Nothing but good things to say about this place. Literally 5 stars across the board. Atmosphere? Check. Nice and laid back, numerous screens and a nice mix of tables, booths, bar, and high tops. Service? Check. Attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Food? Big check. Bacon wrapped meatloaf deserves a state holiday in its honor, and the fish and chips were meaty, not hidden under too much breading. And, the beer? Even the every day beers were great and I tried one of the specials for a treat that did not disappoint. So, overall, highly recommend. Go here or live knowing you've missed out read more

Friendly place with good beer. You can either be seated in the restaurant, sit in the bar area, or outside on the patio. They had a wide selection of beers and a decent menu of American style foods. We just stuck to drinking since we already ate. Our bartender was very friendly. read more

Exile Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

Finally! Chicken spedini! It was tasty with broccolini & carrots. (It could have used more amagio sauce.) Hubby's penne & meatballs was delicious. Red sauce was excellent! We ordered salads as an extra, but they didn't bring them before our meal. That was weird. We didn't think to ask because we just assumed it would happen. Our drinks were good as well. Service was good & the restaurant is clean! read more

See all

Went to the snowglobe this year and it was so much fun! Very well decorated. Beers were good as usual, I tried the Maria which is a Mexican style beer served with a lime that I really liked. The food was also good, I had the grilled chicken sandwich with pesto mayo with a side of brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts were over seasoned but the sandwich was delicious. read more

I really wanted to give a 5 here because of how fun and festive it was but the food was super subpar for our group unfortunately. I first ordered the short rib tacos but even after dining for lunch right when they first opened, they were out. I switched to the Nashville hot chicken sandwich and it was so overdone that the breading was falling off and the chicken was hard to bite. The side Caesar that I picked as my side was very dry and unimpressive. The cheese curds were however, delicious. Someone else in our party ordered the salmon salad and said it was good but overall no one in our group was thrilled with their entree. It is still worth visiting for a beer, appetizer and to enjoy the decor - it is beyond impressive! Service was slow but friendly when we did see our waitress. read more

See all

Such a cute brewery! They had it FULLY decorated for Christmas and truly went above in beyond in the ambiance. They had Christmas themed menus even, and made it feel super festive! There is a large indoor and outdoor area for seating! I will say, if you want to sit inside in winter, I would recommend making a reservation for evening if it's a weekend. We sat ourselves and did had to move outside 30 minutes in due to the table being held for reservation. The brewery had a large selection of in house beers. I tried the IPA and it was great! Such a perfect spot for a casual meet up or night out! read more

See all

Although we did not eat when we went there, it does look like they have some good specials, especially in Valentine's Day for that loved one. I love the uniqueness of the building layouts where they use old structures and make the brewery around them. Extremely friendly service was able to answer concerns. read more

See all

Great place to get a beer, Horrible place to come and watch Sports. Watching final 8 WC games and this happened 5 times in extra time. the bar inside had a TV that was further ahead, everyone would cheer 15s before outside would know what happens. I Do Not recommend, go to big grove or johnnys. read more

Exile Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I give all the stars to Exile brewing Company. The food is tasty and always comes out warm. It's a tight squeeze in this Restaurant, but that's what makes it a nice and cozy environment. If you're looking for a dinner spot that's always poppin, go to EBC... but make sure to get a reservation. read more

Pulling up we parked right outside that old school style postcard 'Des Moines' graffiti. LOVE IT! Of course I made the crew take a few unwanted photos! We were seated outside. It was a beautiful Sunday summer afternoon. Their outdoor space is clean and spacious. There was a solo singer belting out tunes like Tracey Chapman and playing guitar. Added to the ambiance of EB. Next to the singers station was a kid area! Sand box, chalkboard, a few chairs for adults. This kept my little guy entertained and I took in the sun and singing. I did have the cheese curds and they were delicious. I have to say, I was successful in not getting exiled from this brewery. I behaved. read more

1st time visitors trying some of DSMs breweries. First of all - our server was dynamite! So helpful, so knowledgeable about the beers, the brewery, the area, etc. Got the full story about the famous real-life Ruthie of Ruthie Gold Lager fame which was great. Beers were terrific, we even got a free to-go order of their incredible chicken bites because we were first-time visitors!? Awesome - we will definitely be back - we sat in the bar but the restaurant space is cool too and they have an outstanding outdoor area as well - very cool historic building in downtown - well worth the visit. We will be back! read more

We had been here previously but only got a chance to try the beer and appetizers. While we were in town this weekend we decided to come and I am so glad that we did! My husband had the brisket sandwich which he said was excellent. I had the Cuban sandwich and the flavor was excellent. I could not even eat the whole thing!! I'm not much of a fry girl but the fries were delicious as well. Our waitress Misty was very helpful not only in helping us choose our beer selections but in helping us figure out other places downtown we could visit. We have not sat in the restaurant area but the bar area is the perfect size and very comfortable for enjoying an afternoon beer. read more

