anything happening down that way? are there any at the least passable bottle shops in the Ottumwa/Fairfield area?
Sorry dude, but that area seems like a desert. Your best bet is probably to head to Knoxville and visit Peacetree.
I second Johns in Iowa City for bottles- visited about a year ago, and the selection is great. In Ottumwa itself: http://www.appanooserapidsbrewingcompany.com/
Any luck with finding some good beer? My sister is lives around ottumwas and I was hoping to have her bring me some beers I can't get any Cali like founders or central waters.
Just because it does not seem to be sinking in... When anywhere close to Iowa City http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2282/?view=ratings&ba=FreshHawk The trip to Iowa City is always worth it, visit Shorts Burgers and Shine, John's Grocery, BackPocket Brewing, Kinnick Stadium... Make an afternoon of the trip!
I get john's is the place but it's an hr and an half from my sisters location. If I was going to be in Iowa I would hit up Iowa City. I was hoping to find something closer to Ottumwa.
80 highway miles too far? John's will ship, in IA and to a few other states. Hope one day every podunk has a world class bottle shop, but until that day happens... When in Iowa during the summer day trips are for those with at least one un lazy bone in their body. Fun times can be had when we break our bubbles.
As others have said you won't have much choice in Ottumwa. I grew up 20 miles west of Ottumwa in the small town of Albia. They do have a brewpub now. I have not visited Albia since it has opened. Here is the link. http://albiabrewingcompany.blogspot.de/ Not having been in Ottumwa in probably 6 years your best bet will be the Hy-Vee grocery store. In the bigger towns and cities in the state they have descent selections. No clue about Ottumwa's. The two grocery stores in Albia were pretty much BMC with Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams sprinkled in. Driving to Iowa City or Des Moines will be your best option for a bottle shop or grocery store with the most selection. It will require some driving time but you will be able to stock up.
Asking his sister to drive 160 miles for him in order to bring him back beer seems a little much to me. /shrugs My sister is cool but she isn't that cool. Cheers
