Grabbing a Beer in the Iowa Corridor
I acquired a taste for craft beer after going to college in a town where they only served beer and wine at the bars. Despite being able to now grab a cocktail at the bar, I still find myself preferring a nice hoppy brew instead. After moving to the midwest my husband and I quickly learned most bars have generous Happy Hour specials to boot. Here are some of the hot spots you should check out to grab a beer if you are in the Iowa City or surrounding corridor area.
Reds Alehouse
Address: 405 N Dubuque St North Liberty, IA 52317
Rating: 5/5 stars
Red's is tried and true and not to be missed for their AHMAZING 2 for 1 Happy Hour deal, especially if you are a beer connoisseur. They have a lot of craft beer options both on tap and bottles. They also have a great patio for the summer months!
Their food is solid and the brussels sprouts appetizer can't be missed. Their Asian Noodle bowl is delicious and a large portion which means perfect to share or take home for leftovers. The service is always great and I feel like all the servers and bartenders go above and beyond.
Red's is also a great place to catch a game with lots of TV's on the bar side of the restaurant and a projector on the non-bar side. So if you are in North Liberty looking for a great spot to relax and catch some rays or just a game Red's is the place to be (especially if it's between 3-6pm).
Big Grove Brewery
Address: 101 W Main St Solon, IA 52333 and 1225 S Gilbert St Iowa City, IA 52240
Rating: 5/5 stars
Can I just say...... I LOVE THIS PLACE! The food is phenomenal and I can't complain about the beer selection. My husband and I stopped by after just getting to town because we wanted to check out some of the local beer options since we were going to be relocating. We totally lucked out since we got there just in time for Happy Hour which is a great deal at 1/2 priced beers. We ended up finding a house not too far from the brewery so will be excited for future visits. We've ended up coming back after closing on our house since we didn't have much in the means of cooking since none of our things have arrived yet. We split a beet salad and a flat bread.... so delicious which is saying a lot since my husband is not a big fan of beets but ate it up! If you are in town I would definitely recommend checking it out for an amazing meal and some good beer.
Big Grove Brewery is definitely one of our favorite local breweries in the area. Not only do they have amazing beer but they put our great food as well. They have two locations, one in Iowa City and their other location is in Solon not too far from the Coralville Lake. Each location has a different vibe so I will give you the breakdown.
Iowa City: Big Groves Iowa City location has a large outdoor patio and play yard games such as bags along with large fire pits if it cools off a bit. If you are looking for food and drinks expect to walk up to the bar to order and the food window to order and pick up your food. Although they have the perfect set up with two separate bars, plenty of indoor and outdoor seat with large garage doors which is the perfect indoor/outdoor open concept. This is right outside of the downtown Iowa City area where the University of Iowa is located so it lends it’s self to that college hang out and grab a beer with friends vibe. This location has little to no table service and they don’t currently offer Happy Hour deals.
Solon: This Big Grove location in Solon is your brewpub feel with more of a sit down restaurant atmosphere. They have a small patio with two fire pits and it fills up fast in the summer months. This location lends its self to have more of a family oriented feel than a bar hangout vibe like their Iowa City location. They have a few TV’s at the bar if you are looking to catch a game but make sure you come in time to grab a spot on the bar side. This location does have table service for both food and drinks and of course Happy Hour from 3-6pm daily.
Clock House Brewing
Address: 600 1st St SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Rating: 5/5 stars
Always looking to check out new breweries in the area so was excited to see a new brewery pop up when googling Cedar Rapids Brewery. They open at 3pm and I was there right when they opened up and just in time for the start of Happy Hour, which is $1 off your beer.
It was a tad confusing when first walking up since you have to go through Black Sheep Social Club. But don't be discouraged just walk straight to the back and you'll see the entrance. The brewery is very open concept with all the brewing equipment right behind the bar.
I had their Rye Ale called Mud in your Rye and Hell to Pay which was a lighter beer. Both were very good and very crisp not cloudy, overall I'd say great quality beer. They serve food but I didn't try anything. They also have a few TV's around the bar. I look forward to making this a regular stop!
Lion Bridge Brewing Company
Address: 59 16th Ave SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Rating: 4/5 stars
I swung by when I was visiting Cedar Rapids for the day to do some furniture shopping. Being new to the area I have enjoyed checking out new places. I sat outside on the beautiful patio which has a beer garden type feel perfect for a sunny summer day! The server was great giving me a full run down of all their beers and encouraged me to try a few before making a decision to assure I was happy with my selection. Great service for sure! I ordered the tacos which we very good just a tad messy... luckily I'm a pretty clean eater. Since I was by myself I struck up some great conversation with a couple sitting next to me! I had such a great experience and won't shut up about it so now my husband is antsy to check out this fun spot!
Have any favorite spots that I missed? Please share in the comments so others can check them out and I have another reason to check out a new happy hour spot in the Iowa Corridor!
Cheers!
-Jessica