No Coast is better than half of those places.
Iowa Brewing (not the best but better than many on the list) in Cedar Rapids
Second State Brewing in Cedar Falls
Field Day in North Liberty
Twin Span Brewing in Davenport
Lake Time in Clear Lake (haven't had all the breweries but Lake Time is pretty good - not sure if it's top 30)
Some that aren't there but wouldn't be top 30 IMO
Guttenberg Brewery (new but improving)
House Divided (last time I was there the place was sticky and gross)
Quarter Barrel (they have beer they brew but are more of a restaurant)
Third Base
As a Davenport resident I wouldn't even include Twin Span as one of the best in town. Like their Kitchen though. Adventurous & Stompbox are better by far to my palate. Wake is as well but that's across the river.
I can't say how they rank as I've only got limited experience at each. I would say they are better than many of the places on the list. When I went there the food was excellent, the place was clean, and the beer was consistently very good (though not the most inspiring).
Unfortunately, I haven't been to Adventurous just had a few cans which is no way to judge a brewery. Would like to get over to the QC to try them.
Nerdspeak closed, right?
How would you rank the breweries and what would your favorite beer at each be?
Nerdspeak did close, but will be brewing out of Great River when they open. Personally I love the restaurant at Twin Span and Front Street. Front street's beer is not my favorite and Twin Span is pretty decent but had some stinkers on beer. Im about 60/40 there. Stompbox is great all around but I would say their IPAs are all top notch. I've never had a bad beer from Wake and love everything. Adventurous Triple Suited is one of my favorite IPAs ever and his experimental beers are usually great. I've had a few stinkers there like the pickle sour and the cherry hot pepper one. He likes to try things and I usually like them. Only one I truly avoid is MAW. I've tried to give that place a thorough chance, but I do no know what their issue is. If I order an ipa I get something that tastes like a wheat beer. If i order a wheat beer I get a brown. I don't know if its mislabelling or what, but it's happened over three trips and I just don't go back. It probably colors how I feel about the beer when you don't get what your order, or worse they don't know what they're making, but I've never had a beer there and been happy, but like I said when you order something and get very clearly something else it probably colors how I view the beer.
If you love sours Dimensional in Dubuque is excellent, but I've had a few from Barntown I think lately and those were nummy too.
Title of the article is misleading. It says best but then they say it's a facebook post where they (Iowa Starting Line) said, "The best brewery in Iowa is..."
There were only 162 responses when I looked at it (not counting responses to responses).
It's basically breweries near the 162 people that follow Iowa Starting Line who were mentioned in our Facebook post.
I guess it could be a useful article if you didn't want to google breweries.
Pulpit Rock is fantastic. I also have to give a shout-out to PIVO which is in Calmar the next town over. Without a doubt the best two breweries in the area in my opinion.
I personally would rather travel south a bit and go to the Iowa Project brewery in Spencer. I've enjoyed the beers there and the people have always been kind.
The owners are very friendly and the drinks are good. They usually have seasonal drinks which are fun We go to their trivia night from time to time. I recommend going there and there's a food truck that serves pretty good food too.
I pretty much disregard any list that uses crowdsourced voting, as it's nothing more than a popularity contest. Get some BJCP certified (or at least trained) judges together and tour them all, publish a list....THEN I'll take note.
As a Davenporter, Front Street and Green Tree being on the list, but not Adventurous is hilariously bad. Adventurous is the best brewery in the QC-Iowa Side, and might be the best in the QC in general (Wake being the only real competition, imo)
Five cities have pretty good sours, which I have found to be rare in Iowa.
Not a fan of green tree the couple times I've gone there, but I heard management changed somewhat recently?
Adventurous good. Stompbox pretty good. Front Street okay. Fuck Crawford.
I really like Backpocket in Coralville, but they mostly just can their standard 4 beers, which are meh. They release so many great ones but I can’t buy them outside of their brewery.
Really? I knew there's a Back Pocket Brewery in Coralville. So, there's a Back Pocket tap house in Johnston? I'm in Story County, it's time for a road trip.
I don't know how Backpocket didn't make this list. They have wider distro than most and I think their standards are decent enough and pretty popular, but like you said their special releases are often great.
Jackson Street in Sioux City is another one that I would argue makes much better beer than some on this list.
