However a Marshalltown craft brewery is embarking on a trip around the world that doesn’t even involve leaving the city. Iowa River Brewing Co. is starting a Beers Around The World promotion in 2020, with each weekend providing a new imported beer available for $1 for a whole week at its location on 1st St.

The bottles will also be collectible, allowing for a person to potentially get 48 different bottles from 48 countries if they are committed enough.

It’s a unique promotion, and Travis Rhodes — the mastermind behind the idea — said it was something he’s excited about leading.

“Since we do sell a lot of imports, I thought it would be a good idea to try and sample different beers from everywhere,” Rhodes said. “Like the most popular beers made in each country. I thought it’d be a great way of bringing people in.”

A few of Iowa River Brewing’s selection of self-made craft beers. The brewery was founded in 2012.

The idea is just one of many for the only craft brewery in Marshalltown. Iowa River Brewing was founded in 2012 by Roger and Ellen Brown, and the company is currently offering nine beers of its own on tap: The George Hopper IPA, Company Caramel Pale Ale, Envy of ’em All Dark Ale, Churchill Porter, B-17 Bomber, Harvest Pumpkin Ale, The Stack, Bangarang Belgian Cream and Blood Orange Wheat, which Rhodes said is one of their most popular beers in the summer months. The brewery is secretive about its recipes, but it’s got a beer for each of the seasons. Rhodes said they have a beer for everyone from the craft beer novice to an IPA veteran.

Rhodes began working part-time at Iowa River Brewing in 2017, mainly during events and on weekends. But in the supper of 2019, Rhodes became a full-time worker. He said he runs most of the work up in the front area and at the bar, which has allowed him the creativity to come up with the Beers Around the World idea.

He said there are some difficulties in making it work in all 48 weeks – mainly the challenge of procuring some of the imported beers on his wish list. It’s still a work in progress for some of them.

“Certain companies have a limited stock of what they can sell or what they can get,” Rhodes said. “Star Lager from Africa is something I’m looking into, but I have to first figure out if I can get it.”

The first beer on the list is actually from San Fransisco: Steamed Anchor. Rhodes couldn’t think of a better way to start the tour of the world than in the United States. Next week’s beer is from Croatia.

This week’s Beers Around the World deal at Iowa River Brewing is the Anchored Steam Beer from San Francisco.

Iowa River Brewing is focusing on Europe and Africa in this first year of the tour of beers – and Rhodes said that if people enjoy it, he’s already brainstorming more regions of the world for the brewery to bring beers in from.

More than anything, though, Rhodes said he wanted to introduce this project to bring something different to the table at the brewery — and bring excitement to beer.

“We started talking about ways of getting people excited about beer again,” Rhodes said.

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Contact Noah Rohlfing at 641-753-6611 or nrohlfing@timesrepublican.com.

Iowa River Brewing Co. features a wide array of beers on tap.