Tournaments are held every Sunday. Host Chad Wilson says Raccoon River is owned by a Denver-based partnership that has eight other eating and drinking establishments. Prepare to be impressed. Iowans are flocking to brew pubs, such as the Court Avenue Brewing Co. in Des Moines, for the site-brewed beer, the pub food and the cozy ambience. Brew master Dave Coy keeps four handcrafted beers on tap in addition to seasonal speciality beers.
Lunch time pulls in big crowds at Raccoon River.
Highly recommended is the black and tan cheesecake, the winner of several dessert contests. Such autonomy is important to him. He came to this position when the brew pub opened in September after several years as a brew master with a large regional brewery in New Orleans. In Iowa, for instance, people seem to like a smooth lager-type beer. At Rock Bottom, the Heartland Light and White Tail Pale Ale are the biggest sellers, but real beer aficionados prefer the heavier Lumpy Dog Brown and Iron Horse Stout.