Confluence Brewing Company in Des Moines is one of those places that just understands the assignment. It is right off the trail, has free water, free live music, free bike parking, and a great patio. Add in cold local beer at fair prices, and it is pretty hard to complain. The people serving were mostly friendly, the beer was very good, and the selection is always great. If you go inside and head up the stairs, the selection gets even better. My only suggestion: please consider selling mix-and-match 4-packs or single cans to go. We wanted to buy some to take with us, but we could not agree on one flavor, so we skipped buying more and just stuck with what came out of the tap. For cyclists, bridge beers and bike beers are a real thing, and it feels like there is a missed opportunity there. That said, we will absolutely be back for all the "free" stuff, the local beer, and that amazing patio. Great trail stop, great beer, and a perfect place to take a break. Keep up the Lord's work. Cheers! read more

Added Confluence to our route while biking on a beautiful summer Friday night because they are located right off the trail and had a live band playing that night. Plenty of bicycle parking, outdoor shaded seating with an outdoor bar and they were hosting a food truck. More of an A/C type, there is seating inside with the main bar and a variety of board games to keep you entertained. I appreciate the wide variety of beers, including a couple sours, seltzers and NA options. Staff were friendly and super helpful! What a great night out. read more

Confluence Brewing Company - Beer on the patio while watching the band - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This is a very hopping place. A huge selection of beers nicely set up. I'll have to come back up here when it's nice to sit out on the patio on your way in you get to see where all the magic is made.. very nicely set up so you can see what type of beers you want based on the colors on the chart great selection of merchandise. Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of the inside if I get more from my partner, I'll upload them. read more

Confluence Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

What a fun place! You walk through the brew room! Inside view of how things work! Have a HUGE selection of their beers on tap! Large selection of cool looking merc! Great way to spend a hot day in DSM! read more

Confluence Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

1st time visitors trying a few of DSM's breweries. Won't be going back to Confluence haha - seems very popular based on other reviews and it's not a bad space especially if you're on a bike but our experience was lackluster. Beers were just OK - we tried a couple flights to really get a good idea and honestly all of them were just not great - obviously it's very subjective so to each his own but we felt the flavor was lacking overall. All of the above was no big deal it's normal to like some beers/breweries more than others but the kicker for Confluence was the almost comically rude bartending staff - don't consider myself real sensitive or needy but when 2 of out 3 bartenders are just plain old pissed off to be there it ain't great. Held my phone up to the pad to use apple pay and the gal grabbed my phone to hold it tightly against the device - no greeting, no thanks, no questions, just the non-verbal 'what do you want' look you expect at the dmv or tsa - anyway the combo of lousy cranky service and mediocre beer made it easy to take it off our list! read more

I went with my husband and brother-in-law to Confluence Brewing in Des Moines, Iowa. When we walked in, the inside opened up into a very large seating area, with a small bar at the head of the room. Decor was neat! Seating was plentiful but without variety. It wasn't too busy and staff were more interested in chatting than helping those in line. Their craft beers on tap were ok but nothing to write home about. Pretty average experience. read more

Confluence Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I was in town for work and entertained myself on a Monday night by visiting local breweries. I walked to a few, but needed to Uber to this one since it was November and dark. On a weekend it would probably be a beautiful bike or walk from downtown. The beer list what's great variety and my flight reflected it! Friendly bartender and a good crowd playing bingo! read more

Confluence Brewing Company - Confluence beer list and a flight - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

More beer than u can shake a stick at. Great selection. Nice patio and live music. Get some!

Went on a Saturday afternoon. First time here. Bartenders were nice. Place was packed. Lots of kids running around, which is odd to me for a brewery- but I get it. I'm not a huge fan of their beer... they had a food truck, which we didn't visit. I will not run back any time soon! Cheers. read more

First time back at Confluence for the year a couple friends and I biked over for a patio beer as soon to celebrate the weather turning warm and things were as good as ever! I appreciate that they provide bike parking even in the colder months, and the patio is open, but it there wasn't a food truck (we went on a Tuesday so it's possible they just don't have one every day). The bartender gave a great recommendation for the Juicy Wiggle IPA which I really enjoyed, it was a little fruity without being too sweet and hazy without being heavy overall very drinkable at 5.7%. I love the variety they've got both on tap and bottled to go at all times, for me that's a big leg up on some other breweries in town. The ambience on patio is great but the reason I don't come in the winter is the inside has a really strong smell that personally I can't handle, if they went the way Lua and Big Grove have and just put a door to close off the brewing area from the bar area I think it would help a lot. However it is a brewery so I understand that might not be a priority! As it stands I'll be back all summer to enjoy the patio :) read more

Confluence Brewing Company - Juicy Wiggle IPA - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

