They held my license hostage. For a mug. These mugs must be selling for zillions on the DSM black market. Thus the 4 star instead of 5. I digress as I did spend an enloyable evening here on Halloween. Great people watching, good service, and tasty drinks. One moscow mule for me and it was one of the better ones I have had. If your a beer drinker this is definitely the place for you if your not...well there is always the people watching. read more

SO MUCH BEER. So many options. So many cities. So much representation. Honestly, going here is almost a challenge. I'm not great at making quick decisions when overwhelmed with options, but the friendly bartends have helped me over this hurdle and pointed me in the right direction for a refreshing, delightful beverage. If you're looking for a place with an impressive beer selection, outdoor seating, and reasonable prices, El Bait Shop has it all. read more

Fantastic spot, unreal section of brews on tap. Beach like outdoor bar with fun and friendly staff. Food was a good compliment to the range of beers! A superb 'joint!' read more

Came here once with coworkers after work to have a beer and unwind. I have been to the High Life Lounge next door multiple times , but I will save that for the other review page. There were a TON of beer options there and although I am not a big beer drinker , being there gave me the urge to sample multiple beers. However I maintained control and just had one to relax. A big point about this location, IT GETS BUSY! It is very crowded and loud, but a great atmosphere for hanging out with friends. Maybe not a great place for large groups because there is a chance you not be able to stick close together. I have not tried their food here, but I heard they get their food from High Life Lounge next door, which is great. This is a hotspot for people downtown! read more

if you like beer, El Bait Shop is the place for you. Though, if you're not a beer snob, some employees might try to show how smart they are at beer. But do not be afraid, just pick one out that has a funny name or just point randomly at a tap and go for it. The menu is surprisingly good. It's bar food, but an interesting and well done version of bar food. My only issue is that the place is super bright. It's a weird issue to have, but it is super bright in the place, while most bars tend to be dark and gloomy, its neighbor, The HighLife Lounge, for example. read more

We stopped in here at the recommendation of our hotel and were so glad we did! Super friendly bar staff, pages and pages of local beer in the menu, fun and funky, locals hanging out in the afternoon on laptops. I'm sure it gets hopping later. The food was good! Real ham in the sandwich, good burgers and coleslaw. On my list to return to! read more

We were headed through Des Moines on our way back to Kansas City, and after hearing a very positive recommendation from a friend about this place - we decided to make a lunch stop here. It was a non-football Sunday, so it was pretty quiet. Obviously the enormous tap and bottle selection is the major draw here, and it takes quite a bit of time to navigate through the menu. Positives: -Beer, beer, and more beer. That's why you're coming here. -Food is actually not bad. I didn't have high expectations, but it's pretty standard bar fare. The chili burger was quite good. -Really cheap prices for food. Negatives: -Some mighty spendy beers available - not sure how many people are going to want to spend $20+ on a bomber, but to each his own. Definitely a fun place for the beer aficionado - pretty much guaranteed they'll have something you've never had. Food isn't bad, but definitely isn't the main attraction here. read more

Love this place! Every-time I am in Des Moines I come here no matter what! Thank you for your beer choice, service, fun time, bar time and just overall happy time. I love coming here and seeing all of the taps. I also just love to stare at all of the stickers on the wall. Toronado FTW! read more

This place is an oasis in an otherwise sea of chain restaurants in the Des Moines area. Most bars/restaurants in this city seem to have the usual flair of "we've got any beer you'd want - Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Miller High Life, MGD, and Miller High Life Light". This place is the exact opposite. I'll be honest - I came here for the beer, nothing else. I had dinner but don't remember what because it wasn't important. I had an IPA sampler that was enjoyable, as well as numerous other kinds of craft beers on tap, including Bells Expedition Stout. Next time I'm back in Des Moines I'll be stopping by this place. read more

