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    Iowa Taproom

    4.0 (458 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Beer Bar
    Closed • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    IOWA TAPROOM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Iowa Taproom

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    Cayden R.

    As someone who has stopped eating meat recently, I have been struggling to find something to eat at tap houses or bars. I was pleasantly surprised that the black bean burger was on the menu and it was GOOD! It wasn't too dry and it had good flavor! The sweet potato fries were crispy and went well with the sandwich. Our server was nice, she was quick to get our orders taken and send us on our way to the show we were going to! It's a laid back taproom with a HUGE bar in the middle, if you like beer this is the place to stop by when you're in town!

    Christina W.

    Huge beer garden restaurant in central Des Moines : downtown area. Had the fish and chips and Mr W had The Maytag blue cheese burger. All was delicious! Spent $58.xx after gratuity. Server was ok. He was helpful and served well. Server was only allowed to give us two samples of beers in plastic 1 oz cups. He ended up giving me a third little sample. It was loud but there was a social going on. Would recommend.

    Cheese Steak Egg Rolls
    Shawn M.

    I was in town visiting and Iowa Taproom was my first stop for dinner on recommendation from a coworker. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Iowa taproom, the beer is great and they have a very wide selection of options as well as sours too. The tenderloin was perfectly fried and crispy along with the fries. The cheese curds were very perfectly crispy and cheesy too. And we loved the Philly cheesesteak eggrolls. If you like Philly cheesesteak get these. Overall had a great experience at Iowa taproom and the service was great

    Chicken Wings
    Leah W.

    I was in Des Moines for a work event and needed a place to have dinner in downtown. I saw the Iowa Taproom was nearby and had decent reviews. It was honestly not good at all. The salad was bad. I'm talking the lettuce was from the inside of the iceberg but also somehow wilted. There was chicken and wontons on it but none of it was good or appetizing. We got an order of wings which was decent. Also ham balls because I was curious. They were okay. But the biggest letdown was honestly the salad. How is that possible to make a bad salad? The service was good, super sweet waitress. And the ambiance was cool! At one point a deer did walk up to the window which I found strange for a downtown but Iowa stuff?

    Blonde Fatale
    Miranda S.

    Stopped here recently for a few drinks and a plate of meatballs. No complaints or issues with our drinks or the meatballs. Very tasty and reasonable price as well. Friendly staff. Attentive. Clean area. Decent restrooms.

    Taps
    Megan M.

    Came here after dinner for drinks. We had great service and a HUGE selection of beer. I couldn't make up my mind so I got a flight. Our bartender graciously brought samples so I could choose. Every beer was delicious and all from Iowa! They looked like they had a great food menu as well, but we didny try any on this visit. Will be back next time I'm in town!

    Pork Tenderloin
    Tiffany O.

    Wandered into Iowa Taproom while I stayed in Des Moines for an overnight. Would recommend seems like a chill place to go for beers. I'm not a beer drinker however I did have a cider I enjoyed. Accompanied by a pork tenderloin sandwich that was juicy and delicious. It's a big venue, and there is outside dining as well. Staff was friendly, saw the owner interacting with staff, checking on things.

    Lager beer flight
    Erica B.

    This place was incredible!! Our server was phenomenal and I wish I remembered her name. We came in for a few apps, beer flights and some Sunday football. My husband and I each got a flight and were super impressed with the variety. He is a sours guy and tried 4 different sours. For appetizers, we got the cheesesteak egg rolls that were DELICIOUS and the cheese curds which were also sooo good! Ambiance was great for sports and also festive for the holidays. Would definitely recommend! Lunch plates that were coming by for other tables looked great too.

    Beer wall
    Dennis S.

    I stopped in for some after dinner drinks so I cant comment on the food but the beer selection was the best I have ever seen. The service was great and super attentive, our beertender making suggestions and helping us make out flights for my whole group. Great space for larger groups with several large tables in addition to the long bar seating. Overall I cant wait to return, a must stop for any beer lover in the vicinity of Des Moines.

    Cheese curds
    Leah B.

