Microbrews / bars in DM area

[laminak]

My wife and I will be in the DM area next weekend to go to an ICubs game on Sat. Would like to know some good new places for decent beers before or after the game.

We've been to: Court Ave Brewery, Racoon River, Granite City (in CR), Rock Bottom, El Bait Shop, Hesse Hause, Legends, and Fong's (for the food).

Are Confluence, Exile, or Madhouse any good? Is 515 worth the drive? Any other microbreweries or a bar/restaurant with a good beer selection? (Near I-Cubs preferred, however downtown/WDM areas will work, too.)

Thanks.

 

[azhuth09]

I go to Exile basically every time I'm in Des Moines. I don't think I have had a bad beer there yet. Also if you go on Sundays it's half priced :yes:

 

[isume6]

Confluence is way better than Exile, in my opinion. Their IPA is great. 515 has some good and some meh beers. I have only been so-so on most of the Exile beers. They aren't really bad, but I don't know why they get the attention they do, because I don't think they are that special.

If you want to support an ISU fan and fellow CF'er, you need to check out Torrent Brewing Company in Ames. I know that really isn't in your range of locations, but they have really good beer.

 

[Al_4_State]

515 is the best in town and worth the trip. Confluence is second, and very good.

El Bait Shop is a can't lose proposition.

 

[Cycopath]

Exile, El Bait Shop, Hessen house, Confluence, many great places to choose from.
Flix brewhouse has some good beers to, but it is in Merle Hay Mall.

 

[oldman]

I really enjoy Exile -- love Gi Gi.

 

[oldman]

Don't skip the English Mile.

 

[JP4CY]

Confluence is way better than Exile, in my opinion. Their IPA is great. 515 has some good and some meh beers. I have only been so-so on most of the Exile beers. They aren't really bad, but I don't know why they get the attention they do, because I don't think they are that special.

If you want to support an ISU fan and fellow CF'er, you need to check out Torrent Brewing Company in Ames. I know that really isn't in your range of locations, but they have really good beer.

ALL of this.

 

[DavClone]

I would put Confluence, Firetrucker in Ankeny and Exile in the Top 3 in Central Iowa. 515 and Madhouse don't brew the types of beer I like so I may be slightly biased (porters and stouts). We are doing a family brewery tour this weekend and hitting Madhouse, 515, Alluvial in Ames, Firetrucker, Exile and Confluence. I would like to try Torrent in Ames too so we may try to squeeze that one in. I would say as a whole that they all brew very good beer and most hold up to any other microbrews I have had anywhere.

Out of those 6 only Exile has a restaurant. You may want to consider that for a food stop and any of the others for just drinking. Most of the other ones will have food trucks on occasion.

 

[dmclone]

515 is making the best beer in DM right now.

 

[RubyClone]

515 is the best in town and worth the trip. Confluence is second, and very good.

El Bait Shop is a can't lose proposition.

Confluence and 515 are the other way around. But otherwise.... :wink:

Actually - 515 has probably my 2-4 favorite local beers (Dodger, Hopititus). But the Thomas Beck's at Confluence is the runaway winner. IMO - 515 has a better tap room. Patio is nice at Confluence. Both you can take food into. Problem with 515 is they have such low capacity it's hard to count on your favorites being on tap.

As for "the drive", it's about 7 miles down the freeway

Madhouse is just ok. Nothing bad, but I've never had anything too impressive. Must be all about distribution, cause their tap room suuucks.

3 months ago I'd have told you to check out Mullets across the river from Principal park, but since Woody's smokehouse bought their way in and flipped the menu on it's ear - it's dead to me.

Just went to Malo a couple weeks back (downtown on Mulberry and around 10th?). Thought it was pretty good and had a good selection of beers at the bar. If you haven't been to Buzzard Billy's yet - that's probably worth a lunch.

 

[Cychl82]

My wife and I will be in the DM area next weekend to go to an ICubs game on Sat. Would like to know some good new places for decent beers before or after the game.

We've been to: Court Ave Brewery, Racoon River, Granite City (in CR), Rock Bottom, El Bait Shop, Hesse Hause, Legends, and Fong's (for the food).

Are Confluence, Exile, or Madhouse any good? Is 515 worth the drive? Any other microbreweries or a bar/restaurant with a good beer selection? (Near I-Cubs preferred, however downtown/WDM areas will work, too.)

Thanks.

You would love exile, and if you get food and like boneless wings they def have some of the best in town.

 

[ianoconnor]

I would agree that 515 and Confluence are the top 2.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I find Exile mediocre. Nothing is bad, but nothing I'd go out of my way to get.

I really like Confluence, never been to their place but had lots of beers.

Haven't been to 515, which is a freaking shame, because I live maybe 10 minutes away.

I like the Royal Mile, if that's what people were talking about above. But I really like that type of beer, food, and atmosphere.

 

[Angie]

515 is partially-owned by a CFer, so... Just saying.

 

[Bret44]

515 is partially-owned by a CFer, so... Just saying.

A **** ******?

 

[JP4CY]

Confluence and 515 are the other way around. But otherwise.... :wink:

Actually - 515 has probably my 2-4 favorite local beers (Dodger, Hopititus). But the Thomas Beck's at Confluence is the runaway winner. IMO - 515 has a better tap room. Patio is nice at Confluence. Both you can take food into.

As for "the drive", it's about 7 miles down the freeway

Madhouse is just ok. Nothing bad, but I've never had anything too impressive. Must be all about distribution, cause their tap room suuucks.

3 months ago I'd have told you to check out Mullets across the river from Principal park, but since Woody's smokehouse bought their way in and flipped the menu on it's ear - it's dead to me.

Agree with Confluence and 515
Agree with Madhouse, their taproom is tiny and the parking blows. The patio has no views.
Is the Mullets menu way different? I was at Woodys a month ago and I think he said that Mullets was basically swapping out the pizza for BBQ.

 

[RubyClone]

Agree with Confluence and 515
Agree with Madhouse, their taproom is tiny and the parking blows. The patio has no views.
Is the Mullets menu way different? I was at Woodys a month ago and I think he said that Mullets was basically swapping out the pizza for BBQ.

They dropped the pizza, dropped the Po-Boy menu (although a number are still on there, many aren't), took away the blue-gill dinner (my wife's favorite) and dropped the monterrey omelet during breakfast - my favorite.

So really it looked like a Woody's menu with a few sandwiches and more common fare. I haven't tried the bbq, but went with two different groups who did and both said it was ok at best. dry. I never thought Woody's was all that great anyway, so not anxious to try it down there.

The Big Mullet is still on there, and on special on Wednesdays. So they got that going for them.

 

[ILiftWithRoyce]

Confluence and 515 are tops IMO

 

[Cychl82]

you could also stop in the new bar by Legends called Carbon, my sister actually opened that just 2 weeks ago.