El Bait Shop beer fest features Iowa beers

If you're a dedicated beer locavore, el Bait Shop's Second Annual Little Giant Beer Summit is for you. Even if you just like beer a lot, you'll probably want to hit this thing up. It's Sept. 20, from 3-7 p.m. and will feature nearly 40 Iowa breweries and over 70 Iowa beers on tap. You mightn't be able to taste them all, but then again, you do have four hours.

The event is free and is happening rain or shine. The goal of the Little Giant Beer Summit is to bring together great Iowa breweries for one big celebration. "I thought last year's event could not be topped, but the quality and variety of the beers this year are nothing short of amazing!" said Jeff Bruning, founder of the event.

El Bait Shop want to show central Iowa's beer lovers the cool beer stuff that's happening all across Iowa. Great beer is not confined to the metro. Some of the beers this year are Confluences' Barrel-aged DBA Centennial, Peacetree's Sour Mash Saison, WestO's CocO Stout, Backpocket's Barrel Aged Barleywine, Exile's Beatnik Sour Cherry Berlinerweiss, just to name a few. There will also be some new suds makers at the Summit this year, like Big Grove (Solon), Captain's Quarters (Adel), Deal Orchard (Jefferson), Firetrucker (Ankeny) and Lion Bridge (Cedar Rapids).

It doesn't cost to show up, but you'll have to buy your beer, which is $2.50 a ticket for 5-ounce draws or $2 a ticket when you buy 10 tickets. And for $7, you can own a commemorative glass, It'll help you remember how you spent that Saturday.

El Bait Shop is at 200 S.W. 2nd St. You can find more information on the Summit's Facebook event page.