Adventurous Brewing keeps pushing beer boundaries

Jon Manatt likes to say his Adventurous Brewing business is “pushing some boundaries” with bold craft beer flavors, and a new addition to the downtown Bettendorf business.

The company president said one of his favorites is a combination of peanut butter and coconut craft beer. That flavor may sound a bit unusual, but it is proving to be a fan favorite, he said.

“It’s been going great. We are seeing more and more people becoming regulars and returning…,” added Mr. Manatt. “We also have a lot of fun stuff in barrels for people.”

Carson Thomas shows one of the craft beers at Adventurous Brewing in downtown Bettendorf. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON

But Adventurous Brewing, located at 1040 State St., has been pushing more than beer flavor limits. The business, with seven employees, recently added more elbow room for its customers with the opening of a new taproom in September.

The taproom, almost 1,800 square feet, can seat about 80 customers. The new section of the business features neat rows of tables, benches and a bar area located near garage-style doors that are opened on warmer days. 

Adventurous Brewing recently opened a new taproom at its 1040 State St., Bettendorf, brewery. It can seat about 80 people. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON

Carson Thomas, the taproom’s manager, said the new addition has been getting much positive feedback from customers who see the new room as a “good place to hang out.”

“They enjoy the building. It used to be a paint store, and now it’s a calm place to drink good beer,” added Mr. Thomas.

The new taproom project received financial help through a $15,000 grant from the Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO), said Ryan Jantzi, DBO’s executive director.

“Once you have a brewery, you made it, right?,” he added. “We supported them because they want to be a destination brewery for downtown.” 

The taproom has been a great addition to the company because it helps accomplish one of Adventurous Brewing’s main goals: cater to everybody who loves beer.

And the beer-loving crowd includes almost a cross section of the population. Mr. Thomas added that his customers are more than the “older craft beer heads.” They include college students, parents and older adults.

While the new taproom helps bring people in the doors, it’s the many beer options that keeps people coming back for more.

Mr. Thomas said the brewery is always changing its menu but in mid-November it was offering 15 craft beers and one “guest tap.”

Some of the unique offerings include:

  • Perpetual Purgatory, an imperial stout conditioned with beans and Carolina Reaper peppers.
  • Hooked on a Filling, an imperial milk stout brewed with chocolate cookies and milk sugar.
  • Jump the Kriek, a sour ale with tart and sweet cherries.
  • Night, a 14-month, barrel-aged stout conditioned on toasted coconut chips.
  • Lil’ Warrior, a hazy, dry hop with warrior, warrior cryo, galaxy and mosaic hops.
  • Wild Romance, a kettle sour with black limes, vanilla, apricot puree and milk sugar rested on habanero peppers.

Mr. Thomas said there will always be a new beer in the works. Adventurous Brewing often releases a new brew and new flavor combination every week. Those new creations are only limited by their imaginations, he added.

“We’re always trying to do something new. … We don’t want to get stale. We want to keep pushing boundaries,” Mr. Thomas said.

Adventurous Brewing opens at 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and noon on the weekend. The business is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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