Des Moines, IA

Located at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, Des Moines, Iowa, has attracted human settlement for 7,000 years. Over the past century, Des Moines has grown from an agricultural hub to a city that houses a large number of insurance companies and technology firms. The city likewise draws presidential campaign teams every 4 years, as the Iowa caucus has become a vital launching point for U.S. presidential candidates.

Des Moines has also had a profound impact on the history of craft beer in the nation. In eastern Iowa, Millstream Brewing Co. opened its doors in 1985, becoming one of the very first microbreweries to open in the entire U.S. A decade later, the first breweries started opening in Des Moines, the state’s capital. Today, a dozen breweries call the area home. Des Moines’ beer scene now boasts everything from award-winning hazy IPAs to nationally recognized up-and-coming breweries, making the city an exciting landscape for traveling beer tourists.