Restaurant
Unclaimed profileThe Pelican Post Bar & Grille
West Des Moines, IA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Pelican Post Bar & Grille runs a serious beverage program behind a casual grill front. The cocktail list leans playful but precise, with builds like The Magic Marg and a house 19-ingredient Bloody Mary mix. A dedicated mule section, summer mocktails, and local Iowa taps round out the menu. Ron Zacapa 23 appears in two riffs, and the spirits list shows deliberate choices.
- What should I order?
- Start with The Magic Marg, built on Astral Blanco tequila with fresh lemon and lime, agave, orange juice, and a Gran Marnier float. For a savory turn, the House Made Bloody Mary uses a 19-ingredient mix with a Tajin rim. Rum fans should consider the Pelican Painkiller, which layers Ron Zacapa 23 with amaretto and fresh pineapple.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Cocktail drinkers who appreciate a long, named list with creative descriptions will find plenty to explore. The dedicated mule section and summer mocktails also give groups with varied preferences a reason to stay. Local beer fans can check taps from Big Grove and Barn Town.
- When should I go?
- Summer is a natural fit given the dedicated summer mocktail section, including Coconut Dream and Blue Lagoon.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The program stands out for its range of named specialty cocktails, from the rum-heavy Ass in The Sand with a Ron Zacapa 23 float to the Black Betty mule made with Crown Royal Blackberry. A dedicated mule section and four summer mocktails add structure beyond a typical cocktail list.
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
An extensive specialty list runs from tequila builds to rum punches, with a dedicated mule section and summer mocktails. Named drinks show specific ingredients like fresh citrus, house mixes, and premium floats. Customers mention a Friday margarita was good.
Menu strengths
- — Numerous named specialty cocktails with clear ingredient descriptions.
- — Dedicated mule section and a separate summer mocktail list.
- — House Made Bloody Mary uses a 19-ingredient mix with a Tajin rim.
Standout selections
- — The Magic Marg: Astral Blanco tequila, fresh lemon and lime, agave, orange juice, Gran Marnier float.
- — Pelican Painkiller: Ron Zacapa 23, Disaronno, fresh lemon and pineapple, coconut cream, nutmeg.
- — House Made Bloody Mary: vodka, 19-ingredient mix, Tajin rim, olives, pickle.
Beer
The tap list spans light lagers, a black lager, local Iowa craft, and imports, with packaged seltzers and tallboys. Local representation includes Big Grove and Barn Town. It's a broad, crowd-pleasing selection rather than a deep craft focus.
Menu strengths
- — Taps include a mix of domestic, import, and local Iowa craft.
- — Local breweries Big Grove and Barn Town are represented.
Standout selections
- — Big Grove Easy Eddy (tapped); Barn Town Pink Sun Blast (tapped)
Nonalcoholic
Beyond standard sodas and juices, the program offers four dedicated summer mocktails with layered ingredients like coconut cream, blue curacao syrup, and grenadine. These are built as drinks, not afterthoughts, making the nonalcoholic options genuinely useful.
Menu strengths
- — Four named summer mocktails with specific recipes.; Mocktails use layered ingredients like coconut cream and blue curacao syrup.
- — Standard soft drinks, juices, and coffee round out the list.
Standout selections
- — Coconut Dream: coconut cream, lemonade, Sprite, cherry.; Blue Lagoon: blue curacao syrup, lemon juice, Sprite.
- — Sunrise and Sunset: orange, pineapple, cranberry, grenadine, soda water.
Spirits
The cocktail program puts a range of spirits to work, from Ron Zacapa 23 rum to Astral Blanco tequila and Nolet's Gin. Premium upgrades like Ketel One in the Bloody Mary show a willingness to pour above well. This is a supporting cast, not a standalone retail selection.
Menu strengths
- — Premium rums and tequilas appear in multiple cocktails.
- — Named spirits include Ron Zacapa 23, Astral Blanco, Nolet's Gin, and Crown Royal Blackberry.
- — $2 upcharges offer Ketel One vodka and 21 Seeds Cucumber Jalapeno Tequila.
Standout selections
- — Ron Zacapa 23 rum (in Pelican Painkiller and as float in Ass in The Sand)
- — Astral Blanco tequila (in The Magic Marg and Pelican Paloma)
Community reviews
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