One stop you can't miss in Des Moines is Confluence Brewing. They have one of the largest, most diverse, and downright tasty tap list I have ever experienced. The space inside and out is huge, with a bar outside as well. After staring at the pour list for longer than I care to admit, I settled on four beers: Batch 1656 Hazy Double IPA: A Hazy Double IPA packed with Styrian Dragon, Mandarina Bavaria, and El Dorado hops. Confluence Brewing loves to experiment with a homebrewer mindset and this shows it off. Bright passion fruit, papaya, mango, and tangerine flavors / aromas with a resiny floral undertone. Lassos and Lasers: A Brett IPA - which for those not keeping up with every variation of IPA that is out there (which boy is it getting hard), it is like a mix of a NE IPA with a Wild Ale. Barn house funkiness from Brettanomyces yeast in the American Oak Foeder co-mingles with fruity citrus mixed and hoppy bitterness (Galaxy / El Dorado). Love the layers of complexity in this beer. It's A Wonderful BarleyLife, Bourbon Barrel Aged American-Style Barleywine Ale: A Barrel Aged American-Style Barleywine clocking in at a big 13.5% ABV. Huge plum, black currant, and dried fig flavors with a mild caramel / brown sugar sweetness. Alcohol is warming, but not overpowering with a low bitter backbone that reminds you that there were hops added to this beer. The wood aging provided an oaky tannic flavor as well that gives some nice barrel character to the big beer. Pineapple Banana Wizard: A Gose with Pineapple, Banana, and Coconut added. Slightly salty, slightly tart / acidic, and slightly citrusy due to the pineapple additions. I get a lot of tropical pina colada-esque vibes from this tasty sour. _______________ read more

See all

I like to find local beers: specifically, local microbreweries. Confluence produces an array of beers. My favorite is their South Side(SS). SS was smooth and light. I would consider this a beer I could drink all night. The Des Moines IPA was good for me as it wasn't too hoppy. Birthday Cake Stout had flavors of raspberry and chocolate- emphasize the raspberry. Thumbs up from me. Grays Lake Nessie tasted thin as in lack of body. The front end of the sip was promising but it ended on an empty note. Campfire: definitely has a Smokey flavor and it was not overbearing but you know it's there. Nice creative touch for the person who came up with this one! Ferryman's Peanut Butter Cup: this is a barrel aged bourbon. Very thick, syrupy beer at 14.4 percent. I'm not big on these types of beers because they are heavy, slow drinking beers that typically leave me wishing someone else will finish my beer. This beer was surprisingly smooth on the front and back end of the drink. While it was still a heavy, slow drink, there was no alcohol bite and very smooth. I bought a bottle of this to take home and share with friends. Overall, Confluence delivers a solid beer. There is something here for everybody!! read more

See all

Great beer, open space is good for groups or just a few ppl. Bartenders are super friendly. Reasonably priced drafts are the bonus and it's good to see inflation hasn't hit every where. To-go cooler makes take home drinks easy and affordable. No more grocery store buys for Confluence favorites. read more

We stopped in for a cold drink after walking around Gray's Lake a few times. We had to sit outside because our dog was with us. The outside area was quite plain, but it offered shade, a water fountain, and a bathroom for outside guests. We tried a flight of beers to sample some very unique options. The interior was impressive, offering a view of all the brewery machines, and the Iowa artwork added a fun touch to the experience. read more

I always enjoy our experiences here, always a good time, nice interesting place to be.

Love it. Great area, amazing beer, good people!! The outdoor seating is fantastic and dog friendly.

Great brews, on the bike path and plenty of outdoor space. Family friendly and dogs on the patio ! read more

Always interesting brews available. I moved to Des Moines almost 10 years ago. Confluence brewery is about 2 miles from the house. My first visit was very shortly after my arrival. Very small place at that time. The back porch is perfection. I very highly recommend this place read more

Best Beer around. They are all unique and consistently good but a couple of my favorites are the Camp Fire, and the Ghostly Presents So Tasty read more

Currently a Denver, Colorado resident that is a huge fan of craft beer. Whenever I'm in Des Moines this is a brewery I always stop at. I've never had a bad beer here. Their core beers as well as the specialty ones are always top notch. The beer-tenders are always friendly and can answer all questions you might have and won't give you a bad suggestion. If you're scared of commitment get yourself a flight and try a 5oz pour. read more

Confluence Brewing Company - It's a flight of delicious beers. - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

Chill vibe with numerous beers to choose from! I enjoyed their wizard beer (sour) while sitting on a shaded patio in the July summer heat! So refreshing and a great time with family. read more

Love Confluence! Whether it's to grab a beer on my own in a comfortable atmosphere, meeting up with a group of friends or treating my dogs to a day out on the dog friendly patio I am always happy. They have a good variety of beers sure to please everyone in the group. On those cold winter nights grab a table, pick a beer and challenge your friends to a game of Scrabble. They have tons of games to choose from. Enjoy! read more

One of my favorite placws to visit on the south side for a cold good beer or cider. They come out with a new flavor almost every week. Sometimes two or more in a week! The vibe is completely laid back. Bring your own food or snacks or ask for pretzels at the bar. They have good trucks in occasion too to try aome local fare. Come on down and enjoy a great time. Pick up a game with a local couple looking for more players for their card game ( like Luke and I! ) read more

See all

Fun place! I went on a crazy busy night. Live music. Food trucks. Lots of bikers...........

