It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Brucemore gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Cedar Rapids, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the”
“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose”
“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.”
“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Morgan Creek Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Cobble Hill or visit The District Czech Village New Bohemia, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Cedar Rapids, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Cedar Rapids, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Cedar Rapids, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Kaleb Johnson headlines list of Hawkeyes with chance to impress scouts in IndianapolisThe Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.IOWA CITY — Iowa football is well represented at this week’s NFL Combine.Running back Kaleb Johnson, linebacker Jay Higgins, tight end Luke Lachey, offensive lineman Connor Colby, defensive lineman Yahya Black and defensive backs Sebastian Castro and Jermari Harris are all in Indianapolis this week.The combine presents a sal...
Kaleb Johnson headlines list of Hawkeyes with chance to impress scouts in Indianapolis
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
IOWA CITY — Iowa football is well represented at this week’s NFL Combine.
Running back Kaleb Johnson, linebacker Jay Higgins, tight end Luke Lachey, offensive lineman Connor Colby, defensive lineman Yahya Black and defensive backs Sebastian Castro and Jermari Harris are all in Indianapolis this week.
The combine presents a salient opportunity to impress scouts on and off the field and therefore improve one’s draft stock. That is especially important considering the bulk of Iowa’s draft prospects do not have high projections at this point in the pre-draft process.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projected Johnson last month to go No. 24 overall to the Minnesota Vikings, but he has been the exception when looking at mock drafts from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah and others. NFL.com writer Chad Reuter projected Johnson to go No. 72 overall in his three-round mock draft earlier this month, and Johnson was the only Hawkeye included.
Here is a closer look at where each of Iowa’s seven players stand ahead of their combine drills later this week (listed in order of ESPN’s prospect rankings):
Pro Football Focus overall ranking: No. 60
ESPN overall ranking: No. 50
ESPN positional ranking: No. 3
Ashton Jeanty, the 2024 Heisman runner-up, is widely considered the top running back in this year’s draft class. Johnson appears to be in the next tier of running backs along with North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton after his record-breaking 2024 season in Iowa City.
PFF overall ranking: No. 73
ESPN overall ranking: No. 84
ESPN positional ranking: No. 6
Castro especially caught attention in 2023, when he grabbed three interceptions and allowed a 43.7 NFL passer rating, per PFF. His 2024 numbers were not quite as good, but he still offers a versatile, hard-hitting option for NFL teams seeking help at safety or slot corner.
PFF overall ranking: No. 208
ESPN overall ranking: No. 147
ESPN positional ranking: No. 9
Lachey caught a career-best 71.8 percent of targets in 2024, per PFF, and brings plenty of upside at the tight end position. His draft stock would probably be higher if it had not been for his injury misfortune and Iowa’s continued passing struggles.
PFF overall ranking: No. 165
ESPN overall ranking: No. 190
ESPN positional ranking: No. 11
Colby could become the 20th Iowa offensive lineman drafted in the Kirk Ferentz era after starting 50 games in his four-year Hawkeye career. The Cedar Rapids native was a first-team all-Big Ten honoree in 2024 and a third-team all-Big Ten honoree in 2023.
PFF overall ranking: No. 199
ESPN overall ranking: No. 206
ESPN positional ranking: No. 13
It is surprising to see Higgins not get more love from draft prognosticators after his high level of production over the last two seasons. He tied a Hawkeye program record for tackles in a single season in 2023 and was named a unanimous All-American in 2024.
The combine will be a homecoming for Higgins, who attended high school about 12 miles north of Lucas Oil Stadium.
PFF overall ranking: n/a
ESPN overall ranking: n/a
ESPN positional ranking: n/a
Yahya Black has an enviable combination of size, strength and skill that could be quite appealing to NFL teams. As a two-gap defensive tackle, his impact on Iowa’s defensive line was evident in many ways that transcended the box score.
PFF overall ranking: n/a
ESPN overall ranking: n/a
ESPN positional ranking: n/a
Harris had an excellent 2024 season while he was on the field. He had a career-best 36.8 NFL passer rating allowed and 43.2 percent reception rate, per PFF. Another couple games of film may have helped Harris’ draft stock.
Offensive lineman Mason Richman highlights the list of Hawkeye players who did not secure a combine invitation. Richman’s snub was despite starting 52 games at left tackle over the last four seasons and being named an all-Big Ten honorable mention in the last two seasons.
Defensive end Deontae Craig, linebacker Nick Jackson and defensive back Quinn Schulte also did not get combine invitations. After a relatively quiet regular season, Craig stood out in the 2024 Music City Bowl with four tackles for loss and two sacks.
