Filed under: Olde Main News, Restaurant & Pub | Tags: brewpub exclusive, Dinkey Wheat, iowa beer, Iowa Brewery, Olde Main, portwood barrels
It’s Dinkey like you’ve never tasted Dinkey before! The brewmasters have savored up some deliciousness that they want to share with you. Your taste buds will be jumping with excitement once you have a pint of the new Dinkey Portwood.
Smell the sweet berry aromas and taste the secret. The popular Dinkey Wheat is aged in portwood barrels for almost an entire year. Smooth you ask? You bet! The subtle sweetness of the port rounds out a very unique drinking experience. Wine drinkers and beer connoisseurs will relish the chance to enjoy this one-of-a-kind creation.
Stop by the restaurant or brewpub to try some for yourself.
Currently on tap:
- Dinkey Wheat, Belgian Style Wheat Ale
- Long Face, Amber Ale
- Off KILTer, Scottish Ale
- Clone, Pale Ale
- Sodbuster, Stout Ale
- Gryphonbraü, American Lager
- Red Monkey, Root Beer
- Dinkey Portwood (brewpub exclusive)
- Hard Pressed, English-Style Cider (brewpub exclusive)
Stay tuned for more Beer and Food updates. If you think you have what it takes to create your own Olde Main dish, be sure to enter into our Stew Your Brew Cook Off by May 19!
Filed under: Beer and Food, Olde Main Events, Restaurant & Pub | Tags: Beer and Food, beer dinner, Dinkey Wheat, Horseman's Revenge, Long Face, Sodbuster Stout
We will host a Harvest Beer Dinner on Thursday, November 12 at the restaurant and brewpub at 316 Main Street in Ames.
Four courses will be served, each paired with a different Olde Main beer. Brewery tours and a social hour will begin at 6pm, with the dinner service starting at 7pm. Olde Main brewers will be on hand to discuss the food and beer pairings.
A limited number of tickets are available for $40/person (includes tax and gratuity) and can be purchased now at the restaurant and brewpub or by calling 515-232-0553. To hold a spot in the dinner you must pay the full $40 or a $20 deposit.
Course 1
Sodbuster Stout & Wild Mushroom Napoleon – Caramelized Crimini, oyster and shitaki mushrooms in puff pastry with a Sodbuster Stout demi glace.
Served with Sodbuster, Stout Ale
Course 2
Spinach Salad – Baby spinach with mandarin oranges, walnuts and red onions, topped with warm bacon vinaigrette.
Served with Dinkey Wheat, Belgian Style Wheat Ale
Course 3
Pepper Crusted Angus Tenderloin – 8-oz. Certified Angus Beef shoulder tenderloin crusted with cracked pepper then grilled to perfection. Served with warm potato salad and sautéed fresh green beans and baby carrots.
Served with Long Face, Amber Ale
Course 4
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Served with Horseman’s Revenge, Pumpkin Ale
The First Annual Wing Ding will be held on Saturday, August 29th from 11am-7pm in Des Moines on Market Street Downtown and el Bait Shop’s patio and parking areas. Olde Main is proud to be apart of the event. Enjoy Gryphonbrau (American Light Lager), Dinkey Wheat (Belgian Style Wheat Ale), and Clone (American Pale Ale) on el Bait Shop’s patio.
Wing Ding will feature 7 local restaurants that will prepare their signature wings for the event. Admission is $20 and includes 9 wings of your choice, an Olde Main beer or soft drink and a commemorative koozie. Additional wings and beverages can be purchased using a ticketed system.
Other activities:
· Free Live music by: Soulful Security, Truth be Told, & Brother Trucker
· Wing Eating Contest
· Group Chicken Dances, with the New Visions Dance Group
· Rubber Chicken Toss
· Raffles
Participating restaurants:
· el Bait Shop
· Gateway Market / Django
· Gerri’s
· Hooter’s
· Jethro’s
· Johnny’s
· The Chicken Coop
Proceeds benefit VSA arts of Iowa – a charity that provides artistic opportunities for people of all ages with disabilities.
Cost: $20 includes 9 wings, 1 beer or soft drink and a Wing Ding Koozie. Additional tickets are $2 each. 1 ticket = 3 wings, 2 tickets = 1 beer
Children12 and under receive free admission but would need to purchase tickets for concessions. Admission tickets are available in advance at www.elbaitshop.com or on-site August 29.
Filed under: Beer and Food, Olde Main Beers | Tags: Dinkey Wheat, food and beer, recipe
You can’t go wrong pairing delicious brews with food. Sometimes the best dishes are created when you throw all the rules out the window and experiment with contrasting and complimentary pairings to create a slew of unique results. We highly recommend digging in and trying some fun food and beer creations.
