The Iowa Taproom

We went on a Friday night and it was packed! The place is laid out nicely but it is loud. You have to really strain to hear your table. However the prices were great and the food tasted amazing. My wife and I got two different types of tacos, both were yummy. I also tried a flight of beers, which seemed adequately priced. Then I went too far and got the Iowa Pie for dessert. It was amazing too and a very generous portion.

You can never fail when heading to the Iowa Taproom, I ordered the chicken tenders while my husband ordered the peanut butter burger - both amazing! Drinks are always good and you can’t go wrong with what you pick. You are able to order a flight of drinks as well!

I love craft beer. I've had over 3500 different beers. The Iowa taproom had 120 different beers all from Iowa. Pretty amazing. I had the best seat at the bar and could see all the tap handles. The food was great too and my bartenders were awesome!

Erica was our server and made the experience even better! Amazing atmosphere, service and food. Great place to bring friends, will be coming back soon!

Awesome spot to stop for one or two of the 99 pints and also enjoy some delicious food. Lots of seating available, along with bar seating. Plenty of menu options. Staff is friendly and quick. Prices are reasonable. Some hidden gems of beer!

What a great find for tourists in Des Moines! 120 Iowa brews on tap... amazing! Great food. Be sure to ask for Liz to serve you. She's the BEST!

This was the first visit for my husband and I and we loved it! We would definitely come back and eat here again. I ordered the fish tacos, which were delicious and had great flavor. My husband ordered the morning farm burger, which was unique from any burger we had seen before. We also shared the crème brûlée cheesecake, which again was delicious and unique. For drinks, I got a fruity mocktail (with pineapple juice, sprite, and grenadine), while my husband got a beer. It is a very open, spacious, relaxed atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and helpful. The food came out to us much quicker than expected. I felt like the prices were pretty good as well. Overall, I would recommend!

This place shows up first in every google search for bars or breweries in Des Moines. Corporate style joint. Decent vibe. I learned quickly that Des Moines wasn't a basketball town. Not 1 TV on the NBA playoffs. The had was looked like AAA baseball reruns on. Whatever. Ordered the cheesesteak egg rolls. Not nearly as good as they were hyped. Mine seemed undercooked. The wrapper was open and most were place down which meant when I picked it up everything fell out and created a mess. Not enjoyable at all. I got a beer flight, 4 for $14. Best was the bikini wheat. Decent place overall, need to fix those eggrolls.

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.

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?

This review is for their event space. We had our wedding reception here. Bri and her staff are organized and punctual with communication. The planning was so easy, and our vision for the day was accommodated. Since we had the even space for an entire day, we were able to have a lunch for the wedding party before the reception started late afternoon. Amazing food and drinks. Fair pricing for the wedding event market in DSM. Our only issue was we had open bar until 11:30PM and a bartender was a little rude, trying to get us to wrap up hours before. It was brought to the attention of the manager and we received a follow up email apologizing for the situation. I would recommend this space and venue to anyone!

Cool building with an awesome atmosphere! Service was excellent and the food was hot and delicious! Big portions! And what a wide choice of beers!!!!

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!

Large airy pub with big windows. Side alley outside seating. Clean bathrooms. Huge beer selection. Good range of menu items. Excellent service- waiter and manager came past our table 3 times. Ps sweet potato fries. Paid street parking.

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.

We walked in and were seated right away. The place is somewhat decorated for Christmas, but it's still an inviting atmosphere with their enormous craft beer selection. I love the apricot beer, but opted for water tonight. I got the blackened salmon BLTA. The A stands for avocado. It was on a ciabatta bun. Very tasty and filling. Hubby got the Reuben and I snagged a bite. It was how it was supposed to taste and still warm. Very good. Our server was polite and friendly and we were in and out in less than 40 minutes. :).