Jackson had 555 career tackles in his four years at Virginia and two years at Iowa. Schulte, a former walk-on from Cedar Rapids Xavier, started in 40 games in his career and had a career-high three interceptions in 2024.
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The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.New, feline-occupied spaces are becoming the cat’s meow across the Corridor.A cat lounge has opened in Iowa City, and a cat café is in the works for the Cedar Rapids area.Kitty Corner Social Club opened earlier in February with a cat lounge that does not sell food or beverages. With free self-service beverages like a water bottle station and tea, patrons are invited to simply relax with the cats at 20 S. Clinton St...
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
New, feline-occupied spaces are becoming the cat’s meow across the Corridor.
A cat lounge has opened in Iowa City, and a cat café is in the works for the Cedar Rapids area.
Kitty Corner Social Club opened earlier in February with a cat lounge that does not sell food or beverages. With free self-service beverages like a water bottle station and tea, patrons are invited to simply relax with the cats at 20 S. Clinton St. in Iowa City.
Billed as a destination for humans and cats to unwind side by side, visitors can connect with the cats lounging on couches and watching TV — all available for adoption from the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.
Admission is available in increments of 15, 30 or 60 minutes, starting at $11. Walk-ins are welcome, though reservations at its website are strongly encouraged.
“Our focus is on creating a clean and safe environment for our feline friends, so we’ve kept it simple with occasional self-service, free drinks — no food,” Kitty Corner posted on its social media.
Visitors may also be able to bring in their takeout from nearby restaurants to snack on with special dining companions — assuming it doesn’t cause too much of a frenzy.
But if you want to buy a cup of java made from scratch in a cat-friendly establishment, one Marion resident has something you’ll be interested in.
Familiar Cat Cafe, a new coffee shop concept from Kat Sung, is exploring properties to bring a cat café online in the Cedar Rapids area by the end of the year.
“I want it to be a third space sanctuary for humans and cats, which I feel is super important right now with the division and uncertainty in the world,” Sung said.
The space would facilitate adoptions with a local shelter, in addition to being a place to hang out. Sung envisions the area for cats being separate from the area that sells food and drinks, for the comfort and inclusion of all visitors.
For now, Familiar Cat Cafe is getting its start with an online space selling products from local artists around themes of mysticism and spirituality — like oracle cards and a cat Yin and Yang necklace.
Sung, who has worked in human services for about 14 years, said building community spaces that foster belonging is important to them.
Familiar Cat Cafe will hold a pop-up at Raygun in Cedar Rapids on March 8. For more information, visit their Facebook or website at familiarcatcafe.com.
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or [email protected].
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After 80 years of helping people get the craft supplies they needed to complete projects Joann has announced that they are going out of business and preparing to close all store locations.The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the company filed for bankruptcy in January, the second time in just one year. At the time, it vowed it would keep all stores open. Then, earlier this mon...
After 80 years of helping people get the craft supplies they needed to complete projects Joann has announced that they are going out of business and preparing to close all store locations.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports the company filed for bankruptcy in January, the second time in just one year. At the time, it vowed it would keep all stores open. Then, earlier this month, the company announced that it planned to close 500 stores, more than half of its nationwide locations. The Gazette reports Iowa stores that were to be shut down as part of that announcement included Ames, Ankeny, Iowa City, Muscatine, Mason City, and Council Bluffs.
However, the company stated that after an auction held on Sunday, financial services group GA Group, along with Joann's term lenders, would begin winding down store operations and conduct going-out-of-business sales at all locations, according to the Gazette. The remaining Iowa stores that will close include Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Davenport, Waterloo, and Clive.
So how long will Joann locations remain open? The Gazette reports that Joann.com and the mobile app will remain operational as going-out-of-business sales continue. Dates for store closures and will be posted as soon as possible. Joann stated that it would take a "number of weeks to complete our final sales."
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Is there a Corridor-area business that you really miss? Here are some of the responses from Iowans on Facebook!
The 'I Grew Up In Iowa' Facebook Group was asked for slang terms for towns in Iowa that you have used or know of.
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.Iowans don’t get around much anymore, and craft brewers are feeling it.“Taproom sales have been going down, and if they keep going down there’s going to be more closings,” said Scott Whitson, head brewer and co-owner of BIT Brewing in Central City.Craft brewers of all sizes are seeing fewer sales in their on-premise taprooms.“Our taproom sales are down,” said Todd Viall, owner and head...
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Iowans don’t get around much anymore, and craft brewers are feeling it.
