Iowa Gov. Chet Culver has signed a bill that allow Iowa breweries to make and sell beers up to 12% alcohol by volume. Out of state breweries were already selling these stronger beers in Iowa, but in-state breweries were restricted to a 5% abv. 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.

To celebrate Olde Main Brewing in Ames will let customers pick the first strong beer the brewpub offers. “We’ve been getting a lot of questions on what will be the first high proof beer we brew,” Olde Main’s Jill Haverkamp said, “so we are planning to let the people decide by doing a poll.” Customers can vote at the brewery’s website.

The Sioux City Journal surveyed other breweries via email to see what they had planned. The responses:

Rock Bottom Brewery, Des Moines – New Era Barleywine, Belgo India Pale Ale, an imperial stout and an imperial red ale.

Granite City Food and Brewery, locations in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport – “We have an IPA that we distribute to all our 26 restaurants, but since we have three in Iowa, we have always brewed it to the Iowa limit,” brewmaster Cory O’Neel said. “We will tweak the recipe to where it always should have been.”

Old Man River Brewing Co., McGregor – A doppelbock. “I’m looking forward to giving it a go,” brewer Jacob Simmons said.

Worth Brewing Co., Northwood – “A strong Belgian ale is a definite,” said brewer Peter Ausenhus. “I am also very excited about brewing a proper English old ale and some authentic German bocks.”

Raccoon River Brewing Co., Des Moines – “I currently make a double hopped version of our Bandit IPA called Bandito Loco, that I’m looking forward into making a true double IPA” said brewer David Coy.

This is a really interesting tripel. Not a just a candi sugar bomb, there's a lot of earthiness in there. Not funk. Earth.

It's made by the same folk at Two Brothers Brewing who made that Domaine DuPage I had last fall. It doesn't show on their website but, then again, this page was last updated on 14 April 2009. It pours a swell aged pine with a rim of white. On the nose pale malty sweetness meets loam. Not dirt. Loam. In the mouth pear juice, a bit of white pepper and twiggy pine herbs like rosemary. The label says "we brew it from pilsner malt, candy sugar and some very non-traditional hop choices." It's almost like cross between Findu Monde by Unibroue and a biere de garde like 3 Monts. A beer for a rib-eye steak.

There is some yeast sediment in the neck. I have no idea what that means as it's been upright in the stash for months. Hefty at 8.5%. Value priced at 5.99 a bomber in South Bend, Indiana. BAers show respect but not the love. I like it plenty.

Thirty five thousand
Feet above the ground so small
Alaskan amber

Written by Glyn and Mary.

References: The author was pleased to see that Alaska Air serves Alaskan Amber on their flights.

Thing of the day: Good Beer Guide West Coast USA: Including Las Vegas, Alaska and Hawaii (Good Beer Guides)

Sponsor: How to buy a new car.

Related haiku:

• I Love Alaska
• Key West Sunset Celebration
• Leaving on a jet plane…
• Chain of Events
• Snowmaching Over Open Water

The brewers at BrewDog have made a list of their six favorite (our should that be favourite?) hops. You can see why co-founder James Watt has said, “We like to think of what we do as U.S.-inspired Scottish craft brewing.”

1. Chinook
2. Amarillo
3. Nelson Sauvin
4. Bramling Cross
5. Simcoe
6. First Gold

Three hops grown in the U.S. Northwest (Chinook, Amarillo and Simcoe), two in the U.K. (Bramling Cross and First Gold) and one from New Zealand. Nelson Sauvin, released only in 2000, seems to be a hop du jour.

Its character has been likened to Sauvignon Blanc, the grape and wine variety, and New Zealand Hops Limited emphasizes its cutting edge attributes.

From the brewer’s notes: “The fruitiness may be a little overpowering for the un-initiated, however those with a penchant for bold hop character will find several applications for this true brewer’s hop.”

And from the suggested applications: “Very much at home in the new-world styles such as American Pale Ale and Super Premiums. This hop is considered by some as extreme and certainly makes it presence felt in specialty craft and seasonal beers gaining an international reputation.”

Fort George Brewery over in Astoria, Oregon, is busy this month: not only are they celebrating their third birthday coming up on March 14th, they’re also holding a contest to suggest their next new beer. From their blog:

We here at Fort George take being a Public House very seriously. It has been because of our great customers that we have been able to grow and better our business and for that, we would like to give back. Fort George Brewery would like your ideas for a new beer that could be made in our brewery. If you would like to see a new style of beer, would like us to try something new with our beers, or have a recipe of your own that you would like to see pouring at Fort George, submit an entry and it could end up being brewed!

All beer entries must be able to be made with our American Ale Yeast or our Belgian yeast. The beer selected will be based on quality, creativity, availability of ingredients, and by how delicious it sounds. You may submit as many entries as you like but only one beer will be chosen.

Click through to the blog to get the details on how to submit your beer idea. You have until April 10th to get your entry in.