Confluence Brewing Company

This is a destination Brewery. There were 39 beers on tap when i was there, and what I had had the body and subtlety of the best European beers. They do have flights (generous pours of 5 beers, but if your idea of good beer runs to the light and conventional, it would be best to stick with ordering from the rather daunting list, which is arranged by heaviness. The staff is very friendly and helpful in picking out you might like. It was crowded with families and groups of young people the Sunday afternoon I was there, but the parking lot is large. It is located on the edge of the extensive park system that surrounds the Racoon and Des Moines rivers, ahd one of the main biking paths goes right up to the building. Too bad they don't serve food.

A very popular brewery, especially with the cyclists. There is a bike path leading from the park directly to the brewery in the rear of the building. The entrance is easy to find. We didn’t have a problem with parking, but unless there is more parking elsewhere, the main lot would fill quickly. A new concrete wheelchair ramp was being installed and should be functional once rails are put on. You have to traverse a few hallways to get back to the taproom. They advertise new beers every week and it shows. There were 35 beers on the tap board during our visit. The flights are 4 sets of 5 oz pours. We visited at 4:30 on a Saturday. The staff was friendly and there was no wait to order with several seating options available. It’s family friendly with kids joining their parents. Unfortunately there is little sound dampening and the noise was loud enough that I had to use my outside voice to talk across the table. The atmosphere was friendly with cool wall art. Overall a good brewery. The flavor profile of the 8 beers my wife and I sampled weren’t to our tastes with only 1 each meeting “would order again” status. No real complaints, but not on my list to visit again.

In town for business and I asked a colleague what their favorite microbrew was in the Des Moines area and they said Confluence! Cool taproom with indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area has lots of tables, and outdoor bar, and tonight they were playing live music. Loves the chill vibes and all of the people walking and riding bikes along the trail and to the taproom. There is plentiful bike racks for safe keeping while you enjoy a beer and a break. I tried the Milkman Molk Stout and it was superb stout - they have an extensive selection and I wish I had time to go back and try more.

It's difficult to even put into words how much I love this place. Confluence isn’t just my favorite brewery in Des Moines — it might be my favorite brewery, period. It’s the only spot within walking distance of our house, and it’s become our go-to. It feels like "Cheers" in the best way: friendly staff, catching up with neighbors and an awesome patio overlooking Gray's Lake park. And that’s just the atmosphere. The beer itself is on another level. There’s probably a dozen I look forward to every year - there's a new release each Friday - which is wild, because I’m not the most adventurous beer drinker. They just know what they’re doing. If you’re local, you already know. If you’re visiting, make this one of your stops. You won’t regret it.

Always a great time. Lots of different styles of their beers are always available. When it’s stout month you should go (mostly) dark! They have a gorgeous patio that is just a short walk away from Grays Lake park and the bike trails.

Amazing experience. Loved the patio and live music. So many beer options and they were all very tasty. Fun taproom, great art. Highly recommend. We came in from KC and are already talking about a trip back for Confluence

Fun brewery with a big taproom and outdoor area. Live music each week. Several beers on tap, looked like most people brought their food or had it delivered.

Fantastic brewery! Very clean and such a variety of beers! The menu shows you the different styles of beer. I had the pineapple banana coconut wizard beer which is a great sweet beer! It looks like they have different beers at different seasons. This was a great spot after walking the 2 miles gray lake trail!

I always enjoy our experiences here, always a good time, nice interesting place to be.

I went with my husband and brother-in-law to Confluence Brewing in Des Moines, Iowa. When we walked in, the inside opened up into a very large seating area, with a small bar at the head of the room. Decor was neat! Seating was plentiful but without variety. It wasn't too busy and staff were more interested in chatting than helping those in line. Their craft beers on tap were ok but nothing to write home about. Pretty average experience.

I was in town for work and entertained myself on a Monday night by visiting local breweries. I walked to a few, but needed to Uber to this one since it was November and dark. On a weekend it would probably be a beautiful bike or walk from downtown. The beer list what's great variety and my flight reflected it! Friendly bartender and a good crowd playing bingo!