“Taproom sales have been going down, and if they keep going down there’s going to be more closings,” said Scott Whitson, head brewer and co-owner of BIT Brewing in Central City.
Craft brewers of all sizes are seeing fewer sales in their on-premise taprooms.
“Our taproom sales are down,” said Todd Viall, owner and head brewer at Clock House Brewing in Cedar Rapids. “Not terribly bad, but it’s been a steady decline.”
“There are a lot of breweries out there, and craft beer is feeling the pinch of economics and overgrowth,” said Alec Travis, co-owner and beverage director at Field Day Brewing in North Liberty.
“Last year was a challenging year for breweries,” said Quinton McClain, founder and head of operations at Lion Bridge Brewing in Cedar Rapids. “You see a lot of equipment on the market, and trends do change.”
“We have not seen consumers’ social behavior return to pre-pandemic (patterns),” said Noreen Otto, executive director of the Iowa Brewers Guild. “We see less people leaving their home and coming out and socializing. We’re just not seeing the same level of sales, and our brewers who depend on taproom sales are seeing the effects.”
Iowa’s experience is part of a national trend away from beer. Beer sales in the state dropped 3.2 percent in 2023, the last year for which complete statistics are available, compared to 5.1 percent nationwide. After a big jump from 2020s COVID slump, Iowa beer sales continued to drop, according to the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Division. Otto noted 2021’s rebound was driven by a reopening of public gatherings and the change in state law to allow to-go sales from bars and taprooms.
In its annual Year in Beer report, the Brewers Association — the national trade association for craft brewers — calls 2024 “a year of decelerated growth.” Overall beer consumption in the U.S. fell in 2023 to its lowest level since the 1970s, according to the Association.
“Craft has been going through a painful period of rationalization as demand growth has slowed and retailers and distributors look to simplify their offerings or add options for flavor and variety outside of the craft category,” said Bart Watson, the association’s vice president of strategy and membership.
Alternatives such as canned wines and cocktails and THC-infused drinks have prompted some brewers to offer those products, too.
Iowa brewers’ share of statewide sales saw a modest increase last year, although their 1.5 percent niche is a fraction of craft’s 13.3 percent share nationwide. A craft brewer is defined as one producing up to 6 million barrels a year. A beer barrel holds 31 gallons.
The Brewers Association counted 9,736 craft breweries last year, when 355 new breweries opened as 399 closed, including Kalona, Peace Tree in Knoxville, and Franklin Street in Manchester. The Brewers Guild counts about 100 member breweries and cideries in 81 Iowa communities.
Iowa Brewing Company continues taproom and brewing operations while it seeks a new owner. Craig Stephan, president of the Cedar Rapids brewery that opened in 2016, declined further comment for this article.
The state’s largest craft brewer, Iowa City-based Big Grove, “remains an aberration to those trends,” according to Bryan Farrell, its director of marketing.
Big Grove sales are up 15.2 percent over the past year and the company is on track to selling “well over half a million cases this year,” Farrell said. The company opened taprooms in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, with an Omaha taproom set to open in April and a sixth Midwest location later in the year. It’s expanded retail distribution into Western Illinois, most of Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas, including Kansas City.
“We continue to see (taprooms) as our biggest marketing tool to engage consumers,” Farrell said. “All of our locations are full-service restaurants. If you took our name off the building, we’d still be one of the top-performing restaurants in that market.”
Big Grove even aired Super Bowl ads on Iowa TV and plans to directly challenge big multinational brands with Neighborhood, a light lager now available in its taprooms with a retail rollout in March.
“Two trends we’ve seen are consumers focusing on higher ABV (alcohol by volume) options, which we already have, and lower ABV, your typical lagers,” Farrell said. “We’re targeting a lager that can go out to that drinker.”
“To teach somebody about a beer, I’m going to be able to do that in our taproom so much better than at Hy-Vee with samplers,” Field Day’s Travis said. “If they’re not a craft beer drinker, they come in and they try it on draft, but we have that opportunity for our staff to make that personal connection.”
Lion Bridge, which closed its kitchen at the end of 2024, is close to a deal to rent it, McClain said.
“It’s pretty much finalized,” he said. “The focus is to concentrate on what we know, the beer side. From the customer side it may not look any different.”
McClain hopes to unveil plans for a taproom remodel and other changes when Lion Bridge celebrates its 11th anniversary in March.
“We’ve been talking about reimagining our space,” he said. The plans include the eventual addition of a distillery, for which McClain has already purchased equipment.
