In the heart of Central City, Iowa—a town with a population of just 1,385, if you count some house pets—sits one of the state’s most unique craft breweries. BIT Brewery isn’t just another microbrewery; it’s a testament to friendship, community, and the power of the number three. Here, in one of the oldest buildings in town, three neighbors transformed their garage brewing hobby into a thriving business that has become a cornerstone of the local community.
The story of BIT Brewery is one that combines unlikely career changes, creative brewing experiments, and a deep commitment to building something meaningful in small-town Iowa. Scott Whitson, one of the three founders and the head brewmaster, has traded his years in healthcare administration for a life of brewing beer, making pizza, and serving his community in ways he never imagined.
From Garage to Brewery: A Friendship Forged in Beer
The origin story of BIT Brewery begins, as many great brewery stories do, in a garage. But this wasn’t just any garage—it was the place where three neighbors discovered a shared passion that would eventually change their lives. Scott Whitson, Jason (a vocal teacher at the local school), and Jeff (a dental assistant in nearby Cedar Rapids) started brewing together about eight to ten years ago.
“Jeff and I were coaching T-ball together,” Scott recalls. “All of our kids—our youngest kid is in the same grade. And so Jeff and I were coaching T-ball together and he’s like, ‘Hey, my buddy and I, my neighbor and I are going to start brewing beer in his garage. Do you want to?’ I’m like, ‘Well, I used to brew wine when I was younger.”
That casual invitation sparked something unexpected. What started as weekend brewing sessions in Jason’s garage quickly evolved into a serious pursuit. Scott began brewing in multiple garages, experimenting with different buddies, constantly refining his craft. “Jeff and Jason kind of created a monster,” he admits with a laugh.
By 2019, that monster had grown into a full-fledged business plan. When an old building became available in Central City, the three friends saw an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. They started their business plan in March of that year, and by late August or early September, they were already doing demolition work on the historic structure that would become BIT Brewery. The speed of their transformation was remarkable—within months, they had gone from home brewers to business owners.
The Power of Three: More Than Just a Name
The name “BIT” isn’t just a catchy acronym—it’s a philosophy woven throughout every aspect of the brewery. BIT stands for “Best in Three,” a nod to the three founding partners. “We’re not very complicated guys,” Scott explains with characteristic humility. But the theme of three runs much deeper than the ownership structure.
Walk into BIT Brewery, and you’ll notice the number three everywhere. Three musical instruments hang in one corner, three more in another. The décor isn’t accidental—it’s intentional design that celebrates the partnership that made it all possible. Even the building itself tells a story in threes, with historical photographs from the late 1800s and early 1900s documenting its transformation through the decades.
The commitment to authenticity extends to the building’s renovation. An old 1940s aluminum semi-trailer sighting serves as the kick plate on the bar. Barn beams from a friend’s property—where Scott once helped milk cows—provide rustic trim. Wayne’s coating from that same barn covers portions of the walls. The exposed brick tells its own story after the team painstakingly removed the plaster. “We think it’s cool,” Scott says. “We recycle, repurpose as much as we can, and we just like to have fun. It doesn’t suck.”
Community at the Core: Programs That Build Loyalty
What truly sets BIT Brewery apart isn’t just the beer or the building—it’s the innovative programs that transform customers into community members. The brewery runs two particularly unique initiatives that have become central to its identity.
The Mug Club Experience
BIT’s Mug Club has grown from 50 members in its first year to 142 today, a testament to the program’s appeal. For an annual fee of around $130, members receive a personalized 20-ounce mug—larger than the standard 13-ounce tulip or 16-ounce pub glass—meaning more beer for the same price. Members also get a free beer each month, a complimentary birthday beer, and 10% off merchandise.
But the real magic happens during the Mug Club appreciation nights, held about four times a year, with more events scheduled during the quieter winter months. These two-hour gatherings offer members a token for a free beer, raffle tickets for every beer purchased, and the chance to win brewery merchandise ranging from hats and t-shirts to koozies and, of course, more beer. “It helps especially in the winter months when it’s not as busy,” Scott notes, acknowledging the challenges of running a brewery in a small town during Iowa’s harsh winters.
Brewer in Training: A Revolutionary Concept
Even more innovative is the BIT Membership program—a clever play on words standing for “Brewer in Training.” For a nominal fee of about $400, participants don’t just drink beer; they help create it. Members work with Scott to choose a beer style, discuss their favorite characteristics, and collaborate on recipe development. Then comes the truly unique part: they actually brew the beer alongside Scott on brew day.
“As home brewers, we thought that was awesome going to breweries and touring,” Scott explains. “And man, if you could brew a beer with them, that’d be awesome. Well, we made it happen.”
The program includes mug club membership and allows participants to return to help flavor and package their creation. When it’s time for release—often scheduled around birthdays or anniversaries—the BIT member names the beer (within reason, Scott maintains final approval), invites friends and family, and pours the first beer from the tap themselves. It’s not just a transaction; it’s a celebration.
This program has pushed Scott’s creativity in unexpected directions. “They come up with beers that I never would have thought about brewing,” he admits. “A rye honey brown—I don’t like rye beer, so I never would have done that. A cucumber cream ale. Never would have thought of that.” One participant brought in a cucumber cream ale from Wyoming, and after tasting it, Scott was sold. “It’s pretty fun. It lets me try stuff that I wouldn’t necessarily have done by myself.”
