Tap Rooms Iowa

1UNI2ISU

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Jan 30, 2013
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I think you’ve got it. I hope the beer improves because it’s a nice new taproom
If it's what I think you're thinking, I was there over the weekend and I remain unimpressed. They're still new though, hopefully they get it figured out.
 

psycln11

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Apr 20, 2006
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Too bad about Mistress, although I'm not surprised. Nothing they had ever impressed me all that much. It's interesting that businesses seem to struggle in that location. I use to like Fletchers but 2 iterations of that have failed in that building as well. Hopefully they can get something to stick there.
the YMCA should have bought the entire building and relocated the Ankeny Y to that location when they had the chance before the flooding declined their membership numbers and the school district cancelled the lease.
 

Cytown12

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Mar 11, 2012
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Des Moines,IA
They've got a good location though, which may be enough. Seems like they always have a decent crowd when i go by there on a weekend
That’s true but singlespeed is coming to east village area, twisted vine just moved there, and you got Big Grove there now, I don’t think they will make it much longer.
 

alarson

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That’s true but singlespeed is coming to east village area, twisted vine just moved there, and you got Big Grove there now, I don’t think they will make it much longer.

We will see. That area is rapidly growing too though, so more traffic may lift everything there.
 

Bubbahotep

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Jul 23, 2008
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We will see. That area is rapidly growing too though, so more traffic may lift everything there.
We had our 2nd busiest day of the year Saturday night, we coordinated a pub crawl with 1717 and Twisted Vine. The closeness benefits all three of us, when we are busy with events, the overflow tends to travel to them. This is normally the slow period, and our numbers have been solid.
 

alarson

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We had our 2nd busiest day of the year Saturday night, we coordinated a pub crawl with 1717 and Twisted Vine. The closeness benefits all three of us, when we are busy with events, the overflow tends to travel to them. This is normally the slow period, and our numbers have been solid.

I wondered if that might be the case as well. That EV\Market area is still growing, and up to a point increasing options should increase overall traffic as people see it as an option for an afternoon\evening bouncing between places. Hopefully restaurants follow that as well, options in the EV for food have felt rather limited aside from Iowa Taproom.
 
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Bubbahotep

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I wondered if that might be the case as well. That EV\Market area is still growing, and up to a point increasing options should increase overall traffic as people see it as an option for an afternoon\evening bouncing between places. Hopefully restaurants follow that as well, options in the EV for food have felt rather limited aside from Iowa Taproom.
Barrel House seems to be doing pretty good, their food is decent. They are starting on the Single Speed building finally as well. Once they get that market area up and going, they might be able to finally fill the old Madhouse building. Parking has been a premium, that is going to get worse. We should start charging people to park in our lot we share with Climb Iowa.
 

alarson

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Yeah, theyre going to have to find a way to address parking over there eventually, finding parking can be awful some nights. I don't usually mind walking a few blocks when its nice, but not so much in the winter.
 
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beentherebefore

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Nov 24, 2007
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I went in there on a Sunday evening this summer and was literally the only one in there, other than the bartender. And he wasn't all that excited to see me.

It kinda reminded me of those big cities in China they build with no one to live in them.
My wife and I want it to be great (we live close by).
 

dmclone

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Oct 20, 2006
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Barrel House=I thought it was terrible and will never go back. Their taps are below average, service was terrible, and food was average. I don't know why anyone would choose them over Iowa taproom.

Twisted Vine-I love their new place. Beer is still average.
 

dmclone

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On a side note, I'm hearing rumors about the location of TG in Des Moines and I can't think of a worse location. I'm hearing it's near Ingersol.
 

JP4CY

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On a side note, I'm hearing rumors about the location of TG in Des Moines and I can't think of a worse location. I'm hearing it's near Ingersol.
Makes sense. I heard from a very good source that TG and ISU couldn't come to an agreement at CyTown.
 

bellzisu

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Apr 15, 2006
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Barrel House seems to be doing pretty good, their food is decent. They are starting on the Single Speed building finally as well. Once they get that market area up and going, they might be able to finally fill the old Madhouse building. Parking has been a premium, that is going to get worse. We should start charging people to park in our lot we share with Climb Iowa.
The old Madhouse building is now the new Ragbrai headquarters.
 

Cyclonsin

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That’s true but singlespeed is coming to east village area, twisted vine just moved there, and you got Big Grove there now, I don’t think they will make it much longer.
It's always amazing to me how many bad breweries survive (or even thrive) because they have a great location and venue. And keep in mind that a lot of people want relatively simple boring beer. So if the beer isn't offensively bad, but doesn't excite beer enthusiasts, they could do very well.
 
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BigTurk

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I see Millstream is back in stores. They changed their look, but honestly I liked the old design better. Though old it at least stood out on the shelves. The new look just blends into the background. Having said that I hope the beer hasn't changed because always liked their beer.
 
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MJ29

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I see Millstream is back in stores. They changed their look, but honestly I liked the old design better. Though old it at least stood out on the shelves. The new look just blends into the background. Having said that I hope the beer hasn't changed because always liked their beer.

I haven't tried any of the new stuff. I think it's under completely new ownership, so I'd be surprised if the recipes haven't changed.
 

Cytown12

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It's always amazing to me how many bad breweries survive (or even thrive) because they have a great location and venue. And keep in mind that a lot of people want relatively simple boring beer. So if the beer isn't offensively bad, but doesn't excite beer enthusiasts, they could do very well.
You make a good point there