Want to pick up some craft six packs in the area, and I also need to get a few to trade with a friend in Colorado and one in Minneapolis. Basically I'm asking for someone to research and recommend craft breweries near Ames, IA. First post, hope I'm doing things right.
Alluvial is the best in Ames, by a mile, and becoming one of the best in the region. Everything I've had here goes from good to exceptional. Their big stouts stand up to TGs. Not joking. Torrent is less of a known quantity to me, but I've never heard anything bad. Olde Main spent years mired in mediocrity to badness, getting by on the fact that they were way ahead of the trend. They've made good beers, but could never be consistent and were hesitant to chase the changing craft beer palate. Word is they have a new head brewer but I haven't been in a long time and can't comment on if it's changed.
The order from best to worst in Ames is certainly Alluvial, Torrent, Olde Main; Unfortunately Olde Main is the only currently packaging their beer outside of growlers. Confluence in Des Moines just recently started canning two of their main offerings. Boone Valley has bombers of their barley wine available around Ames, but comes with a hefty price tag ($25). Firetrucker out of Ankeny has two canned offerings, but personally the best packaged beer local to central Iowa I would recommend are Peace Tree (Knoxville) or Exile (Des Moines) depending on what style of beer you intend to send. If you are ok sending growlers then Alluvial would be your best bet.
I'll throw New American Brewing into the mix since it falls within a thirty mile radius of Ames. They just opened their tap room in the Prairie Trail development of Ankeny last month. I can't vouch for most of the beers since I haven't had a chance to try them but I've been partial to the Elves' Revenge from the couple of bombers I've picked up. If nothing else, it's local beer that you won't find outside of central Iowa.
Alluvial is hands down the best brewer around Ames. As mentioned, for the most part the only packaging they offer for off site consumption are growlers, but they are starting to release bottles. They had a previous release of Big Yin, their Barrel-aged Wee Heavy, and BA Vanilla Aurox, an imperial stout. They are going to be releasing their next offerings, BA Aurox with maple and BA Aurox with liquid cacao and coconut soon. Both are absolutely amazing.
Thanks a bunch guys! Ill be picking up some Alluvial sixes for my boys Their coconut porter sounds fantastic
That's pretty much everywhere these days. I've quit bothering with growlers because I don't remember the last time I went to a taproom and could use one.
Alluvial doesn't base growler availability on popularity, they base it off of availability. The less there is of a beer, the less likely it is to be available for growlers. The popular ones go faster, but it is very rare that a beer of theirs isn't available for growlers at the beginning. Edit: Lutris coming up and it is tasting like the best hoppy beer they have ever made. I would put money on it being available for growlers.
Damn guess ill be getting some growlers then. Wonder if they will fill up growlers from other breweries. Rip wallet.
Yes, they do. Edit: and if you're refilling, their growler pricing are cheaper than I can imagine anything for distribution would be
Lutris at their anniversary party was definitely their best hoppy beer yet. Would love for them to top that batch but I don't know how it's possible ;P
