Last Monday I had the opportunity to go view the barbershop singing documentary, American Harmony, at the newly-restored Northwood Theatre in Northwood, IA, and then afterward head a block down the street to the Worth Brewing Company, whose clever slogan is, “If It’s Not Hand Crafted, It’s Not Worth Brewing.” With the sweet chords of barbershop ringing through my head, I was eager to sit down for a brew with a few with my fellow singing enthusiasts and grab some droughts.
Worth Brewing (@WorthBrewing on Twitter) is situated in the middle of a block of downtown Northwood, an idyllic small-town stop only 7 miles to the east of Interstate 35 located so far north in Iowa that if you sneeze, Minnesota feels the breeze. Despite the economic times hurting small business owners across the country, Northwood seems to be holding its own in terms of a good selection of small shops and services lining the streets.
The brewery takes its name from the county, Worth, and is owned and run by husband-and-wife team Peter Ausenhus and Margaret Bishop. Peter has been known for years to be a famous brewmaster and beer judge, winning many contests and working professionally with the well-respected Summit Brewing Company of St. Paul, MN (one of my top-10 favorite brew companies, hands-down). Now he is handily carving himself out a niche in pretty Northwood and making a good job of it, too.
From the men's room door...
The tap room itself is only open three days a week but offers its patrons a beautiful, cozy, dark hardwood-lined room with plentiful yet simple wood tables and chairs and a big screen TV from which to catch a game or the news. The lighting is subdued and calming and the environment is very welcoming and comfortable. I did not get a chance to talk to either of the owners due to the busy nature of the evening, but they appeared friendly and service was quick and easy.
Brews that I had were in the $3.10 to $3.75 range for a pint which seemed fairly reasonable, although perhaps a bit on the high side depending on which beer you had. But given that a comparable beer in any store would run you at least in the $1.75 to $2 range it didn’t seem too terrible given the quality and presentation. Growlers were $12 for any selection on the current menu.
Had I had the time and a place to crawl to and sleep, I would have happily tried everything on the menu; alas, being that I live an hour south of Northwood, I only had the time and liver to try three selections:
Oatmeal Stout — Because I am such a huge lover of dark and thick beers, my first selection was this oh-so-typical stout, arriving in my glass with a healthy head and lovely color. The nose of it was warm and inviting, hinting perfectly on the edge of roasted grain mixed with just the right amount of hop to balance. The mouthfeel was soft and creamy but not so think that you would mistake it for a shake. The flavors mixed very well, the dark malty wintery barley being controlled but not killed by the hops. If I had twenty of these beers in a row, they would be twenty too few. By far my favorite selection on the menu.
Dillon Clock Stopper – Next over my tongue was this lager that didn’t really win me over in any categories and yet was nonetheless pleasant. Light and flavorful, it had a very sweet kick aftertaste that set me off from the first swallow and distracted me through most of the glass. That being said, it was light enough to keep the sweet from being a downtrodden effect and I did enjoy the glass, but I guess I was looking for more hop-offset than what I got. There are a great many people out there, however, that would adore this beer if you don’t like straight-up bitter hops.
I.P.A.
India Pale Ale – The last beer to grace my throat was the IPA. Having been through a rigourous course in IPAs, courtesy of my former collegiate roommates, I’ve had a few and a few more and then a few gallons more IPA in my life and can work my way around the room with one, if you get my drift. Worth’s version of this brewing standard was a pleasant surprise; it’s so easy to get these zippy ales wrong and they successfully dodged the bullet. Strong in hops with a nice biting aftertaste, the Worth IPA was simply a lovely glass of beer to drink. I would have easily gone for more hoppy but it had a great balance and I really can’t complain at all.
Conclusion
So there you have it — Worth Brewing Company in a nutshell. All in all, if you have the time to stop by and enjoy their warm atmosphere, happy customers, and worthwhile brews, I highly recommend it. It’s only 7 miles from the Interstate and if you come early enough, you can enjoy some of the (seemingly) plentiful downtown shopping. If you come later, stop in at the Northwood Theatre which has been restored to near-perfect moviewatching conditions and is a great place to catch a show. Neither its screen nor the bubbly liquid happiness that awaits you just a block away will leave you disappointed.
Worth Brewing Company
826 Central Ave.
Northwood, IA 50459
641-324-9899
Wednesday 5-9pm; Friday 5-11pm, Saturday Noon to 11pm
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