remember the taste...yuck. EDIT- looks like they retired the Wheat....thankfully. Now they offer a Maibock that looks interesting!
     
  3. KAF

    KAF Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2007 Iowa

    I have tried six of their offerings and have not been blown away by anything they have done. Hopburst and the coffee stout were decent, but nothing I would purchase again when I have other beers available. The guy who runs the beer side of this operation is a really nice guy, but that is the best I can say about them. With other beers available now by Iowa brewers I usually won't grab anything from Madhouse. I will say that they have made a lot of progress since they first started as I remember their wheat and home grown IPA turned me off. That said, with other brewers like Peace Tree and Toppling Goliath as well as an occasional good brew from other brewers (Great River Red Band) now being produced in Iowa I tend to forget about/ignore Madhouse.
     
  4. deadbody

    deadbody Initiate (0) May 10, 2010 Minnesota
    Trader

    Yeah I bought a bomber of an IPA from them last year, not impressed. Would probably not purchase again.
     
  5. JediMatt

    JediMatt Zealot (549) Jun 18, 2010 Iowa

    I've had a couple of their beers and have not been very impressed. I have not tried the Hopburst yet. If I want Iowa beers, I usually turn to Millstream or Peacetree instead.
     
  6. zeff80

    zeff80 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,891) Feb 6, 2006 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Coffee Stout was good. Homegrown IPA was odd/unblanced. The wheat was not very good. Like others have said, I've really enjoyed everything from Peace Tree.
     
  7. huskermike12

    huskermike12 Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2011 Vermont
    Deactivated

    Not a fan. Try Toppling Goliath Golden Nugget if you get a chance. IMO the best beer brewed in Iowa.
     
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  8. FreshHawk

    FreshHawk Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2009 Illinois

    Hopburst was solid and the Coffee Stout was nice, but the rest of their offerings have been a little underwhelming for me. They do seem to be improving though as not too long ago they were just making the pale ale (which was slightly less hoppy than now) and the wheat. The first batch of Iowa IPA was not good, but they corrected some of the problems on the second batch and it was drinkable then. I don't see them breaking into the upper echelon for Iowa breweries, but if they continue to progress then I could see them being a solid option for Iowa beer.
     
  9. pepsican

    pepsican Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2007 Iowa

    The brewer is a damn nice guy and the people I've talked to have been very excited about brewing and completely open to constructive criticism and ideas for future brews. That said, they seem to be making some pretty middle of the road beers still but have come a long way since the first samples they handed me a few years ago.
     
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  10. Herky21

    Herky21 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Iowa


    I agree with the Iowa homegrown. Didn't care for that one, but it is discontinued. AND I highly recommend the Maibock. Fantastic example of the style and the saphir hops are really good. I think the Honey Pilsner is made for people who want to like craft beer, but don't (i.e. they don't like hop flavor.. heavy beers... aka good beers).

    And I was glad the wheat got discontinued as well. The new ones coming out seem to be a much better quality in general.
     
  11. Herky21

    Herky21 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Iowa

    They opened in 2009 so I feel like this is quick progress. And the head brewer is really nice. Met him at a brewfest. He said they have a Saison and an Amber Ale aged on wood coming up. Sounds pretty different from what's already going on.
     
  12. Herky21

    Herky21 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Iowa

    Did you try the Iowa homegrown or the hopburst? I hated the Iowa Homegrown, but got a sample of the hopburst at a brewfest. Awesome. Really fruity and bright with a big malt body. Almost an imperial IPA.
     
  13. Herky21

    Herky21 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Iowa

    I definitely will. Heard about them recently. I'd highly recommend trying Madhouse Hopburst if you haven't, new recipe is good. And for IA, CIB from Macedonia Iowa has some cool sours going on. A breakfast stout I enjoyed too. Really small batches, but they have it at Hy-Vee in 750 mls.
     
  14. Herky21

    Herky21 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Iowa

    I've only enjoyed the Blonde Femme. Also the Rye porter was disgusting. And like I said in the original post the Pale Ale and the Hopburst are good and really refined. I was lucky to get some free samples or wouldn't have tried again. The Homegrown IPA was pretty bad, but after trying the others I'm guessing something went wrong or whatever. I do homebrewing and can understand that stuff can happen. Oh, and I liked the coffee stout too. The body reminded me of guinness, not as heavy as a normal coffee stout. Liked the bitter coffee taste too.
     
  15. Herky21

    Herky21 Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2011 Iowa

    IMO Millstream is garbage. I taste it and am like, that's ok, but I would never buy it. It's not something I actually want. Johns white ale (wit) is good but that recipe was half done by an old owner of John's Grocery in Iowa city (or so I was told when I wrote a Journalism article a few years ago featuring the store). And Femme Fatale is good for a normal style Belgian, but Red Rambler... Rye Porter... not for me.
     
  16. huskermike12

    huskermike12 Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2011 Vermont
    Deactivated

    I've had it and it is their best beer, but I still think it is pretty average.
     
  17. deadbody

    deadbody Initiate (0) May 10, 2010 Minnesota
    Trader


    Don't remember now which one I had, don't end up in Iowa often enough to try more than 1, ahd their bomber and a 6 pack of peace tree IPA, and thought the peacetree was way better. I remember the bomber being over-carbonated though as it gushed a bit even after 24 hours in a fridge.
     
  18. Ejayz

    Ejayz Initiate (0) May 15, 2011 Iowa

    After reading this thread I decided I would give Madhouse another chance. Last night I Bought a bomber of Hop Burst it was a total malt bomb. I drank half and poured the rest down the drain.
     
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