If you're a fan of Iowa beers, this is the place for you! They have an amazingly large selection, and I was in heaven sipping on a Dortmunder lager and a red ale. Unfortunately, I don't recall the brewer for either one, but both were fantastic. The food was solid overall. The Asian salad had a tasty kick with just the right level of spice, though I think it could've been better with fresher greens. The bulgogi tacos and ham balls were fun and flavorful additions to the menu. The outdoor seating isn't bad. It's about 12 tables set up in an alleyway next to the building. Most tables are four-toppers, but they also have a couple of long eight-top tables for bigger groups. Heads up: there's no dedicated parking lot, so it's street parking only. Great vibe, tasty eats, and an epic beer lineup! Definitely worth checking out

I'm affirming my previous review's star rating, but with a somewhat different experience. Of course, I'm not much of a beer drinker, so a lot of the assets of this place are lost one me. That said, we did have some tasty food, and pleasant service. The vibe is very casual, and it still can be a bit loud, but hey, it's a bar, so that's OK. There is outdoor seating, but we are having a bit of a late summer blast of heat, so everyone was inside. We showed up about 5:30 on a Saturday to get dinner before the Civic Center. It's about a 10 minute walk, so nice and close. We were seated right away, and our server got in our drink orders. My wife got a local beer and enjoyed it, but I had some challenges with my drink. Looking back at my previous review, I see I had a martini that was good, and I ordered one on this visit as well. I specified Stoli vodka since I saw it at the bar, and the server said that was their 'well'. That seemed odd to me, but it is a bit of an 'old person's' vodka, so who knows. I got my drink and told her it didn't taste quite right. I reiterated the full name...Stolichnaya, and assured me very confidently that's what it was. I figured maybe my taste buds were off, so we awaited dinner, and it arrived in VERY short order! I got the Honey Siracha Chicken sandwich - it was nicely flavored and just as advertised. The fries were crisp and hot, and tasty. My wife got the Meatloaf entree. It was a nice pile of meatloaf topped with sauces and onion rings, an came with mashed potatoes and broccoli. I had a couple of bites - very good; nothing too exciting, so it would probably appeal to almost anyone. As we finished up, I paid the check and on my way out I decided I just had to satisfy my curiosity, so I stopped at the bar and asked the bartender what the well vodka was. It's Mr Boston??? In 50 years I have never heard of this one, but it's apparently right down there with Hawkeye in terms of price and quality. I'm fine with paying for my snobby vodka tastes, and as one online reviewer said, Mr. Boston tastes and smells like paint. Otherwise, our server was very pleasant and efficient and the food was solid and reasonably priced. I'm just not sure why she was so incorrectly confident in what the well vodka is, and that certainly affected my overall review, but aside from that I would come back.

WHAT a great find! Everything was amazing! Service was incredible, and the FOOD.... It was fresh, fast, and OMGOODNESS! So Delicious!!! We had The Maytag Burger with mashed potatoes, Fish tacos with Rice, And we had Cheese curds. Still thinking about that meal a day later.

This is a place I wish I went to more often! It's a nice open restaurant with a unique rustic feel. The amount of drink choices are off the charts, food options are endless & the service is great! This time, we did apps only before a concert & we were still stuffed! Prices are very reasonable with something for everyone.

A staple in East Village for a number of years. Stop by on a Monday night I was surprised how busy it was. Great ambiance for a spot for good food and drinks. Had the Foccacia Club with fries. Great sandwich and fries seasoned just right. Service was spot on and timely. Drinks made just right. If you're looking for a local spot for two or twenty, it's hard to beat Iowa Taproom. Prices are reasonable and the beer selection is awesome.

Great tap list and all Iowa. Well informed team members and quality food. Excellent showcase for much of what Iowa has to offer in beer. Like a visitors center.... There is so much more than is here, but you can see a lot of the landscape in one place

This has been one of my go-to venues in Des Moines thanks to one of my local colleegues... Great food and NOTHING but Iowa beers on-tap! My mantra is if I can't drink local - 'I'll drink water!' Always make a stop here when in Des Moines!

