SingleSpeed Brewery opens in Des Moines with two patios, fire pits and a beer just for DM
Just as thousands of bicycle riders are about to embark on the 50th anniversary of RAGBRAI with a stop in Des Moines on July 26, a new brewery taproom serving beers and food along the John Pat Dorrian Trail on the east bank of the Des Moines River opens.
Waterloo-based SingleSpeed Brewing debuted in a built-from-scratch location in a former tire shop at 303 Scott Ave. in Des Moines.
The space includes a restaurant with a patio at the front, a bar area accessed by following a painted path through the restaurant, and a second larger patio with covered picnic tables, Adirondack chairs surrounding fire pits and games such as giant versions of Jenga and Connect 4 in the back, all with a view of Principal Park and downtown Des Moines.
Those on the back patio can order via a QR code on the table, and servers bring 8- and 16-ounce pours of beer. Multiple people can order off the same QR code, and tickets can remain open until the customer is ready to pay.The system enables SingleSpeed to hire fewer staff and cover more space, said Justin Berkley, the general manager of the brewery.
Tickets also include a 3% service charge attached that “is used for one thing and one thing only — to drive the kitchen a little more,” Berkley said. “We’re playing with the idea that if we throw another dollar, we’ll get them to work Fridays” when it’s busier in the brewery.
Customers can choose whether to leave a tip on checks that include a service charge.
The brewery also built in a recycling program that ensures that most waste is reused. For example, diners who bring back their kid’s cup get a discount.
In addition, the entire roof of the building contains photovoltaic cells for solar power to offset the electricity use at this location.
What beers does SingleSpeed serve?
Among SingleSpeed’s popular brews: Tip the Cow milk stout, a New England-style IPA Whirled-Wide Haze and top-seller Gable, a Munich Helles named for legendary University of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable, a Waterloo native.
The bar offers not only its own beers, but special brews created just for Des Moines. A five-barrel brewery system for Des Moines-specific beers is part of the location, while SingleSpeed’s main brewery is in Waterloo.
The taproom exclusively sells Paid Refills, an American-style pilsner. Watch social media —facebook.com/singlespeedbrewing or instagram.com/singlespeedbrewingco — for new releases. Those who prefer liquor over beer can turn to a tight list of vodkas, whiskeys, rums, and gins, with many from Iowa such as Cedar Ridge single malt from Swisher and Gotcha vodka from Clive.
What’s on the menu at SingleSpeed?
The restaurant also offers a full menu from chef Sam Cooley. Dishes, in some cases, go spicy or Asian, and some combine an interesting pairing, such as the basil-walnut pesto watermelon bites with feta cheese or the SingleSpeed tenderloin with red pepper jelly.
On that spicy range, look for a Buffalo chicken salad or a Buffalo chicken chili, both using Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce as the base for the Buffalo sauce. The chili even includes SingleSpeed’s Gable Munich Helles in the recipe.
The Asian influence on the menu comes through on dishes such as Brussels sprouts accentuated with hoison, Asian citrus wings tinged with a citrus sauce, Tokyo tacos that come with shoyu sauce and pickled daikon radish, and an umami burger with a black garlic balsamic aioli.
The menu includes markers for vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian and nut allergies, as well as staff favorites such as the street tacos with pulled tinga chicken, pork al pastor, blackened salmon, carne asada, or a veggie medley. A vegetarian Reuben uses pastrami-cured beets and whipped goat cheese with the sauerkraut and Swiss cheese.
Almost everything is made in house except the Heinz ketchup, hoison, yellow mustard and mayo, said Ben Bonwell, the front of the house manager for the brewery.
Kids even have their own menu with a burger, mac and cheese, chicken strips, fish sticks and a quesadilla.
More: Your guide to 20 Des Moines metro breweries, taprooms and their craft beer
What's the history behind SingleSpeed?
SingleSpeed got its start back in 2012 in a small, 1,700-square-foot building in Cedar Falls, where it still has its original taproom and a three-barrel research and development center. Five years later, owner Dave Morgan opened a much larger taproom in the historic former Wonder Bread production facility in Waterloo.
Des Moines is becoming brewery central
Des Moines has seen a wave of new breweries open recently with at least 20 breweries open to the public and others planned. Big Grove Brewery opened last year in Sherman Hill. The renowned Toppling Goliath brewery in Decorah told the Des Moines Register in 2021 it also plans to open in Des Moines, although a location has not been announced.
A portion of the former French Way Cleaners at 413 Euclid Ave. on Des Moines’ north side may become a brewpub, while The Neighborhood Development Corp. purchased a property on the southwest corner of Seventh Street and Corning Avenue near Riverview Park for $1 million in February with the hopes of a brewery, among other businesses, locating there.
Where to find SingleSpeed Brewing Co.
Location: 303 Scott Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-214-1879 or singlespeedbrewing.com
Hours: Open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: SingleSpeed Brewery opens its taproom in Des Moines with two patios
