Filed under: General Beer Industry, Olde Main News | Tags: iowa beer, Iowa Brewery, iowa public television, iowa's beer industry, Olde Main, the iowa journal
The craft beer industry is booming and a lot of the growth is seen right here in Iowa. That’s the focus of tonight’s episode of The Iowa Journal on Iowa Public Television.
The fine folks over at The Iowa Journal visited Olde Main to film a portion of tonight’s show. View photos from the shoot on our Facebook page.
The program will also feature Beer Crazy, a retail specialty beer and home brew supply store in Urbandale and a round table discussion with Dave Coy, president of the Iowa Brewers Guild and head brewer at Raccoon River Brewing Company in Des Moines; Doug Alberhasky, store manager and bier guy at John’s Grocery in Iowa City; and Tim Hynds, chief photographer and beer writer for the Sioux City Journal.
The Iowa Journal on Iowa’s Beer Industry will air:
– Thursday, April 29 at 8 p.m. on IPTV
– Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. on IPTV
– Saturday, May 1 at 8:30 a.m. on IPTV WORLD
– Watch online anytime at iptv.org/iowajournal
Filed under: General Beer Industry, Olde Main News | Tags: high-proof beers iowa, iowa beer, Iowa Brewery, SF 2088 iowa
The Iowa Beer Equality Bill has passed! Gov. Chet Culver is signing the bill today. That means for the first time ever we can brew beer higher than the previous cap of 5%.
The new law allows Iowa breweries to manufacture and sell higher-proof beers up to 12%. Out of state breweries were already selling these higher-proof beers in Iowa, but in-state breweries were restricted to staying at or below 5%. A movement for Iowa Beer Equality arose to remove the competitive disadvantage Iowa breweries faced. The passing of SF 2088 now allows Iowa brewers to sell many more styles of beer.
We’re turning to fans to decide the first high proof beer we brew. Voting is taking place online at http://www.oldemainbrewing.com/poll.html and at the restaurant and brewpub until March 24th. The following beers are being voted on: Double IPA, Dopple Bock, Russian Imperial Stout, Barleywine, Wee Heavy Scottish, or submit your own recommendation. VOTE NOW!
Filed under: General Beer Industry | Tags: iowa beer, Iowa Brewer's Guild, Iowa Legislation Beer, lift the limit, SF 2091 Iowa beer
Tell Iowa legislators to support the Iowa Beer Equality Bill (amended version of SF 2091).
Iowa breweries are at a competitive disadvantage because they are prohibited from selling beer above 5% ABW. Out of state breweries are not subject to this restriction and are currently distributing through the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.
SF 2091 bill was introduced in the Iowa Senate yesterday. An amended version will be presented and voted on in the Senate’s State Government Committee THIS THURSDAY.
Please email the members of the Senate’s State Government Committee TODAY and encourage them to support the amended version of SF 2091. The amended version of SF 2091 will…
• Provide an equal playing field for Iowa breweries and brewpubs to manufacture and sell beer up to 12% ABW just like out of state breweries are already doing in Iowa
• Allow Iowa’s beer wholesalers to distribute all beer up to 12% ABW, rather than the current distribution through the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division
Also help us spread the word by joining the I Support the Iowa Beer Equality Bill group on Facebook. Learn more about all the breweries in Iowa at IowaBeer.org.