First time back at Confluence for the year a couple friends and I biked over for a patio beer as soon to celebrate the weather turning warm and things were as good as ever! I appreciate that they provide bike parking even in the colder months, and the patio is open, but it there wasn't a food truck (we went on a Tuesday so it's possible they just don't have one every day). The bartender gave a great recommendation for the Juicy Wiggle IPA which I really enjoyed, it was a little fruity without being too sweet and hazy without being heavy overall very drinkable at 5.7%. I love the variety they've got both on tap and bottled to go at all times, for me that's a big leg up on some other breweries in town. The ambience on patio is great but the reason I don't come in the winter is the inside has a really strong smell that personally I can't handle, if they went the way Lua and Big Grove have and just put a door to close off the brewing area from the bar area I think it would help a lot. However it is a brewery so I understand that might not be a priority! As it stands I'll be back all summer to enjoy the patio :)

We stopped in for a cold drink after walking around Gray's Lake a few times. We had to sit outside because our dog was with us. The outside area was quite plain, but it offered shade, a water fountain, and a bathroom for outside guests. We tried a flight of beers to sample some very unique options. The interior was impressive, offering a view of all the brewery machines, and the Iowa artwork added a fun touch to the experience.

One stop you can't miss in Des Moines is Confluence Brewing. They have one of the largest, most diverse, and downright tasty tap list I have ever experienced. The space inside and out is huge, with a bar outside as well. After staring at the pour list for longer than I care to admit, I settled on four beers: Batch 1656 Hazy Double IPA: A Hazy Double IPA packed with Styrian Dragon, Mandarina Bavaria, and El Dorado hops. Confluence Brewing loves to experiment with a homebrewer mindset and this shows it off. Bright passion fruit, papaya, mango, and tangerine flavors / aromas with a resiny floral undertone. Lassos and Lasers: A Brett IPA - which for those not keeping up with every variation of IPA that is out there (which boy is it getting hard), it is like a mix of a NE IPA with a Wild Ale. Barn house funkiness from Brettanomyces yeast in the American Oak Foeder co-mingles with fruity citrus mixed and hoppy bitterness (Galaxy / El Dorado). Love the layers of complexity in this beer. It's A Wonderful BarleyLife, Bourbon Barrel Aged American-Style Barleywine Ale: A Barrel Aged American-Style Barleywine clocking in at a big 13.5% ABV. Huge plum, black currant, and dried fig flavors with a mild caramel / brown sugar sweetness. Alcohol is warming, but not overpowering with a low bitter backbone that reminds you that there were hops added to this beer. The wood aging provided an oaky tannic flavor as well that gives some nice barrel character to the big beer. Pineapple Banana Wizard: A Gose with Pineapple, Banana, and Coconut added. Slightly salty, slightly tart / acidic, and slightly citrusy due to the pineapple additions. I get a lot of tropical pina colada-esque vibes from this tasty sour. _______________

Love it. Great area, amazing beer, good people!! The outdoor seating is fantastic and dog friendly.

Great beer, open space is good for groups or just a few ppl. Bartenders are super friendly. Reasonably priced drafts are the bonus and it's good to see inflation hasn't hit every where. To-go cooler makes take home drinks easy and affordable. No more grocery store buys for Confluence favorites.

Always interesting brews available. I moved to Des Moines almost 10 years ago. Confluence brewery is about 2 miles from the house. My first visit was very shortly after my arrival. Very small place at that time. The back porch is perfection. I very highly recommend this place

Fun place! I went on a crazy busy night. Live music. Food trucks. Lots of bikers...........

I like to find local beers: specifically, local microbreweries. Confluence produces an array of beers. My favorite is their South Side(SS). SS was smooth and light. I would consider this a beer I could drink all night. The Des Moines IPA was good for me as it wasn't too hoppy. Birthday Cake Stout had flavors of raspberry and chocolate- emphasize the raspberry. Thumbs up from me. Grays Lake Nessie tasted thin as in lack of body. The front end of the sip was promising but it ended on an empty note. Campfire: definitely has a Smokey flavor and it was not overbearing but you know it's there. Nice creative touch for the person who came up with this one! Ferryman's Peanut Butter Cup: this is a barrel aged bourbon. Very thick, syrupy beer at 14.4 percent. I'm not big on these types of beers because they are heavy, slow drinking beers that typically leave me wishing someone else will finish my beer. This beer was surprisingly smooth on the front and back end of the drink. While it was still a heavy, slow drink, there was no alcohol bite and very smooth. I bought a bottle of this to take home and share with friends. Overall, Confluence delivers a solid beer. There is something here for everybody!!

Great brews, on the bike path and plenty of outdoor space. Family friendly and dogs on the patio !

