I recently declared hazy IPAs as my favorite style of beer.  But it's like picking your favorite album.  Yeah, it's a great one...but it's not for every occasion.  You wouldn't put on Appetite for Destruction at a wedding.  The dance floor would clear out and I'd be the only one left doing the serpentine dance wearing a kilt and catchers gear.
Dark beers are my original craft beer love.  Stouts in particular.  Started off with Guinness and made my way to Bent River's Uncommon. That's the beer that got me into craft beer so the darkness was my first true love.  That malty, roasty, goodness is something that I can't get enough of.
It's why I'm excited about Radicle Effect's 7 Days of Darkness celebration. 7 Days. 7 Beers which started yesterday, Sunday February 20th and rolls through Saturday with a new beer being tapped every day.
The 7 Days of Darkness approaches. Its ominous presence brings with it some of the most diabolical and tasty Dark brews conjured by the minds of some of the most twisted brewers. For 7 long, flavorful days, one Dark beer will appear on our list that will rip your taste buds apart! You will soon beg for the light to return if you can endure The 7 Days of Darkness!
I talked to Radicle Effect Owner/Head Brewer, Rich Nunez, about why 7 Days of Darkness is his favorite event of the year:
I've been to enough stout fests over da years and your taste buds get distorted rather quickly after a few big beers.
A week long event focusing on just one dark, tasty elixir per day made more sense to me.
Give ya time to appreciate that special opaque and often barrel aged, brew that's tapped that day, on an individual basis.
Here's what's in store for this years 7 Days of Darkness at Radicle Effect!
  • Central Waters Brewery, Amherst, WI, 2017 Brewers Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout
  • Half Acre Brewery, Benthic 2019
  • Stone Brewery, Woot Stout 2016
  • Finch Brewery, Deep Soul 2019
  • Triptych Brewing, When Someone Asks If You're A God
  • Bourbon County, Classic Cola Stout 2021
  • Wake & Bent River collaboration, Saturday Release

Quad Cities Live Music Venues That Aren't Live Music Venues Anymore

Nostalgia Alert!.

We've compiled a quick list (by no means comprehensive) of venues in the Quad Cities that are no longer music venues but to us will ALWAYS hold a special place were we saw some great shows and made some incredible memories.

To many of us the live music scene wasn't just a concert here & there. It was an every weekend affair. And it didn't matter if it was a touring band or your buddy's band. We were going to be there with a beer in hand and scream along with guitars that were way too loud in a room that was improperly treated acoustically and make some bad decisions.

Craft Breweries in the Quad Cities Area

We're very lucky to live in an area with such an amazing, thriving "craft beer scene". You'll be able to find everything you could want.

Not sure what you want? That's ok. The bartenders at these establishments are very well versed and can guide you through a wonderland of Ales and Lagers.

From "coffee infused" to "riff infused".

From "pale ales" to "peanut butter porters".

Fruity, Sour, Hoppy, Malty, Crisp, Crushable beers in all shapes and sizes.

Crowlers, Growlers, Cans & Kegs...the Quad Cities Craft Beer scene has it all.

And of course...a great beer isn't complete unless it's paired with some amazing food. Whether it's made in the breweries kitchen or in the food truck in the parking lot...brewers know that people love food with their beer. 

Take a look at the 19 Quad Cities Area craft breweries!

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