Rustic Brew

My wife and I visited on a Thursday afternoon. Rustic Brew is easy to find in the downtown area of Hampton. The taproom is decorated with a warm and inviting decor. The owner / brew master sat down and chatted with us for a length of time with the conversation drifting effortlessly from beer to football to life in North Iowa. My wife and I split a sampler of beer and ordered a couple of sandwiches. The wait staff was super friendly and down-to-earth – a credit to this town and so many others across this land. I’d love to see a brewery like this in many other small Iowa towns. We found the beer to be solid and safe. I’m sure the selection and quality of beer meets the needs of this town most appropriately. It’s a bit of a drive for us to visit Hampton, but we’ll be back again. Sometimes it’s not all about finding world class beer; sometimes the combination of the beer, people, and atmosphere make the experience worthwhile.

 

A craft brewery in small town North-Central Iowa that offers loads of character in a unique atmosphere. Rustic Brew also serves specialty coffees and tea. The brew master, Joel Heuer, is more than happy to share brewing techniques, give a tour, or chat about ways to tag a deer. Upon entering one immediately notices the custom painted murals and dark wood throughout that creates a warm and inviting setting to enjoy a pint.

I visited Rustic Brew a couple weeks ago on a Thursday afternoon. Its building on Hampton's Main Street has served as a coffee shop under a couple different owners over the years, and Rustic Brew is actually part coffee/sandwich shop, part brewpub. Inside, the lighting and decor is appropriate for both, and the high ceilings and open space are really nice.

The brewer, Joel, was present, and he served me a sampler of his three regular offerings: a blonde, a wheat beer, and an oatmeal stout. I expected a lot from the blonde and wheat beer, and they were both quality beers--refreshing on a warm day. But the standout was easily the Slobber Knocker oatmeal sout, which Joel had recommended. Great balance in flavor and mouthfeel: the roastiness is just perfect, and coffee notes really shine in this beer. I wouldn't hesitate to place it among the best oatmeal stouts I've tasted.

As we talked more, Joel offered to show me the space above the shop where he brews. He talked with me at length about his equipment and process, as well as his years of homebrewing and plans for future beers.

Overall great experience at Rustic Brew. My only regret is not having time to stick around for a pint or two of the oatmeal stout. It looked like hours are from 7:30 AM until 5:30 PM on weekdays, with hours extended until 9 or 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. You probably want to call ahead, though. If you live nearby, I think there's also a mug club in place you can take advantage of.