Making a trip back home for the holidays and going to try and (hopefully) make a few stops around the Des Moines area. My IA growler knowledge is limited to knowing that it's looser than Minnesota and not as free as Wisconsin. Can someone fill me in on the specifics, like does the growler have to come from the establishment you're filling it at? Cleaning? Sealing? Anything and everything would be appreciated! Also would appreciate any suggestions for locations. Right now I've got The Keg Stand and the new Ankeny Hy-Vee on my radar with Bait Shop a possibility.
Speaking from no experience, but from what I hear any glass is fine, or that's what I hear about El Bait Shop at least. From my experience, places like that you will definitely want to give your growlers a good scrubbing first as they will just fill it up when you hand it to them, but they will provide a new cap.
The growler does NOT have to come from the establishment you are filling at. As long as it has the "government warning" printed on the bottle (glass or metal), it is good to go. I have never encountered a place that cleans the growler for you before filling it, that responsibility will fall on you, so just bring a clean growler and you'll be good to go. As noted, they will usually provide a new growler cap and most shrink wrap the lid with a heat gun and plastic before you are allowed to carry it out. As for what places to fill in Des Moines: The Keg Stand and El Bait Shop would be my two spots to hit for sure. The Keg Stand will basically fill anything they have on tap. El Bait Shop is a little more strict and from what I know, their policy is that the beer has to have been on tap for at least 2 weeks before they'll do growler fills (for instance, so if they get a fresh keg of Sue, people don't blow the keg on just growler fills and bar patrons get to enjoy it first). The new Ankeny HyVee does do growler fills indeed, but their selection is fairly limited right now (though the prices are solid) and they won't have anything on tap you wouldn't be able to find at The Keg Stand or El Bait. Also, try the University Library Cafe (or call to check), as I am pretty sure they'll fill growlers and they have some very nice handles too (though not as many).
Thanks for the heads up with this! Now I know I won't have to pony up some extra $$$ for growlers when I can just bring some MN ones down with me instead. I'll have to see if I can swing a trip over to the Library but, having been born and raised in the area, still not sure if I'll feel safe going anywhere near the Drake area.
Yes University Library Cafe fills growlers but only seems to has the small ones for sale. Though the last time I was there they seemed to be having some issues with their tap system but I'm sure if is fixed by now. The only really negative thing I can say about the place is that whoever designed the tap set up didn't allow enough room for a pour without burying the tap faucet deep into the glass. Which might explain why the last time I had TG it tasted a little off. Bacteria does so much for the taste of beer. This is interesting because last I had heard the growler has to come from the establishment that is filling it. This was about 3 months ago, so maybe they have adjusted the law. Oh and there really isn't any bad area of that part of town. You would have to go far north or well east of 22nd to run into a problem and even then you would have to really look for it. In fact, I avoided the place because of it's closeness to Drake and frat row but haven't seen any of the problems that pledge the bar in the past the number of times I've been there. It is a great deal more laid back then the under age binge drinking college bar it was in the past.
