John's Grocery - the horror!!!

There are a few possibilities... Hy-Vee, WineStyles, Bootleggin' Barzini's, Johncy's in North Liberty. My business gets spread around pretty equally, and typically depends on what and when was just dropped. If you had to plan on only one and pick ahead of time, I'm not sure which I'd recommend.

If you have an hour, a stop at Big Grove in Solon could be in order? 30 Hop in Coralville has good stuff on tap and you could take a crowler or two with you.

Are you also passing through Des Moines? Probably more options there.

 

If only an hour, you can stop in either DSM or IC/Coralville area. Since I am more familiar with the IC area, you could hit up: North Dodge St Hyvee, Coralville Wine and Spirits, Wine Styles at the River Landing, Bootleggin' Barzini's, in that order. There's also Johncy's in North Liberty but that will be slightly further out of your way if you're on a time crunch. They typically have TG bottles sit longer after a drop, though.

 

Fleur Hyvee in DSM or go out of your way to Praire Trail Hyvee in Ankeny

 

It's really a toss up for you as distribution varies widely along the I80 corridor in Iowa.

I have the same constraints. Although I live in Iowa, I usually don't have a lot of time to stray off of the interstate for a beer run. I've found the Fleur HyVee in Des Moines to offer the best combination of having good stuff in stock AND having fairly easy access off of I80.

I've been to all the places mentioned above (and several in Council Bluffs) and they are all fine shops and you'd do well. It's simply that the Fleur store works best for me.

In an ideal world, you'd be able to make a quick stop in the Iowa City area and a quick stop in Des Moines. As mentioned, distro varies widely.

 

I would map out a little trip based off of what @HawkeyeNation said. I've been to John C's and their selection is decent, but not incredibly above and beyond what the other places mentioned would have to offer. All of the places should have good TG offerings.

 

Ankeny and Fluer are my go-to hy-vee's but Pleasant Hill has a surprisingly good selection.

 

This makes sense. I will (probably unnecessarily!!!) supplement these comments.

If you take 235 through downtown Des Moines, Fleur is a very good bet. If you take 80/35 around Des Moines, then Ankeny Prairie Trail is about the same distance off the interstate (2nd ave exit) as fleur (~4-5 miles).

In Coralville/Iowa City, the Winestyles Iowa River Landing is about a quarter mile off 80...pretty good selection and 30Hop is next door and could fill crowlers (maybe growlers too?) from their taplist.

 

Great point. I forgot to note the I235-I80 difference.

 

Prarie trail hyvee is definitely worth going a little off your route, great selection.

 

I'd recommend picking up some tallgrass big ricc, that beer blew my mind.
Also surly has some good beers, and I have an extra darkness if you want to work something out I live right by the interstate.

 

I'd rather go to Prairie Trail Hy Vee than Johns to be honest. Unless you are looking for Belgian or German stuff. Johns isn't going to have anything you can't find anywhere else.

 

IMO, the Hy-Vees are usually pretty well picked clean and they've got a more "typical" selection. Wine Styles and Barzini's are your best bets as they're both very close to one another. I also say it's worth it to get a crowler at 30 Hop. If you do wanna hit up a HyVee, the Coralville location isn't too far from the bottle shops I listed above.

 

@HawkeyeNation If you don't mind me asking, what is the justification for your suggested order? Namely the part about going to the Coralville Hy-Vee, to the IRL, back down 1st Ave to Bootleggin' Barzini's, and back up 1st Ave to get back on 80...

From my perspective, (if coming from 80) I would actually start at Winestyles, head to Barzini's, Coralville Hy-Vee, and then maybe even skip the other Hy-Vee, heading to the one on River Front instead.

 

I took his comment to mean "preference order" not "sequential order." Could be wrong, but that's how I understood it.

 

Yes this is what I meant since he said he was on a time crunch. I didn't want him wasting time looking all over.

 

I meant in what would have the best selections, since he only had an hour. Didn't mean he should go all places.

 

Wooden Rooster is really good too. The Tallgrass Explorer four pack has one each of Wooden Rooster, Buffalo Sweat, Vanilla Buffalo Sweat and Big Ricc.