Iowa City Brewfest
The 9th annual Brewfest had perfect weather last saturday. I heard that we had the largest turn out yet, despite having so many competing events. It was fun to hang out with all the local homebrewers and beer aficionado’s (snobs?) of Iowa City, and try all the different beers.
There were some great beers, and some not so great beers. My two personal favorites (beside our beers of course!) were the Rogue Smoke beer, which was a wonderful smoked ale, that was more delicate than your typical bamberg Rauchbier bottle, and the Spaten Optimator double bock on draft. The Optimator was very deceptively smooth for being 9% ABV! One of the not so great was Capitol Oktoberfest, which had a funky stale bubblegum flavor… It must have been an old bottle, because I just had some great Capitol Oktoberfest last month at the brewery itself.
I was sadden to see that their were only two breweries from Iowa there. Millstream (of course!) and my friend Dave Coy from Raccoon River (who brought his Oktoberfest and Bandit IPA) who came all the way from Des Moines. Cedar Brewing did not show, but I heard they are still in transition from the last owners to the new owners. We seemed a little lonesome, even though we had a prime spot in the center of the tent. Its amazing that so many people just don’t know who we are … Or maybe they are more excited by some beer from Belgium or Scotland.. thinking that intuitively it must be better beer than anything made in poor Iowa? I don’t know, but its something I hope we can change!
I was shocked to see that Granite City in Cedar Rapids didn’t even attend the event. I guess thats what happens when you run a brewery without any brewers?
I did have an enjoyable conversation with one of the owners of City Brewing in LaCrosse Wisconsin. He told me a great story about the difficulties that they have had to go through to get their beer into the annual Oktoberfest event in their home town. This year will be the first year they will be allowed at the event, that Bud and Miller have tried to lock them out of. It was very inspiring and something I can definately relate to from my experiences around here. I told him how we just kicked Budweiser out of Oktoberfest in Amana!
At one point I talked to some crazy reporter the Daily Iowan. She wrote about two pages of scribbled notes of what I said. Her article, however, contains none of that! I hope this article is a joke. She did quote my assistant, Aaron Gerbo, after he politely asked her not to publish anything he said to her. Some quality journalism at the UI!
I took some pictures, but it was so dark in the tent and so bright outside that they really did not come out. If I can clean them up I will post them later.
September 21st, 2004 at 2:27 am
Aaron, I did not attend the Brewfest, but did read the “article” by the D.I. reporter, and was amazed by her unprofessionalism. She had little or no knowledge of her subject matter, but that is no excuse for such slopply and out-of-focus reporting!
Pete
September 22nd, 2004 at 2:29 am
I agree, the story in the Daily Iowan was appalling, and I let the editorial staff know what I thought of it.
P.S. If I knew you were lonely, I would have hung out there for most of the day, but as a devotee I wanted to make sure others had a chance to sample the wares. Keep up the good work.
September 22nd, 2004 at 2:51 am
Great brewfest. Batch #1 of your Oktoberfest gets a big thumbs up. In the spirit of the season I concentrated on the Oktoberfest offerings first, while my taste buds and cognitive skills were still sharp. Not to pander, but Millstream and August Schell led the pack, in my view. I like City Brewery’s (old) style, so I also give their Festbier a nod, even though its a little light for the style.
As for the DI - its a paper by kids, for kids. Its the Coors Light of collegiate journalism.
September 22nd, 2004 at 9:37 am
The DI article was annoying and disappointing. I sent off an angry e-mail to the reporter and editor suggesting next time they send somebody to the even who knows something about what they’re writing about. Too bad. But it is a student-run paper and studens are pretty stupid sometimes.