One experiment that went very well is the Dinkey Salmon. The botanicals that are in the Dinkey Wheat (chamomile, coriander, orange peel) pair well with the delicate flavors found in seafood. Try this recipe and let us know what you think. We find it very delicious!
Dinkey Salmon
• 3 pounds fresh salmon
• ½ cup chopped green peppers
• 1 1/2 cup chopped pimento
• 1 cup lemon or lime juice
• 1 1/2 cups Dinkey Wheat
• ½ cup soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 garlic clove mashed
• 2 Tablespoons grated onion
Trim salmon and remove bones. Cutting diagonally, slice salmon into thin strips 3 to 4 inches long. Spread salmon, green pepper and pimento in a thin layer in a shallow pan. Pour lemon juice and 1 cup of Dinkey Wheat over the fish so it is completely covered and all fish is below the level of the liquid. Let stand at room temperature until fish becomes a pale pink (the fish “cooks” in the acid marinade). Drain fish. Rinse with cold water. Drain again and lay pieces flat. Mix soy sauce with remaining ½ cup of Dinkey Wheat, ginger, garlic and onion. Use as dip sauce with salmon. Use pimentos and peppers as garnish.
Yield: 12 servings
Download a printable version of the Dinkey Salmon recipe.
Filed under: Olde Main Events, Olde Main News | Tags: 80/35, Clone Pale Ale, Des Moines, Dinkey Wheat, Gryphonbrau, Long Face, Off KILTer
Olde Main Brewing Co. is proud to again be the primary beverage sponsor for the 80/35 music festival on July 3rd and 4th in downtown Des Moines. Festival attendees will enjoy local craft brews from Olde Main, while experiencing a weekend packed full of more than 40 of the best progressive bands from across the country. The second annual 80/35 will feature Ben Harper and Relentless7, Public Enemy, Broken Social Scene, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Matisyahu, and many more.
Olde Main has a rich tradition of supporting live music and local entertainment events in Iowa, including Gross Domestic Product, Little BIG Fest, Westfair Amphitheatre shows, Ames on the Half Shell, and 80/35.
“Progressive music and great craft beer have always gone hand-in-hand and after the success of last years’ 80/35, we’re excited to have the opportunity to support the event again in 2009,” says Matt Sinnwell, outside sales manager for Olde Main Brewing Co. “We believe in the vision of 80/35 and are proud to be part of such a strong community initiative. We are excited for the opportunity to share our local craft beers with 80/35 fans this 4th of July weekend.”
“The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition is proud to be able to offer quality local craft beer from Olde Main to festival attendees,” says Amedeo Rossi, project manager for the DMMC. “Olde Main is the most progressive brewery in Iowa and is a perfect match for 80/35.”
Last year more than 30,000 people attended 80/35 — many experiencing Olde Main beers for the first time. At that point, Olde Main was just entering the Des Moines market after launching the bottling line in May of 2008. Now, one year later you can find Olde Main beer at nearly 350 locations across the state including Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Waterloo, Iowa City, Dubuque, and Carroll.
Olde Main brews six styles of beer, along with a root beer and multiple seasonals throughout the year. Four varieties are currently offered in bottles – Dinkey Wheat, Long Face, Off KILTer, and Clone. Plans are in place to begin bottling additional styles later this year.
Olde Main Brews at 80/35
Beers will sell for $5 each or 5 for $20.
Dinkey Wheat, Belgian Style Wheat Ale – Named for the train that used to run from downtown Ames to the ISU Campus, the Dinkey Wheat has a flavor derived from coriander, chamomile, and orange peel, making for an enjoyable and unique drinking experience.
Long Face, Amber Ale – A horse walks into a bar and the bartender says, “Why the long face?” An all around easy drinking, tasty beverage with malt and notable caramel flavors balanced by several American hop varieties.
Off KILTer, Scottish Ale – This traditional Scottish Ale has a subdued hop flavor and aroma with a high in malt flavor. Our brew master actually wears a kilt while brewing this ale to achieve maximum Scottish feel and tradition.
Clone, American Pale Ale – Simply a “Clone” of an American classic, this American Pale Ale is crisp and clean with a noteworthy hoppy bite. The subtle malt background balances out the refreshing ale.
Gryphonbrau, American Lager – This classic American Lager is very easy drinking, with slight malt sweetness and restrained hop flavor and aroma. This refreshing “anytime beer” finishes clean with no aftertaste.
Filed under: Olde Main Events, Olde Main News | Tags: 80/35, Clone, Des Moines, Dinkey Wheat, Gryphonbrau, Long Face, Off KILTer
Stand in line for beer? Not you! Share a kybo with the masses? Surely not! That’s why Olde Main Brewing Co. is giving music lovers the chance to win VIP passes to 80/35 where they’ll be treated like the rock stars they are. Win by picking up a six pack of Olde Main beer at a retail store and find “VIP” under the cap to get two VIP passes to the 80/35 music festival on July 3 and 4 in downtown Des Moines.
