Deb's Brewtopia

An amazing place!! Deb Winter is an amazing brewer. The pub is warm and always friendly. A great place to unwind after a long week.

Deb's is a truly unique place, in that it's a singular vision and extension of the owner & brewster, Deb Winter. Imagine if your cool hippie aunt was also an award-winning homebrewer gone commercial, and you wouldn't be too far off.

The vibe at Deb's is super cozy and relaxing, lots of nooks and spots to cozy up with a beer or have conversation. Decor is eclectic and quirky with lots of vintage breweriana and cool personal touches. Soothing pastel colors on the walls and windows, hops hanging outside the windows framing a vivid neon-colored mural across the alley. A shelf of growlers in the bar area represented the early days of Iowa craft breweries and beyond... noticed a few from the Dakotas, Wyoming, Colorado and more. Framed family photos around the space give it a homey touch. They poured their heart and soul into opening the brewery, and it really shows. No huge slick warehouse space, it feels more like visiting your eccentric aunt's cozy home bar.

The brewer's mother even played several songs on a piano nestled in the corner, to the delight and applause of the crowd. The patrons skewed older and surprisingly rowdy for a Friday afternoon, it was much more mellow and relaxed when we returned later in the evening after dinner at Schera's.

Beer selection ranges from traditional to experimental. Czech pils was excellent, altbier, peach tart, Oktoberfest, IPA, brown, blonde, light lager, and a barrel-aged bock and schwarzbier that were honestly more like Oud Bruins. Two barrels sat behind the bar, one was Mississippi Ridge bourbon barrel that aged maple syrup, filled with an imperial porter with cherries. During the pandemic shutdown they used the bar as a cold fermentation room for their lagers, which was pretty interesting.

Service was great, they were able to chat about beer when it was slow. They even tracked me down at Schera's to return my card after leaving it behind. Had to return for another round after that. Thanks again, Deb & Dave!