The 10 best breweries in Iowa

[Al_4_State]

No but I don't get all of the hate on them here. You can't deny the fact they have been extremely successful thus far.

I don't hate them at all. Their Beatnik Sour is a great beer, and the food is amazing.

But their line up as a whole is less than stellar, and they're rarely mentioned as a great Iowa brewery, with good reason. Success doesn't equate the beer community thinking it's great. Olde Main is successful. Millstream is too. Neither one is a great brewery in the eyes of the beer community, but they are both successful businesses.

 

[JY07]

Surprised Exile isn't on there. They have been one of the top selling iowa breweries since they went into stores

budweiser is a top selling beer - doesn't mean it should show up on any 'best of' lists

 

[JP4CY]

I don't hate them at all. Their Beatnik Sour is a great beer, and the food is amazing.

but, but, sour? They are a great German style brewer.
-21

 

[Tre4ISU]

Surprised Exile isn't on there. They have been one of the top selling iowa breweries since they went into stores

I can't imagine why.......OH LOOK THERE IT IS

 

[cyhawkdmb]

West O

Keg Creek in Glenwood is a good brewery as well.

 

[Al_4_State]

Always forget about West O, unless I'm visiting my buddy who lives walking-ish distance from there.

Good call.

 

[JP4CY]

Keg Creek in Glenwood is a good brewery as well.

Hung out there during a tornado warning on RAGBRAI. I enjoyed it.

 

[cyhawkdmb]

Always forget about West O, unless I'm visiting my buddy who lives walking-ish distance from there.

Good call.

Hung out there during a tornado warning on RAGBRAI. I enjoyed it.

Just doing my thang.. Giving Western Iowa some love!!

 

[RubyClone]

Glad they threw Singlespeed on there. Often gets overlooked. A bit like 515 in that they have small capacity, so it's hit and miss what will be on tap. But they've had some pretty good beers

 

[ClonesTwentyOne]

budweiser is a top selling beer - doesn't mean it should show up on any 'best of' lists

Comparing Budweiser to a craft brewery makes no sense.

 

[Al_4_State]

Glad they threw Singlespeed on there. Often gets overlooked. A bit like 515 in that they have small capacity, so it's hit and miss what will be on tap. But they've had some pretty good beers

Agreed. They make some really, really good beers.

 

[Al_4_State]

Comparing Budweiser to a craft brewery makes no sense.

Neither does equating popularity and quality.

 

[1100011CS]

http://whotv.com/2015/04/02/exile-brewing-co-ranked-in-national-top-10-craft-beers/

I don't hate them at all. Their Beatnik Sour is a great beer, and the food is amazing.

But their line up as a whole is less than stellar, and they're rarely mentioned as a great Iowa brewery, with good reason. Success doesn't equate the beer community thinking it's great. Olde Main is successful. Millstream is too. Neither one is a great brewery in the eyes of the beer community, but they are both successful businesses.

Just to play devil's advocate. I don't have an opinion either way.

 

[jumbopackage]

but, but, sour? They are a great German style brewer.
-21

Beatnik is a fairly classic Berliner Weisse (maybe a bit high in ABV for the style, but not far off). It's one of the beers that makes perfect sense if you're going to do a great variety of beers in the German tradition.



Also, it's always nice to be included in these lists, but they don't really mean anything other than someone's opinion, so your list is just as valid as theirs

 

[oldman]

If you are ever in Manchester, Iowa you have to stop by the Franklin St. Brewery. Great beers, nice atmosphere, and the owners are huge Cyclone fans.

 

[CyFan61]

Of the North Central Iowa breweries, they left the best one off the list - Lake Time in Clear Lake.

Haven't gotten to Alluvial yet and have had Big Grove beer, but not at their brewery. It's a solid list, but I would personally probably put in Lion Bridge and Backpocket over Peace Tree and Twisted Vine, but I understand the inclusions.

Lion Bridge is excellent; they probably brew the single best beer in Iowa (Workman's Comp).

 

[ISUME]

I guess I'm the only one that likes Great River Brewery, more Roller Dam Red for me.

 

[Al_4_State]

Lion Bridge is excellent; they probably brew the single best beer in Iowa (Workman's Comp).

I like Lion Bridge a lot, and Workman's Comp is very good, but there are multiple beers from TG and 515 that I'd put ahead of it.

 

[Al_4_State]

I guess I'm the only one that likes Great River Brewery, more Roller Dam Red for me.

I like Great River. They do some interesting stuff, and while some of it does not work, the stuff that does is pretty good.

 

[JP4CY]

Beatnik is a fairly classic Berliner Weisse (maybe a bit high in ABV for the style, but not far off). It's one of the beers that makes perfect sense if you're going to do a great variety of beers in the German tradition.



Also, it's always nice to be included in these lists, but they don't really mean anything other than someone's opinion, so your list is just as valid as theirs

I was saying it without a jimlad. That would have been 21's response, as he's done a 1000 times before.