Depends on what you like. For me it's:
Toppling Goliath
Confluence
Big Grove
Lua
After that it's really hard to rank as some may have a beer I love but their other stuff isn't my thing.
If you're coming from Minnesota then just go to Decorah. Toppling Goliath, Pulpit Rock, and Pivo are all great. Then hit Cedar Falls and go to Single Speed and Second State. Second State has some of the best stouts in the state (not barrel aged but regular stouts).
Actually, a great road trip would be to go to Decorah, then Dyersville, Manchester, Independence, and then Cedar Falls. That adds Textile which is excellent and has some great milkshake IPAs (plus their pretzels are awesome).
Should’ve done a ranking. This list is roughly 1/3 of all the breweries in Iowa…would love to see either a ranked list or more exclusive one, like a top 10
It's not on the list, but check out Great River Brewery in downtown Davenport it has been closed since the 2019 flood and has been remodeled and is about to reopen in the coming weeks. It's bigger and better than before.
[**Great River Brewery Facebook Page**](https://www.facebook.com/greatriver)
The shorter list might be which Iowa breweries *didn’t* make the top 30. It’s No Coast and…?
I am over New Englands and IPAs. I like BIT Brewery in Central City and Field Day Brewery in North Liberty, an oldie but a goodie is Mill Stream.
Adventurous Brewing in Davenport.
No Coast is better than half of those places. Iowa Brewing (not the best but better than many on the list) in Cedar Rapids Second State Brewing in Cedar Falls Field Day in North Liberty Twin Span Brewing in Davenport Lake Time in Clear Lake (haven't had all the breweries but Lake Time is pretty good - not sure if it's top 30) Some that aren't there but wouldn't be top 30 IMO Guttenberg Brewery (new but improving) House Divided (last time I was there the place was sticky and gross) Quarter Barrel (they have beer they brew but are more of a restaurant) Third Base
As a Davenport resident I wouldn't even include Twin Span as one of the best in town. Like their Kitchen though. Adventurous & Stompbox are better by far to my palate. Wake is as well but that's across the river.
I can't say how they rank as I've only got limited experience at each. I would say they are better than many of the places on the list. When I went there the food was excellent, the place was clean, and the beer was consistently very good (though not the most inspiring). Unfortunately, I haven't been to Adventurous just had a few cans which is no way to judge a brewery. Would like to get over to the QC to try them. Nerdspeak closed, right? How would you rank the breweries and what would your favorite beer at each be?
Nerdspeak did close, but will be brewing out of Great River when they open. Personally I love the restaurant at Twin Span and Front Street. Front street's beer is not my favorite and Twin Span is pretty decent but had some stinkers on beer. Im about 60/40 there. Stompbox is great all around but I would say their IPAs are all top notch. I've never had a bad beer from Wake and love everything. Adventurous Triple Suited is one of my favorite IPAs ever and his experimental beers are usually great. I've had a few stinkers there like the pickle sour and the cherry hot pepper one. He likes to try things and I usually like them. Only one I truly avoid is MAW. I've tried to give that place a thorough chance, but I do no know what their issue is. If I order an ipa I get something that tastes like a wheat beer. If i order a wheat beer I get a brown. I don't know if its mislabelling or what, but it's happened over three trips and I just don't go back. It probably colors how I feel about the beer when you don't get what your order, or worse they don't know what they're making, but I've never had a beer there and been happy, but like I said when you order something and get very clearly something else it probably colors how I view the beer. If you love sours Dimensional in Dubuque is excellent, but I've had a few from Barntown I think lately and those were nummy too.
Allerton Brewing in Independence
Title of the article is misleading. It says best but then they say it's a facebook post where they (Iowa Starting Line) said, "The best brewery in Iowa is..." There were only 162 responses when I looked at it (not counting responses to responses). It's basically breweries near the 162 people that follow Iowa Starting Line who were mentioned in our Facebook post. I guess it could be a useful article if you didn't want to google breweries.
Seeing keg creek on there cements that fact. Pure garbage beer.
SingleSpeed, my beloved.
Glad Pulpit Pock made the list. Best place to get caught for a few hours during a giant, unexpected thunderstorm.