Best Beer around. They are all unique and consistently good but a couple of my favorites are the Camp Fire, and the Ghostly Presents So Tasty

Chill vibe with numerous beers to choose from! I enjoyed their wizard beer (sour) while sitting on a shaded patio in the July summer heat! So refreshing and a great time with family.

For the most part, everyone here has been nice. Unfortunately I did have a souring experience with one employee though during my last visit. One of my family members had placed an online order for me to pick up as a gift, when it was ready the instructions simply said to give them a call and they would bring it right out. When I arrived I parked opposite to the door and gave them a call, was I was rudely greeted and given short aggressive responses. Whatever, people have a bad day. She then called back about 10 mins later and said I was not out there. I was, and offered to come inside to grab the items if it would be easier, I was just following the instructions given by confluence. She then asked a few more times if I was actually there, in a rude manner. I said I would just come in, and then she told me that the items my family member ordered weren't ones that you pick up and I should've just come inside. I would have been more than willing to walk inside, I was just following the instructions. The person I spoke to inside was great. Just whoever was manning the phone seemed to hate their job.

Currently a Denver, Colorado resident that is a huge fan of craft beer. Whenever I'm in Des Moines this is a brewery I always stop at. I've never had a bad beer here. Their core beers as well as the specialty ones are always top notch. The beer-tenders are always friendly and can answer all questions you might have and won't give you a bad suggestion. If you're scared of commitment get yourself a flight and try a 5oz pour.

Excellent selection and service! Loved this brewery alongside a bike trail. Definitely #1 in the area

Love Confluence! Whether it's to grab a beer on my own in a comfortable atmosphere, meeting up with a group of friends or treating my dogs to a day out on the dog friendly patio I am always happy. They have a good variety of beers sure to please everyone in the group. On those cold winter nights grab a table, pick a beer and challenge your friends to a game of Scrabble. They have tons of games to choose from. Enjoy!

Great casual place to grab a beer. Great for groups, especially with the ginormous deck and patio seating. Awesome beer selection. I can't wait to visit again.

One of the top breweries in DSM. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this timeless classic is the place to visit. Great selection for any taste and a terrific patio space and indoor taproom, too. One of the most cyclist-friendly spots in all of Des Moines.

This place never disappoints.......a group.of us went down for the Chewbacca festival......how could you not have fun. The sheet played. There was a beerstein holding contest. Chewbacca beer that they we're placing a hot poker in which carmelized the sugars in it. When you walked outside to have your beer poked it smelled like toasted marshmallows. All stuff was very friendly.

One of my favorite placws to visit on the south side for a cold good beer or cider. They come out with a new flavor almost every week. Sometimes two or more in a week! The vibe is completely laid back. Bring your own food or snacks or ask for pretzels at the bar. They have good trucks in occasion too to try aome local fare. Come on down and enjoy a great time. Pick up a game with a local couple looking for more players for their card game ( like Luke and I! )

Confluence has one of my favorite beers, Des Moines IPA. I was able to go on a tour and learn about this business and I was impressed! I also tried a new beer as I was wanting something lighter for summer. I asked the bartender and I went with his suggestion (I can't quite remember the name) and it was delicious! We also went outside and enjoyed the patio for awhile and had a snack from the food truck that was there. We will definitely be back. I do wish they had more parking as I had to park down the road a ways but we didn't mind the little walk.

Confluence offers up good variety of tasty brews in a huge space along a trail. Outside the beer of which I had a tasty hazelnut, I enjoyed the outdoor seating area with bar as well as the inside tap room. I'll definitely visit again when I'm in DSM.

Confluence has a new beer coming out every Friday and a very knowledge staff who're able to help first time visitors find drinks that are similar or those who've come several times and hadn't branched out their taste.

This is a Brewery. You get the tour when you walk from the front door to the seating area. There are tables and high tables. The ceilings are really high and the noise can get pretty loud with a good crowd. They do have a deck you can go out and sit on. There is lots of space for groups and parties to enjoy the beer on tap. Make sure you try as many as you can. I am not a huge beer person, but did try a couple. They are also right on the biking trail in case you get thirsty.

I love visiting confluence for their barrel beers. The small batch interesting ones. They're location right by grey's lake provides a beautiful space for walking or biking to or from the location. During covid, they had a great process for carry out beer and their staff is knowledgeable. Everyone seems like family and friends. Great vibe.

