Ames Tribune James Beem of Story City has been hooked on creating his own barbecue sauce for many years. The exuberant response he got from customers while it was a hobby led him to consider making a business of it. Now, despite obstacles created by COVID-19, Beem has his Knotwater Barbecue Company products on the shelves of several central Iowa retailers. Beem pulls from different regions of the country for inspiration. “I'm a fan of regional barbecue. Kansas City has their style. North Carolina has two or three different styles to them. Texas has a style,” Beem said. “I tried to combine all of those different flavors into one bottle” — his Knotwater's original.