Alluvial Brewing Company

 

Building in a rural prairie setting. Parking lot out front. Main room has a high wood panel ceiling with side windows that let in a lot of light. Artwork adorns the walls and live plants sit in the window shelves. Short bar for ordering and two swivel stools. Low and high tables with heavy wood tops. Brewing equipment in the back. Fourteen taps, with a range of styles, including a ginger beer, apple ale, and a cider. Cooler has cans to go. Back room is larger, with lots of windows and a performing stage. Friendly and laid back staff. Winery next door allows for a choice of libations.

 

Really beautiful setting; cool old building set in the middle of farmland, with a great patio and a couple different cool inside spaces. I had three different beers, and they were all good but not that memorable...I had higher hopes. Would try again in the hopes that maybe I just chose wrong.

I’m lucky to live so close to a great small brewery! Very chill vibe, outdoor patio overlooking the prairie, and everyone is very friendly. The beer is very good and in constant rotation with something new almost every week. And crowlers too now!

It's only 10 minutes from the Iowa State University campus, but it feels like you are nowhere near anything. The taproom as you enter has a smallish bar, seating 5, on your left and high tops and tables for 50. The lived in barrelhouse just past the bar and through a door had tables set up for another 40 or so people for a musician and a great BBQ food truck. An outdoor patio seats 30 with plenty of room. I didn't see any heaters and on a chilly evening no one was outside.
Pulls for 12 beers are house styles and a guest cider or two. There were only 8 beers on tap on my visit and they ranged from an Orange milkshake IPA, to an Oktoberfest, a milk stout that received raves, a Scottish Ale, blueberry sour, and ddh and standard IPA, with a delicious cider.

Lots of entertainment choices short of TV's including puzzles, games, often hosting live music and foosball. The steep ceilinged taproom is adorned with colorful, energetic art and has a warm feeling. And the few children who were there were mostly behaved.

Service was very good, even on a busy night. Prompt, knowledgeable, and personable. No food, but relatively frequent food trucks.

Nice place to visit and enjoy the company of others while drinking a beer or two.

What a unique place. It was off the beaten path, a ways north of I-80, and even Ames itself. I was asking myself “are we there yet?” a couple of times.

Cool building, clad with weathered barnwood outside and nicely landscaped with wildflowers and some hops climbing up along the entranceway. Inside there’s a vaulted ceiling with various paintings and artwork high on the walls. A small bar to the left and tables to the right. Small windows behind the bar were dotted with assorted plants and knickknacks, which gave the bar a homey touch. To the right was the to-go cooler with bottles and crowlers.

Loved their Helles, which also turned out to be Petey the brewer’s favorite too. We lucked out and got an impromptu tour from him after chatting at the bar. They’re expanding the brewery in a larger building and hope to have the new system online soon. The taproom will then expand into the current brewery with even more seating.

Service at the bar was great, laid back and friendly. There seemed to be many regulars and cyclists. Flights and samples were all great, no duds. They mentioned that they currently send kegs to Iowa Bar and El Bait Shop in DSM, but their beers tend to sell out quickly there, and not always available. Hoping the larger brewing system leads to wider distro down the road.

I’d make a point to stop in again and highly recommend it. Worth the detour north from Des Moines.

 

 

Alluvial Brewing is located on the outskirts of Ames and has a rustic, barnlike quality on the outside. A large outdoor patio appears popular, even when it's a touch cool. The taproom is all wood and warmth, well-lit with a botanical/biological theme as well as lots of artwork. You can also go into the small brewhouse. The beers I tasted were quite good as was the service. About 7 of their beers on tap. No food but occasional food trucks.

 

 

 

 

 

This brewery is a must visit if you are a beer lover in Iowa. Some great pales and IPA's with a great stout. The venue and parcel of land is beautiful and every person inside was truly very friendly. I will be stopping back as soon as possible. Thanks Alluvial. Also check out the cold brewed nitro coffee that they have available to take home in growlers. Awesome!