    Very cool spot with interesting Iowa and vintage decor. I loved the silo with all of the taps on it. The service was friendly and prompt. They have a lot, A LOT of beers, ciders, and sours brewed right here in Iowa. My husband and I got the burger that was made with ground beef and breakfast sausage and topped with an egg (I think it was called the good morning, but I can't remember). It was beyond delicious!!! The whole concept is superb! We got sweet potato fries as our side. The cheeseballs were nice and crispy, and cheesy. The kids Mac n cheese was very creamy. The flights offer a way to be able to sample the different beers you wanted to try!

    Bourbon BBQ Wings
    Christine I.

    A great event space especially for larger groups! Very casual and has lots of seating options. It can get pretty noisy during peak times but the space is well maintained! For the most part every time I've been here the service has been friendly enough and efficient with getting food out pretty fast!

    Flight
    Stephen C.

    We had a lovely time interacting with our bartenders. Food was excellent and filling. Love the atmosphere. There is too much beer on tap here to sample all in one visit, but you can try, as I did. All from Iowa. Of note was the pork sandwich. It was a large schnitzel served on a bun with lettuce, onion, tomato and pickles. Not as big as Figlmüller (IYKYK) but still ambitious.

    John O.

    I do love Des Moines Underrated beer city Get down there pronto Something like 99 taps of all Iowa beers from over 35 Iowa breweries that are always rotating. Open all 7 days. It can get crowded. If you can hit it during a down time you have hit the jackpot. I would like to just sit here all day. Heard through a rideshare driver that one company owns all of these great places in Des Moines. Hessen Haus, Fong's, El Baitshop, Iowa Taproom, etc. They know what they are doing if that is the case. To sum it up, the food is great. The beer is plentiful. The staff is friendly. Seems like they even remember me lol. If all things work out, should be back soon in the dead cold of winter.

    Entrance and bar

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

    We had dinner on a Saturday night and the place was busy, yet the food came out pretty quickly. The service was good.

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    5 months ago

    Stopped here on a road trip. Close to the Hwy, great food and friendly service. Amazing beer selection.

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - Iowa Taproom

    Is this place Lis friendly?

    Did you mean to ask if Taproom is kid-friendly? Yes we are. We have kids in here all the time. We do require an adult to be at a table with kids. Thank you!

    Do you have gluten-free options?

    They have broccoli

    Do they have wine?

    No. Kombucha and root beer

    Beer flights available?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    El Bait Shop - el Bait Shop food items

    El Bait Shop

    4.3(595 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    A massive selection of beer, ciders and seltzers with great service. The atmosphere is laid back…read more We got the fried pickles and the ranch was killer. A guy next to us ordered the biggest burrito I've ever seen. Gotta check this place out

    The Ultimate Stop for Bikes, Beer & Bites…read more After a day of biking, we made it back to El Bait Shop with some friends. This place is a solid choice, whether you're in the mood for the world's biggest selection of tap beers or some fantastic gastropub and comfort food from the lounge next door. We love it here because we can park our bikes in the provided area off the patio and still keep an eye on them. The outdoor service area is semi-shaded and the service is just as good as you'd get inside. As a beer lover, I can tell you the selection is ridiculous and expansive. If you want it, they probably have it, and from four or five different breweries at that! The menu is also loaded, with choices from both El Bait Shop and the High Life Lounge. Today, our food order was as impressive as the beer list. While I can't recall all the beers we had, the food included a Prime Rib Sandwich with tots ($14.99), the Pizza Burger also with tots ($11.99), the Philly Style Pot Roast Sandwich with a side of potato salad, and a massive bowl of Macaroni and Cheese ($11.99). We were starving after our ride, but that didn't change the fact that the food was all delicious, well-prepared, and served by our very attentive waiter, Kyle???, May. No one had any complaints, and the beer was cold and on time! Overall, we love the eclectic vibe of this place. Its downtown location gives you some great views, and more importantly, you're within walking distance of almost everything downtown Des Moines has to offer. This is a go-to spot for me, and I love taking first-time visitors here because it's so unique and the quality of both the service and the food is always on point. Oh, and did I mention the beer selection is completely insane? If you haven't been here yet, you are missing out, and you don't even know it. PRO TIP: Come here, and before you leave, slip over to the High Life Lounge for a throwback moment. Next time, start there and slip over here for a beer!

