USA, IA: Big Grove Brewery to expand to Des Moines

A popular Eastern Iowa brewery is reaching across the state with plans to move into the capital city, desmoinesregister.com reported on June 1.

Big Grove Brewery will be expanding to Des Moines in an undisclosed location, Rachel Furman, a brewery manager at the Iowa City location, confirmed. She said plans are underway to bring Big Grove to central Iowa between March and May 2022.

The team at Big Grove has had its sights set on Iowa expansion since opening the original location in 2013. The 5,200 square-foot brewpub is located in Solon, Iowa.

In 2017, co-founders Matt and Faye Swift and Doug Goettsch added a second, 26,000-square-foot facility in Iowa City. The Iowa City taproom offers a large patio with yard games and a menu from Executive Chef Benjamin Smart, who was recognized as 2018 Restaurateur of the Year by the Iowa Restaurant Association.

Big Grove signed a five-year agreement with the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa in 2019, which named the brewery as RAGBRAI's main beer sponsor. The brewery developed the official beer of RAGBRAI, a golden ale called Tailwind, in tribute to the weeklong event.

Big Grove’s year-round, seasonal and occasional brews are sold across the state at bars and restaurants, and canned beers are available for purchase in stores including Hy-Vee.

In Des Moines, it is collaborating with Sherman Hill's Lua Brewing. The two brewers created Jabroni, an Italian pilsner available on draft and in cans at both breweries.