A Beer Lover's Guide to Des Moines
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
What I would drink, do, see, and eat if I found myself in Des Moines, Iowa again.
I never really considered visiting Des Moines, Iowa until I was invited to a wedding outside the city last year. I'm typically agreeable to exploring most places when a reason presents to visit. That said, I RSVP'd yes to the wedding and extended my visit by a day to explore the city. Read what I drank, ate, saw, and did during my quick weekend exploring Des Moines.
Beer
Lua Brewing
Lua Brewing was both the anticipated and actual standout of the Des Moines beer scene. This brewery could absolutely hold up in a more beer-saturated market. I walked here from my hotel downtown (about one mile) and arrived in time for lunch. My burger and fries were very good -- not just "brewery food", but maybe were a little salty (and I say this as a salt lover).
The taproom is vibrant and pretty, which I don't often use to describe breweries. It's just spacious enough where a lot of people can be there, but it's not giving off a brewpub vibe. There were a lot of beers I wanted to try, so with multiple breweries planned for the day, I stuck to tasters. This options is always appreciated. If I am ever back in Des Moines, I would dedicate more time to drinking here because it was my favorite stop.
El Bait Shop
I only visited one beer bar in Des Moines, but I enjoyed it here so much that I went twice. El Bait Shop is one of the better beer bars that I have visited anywhere. I had to go back twice to even touch trying the over 260 taps plus a fridge full of cans to drink onsite or take to go. I enjoyed trying some local Iowa breweries here, as well as revisiting some midwest favorites like BlackStack Brewing and Hop Butcher. Even with such a selection, El Bait Shop is essentially a large, well-supplied dive bar.
More Breweries
I highlighted my two favorite places for beer in Des Moines above. Here are the other places that I visited and enjoyed.
Confluence Brewing Company - I only got about an hour here, because they were closing early, but it was enough time for a flight. The tap list is large and had better variety than I see at a lot of breweries. I would have liked enough time to try a few more and/or enjoy a full pint of a single beer.
SingleSpeed Brewing Co. - Admittedly, I went here because I like bikes and their glassware, but I also enjoyed the beer. If this hadn't been my third brewery of the day, I would have liked to have tried more because it was hard to choose just one beer. I did wind up buying a glass.
Barn Town Brewing - Located a little out of the way from everything else, but still not far away in West Des Moines, I only had time to stop in for cans to go. I love that Barn Town offers mixed four packs, especially because they have a big selection, including a notable amount of fruited sours. Between two of us, I tried a few of their sours and IPAs, and these were some of the better beers of my trip. I think it's worth going a little out of your way here, at least for cans to go.
Big Grove Brewery - This place is huge with more of a brew pub vibe, a big beer selection, and a full menu. It's the kind of place for groups and more casual beer drinkers. I enjoyed my time here, liked the beer more than the food, but what really stood out to me was the amazing merch selection. It was almost like an actual store within the taproom.
Food & Activities
Food
I didn't get to eat too many meals in Des Moines, but these were my non-brewery food highlights, including the one place I would go out of my way to visit again.
Mi Patria Ecuadorian Restaurant - I still think about my dinner here. The portions are large, the prices are fair, and the food was incredible. Absolutely some of the best Latin American food that I have had. It's a little out of the way in West Des Moines, but very worth it, and it's on the way from downtown to Barn Town Brewing. This would be a must-visit if I am ever back in Des Moines.
La Mie Bakery - I went here for my last lunch before heading to the airport. I enjoyed a delicious sandwich on fresh bread and a coffee. I wanted to try all the baked goods. I think it would also be a great spot for breakfast.
Activities
Between drinking beer and eating, these were the things I did that I really enjoyed in Des Moines.
Iowa State Capitol - I really like state capitol building tours in general, because you learn a lot and they're free. My visit did not time out well for a guided tour, but I was most interested in visiting the State Law Library on the third floor and no tour is required for entry. This is one of the most beautiful libraries that I have ever visited, and I spent a considerable time admiring the Victorian architecture and floor to ceiling details.
The Iowa State Capitol is located in Des Moines's East Village neighborhood, and is just a few minutes away from restaurants and my recommended shops. There is no reason not to stop in. It feels like something out of a movie.
Shopping in the East Village - The historic East Village is a walkable hub of unique shops, restaurants, and coffee shops. When planning this trip, I saved some restaurants to potentially visit here, but I wound up only having time for shopping. My two favorite shops are right next door to one another.
RAYGUN calls itself "The Greatest Store in the Universe," and even with that lofty self-endorsement, it exceeded expectations. Politically and ethically, I felt like I was in Portland, Oregon. This is such a great store for a liberal, socially-conscious, or Iowa souvenir or gift. I treated myself to several items.
Storyhouse Bookpub is an independent bookstore selling mostly new, but also some used, books as well as some other smaller items like stickers and bookmarks. It's cozy, has a well-curated selection, and is proudly supportive of social justice issues similar to their neighbor.
Overall, I enjoyed Des Moines, Iowa more than I thought I would. The city definitely felt small to me, but that also made it easier to navigate in a short time. If the opportunity presents itself for you to visit Des Moines, you may want to take it.
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