In town for Iowa State Fair

Hyvee has the best selection...some allow a pick six for 9.99...Beer crazy allows you to buy 1 of any beer, but there selection isnt has good or as freah as hyvee...You should check out 515...you cant bring it home...but its really good....specifically Passe' and mediocre. Cheers!

 

Should also be noted that King Sue is going to be on tap around town this weekend. How much and where is unknown but a good bet is el Bait Shop

 

Pleasant Hill HyVee is pretty close to the fairgrounds and has a great selection.

 

Definitely pick up some Exile Cherry Bohemian if you like sours.

 

At the fair there is a new tent this year, Top of the Vine. It will be hosting Iowa wine, beer and soda. Apparently it will have more one offs or previously tap room only. The Main Iowa Craft Beer Tent has pretty much year 'round exclusively.

Best breweries in town are 515 and Confluence in my opinion. Since you are going by Ankeny on 35, Firetrucker is my #3. Hy-vee for singles or built a 6pak. I doubt you will be able to find any Cherry Bohemian as it should be sold out everywhere. I haven't seen it for about 3 weeks.

 

Hit the Fluer HyVee if you don't do Pleasant Hill, I think Fluer has the best beer section in the city.

King Sue will be on tap at El Bait, HyVee on Fluer, and possibly the Keg Stand-must try before you take off.

Another bottle shop option is Prairie Trail in Ankeny if you strike out at other places. You should be able to land some Zeelander I'd say.

 

Exile is downtown and has been killing it with their new stuff lately, IMO. Confluence is not too far from downtown. 515 is the best brewery in DSM right now, but probably the furthest from downtown. Luckily, in DSM, that's only 10 or 15 minutes away.

The Fleur Hyvee is the closest Hyvee to downtown with the best selection.

 

Should probably also note that a lot of the Hy Vee's now offer growler fills at their bar/dining area which is located on the other side of the store (at least at the Prairie Trail Hy Vee in Ankeny).

Cyclone Liquors in Ames is ~10 minutes off of I 35 and has a great selection, helpful staff, and growler fills in the back (although they don't advertise it very well); I've noticed Toppling Goliath in particular tends to last a little longer there than at Prairie Trail.

 

I volunteer at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent at the fair, and we always have a lot of good things! (and it's always a blast) Here is a beer list for the week:
https://www.facebook.com/IowaCraftB...5324784210092/867522463323650/?type=1&theater

 

Didn't see 515 listed. It is a great Nano Brewery. Really great place if hops. Just North of town is a brewery called Firetrucker in Ankeny. Decent spot.

 

OK, so I read it super fast. Regardless, 515 is great

 

All in good fun.

I don't think it hurts to make sure 515 is mentioned, their beer is great.

 

No worries about having any beer warmer than ice cold at the fair.

http://www.kcci.com/news/beer-colder-than-ice-coming-to-the-iowa-state-fair/34645052