Iowa Beers besides TG

I can't tell if this is a troll post or you are being sincere, but CIB is regarded as one of the worst breweries in Iowa (by most Iowa craft nerds). Most of their stuff in undrinkable. Granted, haven't had anything from them recently, but have to doubt they have turned it around to "best in show" caliber offerings in a year.

 

I've had good experiences with the kegs CIB brings to festivals, as well, be it Iowa Craft Brew Festival, Nebraska and other places. The bottles are all over the place and not worth their price, for sure, but I've been pleasantly surprised with the kegs they bring out and they actually had one of the longer lines at ICBF. Did not get to sample what they brought but heard good things.

 

Last time I had CIB was on draft at the Iowa Craft Beer Fest (not this year's) and it was the only beer of the day that I actually dumped into the river. Just not good. I'd give them another chance on tap, but no way I'm buying bottles for what they charge.

 

I have had horrible experiences with CIB and poured out the "coffee sour" or whatever they brought to ICBF last year. I completely avoided them this year and will continue to do so until when/if such time as they stop extract brewing and stop sucking so bad.

515 is absolutely my go to brewery in DSM these days. I still like Confluence and Exile has been killing it lately with Elephant Squat, Gorilla Press, Beatnik and Cherry Bohemian. Bohemian is my favorite new beer of the summer so far. Iowa is definitely making great strides in increasing the quality and quantity of local breweries.

 

I was also pleasantly surprised by their showing at the ICBF, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them best-in-show, just not horrible.

I had the pleasure of finally getting to try 515 for the first time after the ICBF, and I would agree that they in TG's tier, even above non-Mike TG. Medicore was anything but. I also love Exile's new direction. I wasn't a fan of the Bohemian, but the Beatnik is fantastic. G-Funk is the only gose I have had that holds a candle to Westbrook's. Elephant Squat and Gorilla Press were fantastic.

I have also be super happy with Alluvial up here in Ames. Lutris started off good and has only gotten better. The vanilla oxpresso was delicious. I am super excited about where they are going.

 

515 is doing great things right now. This version of Passe however I found to be average at best. Alluvial had a single hop citra that blew the doors clean off it. This version of Mediocre however I couldn't drink fast enough.

 

I had G-Funk on tap at Bait Shop and thought it was pretty well terrible. Extremely muted aroma to non existent. I'm also not a fan of Westbrook's Gose too the extent most others are. It has that pukey aftertaste that is just not too pleasant, but it's pretty crushable when superfresh.

I'll agree with you about Passe. This batch is definitely missing that juicy flavor, but the body is absolutely perfect.

I'll also jump on the Alluvial train. I was there the day after they opened and was very impressed by their hoppy pale. I can't remember the name, but it was a great start. The Oxpresso was also very enjoyable.

 

The Krieky Dieky I sampled at this year's ICBF was very solid. I'd place it in the the 85-90th percentile of the beers I sampled there.

 

Anyone else get a 4-pack of Exile Cherry Bohemian that is hilariously over-carbonated? I really enjoyed the first 4-pack I got and I still drink the fizz bombs, but that's 3 bottles in a row that immediately fizzed up and poured out the bottle like one of those charcoal snake kids' fireworks. It was so ridiculous it was fairly entertaining.

 

I sent 3 Ch. Bohemians out as trade extras and so far I've heard back that two have exploded. No word from the 3rd guy. I'm sitting on the last one and I'm almost afraid to open it.

 

I bought a 4 pack and have had no issues with above normal carbonation. None of them had much head at all to be honest. Wanted to buy more but haven't seen it since.

 

If you've got bombs, I wouldn't sit on them. Keeping them cold will help a bit too, but I'd open them (over a sink) asap.

 

Thanks for the tip

 

I've bought at least 4 4-packs of Cherry Bohemian and have not had one bottle overflow on me. /shrug

 

Could be the heat and humidity during shipping more than the beer itself? The one I had last night was as good as ever, not much head and quickly receded same as when fresh.

 

It's the beer. Sounds like (from FB) they recalled some (not sure how as it mostly sold out) because of residual sugars. Also sounded like raspberry next, then cherry again. Or not. I'm just relaying a post I read.

 

The 4-pack I got was very overcarbonated too. I drank 3 of them, but one has been sitting in the fridge for several weeks and hasn't exploded yet... maybe I should drink it soon. The other 3 tasted very good, though! Pretty much the same as it did on tap.

 

I drank my first to Cherry B's right away. Opened another two days ago and it was overcarbed. Going to open the last tonight to avoid the mess

 

Iowa City proper has a brewery downtown now. I went when it was fairly new so I'm not sure how good or bad it is today, but it was decent when I had it last. Otherwise, places like Sanctuary, Shorts, and 30 Hop out in Coralville are my go-to places to drink in the area. And I've been there for almost 10 years.