The winners of the VIP passes will get a pair of two-day passes to see more than 40 bands, including Ben Harper and Relentless7, Public Enemy, Broken Social Scene, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, and Matisyahu. The VIP access to 80/35 includes a preferred viewing area near main stage, access to separate restrooms, a lounge area, priority entrance, and select free official festival merch. Get more information about 80/35 at 80-35.com and find the full contest rules at oldemainbrewing.com/8035.html.
Olde Main is proud to again be the beverage sponsor for 80/35. Last year more than 30,000 attendees enjoyed Olde Main brews over the 4th of July weekend. At that time, Olde Main was just entering the Des Moines market. Now, one year later you can find Olde Main beers at nearly 350 locations across the state including Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Dubuque, and Carroll.
Olde Main Brews at 80/35
Dinkey Wheat – Named for the train that used to run from downtown Ames to the ISU Campus, the Dinkey Wheat has a flavor derived from coriander, chamomile, and orange peel, making for an enjoyable and unique drinking experience.
Long Face – A horse walks into a bar and the bartender says, “Why the long face?” An all around easy drinking, tasty beverage with malt and notable caramel flavors balanced by several American hop varieties.
Off KILTer – This traditional Scottish Ale has a subdued hop flavor and aroma with a high in malt flavor. Our brew master actually wears a kilt while brewing this ale to achieve maximum Scottish feel and tradition.
Clone – Simply a “Clone” of an American classic, this American Pale Ale is crisp and clean with a noteworthy hoppy bite. The subtle malt background balances out the refreshing ale. *Coming in bottles in June 2009*
Gryphonbrau – This classic American Lager is very easy drinking, with slight malt sweetness and restrained hop flavor and aroma. This refreshing “anytime beer” finishes clean with no aftertaste.
Filed under: Olde Main News | Tags: beer distribution, Cedar Rapids, Dinkey Wheat, Iowa City, Long Face, Off KILTer
Dinkey Wheat, Long Face, and Off KILTer are now available throughout the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area. The launch of the bottled product in the region will hit bars, restaurants, and retail stores over the next few weeks.
You can currently buy Olde Main at the following grocery stores. Check our Olde Main Beer Locator soon for additional locations in the area.
HYVEE
1720 WATERFRONT DR
IOWA CITY
HYVEE
1201 N DODGE ST
IOWA CITY
FAMILY FOODS
402 E MAIN ST
ANAMOSA
HYVEE
3235 OAKLAND RD NE
CEDAR RAPIDS
HYVEE
279 COLLINS RD NE
CEDAR RAPIDS
HYVEE
3600 HWY 151 EAST
MARION
CENTER POINT FOOD PRIDE
800 FORD LANE
CENTER POINT
HYVEE
5050 EDGEWOOD RD NE
CEDAR RAPIDS
HYVEE
1843 JOHNSON AVE NW
CEDAR RAPIDS
HYVEE
812 S 1ST AVE
IOWA CITY
HYVEE
20 WILSON AVE SW
CEDAR RAPIDS
ECONOMART
112 S 12TH ST
MANCHESTER
GARY’S FOODS
715 1ST AVE SOUTH
MT VERNON
FAMILY FOODS
120 N SYCAMORE
MONTICELLO
CUB FOODS
855 HWY 1 WEST
IOWA CITY
HYVEE
1556 1ST AVE NE
CEDAR RAPIDS
HYVEE
4035 MT VERNON RD SE
CEDAR RAPIDS
HYVEE
1914 8TH ST
CORALVILLE
LT’S FINE GROCERY
203 N DEVOE ST
LONE TREE
Filed under: Olde Main News | Tags: beer distribution, Dinkey Wheat, Dubuque, Long Face, Off KILTer
We’ve expanded our distribution once again. This time to Puff’s hometown: Dubuque. His parents are so proud! Check out the official press release:
Dubuque Native, Olde Main Brewmaster Brings His Product Home
Jeff “Puff” Irvin, a 1995 Hempstead grad, is introducing his Ames-based brews to Dubuque
AMES, Iowa (March 18, 2009) – When Dubuque native, Jeff “Puff” Irvin, left his hometown to attend Iowa State University in Ames, he could’ve hardly imagined that less than 10 years later he’d be the head brewer and partner at Olde Main Brewing Co. Even less probable is that he’d return to Dubuque nearly 15 years later with his product in tow. The improbable becomes reality next week when Olde Main’s signature brews hit store shelves and bar taps in the Dubuque area.
The expansion into Dubuque is apart an effort to offer Olde Main’s beers to Iowans in every corner of the state. Olde Main began bottling in 2008 and have begun shipping to cities like Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Waterloo, Cedar Falls and, now, Dubuque.
