Big Grove Brewery officially became the largest craft brewery by volume in the state of Iowa in 2025. This milestone follows the release of the latest production data from the Brewers Association (BA), the national trade organization representing small and independent craft brewers, that showed Big Grove as the #61 overall craft brewery in the country and #1 producer in Iowa.
The report highlights a historic shift in the state’s brewing landscape, with Big Grove’s rapid expansion and production capabilities propelling it to the #1 spot. This achievement comes on the heels of a massive growth phase for the brewery, including the opening of its state-of-the-art 68,000-barrel production facility — affectionately known as the Liberty Plant — on the east side of Iowa City in 2024.
“This is a proud moment for our entire team and for the Iowa craft beer community,” said Matt Swift, CEO and co-founder of Big Grove Brewery.
“When we started with a small barrel system in Solon, our goal was simply to make beer that mattered and to service our brewpub,” he said. “To now be leading the state in volume, and closing in on being a Top 50 brewery nationally is a testament to the hard work of our staff and the incredible loyalty of beer drinkers across Iowa and the Midwest.”
Nearly a decade of exponential growth
Since beginning packaging in 2018 and crossing the “regional brewery” threshold (15,000 barrels) just a few years ago, Big Grove has defied trends with consistent double-digit growth. Key factors contributing to this milestone include:
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Flagship Success: The meteoric rise of Easy Eddy Hazy IPA, which now accounts for a significant portion of craft beer sales statewide and is the state’s #1 overall craft beer
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Expanded Footprint: The successful launch of major taprooms in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Omaha, and most recently, Kansas City
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Infrastructure Investment: The new Iowa City production site allowed for threefold increase in total capacity, ensuring that out-of-stock products become a thing of the past with significant room to grow for the future.
Looking ahead
While Big Grove now holds the title of Iowa’s volume leader, the brewery remains focused on its “quality first” mission. With the new taproom now open in the Kansas City metro, Big Grove is poised to take its Iowa-born brand of hospitality and award-winning beverages to an even broader audience.
“Being named the No. 1 craft brewery in Iowa is an incredible honor, but what makes us proudest is knowing it happened because of the communities that continue to show up for us,” said Swift. “We’ll keep working to earn that support, raise the bar, and build something Iowa can be proud of. We’re just getting started.”