New favorite place in Des Moines. So many beers you could probably spend a week just trying all of them. Think Flying Saucer, but better beers, cheaper beers, more variety, and better food. Pizza puffs are like homemade hot pockets and toaster strudels got together and had a pizza baby of joy. Bacon wrapped tots were great! The bar is funky with little lures and plastic bait, a nice touch! Staff was really friendly even after a busy farmers market morning. Love it! read more

Whenever I would visit my friends in DSM, I would request that we go to El Bait Shop. I couldn't get over the fact that they had nothing but microbrews on tap (well over 100). Now that I live here, it is my favorite place to grab a drink and go out w/ friends. The atmosphere is very chill and it seems like the douche bags that typically go out on a Friday or Saturday night avoid this bar, which is really nice. I discovered some of my absolute favorite beers there including the Left Hand Milk Stout and the Point Amber (delish). Plus, they have live music on Sunday and Wednesday nights, Big Buck Hunter and have tacos on the cheap. What's not to love? read more

What a place for beer. There are more taps here then most beer bars combined. Sit at the bar and you can choose from the many marked down beers. I just got a quadruple for $4., which would cost me $10 in most bars. Best spot in Des Moines, just eat before you get here! read more

This place is just the best! Everyone from dad who likes small town dive atmosphere to people visiting from out of town, love this place! The tots and burgers are just bomb. If they are busy, service CAN be sketchy, but it is worth while to hang out. Des Moines is lucky to have this spot as a go to. read more

Two stars positive because the beer selection is so wide. I did ask about two of my favorite (widely known) beers and the waitress looked at me like I had grown a second head. Also a star for the live music. Three stars negative because the food was plainly not good. Got the bacon wrapped Tator tots which sound fantastic and were pretty boring. Also got the fried chicken which was average. The waitress we had couldn't be less pleased we sat in her section. She barely said 10 words to us the whole time. Want to grab a drink? Come here. Want to eat?? Go somewhere else. read more

This is a good place to hang out and watch the games! They have a wide selection of beer on tap. The wings were very tasty. The fish tacos were mediocre in my opinion but overall it's a good place to eat finger foods and hang out. read more

This place was a huge disappointment, and I still am rating it 4 stars. Any place that has a beer selection like they do deserves minimum 4 stars. I was in town for business with nothing to do. It sounded interesting and was w/in reasonable walking distance from my hotel. The place was pretty empty, but then again it was a Tues night. I was looking forward to beers and BBQ. Sadly, I could only get beer. No more BBQ, according to the menu. I was stuck eating a good, but overpriced burrito. Go here for the beer, and the beer alone. Unless you like having hilarious gas all night. Then get the burrito too. read more

I do enjoy this place however service is not consistant. Beer Cocktails are one of my favorites. HUGE beer selection. read more

El Bait Shop - It's yummy, but I had to cough up my drivers license and credit card to get it. - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Always a must on any night out in Des Moines. So much beer! My only complaint is I never know what to order. Generally I'm lucky enough to have a server or bartender who will help me out. Sometimes it works, sometimes I end up with an awful beer. I still drink it. It's still beer. You never know what will happen here. Scratch that. You always know you will take drunk pictures in the shower, but beyond that, you never know what will happen here. On our last visit, our large group and the large group across the room ended the night by joining together in a rousing chorus (or four) of "Take Me Home Country Roads". Indeed. read more

If you like beer then you will like El Bait Shop. I love beer so I love El Bait Shop. They have over 100 beers on tab, many local Iowa beers as well. At this place you come for the great beer selection, not the food. They have okay bar food but nothing amazing. Wait I take that back, you can order from the attached bar called High Life and if you do get the Velvet Elvis dip. It comes with tortilla chips, and is really tasty. This bar is a big hit for bicyclists and on the weekends it turns into a hot spot with many people in spandex and helmets - it makes for a fun atmosphere. This is a great place to grab a drink with friends or co-workers. It is rather large so big groups fit well. Their patio is fantastic during the summer. I brought my dog one afternoon and we just hung out all day on the patio. Great place! read more

