10 Best Breweries in Iowa with 30 Beers Worth Trying

BAR NOTES

Pseudo Sue is Toppling Goliath’s original single-hop pale ale, currently specified at 5.8%. Citra supplies its aromatic identity, while the producer describes a light body and restrained finishing bitterness. This original version is separate from the brewery’s double-dry-hopped, flavored and non-alcoholic Sue releases.

Compare a fresh small pour with King Sue before adding food, paying attention to body as well as aroma. A pale ale can still have a conspicuous hop finish. The American pale ale collection supplies broader examples for that comparison.

BAR NOTES

King Sue takes Citra into a fuller hazy double IPA, with the current producer page listing 8.2%. Mango, orange and pineapple associations describe the hop-led character; they do not establish fruit additions. The original King Sue is distinct from separately labeled double-dry-hopped versions.

Use a modest serving after Pseudo Sue, keeping the glasses equally cool so temperature does not drive the comparison. Double IPA strength deserves attention independently of haze or sweetness. Our double IPA brewing guide explains the stronger grain-and-hop framework.

BAR NOTES

Dorothy’s gives the Decorah selection a lager alongside two Citra-led ales. Toppling Goliath currently lists this unfiltered beer at 5.0% and identifies noble hops. Its name honors the founder’s grandmother, giving a family reference to the beer rather than an indication of a flavored recipe.

Begin the Toppling Goliath flight with Dorothy’s, then move to the pale ale and double IPA. Follow its grain character with an uncomplicated pretzel before making a second comparison. The lager collection offers more traditional and modern references.

BAR NOTES

Easy Eddy is Big Grove’s 6.0% hazy IPA, currently listed for draft and takeaway at Solon. The producer describes tropical fruit associations, a rounded body and soft bitterness. The original Easy Eddy should be distinguished from Freezy Eddy, Wild Eddy and the stronger Royal Eddy.

Set Easy Eddy beside Arms Race and follow texture before asking which beer has the stronger hop impression. Matching small glasses help keep the comparison useful. Our hazy IPA collection extends that exploration of softness, aromatic hopping and finish.

BAR NOTES

Citrus Surfer is the original 4.8% citrus wheat beer on Big Grove’s Solon list. The producer describes a smooth finish and identifies a 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship gold medal. Citrus Surfer Lime appears separately on the menu and should not inherit the original beer’s identity.

Taste Citrus Surfer without a fruit garnish first, then compare it with Exile Hannah to separate citrus-led wheat beer from fermentation-led hefeweizen. A similar grain does not determine the entire result. The wheat beer collection gives the two directions wider context.

BAR NOTES

Arms Race is Big Grove’s 6.0% pale ale, pairing Citra hopping with a substantial malt character. It remains on the Solon draft and takeaway list alongside the Eddy family. Its pale-ale label provides a useful reminder that an assertive hop beer does not have to be called IPA.

Try Arms Race next to Pseudo Sue in fresh, modest pours, following the malt beneath the aroma. Their identical style-family label leaves room for quite different balance. Our pale ale brewing guide explores how grain and hopping choices work together.

BAR NOTES

Des Moines IPA combines citrus-and-pine hopping with a supporting barley-malt foundation. Confluence’s October 2 draft board and current recurring beer profile both give 6.9%, rather than the rounded 7.0% found elsewhere. The original IPA is separate from its double-dry-hopped and other named extensions.

Choose a fresh serving and compare Des Moines IPA with Yard Sale before a spicy meal changes the finish. Notice the malt support separately from citrus aroma and bitterness. The IPA style guide supplies useful language for distinguishing those different sensations.

BAR NOTES

South Side Citra Blonde is listed at 5.4% on Confluence’s current producer-hosted draft board. Its recurring description identifies pilsner malt, a little wheat and measured Citra hopping. Older directories retain 5.2%, so the current menu and exact package are better references for this selection.

Start the Confluence comparison with South Side Citra, then move to Blue Corn and Des Moines IPA. A blonde ale can carry recognizable hop aroma while keeping the hopping restrained. Our blonde and golden ale collection provides more examples of that balance.

BAR NOTES

Blue Corn Lager is Confluence’s 6.2% lager made with organic heritage blue corn grown in New Mexico. Its recurring description explains a cereal mash and a restrained Saaz hop contribution. The blue corn’s color does not survive as a blue finished beer, and the corn is not described as Iowa-grown.

Compare Blue Corn with a barley-led lager before assuming an adjunct grain predicts flavor or quality. Taste the beer alone, then revisit its grain character with a salty cracker. The American lager brewing guide explains how different grists can serve this broad family.

BAR NOTES

Gable is SingleSpeed’s 5.0% golden lager, named for Dan Gable and connected to the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. The producer’s recipe page lists German lager yeast and Nugget, Select and Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops. The sports partnership is part of its identity, while the beer itself remains a restrained lager.

