posted
on Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Post updated February 2018
.jpg)
In case you’ve missed the buzz, craft beer is being served up throughout the Cedar Valley and new breweries are preparing to open in Cedar Falls and Waterloo this winter and spring.
So what, exactly, is the buzz? Americans are embracing the innovative and full flavors of beer brewed by small-batch brewers. Every brewery has its own style; no craft beer is exactly the same. Brewing beer in small batches allows a brewer to experiment with new styles and flavors. Have you heard of a kettle-soured beer, a bacon ale or jalapeno pilsner? Granted, these are unusual flavors, but it’s this kind of flexibility that makes craft breweries interesting and popular.
So what’s new in brew in the Cedar Valley? We’re glad you asked.
Lark Brewing
Things are hoppin’ at Lark Brewing in Waterloo. They’re one of the newest breweries to open in the Cedar Valley and they serve up their own craft beer creations, infusions and barrel-aged beer. Instead of taking home a glass growler, take home an aluminum crowler. Crowlers are portable, easy to pour and they’re small (generally 32 ounces). Lark Brewing also a Certified Green Brewery. We encourage you to follow Lark’s Facebook page to stay up to date on what they’ll introduce next! Recently, we spied a "Funkery" selection. A Funkery is ale fermented in oak barrels and you'll find them in Strawberry/Lemon, Peach/Armadillo (yes, armadillo) and Blackberry/Red Pear.
SingleSpeed Brewing Co.
We're sure you've heard of SingleSpeed's new taproom in Waterloo. Their Waterloo taproom and brewery at the former Wonder Bread factory is expansive with an open layout, gift shop, meeting room and an outdoor patio. But that’s not the only exciting news about SingleSpeed Brewing Co. They've launched their beer outside the Cedar Valley; folks in Des Moines can find SingleSpeed beer at the Iowa Tap Room and El Bait Shop and you can find their brew in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. As for us local folks, we continue to enjoy glasses of their craft beer at the Cedar Falls taproom on Main Street and we head to Waterloo for great eats and brew as often as we can.
Second State Brewing Co.
203 State Street in Cedar Falls is now the home of Second State Brewing Co. Owner Nick Newgard was a home brewer for years and now he’s opened a bar and tap room just around the corner from SingleSpeed Brewing Co. Second State Brewing’s style is different than SingleSpeed. Their new place has an industrial feel and they have a selection of their own malty and dark beer. Be sure to follow them on their Facebook page to find out when food vendors will be at the taproom.
Events
Hops on Main
Place: downtown Cedar Falls at participating establishments
Time: April 5, 2018 (5:30 – 9:30pm)
This is a premier craft beer sampling event! More than 50 craft breweries make Iowa their home and this event will allow you try what a few of them have to offer. Tickets go on sale March 1 and they always sell out fast so be sure to mark your calendar. Pick and pick up your glass and passport before sampling beer at select downtown bars and restaurants. A list of stops in downtown will be made available to ticket holders the day of the event.
Aloha Cedar Falls
Place: downtown Cedar Falls
Time: January 29 - February 17, 2018 (deals on Kona beers)
Kona Brewing Company is sponsoring special deals on Kona brews at participating merchants in downtown Cedar Falls check out their Facebook event to find out more about Kona passports and how to enter their weekly drawings!
To find a list of breweries located in the Cedar Valley, visit Breweries on our website. And, be sure to check back often to our Facebook page as we’ll post updates as we hear about them. And, if the Cedar Falls Visitor Center can help you find Places to Eat & Drink, places to shop or Places to Stay, just give us a call at 319-268-4266 (800-845-1955) or stop in and see us at 6510 Hudson Road.
We’d be happy to help!
- aloha cedar falls
- beer
- breweries
- craft beer
- hops on main
- lark brewing
- second state brewing
- singlespeed