I attended a work event and we were in the rooms at the top of the restaurant. We had several tables, and a wonderful server. I had a New Fashioned (with Amaretto) to start, and a glass of red with dinner. Our buffet was in the next room and the food was amazing. Lasagna, meatballs, potatoes, veggies, and rolls. There was tiramisu as well, but not being a fan, I didn't try it. They did a great job accommodating us. read more

When traveling to Exile, this is always my go to. Great staff. Good food and the most tasty Blackberry & lemon seltzer ever. I long for this as it is not in St. Louis. Last night. The vibe was off. Many items were not availanle including the seltzer I was longing for. The bartender, not busy as there were only 2 pp at the bar, seemed to aimlessly roam the bar without any contact with the customers. Once I ordered a drink, I literally had to remind the bartender that I was also wanting to order food. The night was off. Still upset that the seltzer fr8m this distillery was not available. read more

Always a great stop. I had to come in to try the holiday brews and they did not disappoint! Make sure and stop several times before they are packed away with the Christmas tree. read more

Exile Brewing Company - Jesus on a Forklift lives up to the hype. Delicious fruit teaser chocolate flavor. Pairs well with the chicken bites. - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Beans our waitress made this whole dinner worth it! She was amazing! Our food wasn't the best we've had. We liked the Brussels most. They had most flavor. Steak was flavorful but not cooked medium rare, per request & had a lot of fat. Potatoes on both dishes had no flavor. Carrots were hard but did have good flavor. The broccolini was cooked to perfection. We went for the snowglobe experience & it was absolutely magical inside! I would definitely recommend going for the experience but maybe just hit up the appetizers. The meatloaf was okay but would've been better if it was all beef instead of a mix of grazianos sausage & beef. I like the effort but in my opinion it could've been better! All in all I would still check this place out. read more

Exile Brewery gives tours! $10.70 for an informational tour, two pours of their craft beers, and you get to keep the Exile glass. read more

See all

Had a girls afternoon here last Thursday and we all really enjoyed it. I was unaware you had to have a reservation for the snowglobe but we were given the option to sit in the bar. We were greeted by a new bartender which I forgot her name but she was so sweet and helpful with giving us drink options. My first drink was the Sweater weather drink which I unfortunately didn't picture because of the great time I was having with the girls. Sweater weather is made with the cream liquor by revelton whisky and it was delightful. I next had the berry xmas I believe it was called and that one was my favorite. It had a tangy taste that I really enjoyed. For appetizer I ordered the truffle fries and they were to devour because of how good they were. I of course forgot to take a picture but trust me they were AMAZING. Also I want to mention a lady they called "Mama", she was literally like a mom coming over several times to us to check if we needed anything. Such a sweet person! She kept going back and forth to get us sides and boxes for our food. Loved her. For my entree I had the grilled chicken sandwich haha again not pictured but I had the option for gluten free and I was ecstatic. It came with a side and I choose the Caesar salad which was made to creamy, cheesy perfection. It's not a Caesar if it's not covered in Caesar salad and this was definitely covered. The sandwich was perfect it had a pesto creamy sauce and I got so full with everything I has to take half home. I enjoyed the next day and it was just as delicious. Highly recommend this place to anyone anytime but if you can come and enjoy the snowglobe it's full of cheer and happiness. read more

See all

Great drinks, delicious food, awesome live music, and attentive service! I will definitely be back this summer! read more

Exile Brewing Company - Chicken - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

Cheese curds were amazing. My flight was incredible. Oktoberfest bier was outstanding. Our server is the bomb!!!

Came here for my sisters birthday lunch and they were all so kind! They accidentally added onions and truly made up for it! Amazingly delicious! Amazing staff! The music was amazing! read more

Went during October and they had the very fun jump-scare halloween theme. The waitress whose kids wrestled was very nice and she welcomed us very kindly. They had a very crisp coke and the pulled pork sandwich with its coleslaw and the herb fries tasted amazing. read more

4.5* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 4* 04/29/2023 Exile Brewing Company This is my wife's favorite brewery in town and we've been here a number of times, but finally getting around to writing a review. On this trip, it was a stop at the end of the Lemon Trail Ride, as the cold, wind and rain caused us to cut the ride a little short. We started with an order of Exile Fries (see picture) as we have always enjoyed them on previous visits - and today was no exception, crispy and so flavorful! We also shared a Spinach & Artichoke Dip (see picture) and it to, was delicious and highly recommended! For our meals, we ordered the Exile Burger w/ Truffle Fries (see picture) and Sweet Chili Shrimp Tacos w/Brussels Sprouts (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each dish and both thought that everything was delicious. They have very good Brussels Sprouts here that we often order as an appetizer, but given the other appetizers today, we enjoyed them as a side instead - definitely try these if you haven't already. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com For the best Happy Hour and Food Specials in Des Moines, visit: happyhourdesmoines.com read more