Senate’s State Government Committee
Staci Appel (D, District 37), Chair
staci.appel@legis.state.ia.us
John P. (Jack) Kibbie (D, District 4), Vice Chair
john.kibbie@legis.state.ia.us
Randy Feenstra (R, District 2), Ranking Member
randy.feenstra@legis.state.ia.us
Dennis H. Black (D, District 21)
dennis.black@legis.state.ia.us
Thomas G. Courtney (D, District 44)
thomas.courtney@legis.state.ia.us
Jeff Danielson (D, District 10)
jeff.danielson@legis.state.ia.us
Dick L. Dearden (D, District 34)
dick.dearden@legis.state.ia.us
David Hartsuch (R, District 41)
david.hartsuch@legis.state.ia.us
Jack Hatch (D, District 33)
jack.hatch@legis.state.ia.us
Wally E. Horn (D, District 17)
wally.horn@legis.state.ia.us
Pam Jochum (D, District 14)
Pam.Jochum@legis.state.ia.us
James A. Seymour (R, District 28)
james.seymour@legis.state.ia.us
Steven J. Sodders (D, District 22)
steve.sodders@legis.state.ia.us
Ron Wieck (R, District 27)
ron.wieck@legis.state.ia.us
Filed under: General Beer Industry, Olde Main News | Tags: alcohol content in beer iowa, beer alcohol content iowa, beer limits in iowa, Iowa Brewer's Guild, Iowa Public Radio, lift the limit
Iowa Public Radio reports on Iowa brewers efforts to produce gourmet style beers. Current Iowa law prohibits in-state brewers ability to produce beer higher than 5 percent by weight alcohol content. This limits us to the styles of beer we can brew, but people can buy at their local stores from out-of-state breweries. This puts Iowa breweries at a competitive disadvantage.
Olde Main, along with the Iowa Brewers Guild are currently working on a bill to change this law. Listen to the Iowa Public Radio piece featuring Olde Main head brewer Jeff Irvin.
From Iowa Public Radio: “Supporters of the brewery industry in Iowa are pushing for legislative action that would allow pubs to make beer with higher alcohol content. They say such a move would level the competitive playing field between the state’s microbreweries and those in much of the rest of the nation. Rob Dillard prepared this report.” Listen to the report here.
Filed under: General Beer Industry, Olde Main Events, Restaurant & Pub | Tags: Clone Pale Ale, craft beer, firkin
American Craft Beer Week (May 11-17), is a national celebration highlighting the culture and contributions of craft beer. Brewers hope the week inspires beer lovers to declare their independence by supporting breweries that produce fewer than 2 million barrels of beer a year and are independently owned.
Come to Olde Main on Thursday, May 14 from 5-8pm to take a tour of the brewery, participate in the tapping of a firkin of Clone Pale Ale, taste more than 8 beers on tap, and take home a growler or six-pack. Add this event to your Facebook page.
Also be on the look out for the launch of the Iowa Brewer’s Guild’s new website IowaBeer.org. The site will feature all the breweries in Iowa, as well as a blog, event calendar, beer education, and a forum to discuss everything about Iowa beer. The Iowa Brewer’s Guild will also a launch an Iowa Beer Facebook page and Twitter account.
Get more info about American Craft Beer Week.
Filed under: General Beer Industry, Olde Main Events, Restaurant & Pub | Tags: Beer Wars, craft beer
If you’re a beer lover and haven’t watched the trailer for Beer Wars, where have you been? Beer Wars is a documentary that goes behind the scenes of the daily battles and all out wars that dominate one of America’s favorite industries. It will explore the goings-on behind the scenes of the world’s largest and smallest breweries as they struggle to win the minds and palates of America’s 115 million beer drinkers.
They shine a spotlight on the many independent brewers who are shunning the status quo and creating innovative new beers. Dogfish Head and New Century Brewing Co. will be featured subjects, along with interviews with a ton of beer industry big shots.
The craft beer industry is at an interesting time. The business is booming and there has been a shift in the average beer consumer. People are interested in trying different styles of beers and expanding their tastes… thus our marketing campaign about maturing tastes. Beer is started to be viewed similar to how people look at wine. This shift is really starting to take off in the Midwest and particularly Iowa. Thus, we are excited about this movie about our industry.
The movie will be showing in 430 select theaters across the country for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Thursday, April 16 with the following showings in Iowa:
Ames – Cinemark, Movies 12
West Des Moines – Cinemark, Jordan Creek 20
Council Bluffs – Kerasotes, Star Cinema 17
Davenport – Davenport 53 Showcase Cinemas
Duquque – Kerasotes, Star Cinema 14
We will have a Pre and Post Beer Wars Party/Discussion at the brewery. Join us on Thursday, April 16 from 4pm-7pm and after the movie until 2am. We’ll be having happy hour specials ($2.25 pints, $2.25 wells, $2.00 off appetizers and $1.00 off glasses of wine).
Follow Beer Wars on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook, and while you’re at it follow and fan Olde Main too!
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.
Another Round - Olde Main Brewing Co. Blog 