Highest-rated breweries in Iowa
Cold beer, anyone? American beer drinkers have their fair share of options no matter where they might live.
Indeed, a market once dominated by a handful of major brands has become far more diverse since the craft beer scene expanded sixfold between 2008 and 2016. Independent production cooled off just a little in 2023 but still accounted for a whopping 23.4 million barrels of beer and craft beer's overall market share by volume rose to 13.3%, according to the Brewers Association. For context, in 2013, there were 3,108 craft breweries in the U.S.—and as of 2023, there are 9,761, representing a 214% increase in just a decade. Cheers to that!
Why the ongoing obsession? Putting aside the fact that people simply love their brew, beer has emerged as a wildly versatile beverage category. Craft breweries explore beer to its fullest potential and tend to rank highly as a result.
Another thing about beer is that every sip tells a story. It's first and foremost the journey of the beer's own production, namely one involving water, malted grains, botanical hops, and yeast. However, it's also a chronicling of the area in which the beer was produced since every state has its own respective history, climate, geography, and resources. Then there's the tale of the people who produced it, turning their love of carbonated alcohol into a passion project and hiring all kinds of local talent.
Combine America's love of beer with endless flavor possibilities, and you arrive at a sensational pastime and a thriving national industry. With nearly 10,000 craft breweries bubbling up across the nation, each one offers its own unique qualities, some complete with guided tours and tasting rooms (and maybe some hearty gastropub fare).
Many of the nation's highest-rated breweries are so small and independent that the only way to sample their suds is to visit them in person, while others distribute their products around the country—or even across the globe.
To find some top spots near you, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breweries in Iowa using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a business with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 6, 2024.
Regardless of the brewery's size and scope, one thing is for sure: Now is a great time for a beer!
#29. Another Road Brewing
- Rating: 3.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Address: 1175 8th Ave. Marion, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. 1717 Brewing Company
- Rating: 5/5 (4 reviews)
- Address: 322 East Court Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Gezellig
- Rating: 5/5 (3 reviews)
- Address: 403 West 4th St. North Building 17, Suite 103 Newton, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Five Cities Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3 reviews)
- Address: 2255 Falcon Ave. Bettendorf, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Timbukbru
- Rating: 5/5 (4 reviews)
- Address: 819 Washington Ave. Iowa Falls, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Fat Hill Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 17 North Federal Ave. Mason City, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Timbukbrü
- Rating: 5/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 215 6th St. Southwest Clarion, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Full Fledged Brewing
- Rating: 5/5 (4 reviews)
- Address: 40 Arena Way Ste 2 Council Bluffs, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Brightside Aleworks
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 480 Center Place Southwest Altoona, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Clock House Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Address: 600 1st St. Southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Jubeck New World Brewing
- Rating: 5/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 115 West 11th St. Dubuque, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. River Ridge Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 303 Riverview Bellevue, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Shiny Top Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (13 reviews)
- Address: 520 Central Ave. Fort Dodge, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Torrent Brewing Company
- Rating: 4/5 (19 reviews)
- Address: 504 Burnett Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Keg Creek Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (18 reviews)
- Address: 22381 221st St. Glenwood, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Peace Tree Brewing Company - Des Moines Branch
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 317 East Court Ave. Des Moines, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Reclaimed Rails Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 101 Main St. Northeast Bondurant, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Crawford Brew Works
- Rating: 4.5/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 3659 Devils Glen Rd. Bettendorf, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Boone Valley Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (16 reviews)
- Address: 816 7th St. Boone, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Lake Time Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 801 Main Ave. Clear Lake, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Contrary Brewing Company
- Rating: 5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 411 West Mississippi Drive Muscatine, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. 515 Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (50 reviews)
- Address: 7700 University Ave. Clive, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Firetrucker Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Address: 716 Southwest 3rd St. Ankeny, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Great River Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (66 reviews)
- Address: 332 East 2nd St. Davenport, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Pulpit Rock Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Address: 207 College Drive Decorah, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Confluence Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (60 reviews)
- Address: 1235 Thomas Beck Road Des Moines, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Alluvial Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 3715 West 190th St. Ames, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Green Tree Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (106 reviews)
- Address: 309 North Cody Road Le Claire, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Toppling Goliath Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (173 reviews)
- Address: 1600 Prosperity Road Decorah, Iowa
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jacob Osborn, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
