My wife and I are headed down to Des Moines Wednesday night to check out the Iowa Brew Night at the zoo. Going to check out El Bait Shop afterwards too. Anyone have any tips or suggestions about the Zoo Brew or other nightlife?
Zoo Brew is ok depending upon the crowd, it is totally not about the beer though. It is more social hour. If you are all about beer, just go to El Bait. There is an I-Cubs home game that night (7:05) so El Bait will be packed before and after, as usual. Which is good for people watching, but service will be painfully slow. Wednesday night, it will probably be really hot, my guess is lots of places will be hit or miss. El Bait will be your best bet for activity- Royal Mile/Red Monk will have the usual crowd, which is always interesting. The rest of the places down there you'll just have to walk by and see what is going on.
Thanks for the info. Looking forward to trying Exile, Keg Creek, and Twisted Vine for the first time and of course finially hitting up El Bait Shop! Here is what's on tap: "Iowa Brew Night featuring Standing Hampton With beer sampling from Exile Brewing Company, Great Rivery Brewery, Keg Creek Brewery, Madhouse Brewing Company, Raccoon River Brewing Company, Twisted Vine Brewery, Yellowtail Pinot-Noir, and Moscato"
Exile isn't even brewing as far as I know unless that have some pilot brews or something going on- I drive by the brewpub everyday to and from work and they are still building. And the Zoo Brew I went to this year, they didn't have all these breweries there- I think there was just Madhouse, might be a running total of who will be there at different times? I dunno.
No Exile present. Kegs Creeks IPA was very, very good! Here's what everyone had for samples: Keg Creek- IPA, Irish Red, Stout, Amber Ale, Wheat Ale Twisted Vine- Blonde Ale, Scottish Ale Great River- Pale Ale, Brown Ale, Coffee Stout Racoon River- IPA, Scottish Ale?? Madhouse- IPA, Pale Ale, Honey Pils They were all poured from cans, bottles, growlers, or kegs. Had a great time and was able to hit el Bait Shop, High Life Lounge, and Hessen Haus afterwards.