The beer is tasty! If you're someone who enjoys beer flights & tasting many varieties this is your location! The food had a little to be desired - Our appetizer was delicious & warm, but my meal was the lobster melt & in my mind I built it up to be a sandwhich. I received mostly bread & upon consumption was let down quite a bit by the fact that nothing stood out in the sandwhich & there was little to no flavor..aside from the crumbling toast slices. I left fairly hungry still. Our server visited very little & so we didn't order as much as we probably would have. I will be back to give another go & try something else!

Downtown Des Moines, Iowa If you're looking for a nice cold draft, you must come here. They have all around the center of a very large bar. Of course I ordered a beer. Because it's August I went with a dark chocolate stout. It is called the Oreo Speedwagon and is made in Clear Lake Iowa. I asked the bartender to fill it 3/4 of the way and put a blackberry hard cider that is made in Jefferson Iowa to fill it up. But don't judge until you try. The restaurant has a wood floor, wood ceiling and open brick walls on both sides. High tops with a few short tables in the front of the restaurant. The chairs are metal with a vinyl seat cushion. The tables, of course, are wood. There are a few televisions in the front of the restaurant and many surrounding the bar. I ordered the buffalo chicken mac & cheese. My husband ordered the chicken fried chicken and my guest ordered the buffalo mac & cheese as well. Something about the Sriracha with chicken, pasta and blue cheese sounded enticing. The waitress was quick and efficient. The restaurant was not too busy on a Wednesday night at 7 o'clock. But it was a steady flow of people. The buffalo mac & cheese was spicy, but good. It had the heat of the Sriracha. The cauliflower cheese sauce was tasty and smooth. I think they could have been more generous with the blue cheese crumbles on top. My only complaint is it was not hot but served warm. The chicken fried chicken was delicious. The breading was thick and crunchy, and had a bit of sweetness to it. The mashed potatoes were definitely made from scratch with chunks of potato and garlic. The broccoli was cooked to perfection with Christmas and little to know seasoning. I would give the food a five, but since it was served warm, it is a 4 1/2. Overall, really enjoyed this place. Loved the bear selection most. The food was great flavor and I love that it was made from scratch. Definitely would come back.

Such a fun bar in Des Moines, Iowa, with beers from all across the state on tap. It's a fun ambience in an old building but has a fun brewery vibe. The servers were all friendly and quick to get us seated and take our orders. Brought the 3 kids and the Mrs. and there was something for everyone. They have Tvs all over the bar with football on, bonus for me! Great place, would highly recommend and would return on my next visit to Des Moines!

We were in the event space since there was a lot of us. The beer was phenomenal! The ladies that were assisting in the bar were great. We had a menu of drinks to chose from and they all sounded amazing, but one dark beer before dinner was more than enough. Dinner was ok. Not a big pasta fan, but the desserts, especially the brownie, was out of this world. It was so chocolaty that I needed milk but I'd get it again. Lovely time and all the employees were great!

Stopped in a for an after dinner drink. Oh my goodness, how many taps can you have in one room?! We tried a few lagers and kolches. We really enjoyed everything we tried and loved that there were so many local choices. It's always fun to try local brews when we travel! We had already eaten, but the guy next to us was pounding on his burger, so the food must be pretty good! Service was really friendly and helpful! Fair prices as well. We'd return!

We were in Des Moines and looking for a fun spot for late lunch. The Iowa Taproom has a nice rustic dining room with fast and friendly service. The Cowboy hamburger has candied jalapeños that are a perfect topper. Sweet potato fries are always a hit, and the next time I am going to try their meatloaf. Moongold Apricot Beer hits the spot.

I was not that hungry but OMG I'm so glad I decided to go out and have dinner! I had the Iowa chop and the first bit impressed me!! I could taste the freshness of the meat (never frozen) the mash potatoes and corn were equally delicious!! I order a hibiscus cider and it was great too! Friendly service and nice crowd! Certainly, will come again and highly recommend

Food was good, we were there for a late lunch - and it hit the spot. Reasonable prices, too bad we were not into beer - they have a fantastic collection. I would recommend -

Great place to sample a variety of local brews and reasonably priced. Next time I'm in the area I will definitely be back!

