March is over and spring weather and the month of April have begun. It seems like everyone had some sort of bracket to vote on last month in honor of March Madness, didn't it? The folks over at the Des Moines Register were no different. But their brackets were dedicated to something that we can all get behind and support. Great Iowa-made beers! We have so many great ones to choose from, but one local brew took home the top prize.

Like your NCAA brackets that were shot after the first weekend, the Register's beer bracket also featured 64 selections for people to vote on. Breweries from all over the state waited to see if their beers would make it to the final pour...I mean Final Four. The Register's final four beers included Exile Brewing Co. Ruthie, Big Grove's Easy Eddy Hazy IPA, Confluence Brewing Milk Man Milk Stout, and Peace Tree Brewing Blonde Fatale. In the championship matchup, it was Ruthie versus Blonde Fatale. In the end, only 32 votes separated the champion from the runner-up.

Congratulations to Blonde Fatale, Iowa's best beer! In case you've never had a chance to try the Belgian-style blonde ale, Peace Tree Brewing describes its winning beer like this.

The unfiltered golden hue seduces your taste buds with surprising smoothness. It’s delicately hopped with Styrian Golding and Celeia for medium aroma with a crisp and refreshing bite. The Belgian yeast adds hints of fruity complexity, but be warned — its mysterious charm will draw you in again and again.

I've had the pleasure of enjoying a Blonde Fatale or two. I'm not a huge fan of the IPA beer scene, but I'm a fan of this Peace Tree offering. Apparently many other Iowans are too. You might want to make a trip to the Peace Tree Brewery in Knoxville and have a celebratory beer for yourself!

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