I'm too old to know the current bar scene in Ames, BUT the one that has endured for the ages is the Tip Top Lounge, total dive bar that is extremely popular on Sat am's before football games. Beer and Chili at the Tip Top is an ISU tradition if you are into FB and drinking everyone from college kids to 60+ yr olds in there on game day.
It's been great having you guys stop in CF and visit, kind of makes me wish FB wasn't scheduled out a decade+ I think you folks would be fun to tailgate with in either Ames or Eugene.