Posted July 03, 2019in Belly Up To...
Striving to keep things local When Confluence Brewing Company opened up in 2012, the staff created a handful of beers inside the brewery in an industrial district close to Gray’s Lake. With potential for expansion, the grassy area in the back offered an untapped gem with the nearby bike trail.
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Posted June 05, 2019in Belly Up To...
Giant taproom breathes life into former Dahl’s grocery store. Two Ankeny businessmen, Shawn McNeeley and Jeff Heng, have taken on a mistress, which Shawn’s wife is OK with. But this mistress is something everyone can enjoy — Mistress Brewing. Mistress Brewing’s first location in Ankeny opened in 2016 with a
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Posted May 01, 2019in Belly Up To...
“Once you’re here, you’re family.” Take a drive north on Merle Hay Road through Johnston, and you’ll find old buildings mixed with new. A new Fareway and a Casey’s sit alongside staples such as Van Dees and Greenbriar. Another 26-year institution is Lynn’s on Merle Hay. The sign outside says,
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Posted April 03, 2019in Belly Up To...
A vibe that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Des Moines Since the flood of 1993, Birdland Marina’s concession stand building along the Des Moines River sat empty. Jack Daugherty lived in the neighborhood and liked the location. He suggested that the city-owned property be developed. Before long, Jack, along with
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Posted March 06, 2019in Belly Up To...
Dive bar since 1940 As I sat chatting with the bar patrons at Kelly’s Little Nipper, we pondered the bar’s appeal. Austin said it’s like the “Cheers” bar, where everyone knows your name. When we asked the millennial bartender, Elsie, if she knew what the “Cheers” reference was or if
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Posted February 06, 2019in Belly Up To...
Front Row bar is a shrine to the Hawks. Open up the door to the Front Row in Clive, stroll inside and you’re instantly greeted by Herky the Hawk. Walk only a few steps into this sea of black and gold and you’ll find mahogany shelves full of autographed footballs,
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Posted January 02, 2019in Belly Up To...
Happy hour, basement party atmosphere are a big draw. On a Monday night, the Flying Moose in Clive bustled with the after-work crowd looking to start the week off right with two-for-one drinks. But these bargain drink hunters don’t need to leave at 6 o’clock, as this happy hour goes
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Posted December 05, 2018in Belly Up To...
Neighborhood hangout in the heart of West Des Moines Tucked in a strip mall in a quiet West Des Moines neighborhood, Scotty’s Pub & Grub beckons suburbanites to travel or bike a few miles for tasty bar food and drinks. The pub is just off EP True Parkway and located
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Posted October 31, 2018in Belly Up To...
Beaverdale’s cozy neighborhood bar The Beaverdale area is a proud neighborhood tucked between the western suburbs and downtown Des Moines. Beaverdale boasts several close-knit bars in its downtown, including the Beaver Tap. Located at the corner of Beaver and Urbandale, the location of The Beaver Tap accommodated various bars since the late 1950s. The Bon
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Posted October 03, 2018in Belly Up To...
Dive bar has much folklore in 80-year-old neighborhood. On the shortest street in Des Moines, Drew Carey of the “Price is Right” yells, “C’mon down.” His voice blasts from the TV at the Triangle Tap, where mostly retired patrons play for prizes and drink specials during happy hour, starting at 9 a.m. Once 4
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