Founded:	2001
Membership:	75-80 members
Location:	Des Moines, IA
Meeting Info:	El Bait Shop Every 3rd Monday of the month, 7PM
Dues:	$25 Yearly, free to visit and check us out anytime
Website:	www.iowabrewersunion.com
Email:	iabrewersunion@gmail.com
Twitter:	@iabrewersunion
Facebook:	www.facebook.com/iowabrewersunion

Who we are and how we got started

The Iowa Brewers Union (IBU for short) has become one of Iowa's largest home brewing clubs.  Located in Des Moines, IA, the IBU got its early start from the former Heartland Homebrew Supply store owner in 1997. His frustrations with lack of beer judges in the area to help judge his annual local home brew competitions led him to start gathering some of his customers, local scientists (mostly from the company 'Pioneer') and smaller club beer geeks to form a newer beer club. He was looking to form a club to discuss more of the technical side of brewing, have quest speakers, evaluate beer, and train judges.  Formally founded in July 2001, these home brewers were dedicated to sharing their knowledge and love of beer with fellow home brewers and beer enthusiasts across central Iowa.   Not long after that the IBU soon blossomed into a large non profit, AHA sponsored club and has grown significantly over the past decade. As of 2011, the club is now up to 75 to 80 members.

What we do

The Iowa Brewers Union meets every 3rd Monday of the month in Des Moines, IA. At our meetings, we go over our current events and anything related to us brewing. We'll sometimes have speakers come by to tell us about their product or events/issues. We'll also compare styles and obviously drink each others brew, along with talking about topics that help us all brew better beer. Many of our members are now BJCP judges that help judge competitions around the mid-west. We also hold many brewing events out side of our meetings. Our club produces so much beer that we serve our own samples of home brews at many local events and charities around the state of Iowa.  We've participated in the 'Iowa Beer Festival' held in Amana, IA, charity events for the 'Living of History Farms' in Des Moines, events at the Salisbury House in Des Moines. Also, the IBU even has its own successful home brew serving night (Jimmy Carter Happy Hour) at its meeting location 'El Bait Shop', where every Thursday night, different IBU members use the club jockey boxes to serve customers samples their own local home brew.

Other activities include:

• Yearly participation in AHA events such as Big Brew Day and Learn to Homebrew Day.
• Yearly participation in the National Homebrewers Conference by officers and other members (Winner of the Golden Urinal 2 times).
• Annual sponsorship of a BJCP exam.
• Annual hosting of an AHA sanctioned competition 'The IBU Open' held every spring.
• Annual gatherings such as our Christmas Party and our legendary Oktoberfest bash.
• Yearly participation in the 'Iowa State Fair' Home Brewing Competition
• Touring of local breweries and local hop farms.