Foundry Distilling Company is part of the Foundry project,
a redevelopment of the Rock Island Railroad Car Bar into a multi-tenant food and beverage project in West Des Moines. In addition to our distillery, the project also features The Hall and The Kitchen.
Unique among Iowa whiskey distilleries is the centerpiece of our operation: a 29-foot-tall, 30-inch-diameter column still that was designed and built right here in Iowa. It offers several unique features, including internal LED lights and cameras. It's estimated to be among the top five stills in America on a throughput basis.
We also have a 500-gallon copper pot still that was also designed and built here in Iowa, as well as a 500-gallon open-topped cypress wood fermenter.
Tours
Get the full Foundry experience with one of the most unique distillery tours in Iowa. Join us on a guided tour of the distillery, where you’ll learn all about the production process that takes place between the walls of our innovative facility. Tours are held daily and cost $15 per person. In addition to seeing the sights, tour guests also receive a complimentary tasting and a $5 coupon for use in the distillery. Plan your tour in advance and you can even order a personalized bottle that will be ready and waiting for you when you arrive.
BOOK NOWEvent Space Rental
Host your next event at one of the most unique Des Moines distilleries. Foundry Distilling Company can accommodate almost any size of group in one or more of our great spaces. Click here for more information.
OUR EXPERIENCE
ALCHEMY LOUNGE
At 1,750 square feet, this is our largest and most flexible space. It features an interactive display with information about our company and products, cozy seating, and impressive views of our production space and barrels. The Lounge runs a full-service cocktail bar Thursday-Friday 4-10pm, and Saturday 2-11pm.
THE TASTING ROOM
This area is where we do most of our private tastings and host our friends who come to make their own Private Barrel whiskey. It has a fully stocked bar, high end a/v and can host groups of up to 20 people. In the summer, it includes our large outdoor patio, measuring nearly 900 square feet, which greatly increases the size and type of groups we can host.
THE CLUBHOUSE
This mezzanine space was personally designed by our owner and can best be described as jaw-dropping. It is 900 square feet and overlooks the entire facility, including an amazing view of our beautiful still. It is truly a unique event space for those looking to host a special experience in the Des Moines area.
Just answer some basic questions, and we'll be back in touch in two to three days with a free, no-obligation personalized plan for your whiskey experience in Des Moines.
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Don't stress stress about your answers. If you decide to move forward with your own private barrel, we'll work with you every step of the way to refine your choices and create an extraordinary experience.
- Click on this icon as you move through the process to learn more about various aspects of whiskey production.
First, we need a recipe, or Mash Bill as it's known in industry. You can choose from a variety of grains below:
MASH BILL
Fill in preferred percentages
| Barley | |
| Buckwheat | |
| Corn | |
| Millet | |
| Oats |
| Quinoa | |
| Rice | |
| Rye | |
| Sorghum | |
| Wheat |
To achieve proper conversion of starches to sugars, you will need a certain % of malted barley in your recipe. Check one of the boxes below for the type of malted barley you would like to explore.
- Canadian 2-Row Barley
- Canadian 6-Row Barley
- Canadian Distiller's Malt
- Northwest Pale Malt (Washington)
- American 2-Row Barley (Wisconsin)
- Heidelberg Base Malt (Germany)
- Please choose for me
Now, it's time for fermentation, the process of converting sugar to alcohol. There are many different yeast options from a variety of companies. Please select the ones that look interesting to you.
YEAST
Yeasts are microscopic organisms classified as fungi. They are single-celled and reproduce by budding. During fermentation, yeast multiplies vigorously initially while there is oxygen present. After the oxygen is used up, the yeast converts sugar into alcohol.
Please select at least one type of yeast.
- American Whiskey Yeast
- Tennessee Whiskey Yeast
- Scottish Yeast
- German Yeast
- Please choose for me
FERMENTATION STYLE
Open top fermentation is more traditional and allows you to see and smell the fermentation process. Open top fermentation does allow microorganisms in the air to be introduced into the process. Closed fermentation limits the opportunity for local microorganisms to interact with the wash.
Please select a Fermentation Style.
- Open top (cypress wood)
- Closed loop (stainless steel)
- Please choose for me
Now, we're ready for distillation, the process of concentrating alcohol by separating alcohol and water inside a still.
Alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature than water — 173 degrees vs. 212 degrees. As a still heats up, the alcohol vapors make their way up the column of the still. The still contains plates in the column and as the vapors hit a plate, they start to condense and further separate the ethanol from the water and other substances (congeners).
At the end of the process, the alcohol vapors reach the condenser, a vessel with fine copper tubes filled with cold water. As the vapors hit these coils, they are cooled and turn back into liquid form.
We will be making Foreshots, Heads, Hearts and Tails cuts during your distillation. Each fraction of the process contains various compounds that will impact the taste of the finished product.
Finally, it's time to put your incredible whiskey into a barrel.
BARRELING
At what proof do you want to barrel your whiskey?
125 proof is the maximum allowable and the most economical as each barrel contains more alcohol. Certain distillers choose to age at lower proofs based on their belief that it results in better product. Your choice here will be a target, and we will work toward it based on the final amount of distillate we produce.
Please select a proof.
- 125 proof (max)
- 120 proof
- 115 proof
- 110 proof
- Other
- Classic
- Seasoned
- #1
- #2
- #3
- #4
Now, help us plan the rest of your visit.
TRIP PLANNING
There is a fair amount of downtime involved in whiskey production. Our staff will obviously be present to oversee all production, and we'd like to give you a flavor of the great city of Des Moines and surrounding while you're here. Here's a link to our local tourism site, but please give us a little more information about your group and we'll help put together recommendations for a truly personalized, memorable experience.
How many people in your group? (max 6 people)
Please enter the number of people in your group.
How do the people in your group know each other?
Please enter how you know each other.
Please share any thoughts on your whiskey's brand name or label design.
Please share throughs on your whiskey's brand name or label design.
Upload images that give us a better sense of your whiskey project.
Please upload an image about your whiskey project.
What are the interests of your group?
Please select at least one interest.
- Cultural Attractions
- World Food Prize Building
- Science Center
- Art Center
- Golf
- Hunting
- Minor League Baseball
- Local Craft Beer Tour
- Local Winery Tour
- Other
What kind of restaurant experience(s) would your group enjoy?
Please select at least one restaurant experience.
- Premium steakhouse
- Chef-owned/local
- Farm-to-table
- Food truck
- Brew pub
- Other
What amenities would your group enjoy at the Distillery?
The Private Barrel Club Lounge will be your private space during your visit. The lounge includes a television, newspapers, magazines, internet, etc. If there is anything else you need, just let us know and we will do our best to make it happen.
Please select at least one amenity.
- Bloody Mary bar
- Happy Hour tastings
- Work space
- Other
Anything else you’d like to share?
Thanks for sharing. We'll be back in touch in two to three days with a free, no-obligation personalized plan for your whiskey experience in Des Moines.