The Beer Philosophy: Always Something New
BIT Brewery doesn’t believe in house beers—at least not in the traditional sense. While Scott keeps certain styles consistently available and has a couple of frequent favorites, the philosophy is simple: keep it fresh, keep it rotating.
“I get bored,” Scott says bluntly. “The incidence of you coming in two or three months and I have the same beer on tap is negligible. I’m rotating beers all the time.” This approach stems from his own experiences as a brewery visitor. “It’s frustrating when you go to a brewery and they have the same house beers and they don’t have anything new. That is—I’m like, ‘Yeah, okay. Next, I like to try new stuff.'”
Signature Series and Unique Creations
While the selection constantly changes, Scott has developed some recurring favorites. DFW, an American Light Lager named after his brother Danny (his friends will let you figure out what the initials really stand for), provides an accessible option for those transitioning from macro beers. Black Betty, an American stout the trio has been making since their home brewing days, serves as a canvas for experimentation. Variants include Hot Betty (barrel-aged), Sour Betty (with Flanders-like characteristics), Betty’s Black Banana (currently fermenting), and the upcoming Vanilla Betty.
The “Just the Bit” New England IPA series showcases individual hops in particularly creative ways. Scott splits each two-barrel batch (about 62 gallons) in half, using a single hop variety in each half. After three batches featuring different individual hops, the fourth batch combines all three, allowing customers to appreciate both the individual characteristics and the synergy of the combination.
Perhaps the most surprising success story is José Appleseed, a jalapeño cider that has become one of BIT’s bestsellers. The base apple cider features jalapeños for aroma and a subtle heat finish, but the real magic comes in the variations—cranberry jalapeño is currently on tap, with lemon jalapeño coming soon. Scott has also experimented with orange and pineapple versions. “I kind of was going for like a candied jalapeño, not quite as sweet,” he explains. “The orange was surprisingly delicious… kind of like a jalapeño Tang almost.”
A Brewery With Heart: Serving Central City
BIT Brewery isn’t just a business; it’s an active participant in the Central City community. The brewery regularly hosts guest bartender events where tips benefit local organizations like the school’s PTA program and the community cancer center in Cedar Rapids. Holiday on Maine brings specialty beers and festive cheer when Santa visits downtown. The annual car show, put on by Wicked Creations Car Club, attracts over 200 vehicles and includes a burnout competition—with a special beer brewed for the occasion.
The family-friendly atmosphere extends to everything from kids’ birthday parties to wedding rehearsals and class reunions. Scott’s philosophy on private events is refreshingly simple: “Just contact me and we’ll figure something out.” The brewery has even hosted pajama parties—the brainchild of regular customer Denise, who gets her own stout named “Denise’s Pajama Party Stout” for the annual event.
The proximity to Wapsipinicon State Park, which brings in about 50,000 visitors annually, has proven invaluable. A trail connects the park to downtown Central City, and campers have discovered that BIT Brewery is less than two miles away on foot. Many have become year-round regulars, visiting even when camping season ends.
Looking Forward: Growth and Innovation
Recent developments promise to expand BIT’s reach beyond the taproom. Scott recently purchased a canning line—a significant upgrade from the previous one-can-at-a-time October seamer that took two hours to produce five cases. The new equipment, expected to be operational by March, will allow the brewery to supply more cans to the local grocery store and potentially expand distribution.
BIT Brewery maintains an active presence at festivals and events throughout Iowa, typically participating in one event per month, though summer months often see two or more appearances. From BeERfest to Dubuque on Ice, Iowa Craft Beer Bash in Des Moines to Millstream’s October event in Amana, the brewery continues building relationships across the state.
The taproom itself keeps things fresh with new pizzas appearing every three to four weeks. Jason recently created a Super Bowl competition between a Seattle teriyaki chicken pizza and a New England baked beans and salami pizza, with customers voting on their favorite. It’s this kind of playful creativity that keeps regulars coming back.
The Heart of a Small Town Brewery
When asked what people should know before visiting, Scott’s answer reveals the essence of BIT Brewery: “We’re not very complicated guys. We’re pretty transparent. We’re old guys and we like beer and we make pizza. It’s really good pizza.”
That unpretentious attitude masks something deeper—a genuine commitment to community, creativity, and craft. BIT Brewery succeeds not because it chases trends or tries to be something it’s not, but because three neighbors had a vision of what their community needed and had the courage to build it.
In an era when many small towns struggle to maintain vibrant downtowns, BIT Brewery stands as proof that local businesses can thrive when they prioritize people over profits, creativity over conformity, and community over everything else. The brewery’s success isn’t measured just in pints poured or pizzas sold, but in the relationships forged, the memories created, and the sense of belonging it provides.
“Come on in, check it out,” Scott invites, describing the historical photos, the old fire door, and the bits of three scattered throughout. “We like old stuff because, you know, we’re old and we like the old kind of—not quite industrial. Just old building. We think it’s cool.”
And in Central City, Iowa, where population numbers include house pets, that old building and the three friends who transformed it have become something special—a gathering place, a creative outlet, and the beating heart of a community. Whether you’re there for the rotating beer selection, the wood-fired pizza, or simply the welcoming atmosphere, one thing is certain: at BIT Brewery, everything really is better in threes.
Visit BIT Brewery:
Website: bitbrew3.com
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Located in Central City, Iowa — just 15 minutes from Marion and 23 minutes from Cedar Rapids
