It's almost like the beer actually needs to taste good and be enjoyable.
The next brewery to bite the dust
- Thread starter baller21
- Start date
They definitely make their money on the weekends but with their overhead that doesn't pencil out in the long run.
My top 10 breweries in Iowa in no particular order:
Lua
Singlespeed
Dimensional
Pulpit Rock
Toppling Goliath
Lions Bridge
Confluence
Field Day
Big Grove
West O
Lua
Singlespeed
Dimensional
Pulpit Rock
Toppling Goliath
Lions Bridge
Confluence
Field Day
Big Grove
West O
See i dont get this. Some of their stuff is ok but how many smoothie sours can a place make? Plus their price point is crazy at the grocery store, they are like 4 bucks more than any other local place.
I like Lions Bridge but it seems they don't get a lot of publicity. If it's on tap somewhere I often choose it, but I rarely stop by their place in CzechTown. The last time I was there, they had closed the kitchen and were essentially leasing to a contractor because it wasn't making money.
I like all of them, but would put Alluvial ahead of Field Day, Lion's Bridge, and West O.
Ten Wasp in Sumner is great as well. Brock Purdy's apparently a fan.
I hope not. Confluence is my favorite in town.
I've been part of the mug club at Backpocket since they first opened in Johnston 5 years ago. Their beer is mid, but they've been helped a little with their collab with Single speed. I go for drinks nearly every Thursday and they are always busy. The problem now is that there is a new bar next door and the parking is challenging. Personally, I think they should have gotten rid of the bowling, and just had more seating. When I'm there, people are rarely bowling.
Confluence is good stuff. Love the Des Moines IPA.
Confluence makes above average beer, probably has the best variety in the state, is right next to Grays Lake on the bike trail and has a good distro network. I think they’ll be ok.
I would say Confluence is probably the outlier. They have a big enough following at this point.
Marto needs on this list. I haven't tried field day, but I would put marto ahead of field day and westo.
What sets confluence apart, imo, is the number of beers they release. They’re not all amazing but man if they don’t crank em out. Compared to like exile who has has the same 11 beers for a decade now.
They aren’t going anywhere. The gluten free sours are something no one else in the area does and has a cult following. BT has quietly become a top 5 producer in the state.
Marto is fantastic. If you haven’t tried Wise I out of LeMars put that on your list as well.
Would not surprise me to see him keep snagging up brands with a decent regional following.