Confluence bar is attached to the brewery. Reasonable prices for some of the best beers in town. Flavors range from pale ale to milk stouts. Staff is friendly and helpful. Starting to be one of our favorite weekend spots.

Beer remains top notch, but I also gotta say the new outdoor area, and bike stand area, is also top notch! This brewery continues to brew consistently great beer, and now thew brewery space has even more out door room to enjoy the sips in the summer! Great, great great! Black IPA still my fave but the Classic Des Moines IPA has never done me wrong either!

I have tried almost all their brews but the best on a hot summer day would have to be Milj Man milk stout 1pint 5.9% alcohol.

A true brewery in every sense of the word, confluence takes its beer seriously but still has a fun atmosphere to hang out with friends. Lots of booths and large tables, no group is too big. You can see all of the brewing equipment in action as you walk in... way cool! Many people dont realize confluence is available to rent for private events. It is really a great venue for group meetings. Soon there will even be an events center on site. There are tons of great beers on tap, but there is not really any food. This is a brewery! Good news is that on many weekends there some food trucks around if you get hungry. Confluence is right off of fleur and has plenty of parking. The best way to arrive is by bike - the trail is right next to the brewery (with plenty of bike racks). They even have a deck for people who enjoy staying outside. We love everything about it here. The beer is always fresh and there are great people that you meet. Stop in and play a board game with your friends, just hang out or meet some new people.

Yummy beers and friendly staff. We stumbled in on our way through town on BINGO night and saw the board full of different events held almost weekly! When you come through I would recommend stopping and trying the Blackberry-Hibiscus Sour!

Had a nice visit over the phone and then in-person with Mark. The fact he spent that much time with me was a big plus and showed that he cared about keeping me as a customer. We shared stories back and forth and he promised they would continue to strive for better customer service. He was very polite and gracious and ended up winning back this customer.

This place looks like an abandoned factory ... and it may well be one. Inside is a big open space. Plenty of room to grow. Kid friendly dog friendly on patio. Near the confluence of the Racoon and Des Moines rivers. Great views on the patio side. Many bikers (bicycles) because it is near a trail. Great beers and I'm saying this because I'm from Colorado. Sodas available. Nice bartenders. No food but bring in a pizza and food trucks are there often. Recommended hot spot.

Here's and old joke. How is American Beer like a couple making love in a canoe? Both are f**king near water. That should no longer be true, unless you really want crappy yellow beer. Bud Light any one? With the explosive availability of quality microbrews, my old college days featuring a very cold 99 cent 6-pack of Milwaukee's Best are but a distant memory. And my youth experience with MD 20-20 (aka Mad Dog) is a different story. There are a number of brew pub choices in Greater Des Moines, of which Confluence is one of my favorites. They also sell their growlers around at least this part of the state. In fact, I have a bottle each of Beacon Red in my fridge right now that I bought in Ames. Confluence doesn't serve food, but you can bring it in. There's also rumors of food trucks occasionally parking nearby. During my last visit, I paired up a Jimmy John's sandwich with a wee pint of Mayday Maibock. I left with a growler of the same and a cool tap handle with a New Mexican motif. The space is basically a nice big utilitarian room, with a nice bar and a porch with a view. The crowd was a bit light during my visit, but I would imagine a larger more diverse crowd, especially considering the nearby bike/pedestrian traffic and folks later leaving work or going out for the evening with friends.

Great beer! The place makes you feel like you are in a warehouse. Things I loved is how casual it is. I choose to sit outside and play board games they provided. This place is always coming out with some fun flavors. So if you are in Des Moines and love craft beer stop by.

Fun place for an outing. There were four of us so we had flights to try everything, and they were all good. It's nice an open with a friendly staff. Definately would return

Clean with a fun atmosphere. Quiet early and gets livelier later. Weekends in the summer are very lively with plenty of bicycle parking and outside seating that is dog friendly. It also has an outdoor counter. Good for small events and there is live music on some evenings. They also showcase, and sell some art from local artists. Clean bathrooms and friendly staff. Only bad thing to mention is the limited parking, which is only a winter issue as the summer provides access off the Des Moines trail system. It goes without saying the beer is fantastic!