Overall great place to go out for lunch or dinner. The service was great, our server was very patient and friendly. The food was great, we had a couple different appetizers and I had the pork chop plate which was delicious. We also had a big group and had a couple flights of beer which were great.

Solid!!! Very quick service! Very attentive! Drinks were served quickly each time we order them. Food came quickly and fresh as well!

Iowa tap room food was great. Big, busy place but good service. Loved the curds so so much. The Buffalo mac n cheese is more of a pasta not a Mac n cheese- but still good. All Iowa beers. Peace tree is just around the block but not open as much so you can get the Iowa beers here is a flight. Modern feel. Cool bathrooms with many stalls. I would come back every week if I lived near here.

Great service. Lot of beer options. I always go for the honey Sriracha chicken sandwich. Heading back in March for another visit.

Really liked the layout and atmosphere. We decided to eat at the bar - a semi circle bar with 129 options. However only 99 tapped at a time. Some great options and you can taste before buying. Our bartender was very good - attentive, friendly, helpful. Her colleague was not as friendly as she walked off in the conversation after we said we were from Texas. Oh well. The suggested cheesesteak egg rolls were very good. My wife had the BBQ Meatloaf. The mashed potatoes were fantastic. However the meatloaf was pretty bland and the meat tasted like mostly filler. I saw great Yelp reviews for the fried honey sriracha chicken sandwich, and our server recommended it, but it was a big disappointment. The bun was cold, tasteless, and a little stale. The skinny chicken patty had very little flavor other than the homemade sriracha sauce; which had a nice kick. The accompanying coleslaw was excellent. I'd go back for beer, but skip the food.

Disclaimer: went in on a Monday at 3pm Ambiance: place was huge and has alot of potential, but it just wasn't busy! Food: they and a gigantic selection of Iowa beers on tap, very cool to try them on a flight! The food looked good and prices were reasonable! However I did not try! Service: the bartender was nice and attentive Would I return? Maybe, if you are looking for a brewery this isn't it; this is more of a restaurant mold/ bar scene!

Always an easy choice to go to this well appointed big pub. Harder to choose which of the awesome drinks to have! It's a big open space (for the most part). That makes it easy to accommodate small and large groups alike. Plenty of staff to quickly serve and attend. It's a great place to take guests from outside of Iowa, so they can get so much Iowa flavor!

Nice spot for a good meal. Food was yummy and quick. Service was great! Nice chill ambiance.

Fun atmosphere! Great service! We only had quick appetizers, but they were delicious. Highly recommend if you're in the area.

This place is definitely worth a visit. Not only do they have 90+ local taps, they have a great variety that changes often with rotating taps. Too that their menu is delectable- the corn chowder and and extensive home cooked fare should delight your entire family / group. I can't say enough about how good the chicken fries chicken was - hit the a lot during Ragbrai for me and fueled my riding for the next few days.

We haven't visited this place in a year or two, but opted to go mostly because we had a gift card to use. I'm glad we did. The service was fantastic, our waiter was very friendly with a great personality. The drink came out fast, as did the food. The cheese steak egg rolls are a must....just awesome. We had wings and they were good. The sauces weren't overly flavorful, but the wings were good size and had a little crisp to the skin. Again, good. I had the fish and chips...I really liked it. Good cod, not greasy. Fries were good as well. My wife had the Italian grinder which she really enjoyed as well. We really enjoyed our meal and time here and would not hesitate to come back again. The food is quite good for "bar" food. I'm not a craft beer enthusiast, but the beer selection is impressive. You won't regret coming to this place.