One of our favorite breweries of all time! Great all-around everything -- atmosphere and the beer! Their Oktoberfest is my favorite there.

This is an actual tap room! Great place to meetup with friends! The selection is huge and the service is good too. Outside they do some some picnic tables but it is very sunny and kinda awkward to sit if you don't know the other people. Bring your own food and games if you wish! read more

Confluence Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

See all

This is a Brewery. You get the tour when you walk from the front door to the seating area. There are tables and high tables. The ceilings are really high and the noise can get pretty loud with a good crowd. They do have a deck you can go out and sit on. There is lots of space for groups and parties to enjoy the beer on tap. Make sure you try as many as you can. I am not a huge beer person, but did try a couple. They are also right on the biking trail in case you get thirsty. read more

Great casual place to grab a beer. Great for groups, especially with the ginormous deck and patio seating. Awesome beer selection. I can't wait to visit again. read more

One of the top breweries in DSM. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this timeless classic is the place to visit. Great selection for any taste and a terrific patio space and indoor taproom, too. One of the most cyclist-friendly spots in all of Des Moines. read more

Beer remains top notch, but I also gotta say the new outdoor area, and bike stand area, is also top notch! This brewery continues to brew consistently great beer, and now thew brewery space has even more out door room to enjoy the sips in the summer! Great, great great! Black IPA still my fave but the Classic Des Moines IPA has never done me wrong either! read more

Confluence offers up good variety of tasty brews in a huge space along a trail. Outside the beer of which I had a tasty hazelnut, I enjoyed the outdoor seating area with bar as well as the inside tap room. I'll definitely visit again when I'm in DSM. read more

Excellent selection and service! Loved this brewery alongside a bike trail. Definitely #1 in the area

I have tried almost all their brews but the best on a hot summer day would have to be Milj Man milk stout 1pint 5.9% alcohol. read more

Confluence Brewing Company - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

A true brewery in every sense of the word, confluence takes its beer seriously but still has a fun atmosphere to hang out with friends. Lots of booths and large tables, no group is too big. You can see all of the brewing equipment in action as you walk in... way cool! Many people dont realize confluence is available to rent for private events. It is really a great venue for group meetings. Soon there will even be an events center on site. There are tons of great beers on tap, but there is not really any food. This is a brewery! Good news is that on many weekends there some food trucks around if you get hungry. Confluence is right off of fleur and has plenty of parking. The best way to arrive is by bike - the trail is right next to the brewery (with plenty of bike racks). They even have a deck for people who enjoy staying outside. We love everything about it here. The beer is always fresh and there are great people that you meet. Stop in and play a board game with your friends, just hang out or meet some new people. read more

I love visiting confluence for their barrel beers. The small batch interesting ones. They're location right by grey's lake provides a beautiful space for walking or biking to or from the location. During covid, they had a great process for carry out beer and their staff is knowledgeable. Everyone seems like family and friends. Great vibe. read more

Confluence has a new beer coming out every Friday and a very knowledge staff who're able to help first time visitors find drinks that are similar or those who've come several times and hadn't branched out their taste. read more

This place looks like an abandoned factory ... and it may well be one. Inside is a big open space. Plenty of room to grow. Kid friendly dog friendly on patio. Near the confluence of the Racoon and Des Moines rivers. Great views on the patio side. Many bikers (bicycles) because it is near a trail. Great beers and I'm saying this because I'm from Colorado. Sodas available. Nice bartenders. No food but bring in a pizza and food trucks are there often. Recommended hot spot. read more

See all

Confluence has one of my favorite beers, Des Moines IPA. I was able to go on a tour and learn about this business and I was impressed! I also tried a new beer as I was wanting something lighter for summer. I asked the bartender and I went with his suggestion (I can't quite remember the name) and it was delicious! We also went outside and enjoyed the patio for awhile and had a snack from the food truck that was there. We will definitely be back. I do wish they had more parking as I had to park down the road a ways but we didn't mind the little walk. read more

See all

This place never disappoints.......a group.of us went down for the Chewbacca festival......how could you not have fun. The sheet played. There was a beerstein holding contest. Chewbacca beer that they we're placing a hot poker in which carmelized the sugars in it. When you walked outside to have your beer poked it smelled like toasted marshmallows. All stuff was very friendly. read more

See all

For the most part, everyone here has been nice. Unfortunately I did have a souring experience with one employee though during my last visit. One of my family members had placed an online order for me to pick up as a gift, when it was ready the instructions simply said to give them a call and they would bring it right out. When I arrived I parked opposite to the door and gave them a call, was I was rudely greeted and given short aggressive responses. Whatever, people have a bad day. She then called back about 10 mins later and said I was not out there. I was, and offered to come inside to grab the items if it would be easier, I was just following the instructions given by confluence. She then asked a few more times if I was actually there, in a rude manner. I said I would just come in, and then she told me that the items my family member ordered weren't ones that you pick up and I should've just come inside. I would have been more than willing to walk inside, I was just following the instructions. The person I spoke to inside was great. Just whoever was manning the phone seemed to hate their job. read more