4 minute read
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
Back when Barb Lewey bought her husband, Clark, a home brew kit, Northeast Iowa was not yet a part of the brewing boom. The brewing kit was to help Clark brew the style of beer he wanted to drink but couldn’t find available around the area. So as a hobbyist, he brewed the type of beer he preferred to drink and began to share it with those closest to him. His beer gained popularity, and that bit of success snowballed into the world-renowned, craft beer destination known as Toppling Goliath Brewing Company in Decorah, Iowa.
Toppling Goliath is now a true beer destination in a tucked away community of Decorah, Iowa, known for their IPAs and barrel-aged stouts. The drive will let you experience Northeast Iowa along an adventurous journey that opens up to the welcoming community of Decorah and the massive 65,000-square-foot Toppling Goliath flagship brews like Dorothy’s Lager, an original unfiltered brew that is the first batch of beer brewed in any new kettle brought on site, a lasting tribute to and the favorite style of the founder’s grandmother. brewery that houses a 10,000-squarefoot taproom featuring 24 rotating taps, a full menu, gift shop, and outdoor area that promises a full day of fun with family or friends.
Toppling Goliath Brewery has three options for event spaces, regularly hosting gatherings from local business meetings to family parties, rehearsal dinners, and more. They can manage your party’s needs with their in-house catering. In addition, tours are available for this destination brewery, and include very cool, behind-the-scenes access.
Decorah presents and supports a strong local support and give-back mentality reflected in both the residents’ and businesses’ warmth and helpfulness. Toppling Goliath leads the way, collaborating with Lua Brewing and Big Grove Brewery on Project Hop Fisch. With each batch of this double IPA, a donation of time or money goes towards keeping Iowa’s precious waterways clean and protected.
Aficionados will already know about Toppling Goliath’s highly touted featured releases. Those not as versed in beer choices will benefit from knowledgeable and well-equipped servers that can answer their questions to find the perfect beer or cocktail for their tastes. Be sure to check out their
Toppling Goliath is a must-see destination on any beer drinkers’ lists and a bucket-list item for those planning their beercation. Local and national visitors now come to Decorah for the Toppling Goliath Beer experience and stick around for the small-town community experience, including shopping, dining, biking, kayaking, trail use, and more.
For more information, beer availability, brewery hours and tours, and event schedules, click or call: unlimited samples of Iowa craft beer and cider, plus live music and local food trucks.
• Iowa State Fair: In Des Moines, Iowa scheduled for August 10-20, 2023, the fair is an annual tradition in central Iowa and packed with live entertainment, rides and all your favorite fair foods, including over 60 portable foods on a stick!
• 515 Alive: Des Moines: This multiday music and camping festival will take over five performance stages from August 16-17, 2023. It’s less than a half mile from downtown and features EDM and hip-hop music.
• 80/35 Music Festival: Des Moines: On July 7-8, 2023, this nonprofit mu-
JOIN US (1pm - 4pm) SATURDAY, JUNE 3RD, 2023 sic festival will occur in downtown Des Moines. It’s a celebration of music and culture, with free and paid stages to support the Des Moines Music Coalition.
The Iowa Craft Brew Festival is a celebration of all things brewed in Iowa. Breweries, cideries, and more! Producers from across the state come together to share their craft with passionate craft brew lovers like you.
• Des Moines Arts Festival: On June 23-25, 2023, view works from some of the nation’s top artists in down- opportunities in central Iowa are at Twin Anchors Campground, Acorn Valley Campground and Timberline Campground. For more overnight outdoorsy fun, check out the Ledges State Park and Rock Creek State Park campgrounds.
• Hiking: There are lots of trails worth exploring once you get just outside the city of Des Moines and out into nature. Our top picks for regional hiking are Ledges State Park, the Sycamore Trails, Brown’s Woods and Margo Frankel Woods State Park.
• Lakes: There are several lakes in Central Iowa, here are just a few.
Saylorville Lake: The Saylorville Lake Project is 26,000 acres, which stretches for over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. A wide variety of recreational activities are available including camping, fishing, picnic areas with group shelters, boat launches, an accessible fishing pier, river fishing, hunting, and a 24- town Des Moines and near the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. This outdoor festival typically draws in over 200,000 people per year.
Central Iowa Attractions for Summer Fun
There’s nothing like getting some epic outdoor recreation before ending your day with a local craft beer, wine or cocktail. Here are some adventures to inspire your itinerary:
• Camping: Some of the best camping mile paved, multipurpose trail used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking, and in-line skating.
Big Creek Lake: Located near Saylorville Lake just 20 miles from Des Moines, Big Creek State Park is a family-friendly setting for picnicking and outdoor recreation. The centerpiece is Big Creek Lake, home of the largest beach in the state park system. The lake is also a popular fishing destination with boat and bike rentals available at the beach concessionaire. Take a day-trip to Big Creek State Park this season and enjoy everything Iowa outdoors has to offer.
Lake Red Rock: Is Iowa’s largest lake with more than 15,000 acres of water and 35,000 acres of land for visitors to enjoy. Located on the Des Moines River just 45 miles control pool is 780 feet above sea level, over 33 miles long, and covers 65,500 acres. Other lake area benefits include numerous recreational opportunities and natural resources on the water and surrounding public lands.
• Other Attractions: The Boone Scenic Valley Railroad operates passenger excursions in Boone, Iowa. There are also some amusement parks in central Iowa, namely the Des Moines Water Works Park and the Aventureland Park and Aventure Bay Waterpark in Altoona.
Get Ready for a Summer Road Trip!
As you set out for fun in the sun this summer, remember that temperatures can get hot and steamy in central Iowa, so keep yourself safe with plenty of water, sunscreen and indoor breaks. To keep up with what’s happening in central Iowa and what there is to look forward to on the regional craft beverage scene, subscribe to Trails & Tales or view past issues online at...
www.trails-tales.net southeast, and downriver, of the city of Des Moines, Iowa, the reservoir collects runoff and and drainage from a 12,320 square-mile area in Iowa and southern Minnesota. This protects communities and agriculture lands downstream from the Red Rock Dam. The maximum flood