Kinship Brewing Co. | Waukee, IA
Beer Trip: Kinship Brewing Co. in Waukee, Iowa
About a 20-minute drive from downtown Des Moines sits Kinship Brewing Co. With plenty of neighborhoods surrounding the place and a great proximity to a bike trail, this brewery seemed like a major hot spot during the summertime and featured some of the most unique features we’d ever seen.
The Brewery
Kinship has only been open since 2021, but it appears as if they have the financial backing to rival almost any brewery we’ve been to. Their facility is in a massive tilt-up building with half of it enclosing the tasting room and brewery, and the other half open to the elements with a huge outdoor patio and its own bar. This outdoor space is what truly sets Kinship apart. This brewery isn’t just “dog friendly” - in fact, they have their own entire dog park! This brewery features an off-leash dog park, complete with obstacles and other play equipment for your pooch.
The indoor area has roughly 20 tables along with a large, 12-person bar spanning half the length of the space. Everything is extremely open here, with ceilings probably 20 feet tall and large exterior windows that let in tons of natural light. One thing we noticed throughout the facility was how family friendly everything felt. There were plenty of kids there when we visited and Kinship tailors to them by offering plenty of board games and comfy seating.
The Beer
Compared to most other breweries in the area, Kinship had a smaller beer menu with only 8 options. This was a bit surprising to us, considering how large the facility is - but what they do make they actively distribute to the masses. We were told they have a regional partnership with Hy-Vee! Their draft choices included an IPA, doppelbock, imperial stout, Schwarzbier, amber lager, koelsch, and a couple of standard lagers - all of which are constantly on tap.
We weren’t at Kinship for very long (thanks to a fussy baby!), but we managed to pick out a couple of enjoyable beers. One of which was their Amber Lager, which had some nice malty and caramel tastes, yet was subtle enough where it wasn’t too heavy to drink. The Dark Lager was another solid option. This Schwarzbier had a great roasty hint and was a little bit bitter.
Food, Merch, & More
If beer isn’t your thing, Kinship also has a few cocktail options, wine, and canned soft drinks. Additionally, they serve their own food and have options including wings, burgers, quesadillas, or salads. As far as their merchandise goes, it was spread out across a wall with other decorations and included shirts and glassware.