My best friend got married here in April. Everything went perfectly. The crew there laid out everything in a way that let the people traffic flow smoothly very nicely. Everything was customizable so the bride and groom to set out or attach their wedding décor. The bar staff was very efficient and deserved the pile of tips that mounted up throughout the night. The food was excellent. I will say, if you are considering getting married in Des Moines, and you're looking at this place, ask to sample the Hunter's Chicken entrée. My goodness, I've never had anything like it before, and I will hunt the same experience for the rest of my life. After the reception, we shut the place down in the actual Taproom. And it was such a cool space. The bar area resembled the side of a giant keg with literally dozens of taps sticking out of it. And I hear they rotate them very regularly. In a town with more breweries than people, this one really stuck out as unique to me. Overall, thank you, Iowa Taproom, for making my best friend's special day absolutely perfect.

Would give four stars but the great beer selection got them an extra point! Had the veggie burger. Put bleu cheese crumbles on top. It was a nice option. Nice bun. The add ons could have been stronger Got the five cities bikini bottom pineapple wheat beer. First the name gets five stars. Creative name. And the taste was just as good. Not too fruity but a nice taste. Highly recommend.

Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for a tenderloin and the Iowa taproom did not disappoint. Breaded perfectly. Tender, juicy and the fries were spot on. Multiple TVs with great viewing of football games. Highly recommend.

I can't recommend this place enough! We were visiting Des Moines and thought let's stop in before we end our night and we are so glad we did! LOVE THIS PLACE. The service was exceptional. Kinzie & Luna, the sweetest people we met! They let us try samples because the number of beers were extensive. The asked us what we usually get and got us samples based on what we would like. They even have hot sauces! My husband loves hot sauces and they let us try all the types they had which was amazing. If we are ever back in this area, we definitely will be back in there!!

Stopped in for a beer and was impressed! Nice atmosphere, server was awesome, and the selection good. If you want to grab a beer, check this place out!

Very good all American burger and LOTS of beer options. Service is fast and very friendly! Food comes out at a rapid speed! I did think that the Cole slaw needed a little more sauce though.

Just the way you made Garden Omelet. Needs more veggies. Was mostly potatoes and those weren't when chopped up that well

Such a nice spot! Amazing food, great drinks with a huge selection, awesome service, and very reasonable prices. The bartender was so kind, attentive and helpful with any questions we had. Would definitely come back again!

My second visit to Iowa Taproom did not disappoint! 99 taps of beer from all Iowa breweries, how can you go wrong? Luckily, their food is amazing as well. I tried the fish tacos this time and they were great! We had great service at the bar, even for a busy Saturday night. Can't wait to come back!!

The food, without fail, is always consistent and delicious. Great spot for medium sized groups (4-8 ppl) and has a bar downstairs to wait for your table. The chicken fried chicken is one of my favorite dishes in town! There are also so many options for beer on tap. The other side of the building is an event venue and would be perfect for a rehearsal dinner.

Excellent food and service. The dessert was phenomenal paired with the Oreo beer!!! Must try.

We are here with my daughter's entire soccer team, and parents. We are not cramped at all. There is so much space here. Our server is quick and stops by often, which is great. I tried a Blood Orange Wheat beer called 'Reclaimed Rails', that was awesome. We got a couple appetizers that both tasted great. I decided against my my usual Reuben, and chose the Italian Grinder. Sadly it felt like I was eating a Sloppy Joe. It tasted exactly like it. My wife wasn't too fond of her salad, but didn't think it was bad. My daughter had chicken strips, which tasted exactly like every other chicken strip. I'd like to come back to try a beer flight, the Reuben or another entree. I'm sure the right meal would kick on a star or two.

Everyone I was with raved about the pork chop. They have a ton of beer on tap so finding something you like is pretty easy. Cute, rustic vibe.

This place never disappoints. Service, beer recommendations, & large menu. There is something for everyone. I recommend the bacon ranch chicken sandwich & the taproom poppers. Pseudo Sue is my go to beverage. It is hard to find great service & atmosphere these days, but Iowa Taproom is my go to choice. Especially if visiting from out of town for something different than the same ol thing at a chain restaurant.