Barn Town Brewing / Des Moines, Iowa
Sometimes you find a place that is beyond what you expect. Barn Town Brewing is one of those places.
As you are driving along Interstate 80, West Des Moines appears almost out of nowhere. The strip mall is butted up against a cornfield, but the cars in the parking lot indicate a booming population in the subdivision on the other side of the trees. And anchoring that strip mall, with a dermatology clinic sharing it’s west wall, is Barn Town Brewing.
The horse stall booths are set off by wagon wheel light fixtures. Leather harnesses hang next to seed company signs on corrugated steel walls. A large collection of old beer cans arranged for a BTB statement piece adorns one wall. The blue F-100 that serves as the barback is the capper to the rural setting. It fits so well that you expect it even before you see it.
The beer list is extensive, with 26 taps across the bar, and additional BTB offerings in cans. As I often do, I started with a flight in order to sample a selection of beers. I ordered the Core Flight. A sour flight is also available, and that certainly would have pleased Mrs. Girl if she had been along on the trip.
The Core Flight opens with the Iowa Gold. It is a light golden ale that is smooth. This easy drinker is balanced and the flavor holds nicely. A little sweet corn lingers on the palate.
The next in line is The Real Slim Shandy, a golden ale with a solid lemon component. Perfect for a warm summer day, it is refreshing with a pucker that hits the back of your tongue, tugging a bit at your ears, but balanced by the sweetness of the corn in the base brew.
Being in farm country, one would definitely expect the corn forward golden ale and the inclusion of a wheat beer in the Core Flight. The Mango Wheat is not what you might expect. The Mango is delicious. The fruit flavor is so fresh, you might almost expect to find mango trees growing right beside the tables on the outdoor patio.
The final beer in the Core Flight is the Neon Hazy IPA. I have said for years that I don’t think a microbrewery can survive without a solid IPA on the menu, and this BTB iteration is a hit. The Citra flavors and aroma dominate this cloudy hop bomb, bringing in grapefruit and a little peach. The grain bill holds it’s own, with the Mosaic hops adding a nice backup note with a tropical aroma.
The food menu stands up to the beer list without hesitation. The menu is dominated by bar classics that are stepped up a notch or two. Flatbreads, sandwiches, burgers, mac and cheese, all with creative toppings and flavors. Selecting a meal for one was quite difficult. I went with the Barn Fire Burger. A double patty burger, one beef and one chorizo, are the base, both seared with little bit of crispy on the edges. The burger is topped with pickled red onions, a jalapeno relish, and a cooling cilantro avocado spread. Accompanied by a bucket of fries and a few pickles, this was a filling dinner.
I couldn’t resist getting one more pour to round out the meal, and a 5 ounce glass of the Cicada Killer was the perfect choice. This high proof stout (13.1%) is aged in a Willet Bourbon barrel for a year. The stout is rich, creamy, and smooth. There are notes of chocolate over a coffee backbone. The bourbon barrel aging contributes oak on the nose and a little honey on the palate. This was dessert in a glass for me, but for those of you with a sweet tooth, the dessert menu is stacked
I don’t know when I will be back through Iowa. I can guarantee that the next time I am near Des Moines, Barn Town Brewing will be my dining destination.
That Jed 