“We will be adding that,” he said. “The kitchen and taproom remodel is Phase One, the distillery is Phase Two. That’s looking very promising, too. New products are critical now. Customer tastes change and we want to get people in the door.”
The capacity to produce more beer styles and non-beer alternatives, and the canning equipment to support retail distribution, afford larger brewers more options.
“We’re focusing more on distribution,” said Viall at Clock House. “Our Witch Slap brand is growing, so we’re just pushing more out the door even though were not really a production brewery.”
“We’re still trying to take share from the big breweries,” said Travis at Field Day. “We have hazy IPAs and fruited sours, expanding that portfolio for everybody. We want people to come in and have non-alcoholic seltzers, NA beers, wine, cocktails, (THC-infused) Daydreamer.”
That keeps customers coming to small brewers like BIT, too.
“We keep a couple of sours, a couple of ciders, a couple of IPAs, a couple of lighter beers on tap,” said Whitson. “We usually have a couple of stouts. I’ve had a barrel-aged beer on tap since late fall. A good selection, and we always try to do something new.”
Brewers plan events and offer a wider variety of styles to boost taproom traffic.
“The Iowa craft beer scene is not immune to the pressure we’re seeing elsewhere,” said Otto. “Consumer habits and consumer palates are changing, but our brewers are stepping up.”
Co-owner Scott Whitson cleans out kegs in the basement at Bit Brewery in Central City on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Co-owner Scott Whitson transfers beer to a mixing vessel at BIT Brewery in Central City, Iowa on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Co-owner Scott Whitson measures rhubarb extract used to flavor a sour beer at BIT Brewery in Central City, Iowa on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
Co-owner Scott Whitson pours off the trub, or sediment formed during the brewing process, from a beer at BIT Brewery in Central City, Iowa on Friday, February 14, 2025. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
To the state’s smallest brewers like BIT, which has seen sales drop 1 to 4 percent a year since opening in 2020, taproom sales are critical. BIT beers are available at a few retail outlets, with Whitson or another employee filling and sealing each can.
“We just continue to look for ways to trim the fat and get more people in the brewery,” he said.
That can mean live music, trivia nights, and special events to draw customers. BIT also serves wood-fired pizza.
“For the smaller taprooms in the small community, their goal is to be the living room for the community,” Otto said.
“We try to make it a nice gathering place for friends and family,” said Whitson. “We had a 50th birthday party last night. We’ve had a one-year-old’s birthday party, we just had a baby shower last weekend. We’ve had a wedding reception in here. It’s kind of fun.”
Cedar Rapids City Council to consider approval of development incentives TuesdayDick Hogan Why you can trust The Gazette The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.CEDAR RAPIDS — The intended tenant of the former Sears store at Lindale Mall will be Dick’s House of Sport, and will include...
Cedar Rapids City Council to consider approval of development incentives Tuesday
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CEDAR RAPIDS — The intended tenant of the former Sears store at Lindale Mall will be Dick’s House of Sport, and will include an outdoor year-round, multiuse field, according to documents set for discussion at Tuesday’s Cedar Rapids City Council meeting.
The council will hold public hearings at Tuesday’s meeting for making the former Sears store an urban renewal site. The hearings also will include a proposed redevelopment agreement between the city and Reserve Development of Dallas, doing business as Shops at Cedar Rapids, LLC.
The company bought the site — which was vacated by Sears in 2018 — for $3.4 million and has recruited the new Dick's House of Sport operation.
Dick's Sporting Goods has operated a store for several years across the street from Lindale, at 4601 First Ave SE. It's unclear whether both stores would coexist.
After Tuesday's public hearings, the council decide whether to approve the urban renewal/TIF site designation and the redevelopment agreement.
The development agreement to be considered requires the developer to:
The city incentive provides a 10-year, 100 percent rebate of increased taxes generated by the project. Based on the investment and estimated post-development value, the project is expected to generate $4.9 million in total taxes over a 10-year period, of which $3.3 million would be rebated back to the company.
According to the company website, Dick’s House of Sport stores are at least 100,000 square feet, giving customers an assortment of products, and in-store experiences such as a climbing wall, golf bays with simulators, and multisport cages that can be used for baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer.
This concept was started in 2021 and there are now nine such stores nationwide. Eight of those are located in repurposed buildings, as will the Cedar Rapids store. Davenport opened a Dick's House of Sport in 2023. Dick's plans to have 75 to 100 House of Sport open by 2027, according to online information.
Dick's was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Coraopolis, Pa. It employs 55,500 people nationwide, according to the company's website.
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