The “official” first day of Spring may not come for a few weeks, but here at Iowa Brewing Company, we ring in the new season with a different kind of celebration.

The celebration is called "The Blessing of the Bock," and it features a ceremonial presentation from brew masters and beer-lovers, blessing this year’s batch of our Aaah Bock beer at the brewery.

The ceremony is 24 years old, and was started by the brew master of Stone City Brewing, Jeff Allen. The Solon brewery is no longer in operation, but the tradition continues on in Cedar Rapids, with Allen serving as "Father Hops," the leader of the ceremonial dedication.

After the ceremony, our blacksmiths will be going around “spiking” pours of Aaah Bock with a red-hot poker, caramelizing the remaining sugars in the beer, providing a unique taste and experience for our guests.