Meet the Iowa beer that voters selected as the best in the state in the 2023 Beer Brackets

Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register
·2 min read
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Basketball fans drank Iowa beers in the Iowa Craft Beer Tent at Hoops and Hops on March 16 at Cowles Commons in Des Moines.
Basketball fans drank Iowa beers in the Iowa Craft Beer Tent at Hoops and Hops on March 16 at Cowles Commons in Des Moines.

Iowa beer lovers have spoken. They voted in the finale of the Des Moines Register's Beer Brackets, pitting Exile Brewing Co. Ruthie against Peace Tree Brewing Blonde Fatale Belgian-style blonde ale. Two No. 1 seeds battling it out. Two beers named for women.

Two beers out of 64 that started this competition remained. And for 2023, that means a new brewery that never won Beer Brackets won the crown.

Peace Tree Brewing came out on top, named the best beer in Iowa.

The final score came down to a 32-vote difference.



Can't see the bracket above? Click here

Blonde Fatale started by defeating Toppling Goliath Dragon Fandango Sour, followed by Lua Brewing Baby Blue Sedan Fruited Sour to make the Sweet 16 and then Laketime Brewery Oreo Speedwagon milk stout for the Elite Eight. Then the women-owned brewery out of Knoxville defeated Confluence Brewing Co. Farmer John's Multi Grain Ale for the Final Four. Peace Tree defeated Confluence Brewing Co. Milk Man Milk Stout to make the finals.

The Beer Brackets Logo for 2023
The Beer Brackets Logo for 2023

Peace Tree describes Blonde Fatale as a Belgian-style blonde ale that "will steal your heart as the unfiltered golden hue seduces your taste buds with surprising smoothness. It’s delicately hopped with Styrian Golding and Celeia for medium aroma with a crisp and refreshing bite. The Belgian yeast adds hints of fruity complexity, but be warned — its mysterious charm will draw you in again and again."

While you're swilling down a Blonde Fatale at the brewery in Knoxville or taproom in Des Moines, check out some of the other beers at Peace Tree including 99 Pils American pilsner and Get a Little Hazy hazy IPA.

Congratulations to all of the fans of Peace Tree and the team behind the brewery — the 2023 champ.

And we want to thank the Iowa Brewers Guild and the 30-plus other Iowa breweries that joined in on the fun this year. We couldn't do this without your amazing beers and your tremendous fans.

Cheers.

Fun facts about Beer Brackets

In 2019, the last time the Des Moines Register held Beer Brackets, the winner was SingleSpeed Brewing, which originally opened in 2012 in Cedar Falls. Fenders Brewing in Polk City won in 2018. Confluence Brewing Co. in Des Moines won in 2017. And in the first competition in 2016, West O Beer from Milford won.

In all, there were 38,281 votes from 2,203 people.

More about Peace Tree Brewing

Peace Tree Brewing Co.'s Blonde Fatale label.
Peace Tree Brewing Co.'s Blonde Fatale label.

Brewery location: 107 W. Main St., Knoxville; 641-842-2739

Taproom location: 317 E. Court Ave., Des Moines; 515-883-2739

Contact: peacetreebrewing.com

Facebook: facebook.com/peacetreetaproom

Instagram: instagram.com/peacetreetaproom/

Twitter: twitter.com/PeaceTreeTap

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The best beer in Iowa is from Peace Tree Brewing, winner of Beer Brackets