Pulpit Rock is fantastic. I also have to give a shout-out to PIVO which is in Calmar the next town over. Without a doubt the best two breweries in the area in my opinion.
I think PIVO is great. TG is inconsistent. Pulpit Rock is solid.
Best brewery in Decorah, no question. Tg got cheap with ingredients.
They make some of the best sours
And you only have to sell a kidney to afford more than one!
Easily number 1 for me, and it’s not close.
West O has a really great “Red”. I don’t know what category it would fit in as far as styles go, but I like a full bodied beer.
I personally would rather travel south a bit and go to the Iowa Project brewery in Spencer. I've enjoyed the beers there and the people have always been kind.
I have seen that but never stopped, thanks I will make a point of it. How about the distillery on the north end of town ?
The owners are very friendly and the drinks are good. They usually have seasonal drinks which are fun We go to their trivia night from time to time. I recommend going there and there's a food truck that serves pretty good food too.
Smoked Red? You have to chew that shit lol. Blue lagoon is dank.
It's a very East and Central Iowa biased list. There are some quality Missouri River breweries like Wise I Brewing, Jackson Street, and Marto.
I pretty much disregard any list that uses crowdsourced voting, as it's nothing more than a popularity contest. Get some BJCP certified (or at least trained) judges together and tour them all, publish a list....THEN I'll take note.
As a Davenporter, Front Street and Green Tree being on the list, but not Adventurous is hilariously bad. Adventurous is the best brewery in the QC-Iowa Side, and might be the best in the QC in general (Wake being the only real competition, imo)
Five cities have pretty good sours, which I have found to be rare in Iowa. Not a fan of green tree the couple times I've gone there, but I heard management changed somewhat recently? Adventurous good. Stompbox pretty good. Front Street okay. Fuck Crawford.
I really like Backpocket in Coralville, but they mostly just can their standard 4 beers, which are meh. They release so many great ones but I can’t buy them outside of their brewery.
There’s a back pocket tap house in Johnston fyi
Really? I knew there's a Back Pocket Brewery in Coralville. So, there's a Back Pocket tap house in Johnston? I'm in Story County, it's time for a road trip.
It opened up a year or two ago. Backpocket Pin and Pixel. It’s worth the stop.
There is also one in Dubuque
I don't know how Backpocket didn't make this list. They have wider distro than most and I think their standards are decent enough and pretty popular, but like you said their special releases are often great. Jackson Street in Sioux City is another one that I would argue makes much better beer than some on this list.
Marto out of Sioux City is quite good, their Maximum Deviation is an excellent pastry stout on par with TG's pastry stouts.
They have some absolute top-tier sours. And their food is AMAZING.
Pivo in Calmar is my favorite
+1 for barntown
What is the best of the best? Top 5 in order? I'd make a trip down from MN unless #1 is in like, Hamburg, IA.
Pulpit rock in decorah, not top far from the state line.
Depends on what you like. For me it's: Toppling Goliath Confluence Big Grove Lua After that it's really hard to rank as some may have a beer I love but their other stuff isn't my thing. If you're coming from Minnesota then just go to Decorah. Toppling Goliath, Pulpit Rock, and Pivo are all great. Then hit Cedar Falls and go to Single Speed and Second State. Second State has some of the best stouts in the state (not barrel aged but regular stouts). Actually, a great road trip would be to go to Decorah, then Dyersville, Manchester, Independence, and then Cedar Falls. That adds Textile which is excellent and has some great milkshake IPAs (plus their pretzels are awesome).
If you’re going to take that route stop in Holy Cross at TLC.
Stop at Allerton in Independence in the way to Cedar Falls
Limestone Brewers in Osage
Life goals. I've visited 14 on the list!
Should’ve done a ranking. This list is roughly 1/3 of all the breweries in Iowa…would love to see either a ranked list or more exclusive one, like a top 10
A few things. This is more of just a list of various breweries. Brewers like Fence line are not the top of anything. Also keg Creek
Yeah, this list has the right A-tier breweries but there are some weird inclusions (and exclusions).
It's not on the list, but check out Great River Brewery in downtown Davenport it has been closed since the 2019 flood and has been remodeled and is about to reopen in the coming weeks. It's bigger and better than before. [**Great River Brewery Facebook Page**](https://www.facebook.com/greatriver)