At the heart of Czech Village lies the Lion Bridge Brewing Company taproom, restaurant and brewing facility. Set up in the historic Fritz’s Food Market grocery building, Lion Bridge has been crafting delicious and diverse beers and food since 2014 and is a must-stop for anyone visiting Cedar Rapids or even Eastern Iowa.
Founded and operated by Ana and Quinton McClain, Lion Bridge is an anchor to the Czech Village and has brought national beer accolades to Cedar Rapids in the form of 5 coveted Great American Beers Festival medals, as well as awards for historic preservation of their old market building.
Lion Bridge has 5 year-round beers available and fills its 21 draft lines with limited and seasonal beers, as well as a house-made root beer and orange soda. You will always find a mix of hazy and hoppy beers, strong stouts, and expertly crafted lagers to choose from. Selecting 5 beers for a sample tray is a popular choice among regulars and visitors alike as the list is ever-changing with new and experimental beers being released weekly.
The most renowned of Lion Bridge year-round beers are Compensation, a proper English Mild Ale, as well as Disaster at Meux, a porter brewed to commemorate the 200 year anniversary of an infamous London beer flood that happened in 1814. New to the line-up is Bohemian Premium, a golden lager with American and Czech roots that is already becoming a local Cedar Rapids favorite.
In 2018, Lion Bridge installed a canning line so it could increase the distribution of their local beers from draft lines only, and put it in 6-packs on the shelf. You can now take home a wide variety of beers from Lion Bridge by visiting them during their hours of operation, or you can conveniently find many of those beers at any grocery store or retailer in the area.
And, while having Lion Bridge beers in your fridge is essential, it’s impossible to beat the atmosphere of the in-person experience at their taproom and restaurant.
“We see our taproom and what we produce here as a catalyst to conversation and community,” says Ana McClain and adds, “That phrase, catalyst to conversation and community, is written on our walls and on every beer can we send out the door. It’s the vibe we seek to embody for everything we do here from beer to food to events to ambiance.”
At the Lion Bridge taproom, you will be guided in your beer selection by their knowledgeable staff that are all Level 1 Cicerone Beer Servers and can help with beer and food pairing selections if you came with an appetite for more than just a taster tray.
Lion Bridge Brewing Company
59 16th Ave SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 200-4460
lionbridgebrewing.com
