The Quad Cities have a rich history of brewing that started with the influx of German citizens in the 1800s. Breweries were established on both sides of the Mississippi River. Some of these historic breweries managed to reopen after Prohibition, but national competition ultimately closed the last of these stalwarts in 1956. In 1989, Iowa created a special class "A" brewpub permit, and the first of many brewpubs in the area, Front Street Pub & Eatery, opened in 1992. Blue Cat Brew Pub, on the Illinois side of the river, opened shortly after. The brewing renaissance has helped to establish the Quad Cities as a craft beer destination. Join authors Michael McCarty and Kristin DeMarr as they celebrate the heady heritage of the region.

German immigrants created leafy beer gardens here nearly two centuries ago, establishing Bucktown as the heart of entertainment in downtown Davenport for generations. In 1916, the founding of the Tri-City Symphony Orchestra at the Burtis Opera House embodied the neighborhood's reputation for high culture. The numerous saloons and theaters, as well as the forty-two documented brothels that flourished within two blocks, lent a bawdy side to the good times. Varied industries thrived through World War II, and downtown bustled with shoppers visiting department stores like Petersen's. Later, the neighborhood struggled and declined as a farming crisis hit the region hard. With revitalized landmarks like the magnificent Hotel Blackhawk and the historic Redstone Building, the community is growing more vibrant as a place to live, work and play. Author Jonathan Turner explores this dynamic history and transformation.

Explore Illinois mug-by-mug!

For everything there is a season — and beer is no exception. Best-selling author Randy Mosher leads you on a delicious tour of beer-tasting opportunities throughout the year, guiding you through all the best seasonal beer releases and festivals. Discover which beers are best to drink on warm spring afternoons or icy winter nights, and learn to make the most out of Craft Beer Week and Oktoberfest. Fun, fresh, and full of insider information, Beer for All Seasons will have you enjoying the varied delights of your favorite beverage year-round.

Historically speaking, Sacramento benefited from a gold rush, an agricultural boom and, more recently, a brewing renaissance. The region's craft beer scene exploded from six to more than sixty breweries in about a decade, and the roots of that culture stretch back more than a century. Before Prohibition, thousands of acres of local hops supplied brewers across the country. Local farms are once again taking advantage of the temperate climate. In 1958, the University of California-Davis started America's foremost brewing science program, producing some of California's top brewers. Rubicon's 1989 award-winning IPA was just the beginning for the current, innovative resurgence. Author Justin Chechourka explores the complexities and nuance of this fermenting heritage.

Beer has traveled with America through time as this is a ride to celebrate it. Finding craft brews all over the country and experiencing the area with a beer in hand. Because beer is not just a drink. It’s that drink we share with friends, we have at the game, and have at our celebrations. So this is about traveling across the country sharing many of the stops that people know and spots you may not know about and the beers along the way. It’s not enough just to enjoy the trip but also to understand how beer has fit into society. Not an in-depth history but a general overview of some major moments in the evolution of beer. With historic notes along the way so along the trip you can learn about the journey beer has had. From ancient times to modern times beer has evolved as well. The beer evolution has over the years transformed into many different styles of today. Also how the drink has been seen and grown in popularity in America. It just hasn’t been universally accepted as a popular drink from the beginning like some seem to think it has. It’s these points through history which make the trip that much more interesting. When it comes to styles it seems there are too many to count. Instead of trying to name and define each one which is what many seem to try to do. Rather, help define many of the terms used in the styles and the general meanings to get a better idea of what brews are like. It’s not about defining a taste profile but more defining the core characteristics that make up the nomenclature and where they may draw their roots from. Then you can better enjoy the beer versus trying to measure it up to some taste standard. Most of all this is a celebration of the classic American road trip. With an eye to the craft beers which makes America unique in the brewing world. So it’s not just the mass of brewpubs in Portland or California but what you can find near the Grand Canyon or along the skyline drive on the East Coast to raise a pint. Great beers aren’t just in major cities but in small towns all across the country and no matter where you go there is likely a brewery in the area making something worth checking out. From the Great Plains, Gulf coast, or west Texas you can find something to see, experience and drink. That is what the book is about. Not just a fun ride but an experience of circling the country with a mind on area and beers you can find. It’s a call to ride with a mind for beer. Have a flight and find what you can see and learn along the way.

Once dominated by megabreweries like Miller and G. Heilemann, the Midwest has in recent years become home to a dynamic craft beer industry at the core of America's current brewing renaissance. Beer writer and Certified Cicerone® Michael Agnew crisscrossed Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin sampling the astonishing variety of beers on offer at breweries and brewpubs. The result is a region-wide survey of the Midwestern craft beer scene. Packed with details on more than 200 breweries, A Perfect Pint's Beer Guide to the Heartland offers actual and armchair travelers alike a handbook that includes: Agnew's exclusive choices on which beers to try at each location Entries on every brewery's history and philosophy Information on tours, tasting rooms and attached pubs, and dining options and other amenities A survey of each brewery's brands, including its flagship beer plus seasonal brews and special releases Brewery equipment and capacity Nearby attractions In addition, Agnew sets the stage with a history of Midwestern beer spanning the origins of the immigrant brewers who arrived in the 1800s to the homebrewers-made-good who have built a new kind of brewing culture founded on creativity, dedication to quality, and attention to customer feedback. Informed and unique, A Perfect Pint's Beer Guide to the Heartland is the essential companion for beer aficionados and curious others determined to drink the best the Midwest has to offer. Includes more than 150 full color images, including the region's most distinctive beer labels, trademarks, and company logos.

A dynamic and ambitious mayor gathers his closest advisors for a fishing trip at the Outer Banks. There they will plan his campaign for governor. Mayor Brandsgard is smart and charming, a homegrown boy from Davenport, Iowa who appears destined for greatness. Joining him are his privileged wife, his attorney, the shrewd political pro who serves as his chief of staff, his brilliant policy wonk and Cutter, his quixotic wordsmith and confidante. They bring with them all the skills and audacity needed to take their mayor to the statehouse...and beyond. They also bring individual baggage--baggage which will impact their collective future. Especially Cutter's. In his captivating debut work, J. Woodburn Barney unites his readers with the human experience--with their own experience--by drawing attention to the percussion of everyday life. Written by someone who has lived a lifetime observing, its pages are filled with revealing internal dialogue, vulnerable human connections and the type of twists life throws at you. With his skilled character development and authentic depiction of human interaction, he creates a familiar and fascinating illustration of the impact that life can have on life. Ultimately, Barney let this story "be whatever it wanted to be." Keywords: Outer Banks, Quad Cities, Friendship, Emotional Baggage, Politics, Love Story, Nicknames, Vulnerability