Three Days in Des Moines (5/12-5/14)

Got a good list here. Only one I'd add is Confluence Brewing may be worth a look for you since it's almost directly south of your hotel across the river.

Otherwise, sober up with some slices from Fong's at the end of the night and just know the Farmer's Market will be hopping Saturday morning on Court Avenue. Grab a Dutch letter and breakfast burrito to soak up that beer at the market!

 

Good Evening! My buddy forwarded your post about your upcoming trip to Des Moines. By chance are you driving or flying here? There are a couple of places you want to stop in route while driving on I-80.

Also, it looks like the I Cubs are home those days. Great place to watch a baseball game while sipping craft beer. Real close to your hotel. Before you go to the game, hit up El Bait Shop (huge beer selection), next door is High Life Lounge (shag carpets and awesome food). Bait Shop does a Jimmy Carter Happy Hour on Thursday. Check their calendar where you can sample home brew at Jimmy Carter HH.

After you are done with the game, head to Iowa Taproom and right around the corner Peace Tree (our favorite) and 1717.

Other brewery must stops are Confluence, Lua, 515, and Exile. This is kinda fun where you can rent e bikes and peddle between confluence and 515 on our trails.

A one of a kind stop is Flix Brewhouse. It's a Brewery meets Movie Theater meets Restaurant. They brew onsite and have a few tasty ones.

I would pass on Barn Town, Kinship as they are pretty far away from your hotel at 30 minutes away. We don't care for Fox Brewery, but you may stop while going to The Hall ( huge beer selection, think German Beer Hall, unique experience). A distillery is there too!

Court Ave Brewing is one of the originals. If here Saturday morning, perhaps start there for a Bloody Mary and stroll around the Farmers Market.

Late night pizza slice spot is Big Tomato on Ingersoll Avenue. Not sure if Fongs does anymore but offer slices at happy hour.

 

If it was me, I'd instantly take Fox and 1717 off the list. Their beer just isn't good. Kinship is also questionable but at least they have a cool location. If I was going to put them in order:

Lua
El Bait
Iowa Taproom
Barntown (Stop at global brew right next door)
Confluence
Court Avenue(some times)
Exile/515
Peace Tree
Kinship

To be honest, I'd probably drop the bottom 3 and just spend more time at the ones on top.

 

I think you have to do the Iowa Taproom and El Bait Shop. And you could probably just do those and call it a weekend!

I've never been overly impressed with Exile, but it's probably worth a stop if you have time. Food is okay, and on the right night, they may have some more special beers. It's neat place inside, though.

I've never been to Confluence, but all their beer is solid. I think it'd be worth a stop.

I haven't been to Court Ave Brewing in a long time. I am always surprised to hear they are still open . . .

I haven't been to Lua yet, but I really want to. Their beer is pretty damn good, from what I've had.

I've never been super impressed with Peace Tree's beers, they're all okay to me, but I know a lot of people like their new place downtown.

515 is one of my favorites in town, as is Barntown. But if you're not heading west, I could see you skipping them.

My wife and I just were at a party at Ricochet, which is a bar with lots of games (billiards, darts, skeeball, etc) some of which is free. Beer selection is pretty ho-hum, though.

Restaurants I like are Blue Sushi, Fongs, Royal Mile (a fun "English" pub), Splash Seafood, Buzzard Billy's, to name a few. Hessen Haus is a fun 'German' place. Or it was when I was young and cool 10 years ago, not sure about any more.

Sounds like a fun trip, looking forward to your report afterwards!

 

The more I think about this, the more I think you'd be smart to break it up into 3 areas.

Downtown West-El Bait Shop/High life, Court Avenue Brew, and then if you like Belgians beers check out the Red Monk (upstairs Royal Mile). El Bait/High life have broasted chicken that is excellent.

Downtown East Village-Iowa Taproom and Peace Tree

Ingersoll Avenue-You have to visit Lua but it's not a short walk to Ingersoll. Once on Ingersoll check out the Cheese Bar and have a burger at Lachele's. Confluence is a 10 minute Uber ride away.

 

Sounds like a pretty robust beer scene. I used to think people only went to Iowa for primary season and Toppling Goliath.

 

Spend as much time at Lua as you can.

 

Update on how it went?

 

Maybe they had too much fun?

 

I think you've done more of the DSM beer scene in 3 days than I've done in 15 years!

Appreciate teh update

 

Three Days in Des Moines sounds like the title of a depressing indie film.

 

Another year or so and a few couple more spots will be open within walking distance of Lua. Big Grove Brewery out of Iowa City is building a site very close to Lua, and other breweries from eastern Iowa have discussed plans to open up sites in DSM. Kinda wished I still worked downtown so I could stop bye more frequently (Work From Home is the new normal)