    Photos
    El Bait Shop - Pot Roast Poutine

    Pot Roast Poutine

    El Bait Shop - Flight of beer at el Bait Shop

    Flight of beer at el Bait Shop

    El Bait Shop - Nachos

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    Nachos

    Lua Brewing - Frail ~ English mild

    Lua Brewing

    4.4(162 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    •$$

    Lua is a great spot for a group dinner, drinks with friends, or grabbing some food at the bar. They…read morealso have a nice patio and outdoor seating. The staff was super friendly and attentive. It does get busy, though, so it can take some time to be waited on. The vegan mushroom French dip was phenomenal! A friend and I shared the sandwich and fries, along with the vegan miso mac with tofu, and everything was SO good! The bread was soft, the sauce took me back, and the mushrooms were . The sandwich got the right kind of soggy, soaking up all that delicious sauce. And they have THE BEST fries, which are mostly soft shoestring fries. IYKYK. The miso mac is spicy, so you may want to request the chili sauce on the side or ask them not to stir it all in. So grateful they have a vegan menu (don't forget to ask for it ) and that they're continuing to expand their vegan options!

    Just left here. Had high hopes as I had been wanting to try Lua for a while, so I thought, while…read morein Des Moines... It was hot out so we sat inside at the bar. It was a touch past lunchtime but the bar area was still busy, yet had seats open. We sat at the end and after some time was given some a water carafe and 2 small glasses (with no ice). She (never gave us her name) then came back for our drink order. And immediately asked for food, which we were not ready for. We gave her our drink order, after that we never seen her again. Sat there awhile. For so long we started looking at other restaurants around to eat. Then we she finally looked our way my husband made a motion to pay so we could just leave. Name on the receipt said AM B. Needless to say, we won't be back. Nor will we ever recommend it.

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    Lua Brewing - Brussels

    Brussels

    Lua Brewing - Grilled zucchini

    Grilled zucchini

    Lua Brewing

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    Barn Town Brewing - Morning poutine

    Barn Town Brewing

    4.0(375 reviews)
    11.7 mi
    •$$

    4.2* (out of 5) Food: 3* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 5*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $25 10/02/2026 Stopped last night for the sole purpose of checking out their newly announced Happy Hour, as the information on my sister site HappyHourDesMoines.com was getting a bit dated. Since it was Happy Hour pricing (app. 1/3 off the items we checked), the Value bumps to a 5* for this trip. All things considered, I like Barn Town Brewing and really like a few of their beers - not to mention, they are close to home. Because we were here for a Happy Hour review, we ordered only from their Happy Hour menu (all of which have pictures included below). My wife started with an amber Core beer, while I chose the Featured Flight - since it included several of their beers that I hadn't yet sampled. For our meal, we ordered the Bavarian Pretzels (see picture), Crab Rangoon Flatbread (see picture) and Wings, split between Buffalo & Honey Hot (see picture). The Pretzels are just what you would expect and the combination of mustard and cheese dipping sauces were a great complement. The wings were also tasty, although several admittedly appeared to come from a pretty deformed chicken. The flatbread would be the only thing I wouldn't order again. I expect very thin to cracker type crusts for flatbread and this was more of a thick / deep dish pizza type of crust (the picture shows it, about 1/2" thick). Further, the sauces / topping were a bit sparce - so it was quite bready and dry. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

    Good service and creative beers, especially in the sour and sugary spectrum. The unfortunate part…read moreis that some of those beers are TOO sugary that it doesn't taste/feel like beer anymore. I had experienced Barn Town at a beer festival and researched them before visiting town, so I know the experimental candy-influenced collabs are kind of their thing. The PB and Grape Jelly sour was nice and the Watermelon Sour Batch Buddies was the best of the State Fair themed bunch. Everything else packed too much of a flavor punch for me... to the point of upsetting my stomach which NEVER happens when I drink beer. I would actually go back and try some of their flagship (normal) beer offerings and food specials to get a more well rounded opinion of the brewpub.

    Photos
    Barn Town Brewing - Bar

    Bar

    Barn Town Brewing - Hand cut fries

    Hand cut fries

    Barn Town Brewing - Brisket Bao Buns!

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    Brisket Bao Buns!

    Iowa Taproom - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

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