Brewery
Unclaimed profileBig Grove Brewery & Taproom
Des Moines, IA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Big Grove Brewery & Taproom pairs a deep, medal-laden beer list with an ambitious cocktail menu. Easy Eddy, a hazy IPA that took gold at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival, anchors a lineup spanning lagers to imperial IPAs. Cocktails like the rye-forward Fridge Door Old Fashioned and the rum-based Mango Tango show range, while mocktails and N/A beers keep the program inclusive.
- What should I order?
- Start with Easy Eddy, a hazy IPA that won gold at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival. For something lighter, Citrus Surfer, a citrus wheat, took gold at the 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship. If cocktails call, the Fridge Door Old Fashioned uses Templeton Rye for a spirit-forward pour.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Beer enthusiasts chasing award-winning pours will find Easy Eddy and Citrus Surfer. Cocktail drinkers have a full menu of signatures and classics, and designated drivers get real options like the Dam It's Hot mocktail or Zero Eddy N/A IPA.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Beer pints run $5 to $9, with 7-ounce pours at $3 to $5. Cocktails cost $12 to $14, mocktails $8, and house wine $11 a glass or $30 a bottle.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- Big Grove is the official craft brewery of the Iowa Hawkeyes, and its beer program carries competitive pedigree: Easy Eddy won gold at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival, and Citrus Surfer took gold at the 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The cocktail list is extensive, with six signatures like the Mango Tango and classics such as the Espresso Martini. Recipes are clearly specified, and both alcoholic and spirit-free versions are offered.
Menu strengths
- — Signature cocktails show thoughtful combinations, such as the Fridge Door Old Fashioned with Templeton Rye and demerara.
- — Classics span from Moscow Mule to Espresso Martini, with spirit-free versions at $8.
- — A rotating Alani cocktail keeps the menu current.
Standout selections
- — Mango Tango – Don Q rum, Falernum, RumHaven, mango, lemon, lime ($13).
- — Fridge Door Old Fashioned – Templeton Rye, demerara, bitters, cherry ($13.50).
Pricing: $12-$14 signature; $11 classic
Spirits
Each is $8. The section is concise but covers vodka, rum, and liqueur-based shooters.; Offers a compact shots list with clear flavor profiles.
Menu strengths
- — Offers a compact shots list with clear flavor profiles.
- — Mini Beer provides a choice of original or seasonal Liquor 43 with cream.
Standout selections
- — Pineapple Cake Pop – vodka, pineapple, vanilla, lime ($8).
- — Iowa Sunset – vodka, peach schnapps, orange, grenadine ($8).
Pricing: $8 per shot
Beer
The taproom pours a wide range of styles from lagers to stouts, with a strong lineup of award-winning beers. Easy Eddy took gold at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival, and Citrus Surfer won at the 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship.
Menu strengths
- — Easy Eddy's 2024 GABF gold medal demonstrates quality.
- — Citrus Surfer's 2023 U.S. Open gold adds further acclaim.
- — Range covers everything from a 4.5% lager to a 9% imperial IPA.
Standout selections
- — Easy Eddy – hazy IPA, 6.0% ABV, 2024 GABF gold ($7.50 pint).
- — Citrus Surfer – citrus wheat, 4.8% ABV, 2023 U.S. Open gold ($6.50 pint).
- — Royal Eddy – imperial IPA, 9.0% ABV ($9/12oz).
Pricing: $5-$9 pint/12oz; $3-$5 7oz
Wine
House wines cover six varieties: Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Prosecco, Rosé, and Sauvignon Blanc. Priced at $11 a glass or $30 a bottle, this is a straightforward, affordable wine list.
Menu strengths
- — Six common varietals provide basic coverage.; Bottle price of $30 offers value for groups.
Standout selections
- — House Wines – Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Prosecco, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc ($11 glass).
Pricing: $11 glass / $30 bottle
Nonalcoholic
Non-alcoholic options are plentiful: canned kombucha, N/A beers, and three mocktails including Dam It's Hot and State Fair Lemonade. Mocktails are priced at $8, and N/A cans at $7.
Menu strengths
- — Three distinct mocktails with fresh ingredients like cucumber and mint.
- — N/A beer choices include Zero Eddy, a hazy IPA style.
- — Kismet Kombucha comes from a local Iowa producer.
Standout selections
- — Dam It's Hot – coconut water, lime, mint, cucumber ($8).
- — Zero Eddy N/A – non-alcoholic hazy IPA ($7).
Pricing: $7 canned; $8 mocktails
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