Iowa Beers besides TG

TG is available on tap at a lot of locations in Iowa City. Short's Burger and Shine should cover your local bases. They have all Iowa taps and offer 5 ounce pours, usually 4 or 5 TG and a few each of others. For Iowa beer, Confluence and Big Grove should be on your list as well as TG. I can't remember if Big Grove was on at Short's but Clinton Street Social Club had two Big Grove taps a week ago, it's right next door to Short's. Both of these places get very busy and service can be very lacking since it is a college town, and parking can be a pain.

The Sanctuary is another good spot in downtown Iowa City. Lots of taps and a more diverse list than you'd find at Short's or Clinton St. No TV's, usually a spot to sit at the bar, much more low key. If you have a car, Red's alehouse has a solid rotating tap list. Big Grover brewery itself is also a good stop. A few other options would open up as well. If you know where you're staying I could give you some more suggestions.

 

Hit up backpocket brewery in Coralville.

 

Don't go here! The beer is borderline decent/not good (save for Raygun) but if you're in the area, hit up Big Grove in Solon instead, or even Red's Alehouse in North Liberty.

 

Not to beat a dead horse, but I'd strongly suggest checking out Big Grove in Solon. It's not far at all form Iowa City and they've got some great beers including a Pliny clone, Berliner Weiss and citra-hopped pale (Arms Race) that stands neck-and-neck alongside TG. They're doing great things. Third Base in Cedar Rapids also kicks out some great beer though you won't find it outside their brewpub and the occasional fest.

 

This.

 

Look for Peace Tree on tap. Their Blonde Fatale just won a gold medal at the world beer cup.

 

I'll jump in a little here. The beer at Backpocket isn't bad, per se. It's consistent, not infected, and true and appropriate for the styles they've chosen to brew. Now, my opinion is that those styles are generally boring, and I don't buy their beer very often. But they're not bad. CIB is bad.

However, I do agree with the above posters. The best brewed beer in the IC area is at Big Grove. Kalona has a nice brewpub, and the beer isn't bad there, but it isn't outstanding. Amana is Amana. Peace Tree does some very good things, especially in the stuff that isn't bottled. Avoid Newton at all costs. I haven't been to Lion's Bridge in CR yet, but have heard good things. Third Base in CR (the former Cedar Brewing Company) is also very good, but the standard offerings are, imo, boring. When the brewer gets to play a little, he makes good beer.

 

Beer and food then you must hit Big Grove or Reds. I really like what Quinton is doing at Lion Bridge as well and their small menu has some really tasty items; (Reuben Fritters + Pulled Pork nachos). The Sanctuary in Iowa City has a terrific tap selection as well with a few Iowa brews.

 

The bolded is true beyond belief. I'm actually really surprised by the Backpocket hate going on here. Like you said, they make consistent, true to the style beer that doesn't have infection issues. I think they've realized that some of their styles don't exactly move off the shelves and that is why they are branching out to IPAs and some other non-traditional German styles.

I will also toss my hat into the Big Grove ring. They are doing some really fun stuff there. We tried to get them to allow us to have our rehearsal dinner there but they were just uncomfortable with having that many people in an area that couldn't be closed off.

 

Agreed with @SaulTBauls. Backpocket focuses mainly on traditional German styles for their year round lineup, so I can see why people hate on them, because they aren't American styles that are full of huge bold flavors/hops. The German style beers they do produce, I will say, are very solid though. As previously noted, I think their peated bock (Wooden Nickel) is one of the best examples of the style I can think of. Are they doing anything extraordinary and unique, not really, but they shouldn't be cast off so quickly because they don't brew huge, in-your-face styles. It's the same reason Millstream rarely get's mentioned/loved on these forums, even though they produce many world class, traditional German styles of beers (as evidenced by their many gold, silver and bronze medals at various beer judgings over the years).

Haven't had the chance to try Big Grove offerings yet, but I have heard great things as others are saying.

 

Agreed. Backpocket is solid. Try their peated bock. Same with Millstream. They make solid beers. I don't generally seek them out when I'm looking for something "exciting", but neither brewery should EVER be placed in the BAD category, IMO.

 

I will say that Backpocket beer should be on the rise. I have a couple of brewing buddies (one in particular) that work there and he is/was an exceptional homebrewer. They have a barleywine on tap right now that was pretty good and look for a breakfast stout in the fall (had a chance to try this as a homebrew and it was amazing). I didn't get a chance to try their wee heavy but I heard it was good. I never said they were bad, they just offer things I don't desire. I would much rather go to the other places I mentioned if I only had time for one, is all.

 

Mill Stream, Peace Tree and Great River all produce mostly solid brews IMO.

 

I dunno, I took the quote below as a strong suggestion to the original poster that he shouldn't go to Backpocket because you think their beer is pretty bad:

I happen to think their beer is solid, but if the OP is looking for massive hop bomb IPAs or big, bold flavored stouts or whatever, it may not be for him. I certainly think if in the area though, they are worth checking out and would be a recommendation if he has the time.

 

There's just better places to go since he was looking for good beers. I never said it was bad, I just said it wasn't good. You even quoted my post. Then I took to heart some of the comments and merely suggested maybe it just wasn't my style.

 

I see BP getting a lot of credit for being true to style. I am sorry, but I beg to differ. Slingshot is the wrong color and mouthfeel for a dunkel. It is by no means a bad beer. In fact, it can be refreshing. However, it is not near style at all.
I understand that we want to "homer" our own beers in Iowa. However, let's not go overboard.
I will say, their anniversary stout did show promise. It was very tasty.
Edit: after reading current reviews, it appears they have started to dial in on color and mouthfeel. May have to revisit.

 

I thought the anniversary stout was also pretty good. I don't drink much of their other offerings (though I haven't had all of them) as I haven't exactly been impressed, but I had said stout within the last two weeks and was pleasantly surprised. It could have been better, sure, but after just having KBS/BCBS/Mikkeller/etc. stouts all very recent, Backpocket's stout impressed me.

 

Looking forward to that Breakfast Stout.

 

People that show love to Backpocket's Anniversary Stout REALLY need to dip their faces into some more BA stouts. I liked it well enough and gave the thing a decent review...but compared to other BA stouts? Iowa craft beer drinkers deserve better than that from the biggest brewery in the state.

OP, there have been many great recommendations in this thread. I have to back up anyone that recommended Short's. It is the way to go if you are the "try a bunch of stuff" type. It is a veritable bonanza of Iowa Craft and ONLY Iowa Craft, and with five ounce pours an option AND great burgers? You can't go wrong!

Backpocket, I love that so many people have an opinion on this place... No matter what, it is ALWAYS better to be talked about than not brought up at all (lol Amana and Kalona). Raygun and the Wee Heavy are the best beers that Backpocket has brewed in my opinion. There is nothing "wrong" with their regular offerings: Sling Shot and Wooden Nickel being "best of the rest".

However, Backpocket does not exist in a vaccuum, and Big Grove makes some genuinely good to great stuff. Their Berliner Weiss, a few of their IPA's, their black ale collab with Confluence, the citra pale ale - I would take all of those in a heartbeat over anything Backpocket makes. This, I think is more on point to what the negativity towards Backpocket is getting at in this thread. Oh, and the food at Big Grove is just... it is not even fair to compare it against what Backpocket does since they are a pizza and nacho kind of place. But holy cow, the food at Big Grove could make me weep if I were a bigger foodie than a beer geek.

Anyway OP, shoot me a beer mail when you get in town, first rounds on me. There may even be a beer tasting or two while you are around. Cheers!