GREAT BEERS! Great atmosphere! Was my only interaction with Iowa on a lunch break driving across the country and I absolutely loved it. This is what I know of Iowa and it makes me want to return! read more

This place is awesome. 105 beers on tap and a gazillion others in bottle and cans. The food is great and reasonably priced and the atmosphere is really a good vibe. What a great find in Des Moines. Try the sweet potato fries, they are awesome And Sam Adams nitro is a rare find outside of the Sam Adams brewery. read more

This place reminds me of Austin, Tx! Very eclectic and laid back! They offer over 100 beers on tap and an incredible menu with a verity to choose from, such as, fish tacos, liver and onions or how about the appetizer we had....chicken gizzards! Lol! For dinner I had the meatloaf....it was delicious! My wife had the fish tacos and didn't talk the entire time. The atmosphere is fantastic! This is definitely a place I would frequent every week if I could! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. If your in the area you must come to El Bait Shop! read more

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My boyfriend and I came here while we were visiting some friends in Altoona. We were referred here by a mutual friend in another smaller Iowa town. Upon arriving, we noticed the place was pretty busy. When we got inside, there was only one vacant seat at the bar in a little nook surrounded by high top tables. There were 3-4 bartenders and only 2 servers (which had twice as many guests to wait on). I asked for a black rye IPA from the bartender in the nook, to which he replied "Uhhhhh." I chose one of the local black IPAs on the menu so as to avoid the awkward moment. After we ordered some drafts, we continued to perch, ready to pounce on an open table as soon as it opened. After we made friends with some people who had their check, we were able to call 'dibs' on a hightop. The server was friendly, warm and knowledgeable, unlike the bartender I ordered my first beer from. She was very attentive despite having a full house with a section of approximately 15 tables. The bar continued to fill up after the local farm hockey team match let out. I quickly realized this was a hangout for the early-20s crowd. The decor was cluttered with various beer signs, neons, black and white photos and posters. The whole place was a bit industrial with the full size garage door on one end of the room. The bar was oddly shaped with an inconvenient hump at one end and a privacy wall on the other that took up valuable standing room or area for a few extra chairs. When we left we noticed there was a sizable patio on the other side of the garage door. I would imagine this place would be a lot of fun in the warmer months. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting Des Moines that is a craft beer lover. There were 120 drafts available and over 100 beers in a bottle. Overall: 5 stars for the service of the young lady with the short blonde hair and dark rimmed glasses that helped us at the table. 3 stars to the service from the bartenders and 4 stars for atmosphere and beer selection. Side Note: There is a The High Life Lounge attached, which we did not have a chance to check out. From what I've read its a period-correct 70s bar that features all the cheesiness of the era. Next time I'm in town, I'll definitely pop in there after I visit El Bait Shop to see what it is all about. read more

Great selection of craft beer. The wait staff is usually great unless you have a large party then it is only average in my experience. High Life's menu is the best bar food around. The $4 cheese burger basket is fast food quality burger but great tots for fast food price better options are on the menu. El Bait Shops' menu is average normally I only order from High Life's. Have a few IPA beers and enjoy the patio when the weather is good. read more

Fully loaded tap wall. Many beers and a huge menu. At 4:00 on a Weds had probably 15 patrons...25% of whom were blurting loud-talker drunks. The rest a mishmash. By 6:00, completely packed and I guess you'd call it a pretty varied crowd for this area of the country. Nice people...white people...being white...and fat (sorry). The bartenders were fine though not especially helpful given the massive selection. Saw a few instances of patrons just ordering anything as they were made to feel slightly embarrassed not know how to describe a stinkin beer. C'mon, give em a break. Also encountered, to my surprise, probably the MOST arrogant punk-ass snobbish beer "expert". Wow, it was stunning how much poured from this guy's face...talk about small fish in a small pond...with specific vocabulary. I was embarrassed for him but had to move seats. Annoyance x50. I was stricken by the number of CO references and beers...I guess I shouldn't have been given how many IA people appear to be swarming CO these days. Food...basic bar food but good...and large portions. I'd def go back...for beer...of which I will have predetermined my choice. But don't see returning to Des Moines unless I must. Have fun... read more

