A year ago I posted about the 3rd annual Beer ‘n’ Bread event at Iowa’s Living History Farms. If you want details about the event, you’ll find them at last year’s post.
This banner greeted attendees at Beer 'n' Bread. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
On Saturday Bill and I attended the 4th annual Beer ‘n’ Bread. While the event changes a little each year, the basic premise of sampling many varieties of bread and beer (home brew and microbrew) remains consistent.
On the Living History Farms’ web site, the description for the 4th annual event is this: “Over 30 Iowa micro-brewed beers will be on tap to sample from such breweries as Court Avenue, Millstream, Madhouse, Olde Main, Peace Tree, Racoon River and Doll Distributing, plus home brews from the Iowa Brewers Union and Beer Crazy. Stay to sample artisanal bread from South Union Bakery, Great Harvest Bakery, The Beer Bread Company, La Mie Bakery and cheese from Cabot Creamery, while you talk to the brewers about their craft.”
While this year I did sample so many delicious breads, I focused more on the home brews supplied by the Iowa Brewers Union (IBU). I also sampled some of the microbrews.
My favorite of the day was the Vanilla Caramel Cream Ale brewed by IBU’s Andy King. I’m not much for incorporating sweet, chocolate, coffee or fruity ingredients with beer, but the Vanilla Caramel Cream was surprisingly smooth, light…..and de-lish!
These photos show a walk-through of the afternoon focusing on the IBU’s selection. Clicking on the images will enlarge them.
This is the large gathering room in the hub of the Living History Farms building where Beer 'n' Bread was held. Bread vendors (and also one or two other food vendors) and some of the beer vendors were in this area.
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This room was hopping (no pun intended!). It was toward the back of the building and where the Iowa Brewers Union poured samples of approximately 20 different kinds of home brew. The Beer Crazy table was in this room at the far right.
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This is a side view of the Iowa Brewers Union line-up of about 20 varieties of their home brews.
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Andy King is pictured here pouring a sample of his home brew...Vanilla Caramel Cream Ale. Yum! Of the approximately ten varieties of beer I sampled, Andy's got my vote. I usually go for a straight wheat beer that hasn't been jazzed up with any other flavors. But, Andy's brew of Vanilla Caramel Cream was smooth.
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Andy's Vanilla Caramel Cream was #2 of the six Iowa Brewers Union beers listed here.
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In this photo I am voting for Andy King's (of the Iowa Brewers Union) Vanilla Caramel Cream home brew. Did I tell you it was my favorite of the day?!!!
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Seven Iowa Brewers Union home brews were poured here. It looks like due to popularity the IBU ran out of two of these varieties.
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Here are six more of the Iowa Brewers Union home brews, with, apparently, the supply of one of them running out.
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This photo was taken about fifteen minutes prior to the end of the 4th annual Beer 'n' Bread.
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Not the greatest photo, but here are the voting results toward the end of the afternoon for approximately 20 varieties of Iowa Brewers Union home brews as well as Beer Crazy’s. I could be wrong, but here it looks to me like the Vanilla Caramel Cream brewed by Andy Kind got the most votes. (I promise I voted only once!)
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For information on joining the Iowa Brewers Union, click here. Annual dues are only $25, or $10 (due to being prorated) until June 30th, 2011.
(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)
Marion Gunderson Art (and the Farmer's Daughter) 
March 7, 2011 at 3:18 pm |
Thanks so much for the kind words and the write up for the event! The IBU and Iowa breweries need as much support as they can get. The downside to this weekend’s event? I have to make more Vanilla Caramel Cream ale! Not really a downside, but I have to wait 5 more weeks until I can enjoy it again!
Cheers!
Andy King