By Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com
Iowa Craft Brew Festival 
Inaugural event focuses on quality, not quantity
With the new Iowa brewing laws in place, more and more local breweries are
using that freedom to create tasty and complex beers. What better time, then,
for The Iowa Brewers Guild to hold its first annual Iowa Craft Beer Festival
on Saturday, May 21.
"
We've been thinking about holding a festival like this for a while," said
Dave Coy, president of the Iowa Brewers Guild and brewer at Raccoon River
Brewing Company. "Our goal is to become self-sustaining and continue
to grow this festival every year."
The Iowa Brewers Guild is a non-profit organization with the purpose to showcase
and improve the quality of beer brewed in Iowa, foster communication between
the state's brewers, advocate for the promotion of the local brewing community
and lobby for progressive changes in Iowa laws to benefit the craft brewing
industry in the state.
"
There are all kinds of festivals held throughout the metro during the warmer
months, but this is about supporting the local brewers and the consumers
who drink or buy our beer," Coy said. "This is a fund-raiser for
the Iowa Brewers Guild, and every dollar earned will go towards improving,
promoting and protecting Iowa beer."
The festival will take place on 10th Street between Walnut Street and Mulberry
Street (in front of Raccoon River Brewing Co.) from 3 to 7 p.m. Tickets are
$15 in advance (available through Midwestix) or $20 at the door. Attendees
will receive a commemorative sampling glass and the opportunity to sample
more than 100 beers from across the state (as well as a few others including
Boulevard, New Belgium, Summit and Goose Island). There will also be food
available and live music from Seedlings and the Jefferson County Green Band.
"
This is a great opportunity to show Iowa consumers that there is great beer
brewed here in the state. We'll be offering a wide variety of styles; basically
the entire rainbow of beer selection," Coy said. "We also have
four or five different breweries that will be showcasing some Templeton Rye
Whiskey barrel-aged beers."
When the sampling ends at 7 p.m., attendees are encouraged to hang out for
the "Suds in the Street" after party taking place from 7:30 to
11 p.m. in front of Raccoon River Brewing Company. Admission is $5, but attendees
of the Iowa Craft Beer Festival will get in for free. Both events will take
place rain or shine. (They'll be moved inside Hotel Fort Des Moines and Raccoon
River if necessary.)
"
It's going to be a great time, and we'll have live music from The Workshy
and Brother Trucker to keep the party going," Coy said.
Coy encourages everyone to stop out, as this is a great chance to try some
tasty beer and learn the tricks of the trade from the brewers.
"
We hope to develop this into something significant for Des Moines and see
nothing but growth for this festival," he said. "It's the perfect
way to kick off summer and benefit your local brewers and the Iowa Brewers
Guild. Plus, there will be a super awesome selection of Iowa beers to sample." CV
caption: Just a few of the more than 100 beers that will be available at the first annual Iowa Craft Brew Festival on Saturday, May 21. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. For more information, visit www.iowabeer.org.