See all

We booked reservations for family dinner during the snow globe event/theme. The atmosphere was festive, the service was excellent, and everyone enjoyed their meals. Let's not forget their Exile beers- great selection! read more

See all

I love going here just on a normal day & LOVE the food/drink. This was my first year going for Snowglobe. The atmosphere was SO fun, colorful & festive. Decor on point with many photo opportunities. They did have a different menu for food/drink & I'm not sure it was a hit for me. The Asian salad turned wrap & fried Brussels are delicious!! The Nashville chicken sandwich was HUGE & juicy. Now, the not so popular opinion.. They were out of the seasonal sour & no substitute, (I know it happens) bummer! The meat in the tacos & on the cheesesteak sandwich did not have much flavor. It was tender, but not the spices we were expecting. The food was warm, but not a 'hot & fresh'. We did sit upstairs & I'm not sure if the distance from kitchen was to blame.. it also took our waitress what seemed forever to get a spoon, napkins & ketchup. (We actually never got the napkins). Having a stocked waitress sandwich upstairs may be beneficial. Aside from all that, we will absolutely go back on a normal night, I understand it's extra busy this time of year & can get crazy. read more

Exile Brewing Company - Fried Brussel Sprouts - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Waiter tops. We were there during decoration for Christmas thus things were up in the air a bit. Great beers and food. Needless to say their beers are top drawer. read more

Exile Brewing Company - Bar from our booth - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

What a festive place!!! A great place to bring the kids to see all the holiday decor! And don't forget a picture with the princesses, shrek and Santa. Everyone was so friendly and helpful! A great spot to bring the kids and grab a bite read more

See all

We did a lunch reservation for the snow globe theme at Exile. It was very festive! The best decor is by the bathroom downstairs so don't miss it! The food was good. Burger was a little too salty though. Lasagna was awesome. Seared salmon salad is delicious and filling. Service was quick. I was able to do lunch under an hour (fyi if you're visiting during your work day.) read more

See all

Give Andy the waitress a raise! She was outstanding!! My table took longer to order and were indecisive. Andy was patient and helpful, plus there was another room packed with kids that she was juggling at the same time. The drinks and food were also great! read more

Cheers to having an NA beer on draft! We went here on a Thursday night to grab some dinner and watch some basketball. It looked like a good option since they make their own NA beer and have some pretty fun seasonal options. We ended up sitting in the tap room section and the man behind the bar was quick to come bring us water, menus, and utensils. He explained the beer list and gave us a few recommendations. I ended up getting the NA Ruthie, which is an NA version of one of the flagship beers. It had a great amount of flavor and is definitely a good low to no alcohol option. I also ended up ordering the exile burger, but replacing the burger with chicken. It came with a side, so I got the salad which ended up coming on its own plate. The salad was definitely the value play, and I liked that I could add greens to the sandwich then. The sandwich itself had a huge piece of chicken that extended way off the bun, but I'm not complaining because it was quite juicy. I think the chicken probably paired better with the onion bacon jam than a burger would have and the jam added the sweetness I wanted to counter the saltiness from the bun, cheese, and onion ring. Definitely messy and sticky to eat, but worth it! Overall, I the staff was friendly and prompt, turnaround time for food was quick and very tasty, and the beverage list is extensive. I definitely want to come back and try some more of their options! read more

See all

After going to the Iowa State Fair, my group of friends and I decided to come here for our fair debrief. After eating so much food, I decided to get a salmon salad. The salad was really good and the salmon was cooked nicely. I also got an ice cold Sprite which hit the spot. If I'm in Des Moines again, I would definitely go back and try some other food on their menu. read more

Great selection of great craft beers that all have a unique story. Brewery set in a renovated industrial building in old Des Moines . Best roasted Brussels sprouts ever. read more

My partner's company held a private party at Exile and we will be back again. The food was awesome and the service was even more amazing. There were probably about 100 of us scattered throughout the building, but the servers never let my glass get empty. Now I have to admit that we are not beer drinkers but the brewery tour was fascinating. When my grandson is here in April, we will take him to Exile since he appreciates a good beer. read more

Exile Brewing Company - Company dinner tonight - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We met some friends here from Denver who listed this brewery as one of many in the Des Moines area that they wanted to visit. First things first, I enjoyed the partially inside yet exposed to outside air seating. TV's to the right, open air to the left. Perfect. The crafts on tap were pretty extensive and they had even more to choose from in can. I seldom pass on an Oktoberfest this time of year and didn't say no to theirs, which was decent. The food menu also has a nice range of options, where I found another favorite..the Cuban sandwich. Exile's Cuban is really good, I highly recommend if you like the sandwich. As for the ambiance, they had a few football games on here which many patron's were into. The outside air and seating area is a nice touch for great end of summer/early fall weather. All in all we enjoyed everything about the place. Cheers! read more

Pulled pork sandwhich and funnel cake beer because of their snowglobe season pop-up is so good!

