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Belgian brew for Bert’s birthday
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · August 07, 2024
Big Grove Brewery will cook up a unique, Belgian-style beer to celebrate Herbert Hoover’s 150th birthday on Aug. 10.
The brewery named its limited-time concoction “Thirty-One” to recognize the West Branch native’s ascension to become the 31st presidential occupant of the White House.
“We are thrilled to announce a very special treat for attendees of Hoover’s Hometown Days,” Hoover Presidential Foundation spokesman David Ancelet said.
He said Big Grove based “Thirty-One” on a traditional, Belgian blend — “West Main Wheat” — that earned awards in the past.
With flavors like citrus and honey mixed in, “it’s supposed to be reminiscent of the type of beer that was brewed before and right after Prohibition,” Ancelet said.
“It’s a nod to the traditional Midwest brewing style, offering a taste of history with a modern twist,” he said.
The Republican and Quaker served as president (1929-1933) during Prohibition (1920-1933), but enjoyed a drink or two before and after the U.S. went dry.
“It was not only an acknowledgment of Hoover’s humanitarian work in Belgian but also for the time period in which he would have lived,” Ancelet said.
And, it tastes good, Main Street West Branch Executive Director Jessi Simon said.
“It’s also very delicious and light and refreshing for summer consumption,” she said. “I was pleasantly surprised by the description.”
Herb ‘N Lou’s and the Downunder — both close to Heritage Square and in the heart of the downtown festival area — will put Thirty-One on tap Friday and Saturday, or while supplies last.
“Big Grove Brewery, a cherished fixture in Iowa, began as a small brewpub on Solon’s West Main Street and has grown to become a cornerstone of the beer lovers’ community,” read a Foundation press release. “Their award-winning West Main Wheat ale has long symbolized small-town charm, much like historic West Branch itself.”
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