Drinks and eats at The Walnut

Left, A tasty quaff this Over The Ivy Czech-style pilsner from Confluence Brewing. At 4.7% ABV and 36 IBU it won’t weigh you down when the dog days of summer come. Center and right, Velvety, fruity, yet malty, Lagunitas’ Sumpin’ Easy ale is even better when its two-fifty for 12 oz. drafts, Tuesdays at The Walnut. I could count my gulps for each lace ring on the glass!

Tallboy specials during The Walnut’s Happy Hour are hard to beat, as is this superb Des Moines IPA from Confluence Brewing, left. And such a lovely color! Center, A sour gose-like aroma presents this shandy from West O Beer. The flavor rushes forth like a State Fair lemonade, with the attendant sugar finish. Further sips blunt the sweetness. Right, a Bohemian Rapids Czech pilsner from Iowa Brewing is stupefying easy to quaff. Noble Saaz hops gives this brew an earthy character that won’t bury you. 5.20% ABV, 42 IBU.

A Saturday special at The Walnut: the Loco Moco with fried egg, hamburger patty, and brown gravy on white rice, topped with chives. Egg is a perfect over medium IMHO, the burger sports some pink, and the gravy is well seasoned; I’ll take a quart to go.

Coconut Migration, left, is an American Double IPA collaboration from SingleSpeed Brewing and Pulpit Rock Brewing, rested on toasted coconut. I don’t catch any coconut on the aroma, but the quaff betrays its mellowing presence. Quite, quite enjoyable! 7.4% ABV, 75 IBU. Center, A Backpocket Brewing “Experimental Batch” of a lemon-blueberry Berliner Weisse that’s both citrusy and lush with a wee smidgen of spice. Estimated 4.4% ABV, 4 IBU. Grain Belt Blu American lager with blueberry juice, right, exhibits light malt with a refreshing berry sweetness. I was a little aggressive on the pour and the head exploded! 4.7% ABV.