Freedom the Key to Great Beer for Rock Bottom--Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery

Eric checking his serving tanks

Rock Bottom got its start in no other place than the Mecca of craft beer in the USA, Colorado. Frank Day, who had already started the Old Chicago in 1976, started Rock Bottom in 1990.  Both are now part of a merger with Craftworks Restaurants where Day sits as chairman of the board on the company that now owns Rock Bottom, Old Chicago, Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurants and a number of other chains of restauants. As cool as this company is and as awesome as Frank Day's story is it's not what makes Rock Bottom Des Moines or any of the other Rock Bottom locations as awesome as they are, it's of course the brewers. Rock Bottom unlike many other brewpub chains, give their brewers the freedom to create whatever masterful brews they want.This is probably why they have won as many awards over the years as they have, and Eric Sorensen the head brewer at Rock Bottom Des Moines is no exception.

Outside Rock Bottom Des Moines

           Eric has won many awards over the years but doesn't want to be judged by what awards he has won; instead he'd rather see people enjoy his beer. Eric has been brewing for 19 years and has attended UC Davis and the Siebel Institute for brewing, but like many other brewers he didn't start out wanting to be a brewer but just fell into it. Eric attended the University of California, San Diego for anthropology and Spanish Literature. He then went on to the University Of Virginia for his masters in Anthropology, but quickly realized he it wasn't what he wanted to continue to do. So moving back to California and meeting his wife Eric was at a loss for what he was going to do and like many others he loved drinking beer and decided he was going to make it for a living. Starting out as an assistant brewer in northern California and eventually moving up to head brewer he was making his way as a brewer. He worked at various breweries and even a winery in the California area before deciding to move Iowa, where his wife was originally from.
         He shortly became the brewer at Rock Bottom in 2004 and we arrive where we are now with Eric making amazing beer. Eric has up to 16 different beers on tap at anytime and I while making my visit  tried every single one, including some barrel aged beers. But sadly enough when you attend the Iowa Craft Beer Tent you will not be able to get all of the 16 beers that Eric and Rock Bottom has to offer, so you'll have to go Rock Bottom in West Des Moines right off of University. He is planning on bringing his Liquid Sun Wheat, the Rock Bottom white and the Rock Bottom IPA. Come out to the Iowa Craft Beer Tent which is less than a week away, and try all three. Check in later on "My Brewing Adventure"