I’ve been buying most of my Iowa City beer at Dirty John’s since I was in college at the U of Iowa. It’s a family operation now in its third generation--at least that I’ve seen at the counter. Although the beer room can get a bit crowded on a busy afternoon or evening, it’s the place to go for the best beer selection I’ve seen in Iowa. The service is tremendous, and the advice is pretty good, too. And, you can pick up steaks for the grill on your way out.

Dirty John’s has by far the best selection of beer in the area and the college-town / mom-and-pop grocer feel only improves the ambiance. The staff is very helpful and includes not only a selection of beer experts, but also a few dedicated souls to helping customers in search of a good bottle of wine.

really nice store, really great selection of belgians as everyone else has already mentioned. eric the beer guy was very friendly, very helpful...even invited me back for beer events. beer room is a bit cramped, but the store is kinda nifty.

unique little gem for beer in Iowa City. service was outstanding and what wasn’t on the shelf, a clerk would go look in the storeroom. Also, they broke up 6 packs to accomadate me. if you are looking for Belgian a dnd German beers in east central Iowa, this is THE place.

Tiny little corner grocery store half devoted to beer is reminiscent in some ways of a Montreal deppaneur...except that the tiny little space isn’t just filled with local micros, it’s also got an excellent selection of Belgians including some rarities (I saw Girardin black label here, in quantity, before I ever saw it anywhere else in the midwest). Prices are good, help is friendly though I didn’t find anyone who knew anything about beer. Obviously a labor of love that must get by on people visiting from a long ways off (like me).

Nice store with about 150+ Belgian Ales and many domestics.

four legs good, two legs bad

This store has provided me with many beers. They have a great Belgian selection and many other English and German beers. Domestics are a little thin. However, the staff tends to be very nice, if not particularly knowledgable. There is a new walk in cooler that is very nice. They get new beers at least a few times a month. Remember, this is a small, family owned place.

Located in the small-town downtown of a college town (that’s 3 towns...), John’s Grocery is easy to miss driving through. A small corner shop with one small door and a faded sign. The store is about 1500 square feet (not that big), with about half of that area beer and half food and other quick-mart items. The selection of Belgians is amazing, with the best prices I’ve ever seen for Cantillon bottles. Singles of American micros are a bit harder to find... there are a few, but not many. Score points for the great glassware collection. I was able to find numerous european porters and stouts, as well as just about any Cantillon and Fantome you would want. The only think I can’t figure out is why Iowa City? There’s nothing else out here... but if you’re travelling through on I-80, don’t miss this place. As for the staff, to be honest I have to say that I didn’t enjoy them trying to hurry me out of the store after buying $90 worth of bottles. It would have helped if they could have given me a 750ml box to put my bottles in, rather than looking at me like I was going to hand carry all of my bottles out of the store. They also loose points for presentation, as all of the Belgian bottles were strewn about in wire cages, completely disorganized.

Service is a little poor. The clerks either talk down to you or ignore you--or worse, abandon you after they’ve gone to check your question with someone else. It didn’t used to be this way. Time to boost your customer service training, guys. Also, I liked this a whole lot better before they rennovated and put the beer place int the back. They made it even more cramped and uncomfortable to shop in than before. Maybe that’s the point--get em in and out fast, beer drinkers are dumb and don’t need to linger like the wine drinkers, who, ahem, seem to get more room now. John’s, you’ve let me down.