Decorah's Toppling Goliath (TG) sits in a community of around 7,500 people, but its craft beer sales are the largest in the state, according to 2024 Brewers Association data.

Why it matters: Craft beer is experiencing a decline, and while TG hasn't been immune to it, the brewery is banking on its international fandom and award-winning products to help buoy it during the downturn.

By the numbers: TG sold nearly 36,000 barrels last year, with Big Grove coming in a close second, at around 34,000, per the Brewers Association.

• However, while TG's beer sales declined by 7% in comparison to 2023, Big Grove's climbed.

State of play: There are a few reasons behind TG's success, says Sam Lewey, spokesperson for Toppling Goliath.

• Owners Clark and Barbara Lewey couldn't get the craft beer they wanted locally — they had to drive to Rochester, Minnesota, or La Crosse, Wisconsin. So, they decided to start their own brewery and focused on producing crowd-pleasers like barrel-aged stouts and hoppy pale ales and IPAs.
• They opened in 2009, when craft beer was experiencing a surge.

Zoom in: TG got its first big hit with the release of Pseudo Sue in 2012 — a hoppy, hazy pale ale that's become the company's most iconic brew.

• That was followed by popular barrel-aged stouts like Assassin and Kentucky Brunch.

The intrigue: The first time they released Kentucky Brunch in 2012, six people showed up, Lewey says.

• Now, it's earned worldwide acclaim, including winning the highest-rated beer of 2024, per Untappd Community awards. Bottles of its 2014 release average $1,249, according to Beerblackbook.

The intrigue: The brewery is also selling other drinks, including THC drink Merry Rain and spirits like whiskey and gin.

What's next: As far as beer trends, Lewey expects more classic styles to make a comeback.

• They're releasing a West Coast IPA, Dino Break, later this year.

Go deeper

Toppling Goliath is no longer opening its second taproom in Des Moines' Drake neighborhood, spokesperson Sam Lewey shared with Axios earlier this month.

Why it matters: TG was supposed to be an anchor tenant in a new development opening near Varsity Cinema, and it was expected to be a major draw for the Dogtown Entertainment District.

What they're saying: "I'll say, we're not done looking at potential other taprooms within the state of Iowa or even outside of the state of Iowa," Lewey says.

• "We've invested a lot of money into our 100-barrel brew system, and there is still room for growth of both our beer production and non-beer production here."

State of play: Meanwhile, the Drake development at 1236 24th St. is still moving forward without Toppling Goliath, the Business Record reports.

• The five-story building has dealt with delays caused by rising materials and high interest rates, per Merge Urban Development, the developer behind the project.

Homeowners in Iowa spend an average of $15,737 a year on upkeep and other "hidden expenses," according to a Bankrate study.

Why it matters: Overlooked costs, beyond mortgage payments, can surprise unprepared homeowners.

Zoom out: Across the U.S., the average annual cost of these hidden expenses for a single-family home is $21,400 this year.

Zoom in: According to the report, the average Iowa homeowner spends $4,606 annually on maintenance, $4,147 on utilities, $3,302 on property taxes, $2,192 on home insurance and $1,490 on internet.

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