Pour Gable before Victory Dance and Tip the Cow so stronger aroma and roast do not dominate the quieter lager. Follow the clean grain finish with a plain snack. Our lager selection offers useful companions beyond the wrestling connection.

BAR NOTES

Victory Dance is SingleSpeed’s 6.7% tropical IPA in its core range. The producer lists El Dorado, Centennial, Citra and Azacca alongside a barley-malt foundation. Peach, grapefruit and apricot associations describe the hop expression, rather than indicating that those fruits were added to the recipe.

Give Victory Dance a fresh small pour and compare it with Des Moines IPA, concentrating on the finish rather than counting named hops. A similar strength can support different balance. The IPA brewing guide explains the interaction of grain character and hopping.

BAR NOTES

Tip the Cow is SingleSpeed’s 6.2% cocoa espresso milk stout. The producer names lactose, espresso from Sidecar Coffee Roasters and Ecuadorian cacao nibs, with oats and several dark malts in the grain bill. The original beer is separate from the orange, mint, coconut and stronger Cow releases.

Begin without dessert and follow how espresso, cocoa and sweetness change as a modest serving warms gently. Compare it with Back Road to distinguish actual additions from roast associations. Our milk stout brewing guide explains lactose’s role in that fuller dark-beer direction.

BAR NOTES

Ruthie is Exile’s original 4.9% golden lager, listed in both the flagship portfolio and current tap list. Its recurring description identifies German malts and a lengthy cold-conditioning period. Ruthie NA is a separately labeled non-alcoholic beer and should not inherit this card’s strength or tasting comparison.

Start an Exile flight with Ruthie before Hannah and Citra Sky. An equally cool serving of Gable gives another useful lager comparison without making color the deciding factor. The Munich helles brewing guide supplies a related traditional reference for a golden lager.

BAR NOTES

Hannah is Exile’s 6.0% hefeweizen, currently present in its flagship and draft listings. Banana, clove and bubble-gum associations fit the beer’s South German wheat-ale description. Those fermentation-associated aromas do not establish banana or candy as ingredients, and wheat beer is a style family rather than one uniform flavor.

Compare Hannah with Loud As Hope in small matching glasses before adding a lemon garnish. Follow the yeast aroma and wheat texture as separate observations rather than guessing ingredients from a fruit association. Our weissbier brewing guide explains that traditional fermentation direction.

BAR NOTES

Citra Sky is Exile’s 6.0% hazy IPA, listed among its flagships and on the current tap board. Its recurring description names Citra and Mosaic hops with mango, pineapple and citrus associations. The beer is unfiltered; its hazy appearance is part of the intended presentation, rather than proof of added fruit.

Taste Citra Sky next to Saftig while both are fresh, following texture before measuring the intensity of aroma. A small serving helps compare similar-strength beers without making haze a sweetness prediction. The New England IPA brewing guide provides a useful brewing reference.

BAR NOTES

Schild Brau Amber is Millstream’s longstanding Vienna-style lager, currently listed at 4.9% and 16 IBU. Caramel malt gives the producer’s description a slightly sweet, nutty direction with a cleaner finish. This Amana selection is a lager, despite the amber color often associated with American ales.

Compare Schild Brau with Oom Pah Pah before moving to the stout. Toasted grain and caramel associations deserve attention separately from residual sweetness. A roasted mushroom bite supplies a second tasting. Our Vienna lager brewing guide explores the traditional malt-focused framework.

BAR NOTES

Oom Pah Pah is Millstream’s current German pilsner, specified at 5.0% and 25 IBU. Noble-hop floral character and a crisp finish are the producer’s stated direction. Use the exact current beer name when checking a menu, rather than substituting a discontinued Millstream pilsner profile from an older directory.

Pour Oom Pah Pah first in a Millstream comparison and follow its floral aroma into the finish. A pretzel makes an uncomplicated pairing before the amber lager changes the malt emphasis. The German pilsner brewing guide explains the balance behind this restrained pale beer.

BAR NOTES

Back Road is Millstream’s 6.7% oatmeal stout, with the producer listing 22 IBU. Oatmeal supports a fuller body and the dark-malt description centers roast and coffee-like aroma. A coffee association in that description does not by itself mean coffee was added, making it a useful contrast with Tip the Cow.

Taste Back Road alongside Tip the Cow in small servings to separate oatmeal-supported body from lactose and actual espresso. Let both lose a little refrigerator chill before adding dessert. Our oatmeal stout brewing guide explores the grain choices behind that rounded texture.

BAR NOTES

Compensation is Lion Bridge’s English mild ale, currently specified at 4.0% on the producer’s beer page. Biscuit, toffee and chocolate associations describe its malt character. Older recurring profiles show 4.5%; this guide follows the current producer figure and calls for an exact batch-label check when ordering.

Begin the Lion Bridge trio with Compensation, keeping the pour small enough to compare malt character with Yard Sale later. Low alcohol does not require an absence of flavor. The dark mild brewing guide offers a related traditional reference for this English-inspired session beer.