“This is by far the most exciting launch we’ve done,” said Irvin. “I’m thrilled about bringing Olde Main to my hometown, it certainly brings an added sense of accomplishment. Plus, now my parents can enjoy my work without having to come to Ames.”
After graduating with a degree in biology from Iowa State, Irvin enrolled in the master brewer’s program at the University of California at Davis. Upon completing the program, Irvin returned to Ames to begin constructing the entire brewing system for Olde Main. Finally, on Oct. 4, 2004, Olde Main Brewing Co. & Restaurant opened its doors. Word has spread across Iowa and Olde Main has been growing ever since. For the first time in 2008, beer lovers were introduced to Olde Main via distribution in grocery stores, bars, and restaurants. Now, there are even plans in place to build an off-site brewing facility to keep up with demand.
Olde Main is partnering with Kirchhoff Distributing Co. to offer the following Olde Main beers in Dubuque grocery stores, bars, and restaurants. Additional styles will be added over the next coming months.
Dinkey Wheat, Belgian Style Wheat Ale (Bottles and Draft) – Named for the train that used to run from downtown Ames to the ISU Campus, the Dinkey Wheat has a flavor derived from coriander, chamomile, and orange peel, making for an enjoyable and unique drinking experience.
Long Face, Amber Ale (Bottles) – A horse walks into a bar and the bartender says, “Why the long face?” An all around easy drinking, tasty beverage with malt and notable caramel flavors balanced by several American hop varieties.
Off KILTer, Scottish Ale (Bottles) – This traditional Scottish Ale has a subdued hop flavor and aroma with a high in malt flavor. Our brew master actually wears a kilt while brewing this ale to achieve maximum Scottish feel and tradition.
Red Monkey, Root Beer (Draft) – Rich, creamy, and smooth with no caffeine. Red Monkey is sweetened with cane sugar, honey, and molasses. No monkeys are harmed in the process of root beer production.
Filed under: Olde Main Events, Olde Main News | Tags: Des Moines, Dinkey Wheat, Gateway Market, Long Face, Off KILTer
Olde Main is the brewery of the month at Gateway Market. All month you can mix and match Olde Main six-packs to create a delicious sampler pack of Dinkey Wheat, Long Face, and Off KILTer. We’ll also be doing tastings on March 7, 10am-2pm at the downtown store and March 21, 10am-2pm at the West Des Moines location. Our head brewer, Jeff “Puff” Irvin will be doing a beer class on March 14 at 3pm at the downtown store. If you want to attend (it will be awesome), make sure you sign up by calling the store at 515.243.1754 or email us.
Filed under: General Beer Industry, Olde Main Beers | Tags: cooking and beer, Dinkey Wheat, food and beer, Long Face, Off KILTer
Puff (Olde Main head brewer) put together these food pairing tips for Olde Main beers.
Off KILTer, Scottish Ale - Just as you cannot follow certain kinds of beers with others in a beer tasting, drinking the wrong beer with certain foods will detract from both the food and the beer. Most often, the flavors in the beer overwhelm those in the food, but the reverse can also occur. A malty beer such as a Scottish Ale will lose its flavor next to an astringent salad dressing such as a vinaigrette. Likewise, a bite of Limburger cheese will overwhelm all but the strongest beers. With the slight smoky roasted and malty flavors of the Off KILTer, it can compliment almost any meat. Try it with Game meats such as duck, rabbit, venison, etc.
Long Face, Amber Ale – A good all-around beer for any food that isn’t swee, as something sweet will detract from the maltiness in the beer. The Long Face complements sandwiches, hearty soups and pizzas. Also a good thirst-quencher for barbecue or Mexican food.
Dinkey Wheat, Belgian Style Wheat Ale – The botanicals that are in the Dinkey Wheat (chamomile, coriander, orange peel) pair well with the delicate flavors found in seafood, chicken and some oil-based pasta dishes.
More Pairing Tips
The more hop bitterness the beer has, the heartier or livelier the meal needs to be to hold its own. Don’t overwhelm your palate or meal and ruin what the chef was trying to achieve.
Another general rule is keep sweet with sweet, and tart with tart. Try to keep your beer sweeter or tarter than the sweet or tart food on the plate. There are exceptions, like pairing drier robust beers with sweet chocolates.
Throw all of the rules out the window and experiment with contrasting and complimentary pairings. Match foods with complimentary flavors, or try contrasting them and create a slew of unique results.
For those of you who are bound to the wine pairing school of thought, think of ale as red wine and lager as white wine. Hoppy beers can also be used in place of a pairing that calls for an acidic wine. Though it honestly doesn’t matter, these tips might help you to convert your taste buds over to beer—or those of a friend—over to beer.
Taste is very subjective and what works for one person might not work for another. If it tastes good to you, then go for it. However, also be open to suggestions, as these tend to come with some knowledge and possible palate enlightenment.
