If you have not made it to Hy Vee's new store in Urbandale (Douglas and 86th st) you should really check it out. I made a quick stop to check out their new liquor department today and all I can say is WOW! It is a great layout and the selection is fantastic as far as Iowa goes. This places selection puts all other Hy Vee's to shame! To many beers to list however the one thing worth noting is they have most all of the beers from Tall Grass Brewing including 8 bit and Velvet Rooster! I have yet to see this on the shelf anywhere else in central Iowa. So do yourself a favor and check it out! Also worth noting is they have a very nice sit down restaurant there that has 20 plus craft beers on the menu. So you can let the wife do the shopping while you relax and sample a few brews
I will have to say that Blake and Kent have it going on down at the Pleasant Hill Wine and Spirits. I have not been to the new urbandale store yet but I would bet P Hill has just as good of selection.
I may have to check out Pleasent Hill soon. One thing I find is that Hy Vees beer selection varies from one location to another. Some stores are great and some still don't get it.However the new Urbandale store has the whole collection in one spot.
The selection really seems to be based on the Liquor/Beer managers tastes, and knowledge. You can find a big difference store to store alone here in Cedar Rapids. Off hand, I think we have seven of them and the differences are noticeable. They all have access to the same things, it's just what the manger chooses to order in.
I'm not sure who is the manager in the wine & spirits section, but I know the "Bar Manager" AJ is a great guy. Very knowledgeable and he came from the Indianola Hy-vee as the W & S manager there. I'm sure he had a part in what type of selection they have at this new store. I'm not sure if he is a part of the BA community, but reads the site from the convos I've had with him. I'm sure I'll stop in to check out the new store when I come down that direction in a few weeks.
I'm pretty sure it's Jim from the Grand and Railroad store that is the wine & spirits manager out in Urbandale now. And yes, his beer selection is pretty fantastic. That store is pretty much my go-to stop for beer now!
42nd and University has a good selection and they have had almost all the Tallgrass selections for a while now.
It is Jim. He will make sure it is the go to place for craft beer in Des Moines. 88 ft of beer coolers.