Outstanding, fun and interesting. If you're a beer lover, this is the place. Knowledge, friendly and helpful staff. We can't wait to go back. Super for all ages 21 +. read more

El Bait Shop - The perfect place! Amazing, must see. Out of 35 micro brewery s this is the place! - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Walked in it was jammed packed, no hostess, finally tracked someone down and they said first come first serve.... Walked right out!

Divey dive dive with a "dive"rse crowd. You get bikers, of both the motorcycle and non-motor kind, youngish people, oldish people...laid back. A great place to grab a beer before an I-Cubs game (although, I've never done the latter, but the place is a hop, skip, and jump from the ballpark - though if you come here on gameday, make sure you can find allowable parking). Plenty of patio seating and lots of cheap brews on tap. Attached at the hip with High Life Lounge which is a good thing. If you're in downtown des moines, I recommend here on a nice sunny day to grab brews with friends. Good place to start the day/night. read more

Best restaurant/bar in the Des Moines area great bartenders, servers, food and especially beer!! read more

El Bait Shop - Pouring some delicious gems. - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Enjoyed my visit here. Good beer selection and great appitizers. Cant wait to visit again. read more

El Bait Shop - Bars Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Came here with my friend on his lunch break. Both our first time here. Awesome interior with a mixture of a dive bar & sports bar. I ordered the grilled cheese & tater tots & cheese curds with a millstream root beer. All great choices, the waitress told me the millstream came from a keg, which is cool! My friend enjoyed his meal as well. Definitely will be back & we saw more on the menu that we want read more

2 words. Broasted chicken. That should be all you need because this is like fried chicken on steroids. It is delicious and it has to be good for you. More beers on tap than your normal pub, I think they have the most in Des Moines. A very eclectic atmosphere and normal pub fare - only better. You will have an amazing time here so just don't search any further and uber or Lyft your way here now. read more

Huge portions/great vibes. Could have spent a whole evening looking through their beer menu. Definitely would recommend!

Ask their bartenders for suggestions and you will not fail to have a magical beersperience. Iowa beer is grand! Who knew? El Bait Shop, that's who. read more

There is not a better place for beer in Iowa. I love the atmosphere! They have a beer MENU and the waiters/waitresses/bartenders are extremely helpful and knowledgable. I absolutely love the bar food, too, it's definitely an indulgence. I would highly recommend going to El Bait! read more

I came here with friends after our outdoors meeting. Pretty cool atmosphere but not my ideal place to hang out. Beer selection is decent but it just looks a little rundown in my opinion. The parking is a bit crazy on the street. I would rather find a nicer pub in downtown or just head for West Des Moines. read more

Tried the fried fish for lunch and it was grrrrreaaaaat!! I will be back to work my way through the beer menu. The place was crowded and the service was still top notch! read more

Never stopped in IA so I never realized how serious they are about their craft beer. I had one of the best IPAs I've ever had and it's an Iowan beer. Place has got a ridiculous amount of craft beer and the crowd is pretty mixed. Sat at the bar ordered some bacon wrapped tater tots and wings (go dry rubbed) and drink some beer. Food wasn't bad but complimented the beer perfectly fine. and the place isn't too loud to hold a conversation. read more

What a great selection. Came in for a beer. Ended up getting a flight. The bartender was so helpful and knowledgeable that I stayed for another one and barely scrated the surface. MUST stop! read more

Stopped here while on a road trip. Loved it. In the middle of the afternoon on a weekday parking lot was empty, but I'm glad we didn't let that scare us off. The row of taps was impressive. The place was memorable. Food was better than I expected for a pub, but my five stars is more for the atmosphere and uniqueness of the place. Definitely worth the detour from the interstate. Perfect road trip meal. read more