Iowa Cattlemen’s Association
Iowa Beef Industry Council
2055 Ironwood Court, Ames, Iowa 50014
Phone: 515-296-2266 or 515-296-2305
Contact: Brooke Young, IBIC Director of Marketing, 319-361-8530, or
Haley Stalcup, ICA Relationship Marketing Manager, 641-344-6692
Clint Stephenson, Co-owner, The Cider House, 641-455-6258
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2015
Iowa’s Best Burger is at The Cider House in Fairfield
AMES, IOWA – When we say this year’s winner of Iowa’s Best Burger award is using all beef in their
6-1/2-oz. hamburger patties, it’s not an oversimplification. The Cider House in Fairfield buys locally
grown cattle, and uses all the meat cuts from them in the grind for their hamburger. So, where others
might see chuck, rib, sirloin and round cuts from the beef animal, the owners of The Cider House see a
very tasty hamburger.
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council announced the winner on
Monday, May 4, during a live broadcast in Fairfield. The two organizations have teamed up to sponsor
Iowa’s Best Burger contest six times. This year, Iowans submitted more than 4,000 votes nominating
286 restaurants in February and March. Those votes were used to select the Top Ten restaurants. The
Top Ten were then independently visited and judged based on the hamburger’s taste, appearance, and
proper serving temperature (160 degrees).
The judges found the beefy flavor at The Cider House to be the best. In fact, its hamburger is so good
that it inspired one of the owners who was formerly a vegetarian to give meat another try.
The four owners of The Cider House – Clint Stephenson, Hopi James, Cole Fishback and Annalisa
Thompson – first thought about their pub-styled restaurant as a way to showcase the hard apple cider
they were producing. Many of those discussions occurred while grilling hamburgers at one of their
homes.
It was Stephenson, the one-time vegetarian, who declared in 2013 that the group should open “a burger
shack to showcase our cider!” By October 2014, they had completely gutted and renovated a former
barbershop to make their dream come true.
Stephenson’s return to eating beef came when he returned to Fairfield and re-connected with his friend –
and farmer – Tony Adrian. The two had known each other since fourth grade. Adrian convinced his
friend to give the beef from his farm a try. “And it was really great,” Stephenson said.
The Cider House exclusively features the beef from Adrian Family Farms. The cattle are raised like so
many others in Iowa: pasture-grazed and corn-finished, and cared for with compassion and treated
humanely. The Adrians tell their beef story with 4x6-inch cards placed at the tables around the cozy
restaurant which seats about 48 inside, and includes an outside patio.
“Tony pays attention to the whole growth cycle and you can tell that in the way the meat tastes,”
Fishback said. Fishback has the main responsibility of grilling at the restaurant, with help from Skylar
Messer. They use a flat top grill to quickly sear in the juices “because that’s where the flavor is.” The
hamburgers they serve are designed to showcase the beefy flavor, so the toppings are simple and very
Iowan.
They serve five different burgers, each for $12, and all come with a choice of home-made potato salad
or triple cooked fries, and refrigerator pickles.
Stephenson notes that all four owners have traveled extensively, and those experiences make them
especially grateful for the food resources they have in Iowa. “We’ve all traveled around the world, but
it’s in Iowa you’ll find the best foods,” Stephenson said. “It’s an amazing state.”
Other restaurants that made the Top Ten with The Cider House are (alphabetically): Ankeny Diner,
Ankeny; Big City Burgers & Greens, Des Moines; Down Right Delicious, Clarinda; Elm’s Club,
Creston; First Street Grille, Keosauqua; Rides Bar & Grill, Fort Dodge; Saucy Focaccia, Cedar Rapids;
The Ritz, Arnold’s Park; and Zombie Burger, Des Moines.
Previous winners in the contest are: 2014 – Brick City Grill, Ames; 2013—61 Chop House Grille in
Mediapolis; 2012—Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids; 2011—Rusty Duck in Dexter; and 2010—Sac
County Cattle Company of Sac City.
The Cider House staff are (from left) Hopi James, Skylar Messer, Annalisa Thompson, Cole Fishback,
and Clint Stephenson.
The Das Kraut Burger, served with homemade refrigerator pickles and triple-cooked fries is one of the
offerings at The Cider House in Fairfield.
-30Editor’s Note Here’s some additional information you can share:
If you go:
 The Cider House is located at 102 N. 2nd St., Fairfield, IA.
 Kitchen hours are 4-9:30 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and 4-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Closed: Sunday and Monday.
 Parking is limited. There is a small city lot just east of the building, and street parking north of
the fire station.
 No reservations; first-come, first-served.
 Seats approximately 48 inside, including space at the bar. There is an outdoor patio for additional
seating.
 Phone: (641) 980-0423
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffersoncountyciderhouse
 Website: www.jeffersoncountyciderhouse.com
-30About the Iowa Cattlemen's Association: The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association represents about 10,000 beefproducing families and associated companies dedicated to the future of Iowa’s beef industry. ICA’s mission is
“Grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education.”
About the Iowa Beef Industry Council: The Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the $1-per-head beef checkoff.
Checkoff dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information and foreign market
development, all with the purpose of strengthening beef demand.