I don't know how Confluence skipped my Yelpdar. I first had them at a Beerfest here in Omaha and I have enjoyed them ever since. I always hover around the booth when I can and I ahave been to this unassuming building a few times since. Right on a bike trail where the frontage beckons weary riders to stop in for some dehydrating hydration. A really open seating area and options to have local food delivered. What I actually enjoyed was coming in from street side and walking by the brewing equipment and packaging area. A few stand out beers and one of my favorites, DSM IPA. Just go and enjoy some libations. The closest I can get it in Omaha is in Counciltucky and they are Boston Rounds. I do not know the 'poured on' date and am reluctant to buy it there. Please, Confluence, distribute in Omaha

How have I not written a review for Confluence yet?! This is our favorite gathering place with friends. Confluence has a great, easy-going atmosphere, and Is perfect for a big group of friends to get together for drinks and play board games. The beers are always quite tasty, and the place is large--plenty of room for a gathering or a small group. You can bring in food to eat, and they also have a few games on hand if you don't have any at home. I'd highly recommend a trip out to Confluence!

In my humble opinion, Confluence brews the best beer in town. They have a wide variety of products displayed on chalk boards above the bar. Besides the name of the brew, they list the % alcohol content and International Bitterness Units (IBU). After only a few samples you can easily direct yourself to brews that satisfy your individual pallet. The brewery is clean and open to all to watch the process. The tasting area is large and comfortable with many tables and chairs that can be reorganized to suit your group. An array of tabletop games makes it possible to enjoy your friends company as if you were in your own family room at home. An outdoor deck invites bicycle riders and those walking their dogs to come cool their heels and have a beer. As a dog owner, I am continually surprised that there aren't more dog friendly businesses - including bars and restaurants - like there are in cities like Seattle, WA. Go, take your friends and your 4-legged friends and enjoy some great times and great beer! Cheers!

So I hear this is the best place to get local brews? I am not much of a beer drinker but loved my night here. Bartender made me what I like to call 'snakebite' 1/2 cider, 1/2 beer...brings me back to my days of stomping around Germany drinking 'snakebites'. Per their board they frequently have live music and it appears you can order food...they have a book of menus. I also note sometimes the food trucks are scheduled to be near. Great local treat!

The world is a better place when you have people that have energy and love for what they do, this place shows it. The variety of brews that rotate through the selection stretching traditional boundaries combined with a stable of consistent brews that stays true to original 'beer' recipes is wonderful to have. The recent update to the main tap rooms and having the outside beer garden provides two great places to enjoy a perfectly poured beverage. The staff that serve you are friendly and very helpful when you cannot decide from the myriad of choices. If you are still are not sure what you want after you taste then get a flight or two.

I stopped in after reading other reviews of the place and they were all spot on. The place is off the beating path a bit by car. Its right on the bike path though! I stopped in on a Saturday Miday to grab a couple 64oz Growlers at $18 each I believe. It was a nice day in the spring so the place was packed. Had several birthday party groups there having a good time. I got my growlers sealed paid for and left quickly but walking out with a couple gallons of really good local brew just makes you feel good. I really have enjoyed the beer I has was capital gold, one of the staples there. I shared it with 4 others and myself we all really enjoyed it and I have now washed my bottles down and I'm ready to return to get more. Several of the beers seemed to be a bit dark/hoppy for my taste but there is always something for everyone.

This is an actual tap room! Great place to meetup with friends! The selection is huge and the service is good too. Outside they do some some picnic tables but it is very sunny and kinda awkward to sit if you don't know the other people. Bring your own food and games if you wish!

Decent space. I sat at the bar and the staff were friendly but complained endlessly about their workplace. Which is fine, I get it, everyone bitches about work, but it was NONSTOP. And in front of paying customers, sometimes TO the paying customers, which is not pro. I'd forgive that if the beer was good (I'd forgive a lot more if the beer were good) but it isn't. Sorta one note throughout and that note isn't a good one (for me). If I were a bicyclist this would be a fun place to stop and take back on more calories than I just burned exercising, but since I was just in town for work it wasn't that great.

Have enjoyed coming here for years. We have done beer to go several times during the pandemic and they are so easy to work with. They have recently branched out into sours and they are so good! Hope they keep the wizard series going. Highly recommend the peach, raspberry, and blueberry flavors.

Confluence is a really fun spot to go and hang out with friends. You can bring your own food, grab a huge (or small) table, some games, and just relax over a brew. I highly suggest giving this place a try; it has a great, social atmosphere, and would be an ideal place to hold a small event or meeting. I definitely will be going back!

Great straightforward brewery. Tremendous options available if you venture into their location. Very friendly staff. Warm environment. Highly recommend. Super high quality brews.