Madhouse Brewing Company
www.madhousebeer.com
403 W. 4th St. N.
Newton, IA 50208
641-831-3392
The history of Madhouse Brewing Company is undeniably tied to that of another (formerly) Newton, IA based beverage artisan–Jasper Winery. In 2008, Jasper Winery moved from its building in Newton to that of newly constructed winery building near downtown Des Moines. At the time, the winemaker at Jasper Winery, Mason Groben, decided to convert the old winery into a brewery.
Coincidentally, Allen Wells, CEO of Iowa Telecom, was looking into the option of moving a brewery into a space left vacant in the historic buildings previously owned by the Maytag Corp. Groben and Wells met and decided to join forces to bring Newton its first brewery.
Plans for the brewery began but were unexpectedly halted due to a failure to get a permit from the State of Iowa. After much legal debate, it was determined that state law forbade an employee of a winery (Groben) from also working for another manufacturer of alcoholic beverages (the brewery) as explained in Iowa Code Section 123.45. This outdated and poorly constructed section in the Iowa law nearly ended the brewery plans.
In January, 2009, Groben began an intensive campaign at the Iowa Capital to get the law changed. Groben was fortunate to receive the support of Senator Dennis Black, Newton Mayor Chaz Allen, and the many others who supported the bill. After several months of talking with legislators, Senate File (SF) 420 was passed and signed into law!
Following this change to the Iowa law, plans for the brewery were able to proceed. Approximately twenty investors committed to the project, and the purchasing of equipment came soon after. Madhouse Brewing Company began production in January, 2010.
Madhouse Brews
Pastime Pale Ale
Pastime Pale Ale is a “hopped up” version of an American style pale ale. The beer is deep amber to copper in color, and receives several generous additions of Centennial and Cascade hops. These hops give the beer a complex and enticing character, with spicy aromas of citrus and pine. Specialty grains deliver a rich and full-bodied flavor, with a bold taste of caramel and toasted malt. Our brewery is located in the former headquarters of the Maytag Corp., and the “Pastime” was the first washing machine made by the Maytag company in 1907.
American Wheat
Our American Wheat is an original example of this relatively new beer style. Light and refreshing, American-style wheat beers have gained popularity for their lively effervescence and easy drinking flavor. Wheat malt dominates the sensory attributes of this beer, with light hop additions to bring out a pleasant citrus aroma. This beer is intentionally left unfiltered and therefore cloudy, in order to preserve the complex flavor components of the beer.
