Des Moines BeerAdvocates...

No real beer of choice as I try and always have something different. I currently have way more NG Moon Man than anything else in my fridge.

 

Howdy. Pale Ales have been my go to for a while, but right now the craving for Oktoberfests has kicked in, so I have three or four brands of o-fest in my beer fridge at all times.

 

Just moved to Des Moines this summer, but I've always been in the area. Bully! Porter is my go to at home, but when I go out I like trying new things. (It's usually a spur of the moment decision)

 

I mostly drink my own beers but when I am not I enjoy TG Beers, when I can score some from El Bait. I also enjoy much of the seasonals you all distribute.

 

I love to go to Hy Vee or b\Beer Crazy and do mixed 6 packs. For me this is the best way to try a little of everything all at once. If I do buy a whole sixer though I stick with New Belgium,summit and I give lots of local love to Peace Tree. I also home brew so I have always have plenty of that in my beer fridge down stairs.

 

My beer of choice is Big Sky IPA. Retailers need to know about the best buy date on the bottle neck. Some either don't, or hope the consumer doesn't.
Out, El Bait Shop for TG Golden Nugget, or if lucky, PseudoSue.

 

Just signed up for the BA forums a few days ago. I am from the Des Moines area and love drinking and talking about all kinds of beer. My recent go to beers have been any selection from Jolly Pumpkin I can find. Love their barrel-aged, bottle conditioned, brettcyanomes fermented beers! My top 3 styles are: Imperial Stouts, IPA/DIPA and Saison/Farmhouse.

Glad to see a DSM distributor posting on here! How does the process work about trying to get distribution in the Des Moines market for some regional breweries that we are missing out on (i.e. - Three Floyds, Surly, Schafly, etc)?

 

I'm pretty sure that Three Floyds and Surly don't distribute hardly, if at all outside of their respective states.

 

According to Seekabrew.com (not accounting for accuracy of the site), Three Floyd's has full distribution in Indiana and Wisconsin, with limited/regional distribution in Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky.

And yeah, I know Surly doesn't distribute outside of Minnesota (sorta like New Glarus in that regard), but didn't know if beers from breweries like these was something a local distributor could "special order" or whatever? Not sure how that all works.

 

Didn't know that about Three Floyd's. Thanks for the info!

 

My go-to beer is becoming Buffalo Sweat from Tallgrass. Aside from seasonal releases, this is what I've purchases the most. Its also really tasty and not too high abv (5%).

 

Agreed. I could see it being Lagunitas, which would rule. Maximus IPA all summer long would be fine by me.

Good insight into why some of those smaller, regional breweries don't want/need to expand their distribution. Plus, I guess for them, it keeps the "allure" of trying to score their beers high and therefore increases their appeal/popularity amongst fellow beer heads.

Looking forward to the eventual bottle distribution of Toppling Goliath and Confluence as well. Speaking of Confluence, they are releasing a new beer at their taproom today: No. 12 Rakau, APA. Will be interesting to see how Confluence evolves and what other styles of beer they hopefully branch out to.

 

I would love to see O'Dell and Oskar Blues in Iowa! Second on Lagunitas too.

I have only had small tastes of Confluence, but never actually ordered an entire beer. How is it? If anyone tries the new release, please post your thoughts.

 

Also, would love to see Ska. They literally have to drive through DM as they distribute in NE and IL!

 

Yeah...it always seemed strange that Ska shipments go right through Iowa, but don't get distributed here. I would also love to see Odell or Oskar Blues in Iowa too. It's frustrating when those beers can be easily acquired just one state over.

Also, the only Confluence beers I've had are the Thomas Beck Black IPA and the Des Moines IPA. Both are pretty great. Not mind-blowing, but above average and up there with one of the better IPAs I've had from Iowa (that aren't TG of course).