Cotton Candy Beer: A Sweet Twist on the Iowa Beer Scene

Cotton candy beer is a relatively new style of beer that has quickly gained popularity among beer enthusiasts in Iowa and beyond. This unique brew combines the flavors of cotton candy with the refreshing taste of beer, creating a sweet and flavorful experience.

What is Cotton Candy Beer?

Cotton candy beer is a type of beer that is brewed with cotton candy flavoring. This can be done by adding cotton candy extract, syrup, or even actual cotton candy to the beer during the brewing process. The result is a beer that has a sweet, candy-like flavor with a light and refreshing body.

The Rise of Cotton Candy Beer in Iowa

Cotton candy beer first emerged in Iowa in 2018, when Toppling Goliath Brewing Company released its King Sue double IPA. This beer quickly became a hit among beer drinkers, and soon other Iowa breweries began experimenting with cotton candy flavors in their own beers. Today, there are several Iowa breweries that produce cotton candy beers, including:

• Toppling Goliath Brewing Company (King Sue)
• Pulpit Rock Brewing Company (Cotton Candy Kush)
• Lion Bridge Brewing Company (Unicorn Farts)
• Backpocket Brewing Company (Cotton Candy Dream)
• Big Grove Brewery (Cotton Candy Cream Ale)

Why Does Cotton Candy Beer Matter?

Cotton candy beer is a popular choice for beer drinkers who enjoy sweet and flavorful beers. It is also a good option for people who are new to craft beer, as it is a relatively easy-drinking style. In addition, cotton candy beer can be used as a dessert beer or as a refreshing treat on a hot summer day.

Benefits of Drinking Cotton Candy Beer

There are several benefits to drinking cotton candy beer, including:

• It is a sweet and flavorful beer that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
• It is a relatively easy-drinking style, making it a good option for people who are new to craft beer.
• It can be used as a dessert beer or as a refreshing treat on a hot summer day.
• It is a low-calorie beer, making it a good choice for people who are watching their weight.

Tips and Tricks for Enjoying Cotton Candy Beer

Here are a few tips and tricks for enjoying cotton candy beer:

• Serve cotton candy beer chilled.
• Pair cotton candy beer with sweet or salty foods, such as popcorn, pizza, or chocolate.
• Experiment with different cotton candy beer styles. There are many different types of cotton candy beer available, so try a few different ones to find your favorite.
• Have fun! Cotton candy beer is a delicious and unique beer style that can be enjoyed in many different ways.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Drinking Cotton Candy Beer

Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when drinking cotton candy beer:

• Do not drink cotton candy beer too quickly. Cotton candy beer is a sweet and flavorful beer, but it can be easy to drink too much too quickly. Pace yourself and enjoy the beer slowly.
• Do not drink cotton candy beer on an empty stomach. Cotton candy beer is a low-calorie beer, but it can still cause stomach problems if you drink it on an empty stomach. Eat a meal or snack before drinking cotton candy beer.
• Do not store cotton candy beer in the refrigerator for too long. Cotton candy beer is best enjoyed fresh. Store it in the refrigerator for no more than a few weeks.

How to Make Cotton Candy Beer at Home

If you are interested in making cotton candy beer at home, here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Gather your ingredients. You will need:
   • 1 gallon of water
   • 8 pounds of light malt extract
   • 2 ounces of cotton candy extract
   • 1 ounce of yeast
   • A clean fermentation vessel
   • An airlock
2. Heat the water. Bring the water to a boil in a large pot or kettle.
3. Add the malt extract. Once the water is boiling, remove it from the heat and stir in the malt extract. Bring the mixture back to a boil and then reduce the heat to low.
4. Simmer the mixture. Allow the mixture to simmer for 60 minutes. This will allow the malt extract to convert into sugar.
5. Add the cotton candy extract. After 60 minutes, remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the cotton candy extract.
6. Cool the mixture. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
7. Transfer the mixture to a fermentation vessel. Once the mixture has cooled, transfer it to a clean fermentation vessel.
8. Add the yeast. Sprinkle the yeast over the top of the mixture and stir to dissolve.
9. Attach an airlock. Attach an airlock to the fermentation vessel. This will allow carbon dioxide to escape from the beer while preventing oxygen from getting in.
10. Ferment the beer. Allow the beer to ferment for 7-10 days at room temperature. This will allow the yeast to convert the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
11. Bottle the beer. Once the beer has fermented, bottle it in clean bottles.
12. Carbonate the beer. Add 1-2 ounces of sugar to each bottle before capping. This will allow the beer to carbonate naturally.
13. Condition the beer. Allow the beer to condition for 2-3 weeks at room temperature. This will allow the flavors to develop and the beer to become carbonated.

Stories and Lessons Learned

Here are a few humorous stories and lessons learned about cotton candy beer:

• A man went to a bar and ordered a cotton candy beer. The bartender gave him a beer and a bag of cotton candy. The man stared at the bartender in confusion. "What am I supposed to do with this?" he asked. The bartender replied, "Just put the cotton candy in the beer and watch the magic happen." The man did as he was instructed, and the cotton candy quickly dissolved, leaving behind a sweet and flavorful beer.
• A woman went to a party and had a few too many cotton candy beers. On her way home, she got pulled over by a police officer. The officer asked her to step out of the car and take a breathalyzer test. The woman failed the test and was arrested for drunk driving. The next day, the woman went to court and tried to explain to the judge that she was not drunk, she had just had too many cotton candy beers. The judge did not believe her and sentenced her to 30 days in jail.
• A group of friends went to a beer festival and tried a variety of cotton candy beers. They all agreed that the beers were delicious, but they also noticed that they were very high in calories. The next day, the friends all woke up with hangovers and vowed never to drink cotton candy beer again.

The lesson learned from these stories is that it is important to drink cotton candy beer in moderation. While it is a delicious and unique beer style, it is also important to be aware of the potential consequences of drinking too much.

Tables

Table 1: Popular Cotton Candy Beers in Iowa

Table 2: Nutritional Information for Cotton Candy Beer

Table 3: Tips for Enjoying Cotton Candy Beer

Call to Action

If you are interested in trying cotton candy beer, be sure to check out one of the many Iowa breweries that produce it. You can also try making cotton candy beer at home using the recipe provided above. Enjoy!