Why are we counting Big Grove in the Des Moines rankings here in July 2021? When their Sherman Hill location opens next year, sure.
Last edited:
Des Moines Metro beer tiers 2021
- Thread starter dmclone
- Start date
Why are we counting Big Grove in the Des Moines rankings here in July 2021? When their Sherman Hill location opens next year, sure.
Sheesh - dumb mistake by me
I still hold belief that putting BG in Des Moines ranking is premature. Will they be elite? Sure, but they’re not apart of the Des Moines landscape yet. Just my opinion though.
Yeah, you may be correct. I'm basing my ratings on the beer I've had from them in the last couple of years as well as the beer I've had in both of their locations. They may totally drop the ball but I highly doubt it. Lua seem to do pretty good right off the bat.
These are dangerous waters because we all have different palates. For instance, Barn Town IPA's, to me, are very juicy, like overly juicy. They also use lactose in a lot of their beers (allergy), and all of their sours seem to be "pastry". That doesn't mean I'm wrong when I say they're not good, I just don't care for them, so rankings are highly subjective. There aren't many breweries that I won't be back to, but Fox and Mistress just simply don't make good beer in my opinion. For the life of me I can't figure out how Fox is still open. Sticking with taprooms only in the Des Moines area, here's my list. I'm not including Big Grove because they're a year away from serving beer in the Des Moines area. I'm sure it will be great, but I can't rank someone who doesn't have boots on the ground and taps flowing. And yes, I consider Alluvial to be in the Des Moines area and I'm partial to anything Ames.
Tier A
Lua
Tier B
Confluence (B+)
Alluvial
Flix Brewhouse (solid, consistent beer)
Peace Tree
Brightside
Tier C
Exile
Kinship (on their way up. still new, and a ton of potential)
Fenders
Tier D
Twisted Vine
Firetrucker
1717
Reclaimed Rails
Court Av
Barntown (food is fantastic)
Tier F
Mistress
Fox (F-)
Tier A
Lua
Tier B
Confluence (B+)
Alluvial
Flix Brewhouse (solid, consistent beer)
Peace Tree
Brightside
Tier C
Exile
Kinship (on their way up. still new, and a ton of potential)
Fenders
Tier D
Twisted Vine
Firetrucker
1717
Reclaimed Rails
Court Av
Barntown (food is fantastic)
Tier F
Mistress
Fox (F-)
I never really liked Mistress. I've been there a handful of times and never found anything I liked. Was there again last night for a meeting and I tried their California Common. That's a solid beer. Nothing outstanding but very good. I would drink more of that. If only their other beers were to that level.
Now that we've let a couple of years go by, I'd like to re-rate
The other post made me think of how I would rank our current brewers in the metro. This is based solely on beer, not their taproom, and just my opinion. I like IPA's, Stouts/Porters, and Sours in that order.
Tier A
Lua
Tier B
Confluence (moved up from C)
Big Grove (B+. Maybe an A)
Alluvial (Out of the metro but..)
Barntown
Tier C
515
Backpocket
West Hill
Exile
Peace Tree
Brightside
Reclaimed Rails-They've improved a lot
Tier D
Kinship
Court Avenue
Firetrucker (Use to be a C)
Fenders
1717---Closed
Tier F
Mistress---Closed
Fenceline
Twisted Vine
Fox (F-)---Closed
Only a few changes. The F's have all went out of business except one. Twisted Vine is now in a better tap room but same ole beer. Backpocket is now in town. Court Avenue moves up one spot based on some recent stuff I've had. Reclaimed rails moves up based on some porters/stouts I've recently had from them. Barntown moves down one spot and nearly two spots in my mind. I'm just not loving them as much as I use to. Forgot about Fenders, added them as well. I've only been to Fenceline one time so it's probably not fair but I'll never go back unless I hear something drastically changed
My guess is that by 2025 firetrucker may also be closed, which is a shame.
Fenceline has a Honey Truncheon which is a quite tasty brown. I'm a darker beer fan and have really enjoyed this one. The brewer/owner there has been improving a number of their beers lately.
I'd put alluvial in tier A,and barntown is close to tier A for me. But the rest of your list I agree with.
Barntown definitely is an A if you’re a sour drinker, but probably around a C for the other styles. Solid food though.
Never really thought their beer was that great anyways, so I’m okay with not going out of my way to any more of their stuff, especially if it means I’m funding those losers out east
I think this is solid. We went to West Hill when it first opened so I don’t remember them much and can’t comment. I think Big Grove is a solid B, their Hopocalypse series is usually good as are their stouts but haven’t loved much else besides Easy Eddy, so maybe you are right at a B+. We live 5 minutes away from Lua so are lucky, but man it’s hard to go anywhere else with the proximity and the great beer. I’ve always had a soft spot for 515 as that was our neighborhood brewery before Lua opened.
Anyone want to take a shot at a KC area brewery list to derail the thread but also give some insite for the Big12 tournament next year?
As a visitor, here is my take on the ones I've been to
Alma Mader-A
The best I've had in KC
BKS Artisan Ales-A
Neck and Neck with Alma Mader
Boulevard-B
Hard to rate because they are so big compared to the rest. Tap room usually has solid options.
City Barrel-B+
Only been to the one downtown. I believe they just opened another in the old Bier station, which was a favorite of mine.
Servaes-B
Torn Label-B
I do a little research before I go so unlike DSM, I haven't been to a lot of their crap ones.
I would put Alluvial and Confluence in a similar tier to Lua.
Ranking of KC beers deserves its own thread so that it is easier to find for future reference.
Lua's hazy IPAs are amazing. Confluence's Des Moines IPA gets a lot of attention, but for me, their Milk Man Milk Stout is an A+. I've gotten several kegs of it the last few years. Confluence also has a really good pumpkin beer in the fall if that's your kind of thing. Basic Batch. I tried to get some last year but they only brew one batch of it and it sold out in 4 days.
