Des Moines Metro beer tiers 2021

[dmclone]

The other post made me think of how I would rank our current brewers in the metro. This is based solely on beer, not their taproom, and just my opinion. I like IPA's, Stouts/Porters, and Sours in that order.

Tier A
Lua
Barntown

Tier B
Confluence (moved up from C)
Big Grove (B+. Maybe an A)
Alluvial (Out of the metro but..)

Tier C
515
West Hill (only been once but surprisingly decent)
Exile
Peace Tree
Brightside

Tier D
Kinship
Firetrucker (Use to be a C)
1717
Reclaimed Rails (They have one solid beer I like)

Tier F
Mistress
Twisted Vine
Court Avenue
Fox (F-)


Fire Away.....

5 years later ..

I would actually move Court Avenue up to D level. Firetrucker I'd move to F. Barntown I'd move down to B, they've turned into making good fruited sours and rarely a good NEIPA. Big Grove may still be a B, but Confluence is now better across the board. Lua continues to dominate.

 

[CYdTracked]

5 years later ..

I would actually move Court Avenue up to D level. Firetrucker I'd move to F. Barntown I'd move down to B, they've turned into making good fruited sours and rarely a good NEIPA. Big Grove may still be a B, but Confluence is now better across the board. Lua continues to dominate.

I wish Barntown would start putting out some new releases that were NOT sours. They used to put out some really good non-sour beers but now sours is all they apparently do outside of their core beers. They used to be my favorite brewery in town before they went all in on the sours which I do not like drinking sours.

Confluence and Big Grove are the top tier now IMO. Backpocket right up there too especially after they took over the 2 big Peace Tree staples Blonde Fatale and Red Rambler. I was so disappointed when Peace Tree closed as Blonde Fatale is my favorite beer so was thrilled when Backpocket brought it back,

Really interesting to see this list again to see who is still in business.

 

[JP4CY]

5 years later ..

I would actually move Court Avenue up to D level. Firetrucker I'd move to F. Barntown I'd move down to B, they've turned into making good fruited sours and rarely a good NEIPA. Big Grove may still be a B, but Confluence is now better across the board. Lua continues to dominate.

Firetrucker hasn't been the same since Dan passed. It was his soul.

 

[Messi]

I wish Barntown would start putting out some new releases that were NOT sours. They used to put out some really good non-sour beers but now sours is all they apparently do outside of their core beers. They used to be my favorite brewery in town before they went all in on the sours which I do not like drinking sours.

Confluence and Big Grove are the top tier now IMO. Backpocket right up there too especially after they took over the 2 big Peace Tree staples Blonde Fatale and Red Rambler. I was so disappointed when Peace Tree closed as Blonde Fatale is my favorite beer so was thrilled when Backpocket brought it back,

Really interesting to see this list again to see who is still in business.

I joke that barntown only makes beer for the western suburb white women who don’t really like beer (see: my mom)

I don’t need another cookie dough monster shake sour or nerds gummy cluster gluten free seltzer