Iowa-grown corn featured in beer on tap at Iowa State Fair
By Cami Koons, KCRG
YIELD OF DREAMS: IOWA CORN LAGER
A beer called Yield of Dreams is on tap at the Iowa State Fair and features corn grown across the state and donated by 18 Iowa farmers.
The lager, brewed at Confluence Brewing Company in Des Moines, is a partnership between the Iowa Brewers Guild, the Iowa Corn Growers and Choose Iowa, which is promoting a slew of locally produced goods at this year’s state fair.
This is the second year the groups have partnered to create the Yield of Dreams brew and offered it to fairgoers at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent.
According to a press release, the beer is meant to represent the relationship between the craft beer and agriculture industries. Iowa Brewers Guild, a trade association for beer and cider brewers in Iowa, celebrates locally brewed beers through its “Brewed in Iowa” campaign.
“Building on last year’s success, there’s still no better place than the Iowa State Fair to enjoy Yield of Dreams, our signature brew celebrating all things Iowa,” the guild’s executive director Noreen Otto said. “Brewed right here in Iowa with Iowa corn, it’s an ideal way for fairgoers to cool off while directly supporting our state’s rich agricultural heritage.”
Two farmers from each of the crop reporting districts donated a little over a bushel of corn which was added to the brew at Confluence Brewing Company in June.
Ralph Lents, president of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and a farmer from Menlo, said beer is just one of the thousands of products made from Iowa-grown corn.
“ICPB continues to invest in partnerships, like Yield of Dreams, to help strengthen corn demand while increasing corn knowledge across the state of Iowa,” Lents said in a release.
The Iowa State Fair opened Thursday and finishes Aug. 17. Following the fair, Yield of Dreams will be available at taprooms across the state, including Confluence Brewing.