A group of 12 of us went there the other night. We had the best time! The food and service was amazing! If you go at Halloween, you must check out the upstairs and downstairs. So cool! We're from out of town and will definitely be back next year. read more

This place is AMAZING!!! People seriously come here if you have a beer and have a gooood time. We came somewhat close to close (which I don't loveee doing) but the staff were still super sweet and attentive. I ordered one of their sours, and the waitress accidentally gave me the wrong one. Instead of taking back the wrong one, she let us keep it and gave me a glass of the correct sour. So sweet!! The rest of the drinks my friends got were equally as delicious, and we all got to try a bit of the accidental sour we got. The prices here are also super reasonable, which was a somewhat welcome reprieve from the Twin Cities prices I am used to LOL. The inside is also very large and there is plenty of space to sit and hang out with your company (or come solo)! read more

Definitely impressed first time visiting Exile. They have two different types of seating w bar side and dining side. My friend and I went to the dining side. The booths are big and can fit a lot of people. We came in for drinks and dinner. My friend and I both ordered the chicken tenders basket. They were crispy on the outside and so tender. Amazing chicken on a bed of fries. The drinks also really good. My friend got a mojito and we both thought they gave her a big drink for just a mojito. We also tried some of their beer, which was also good. We came in on a Sunday and they had happy hour going on so $3 beers were nice. Safe to say we were very full by the time we were done. They have parking next to their building and across the street, that's specifically for restaurant customers. There's also lots of metered parking down the street. read more

Exile Brewing Company - Chicken Tender Basket - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Father's Day mid afternoon lunch with the family. The staff was super friendly, we were even a couple minutes late for our reservation. My brother and I wanted the patio, but my parents felt it was too hot out there after we were seated. The restaurant had no problem with us moving and the server was great about the change. Our new waitress was busy at the moment so rather than us waiting which we were happy to do, one of the bar managers got us going with some drinks! It was awesome and honestly great to see that flow and teamwork, we didn't even know he wasn't the one who would be taking care of us until she was no longer busy. We asked about a couple different options and our waitress was amazing and very knowledgeable. We started with delicious cheese curds and then each ordered a sandwich or burger except dad, he ordered meatloaf. He said he normally loves meatloaf anyway, but this was exceptional with the half ground beef half graziano's sausage. Everyone loved their food! It was a truly great meal with wonderful service from the entire staff! Thank you!! I forgot to take pics!! read more

Impressed beyond what I expected! Thought our Friday night plans were a bust when two of my original plans failed. Found Exile through Yelp as a nearby review and decided to give it a try. Walking in the ambiance was gorgeous: interior was pleasing to the eye. Great layout and esthetically modern. During COVID19 review: Masks are required for entry. All employees are masked. We were given the option of high top seating or table/booth seating. (Two different parts of the brewery) booth seating it was. Ordering menu is a QR scannable menu. Easy to read. I had the vegan chorizo wrap with sweet potato fries. Mr W had the black and bleu burger, regular herbed fries. Two Christmas brews since they were seasonal and our server generously offered a flight of samples. We spent $44.xx before gratuity. All of it was delectable! I couldn't get enough of the chorizo wrap. Amazing with every bite. Mr W even was FLOORED by the bleu cheese burger. He compared it to another well known local burger place with a bleu cheese burger and said NO ONE holds a flame next to Exile's Black and Bleu. It says a lot when Mr W compliments a place!!! I appreciated the options for plant based/vegan. I was told all the burgers can be made with a black bean patty to turn vegetarian. Or vegan of course omitting the cheese and aioli sauces, etc if need be. Asked about the oil they fry their food in: they have an allergen fryer with vegetable oil and a regular fryer with a lard/oil mix. Also with salmon options, pescatarian patrons are most certainly accommodated to. The service was outstanding. Our server Kelly really took care of us and had us feel welcomed. She was knowledgeable in her brews and food. Food came out quickly. I even called and talked to Chris who told me about the allergen fryer. I appreciate his time spent in helping me understand. Overall I wasn't even done eating yet and I knew I couldn't wait to be back! I highly recommend Exile as a nice date night or even for a small group of friends. If the restaurant allows, as the pandemic continues. Even take out would be worth it! Looking to come back for the grilled lemon and garlic hummus and something new to try. read more

See all