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I went here recently, but I hadn't been there since it opened which was close to a decade ago. I don't know that I foresaw success outside of the fact the owner had tons of cash (He also runs an English-style pub with Belgian themed second floor and also owns a place that brings in some great indie bands). It has become probably not surprisingly, one of the places in Des Moines you must visit; but also a place that is wall-to-wall people on weekend nights.
I can't say expertly, but I can't imagine you will find anywhere more resembling a Munich Beer Hall without buying a plane ticket. Besides the authentic looking decor, there's polka bands, plenty of German beer, and a menu that is largely focused on meat. There's sauerkraut, German potato salad, brautwurst, and weinerschnitzel.
There are a variety of German beers on tap, but the place doesn't do much in ways to educate you (though the bartenders would surely help), so I kind of stuck to what I knew of German brands. With the bar literally next to the train tracks, there are Jagermeister specials whenever a train goes by.
Of course, when you go to the Hessen Haus, you have to (unless you are only with a couple of friends) do das Boot.
Like any good drinking game, there are rules. It splashes on you while drinking, you drink again. It cannot touch the table. Finish it and you make someone buy the next.
Oh, and break it (and someone did while i was there, though not us), and you buy one ($60).
Check out some pics here. There was no polka band on the Friday night I was there- but there was no need as the place was packed.
The place is indeed a must-see in the Des Moines area.
I can't say expertly, but I can't imagine you will find anywhere more resembling a Munich Beer Hall without buying a plane ticket. Besides the authentic looking decor, there's polka bands, plenty of German beer, and a menu that is largely focused on meat. There's sauerkraut, German potato salad, brautwurst, and weinerschnitzel.
There are a variety of German beers on tap, but the place doesn't do much in ways to educate you (though the bartenders would surely help), so I kind of stuck to what I knew of German brands. With the bar literally next to the train tracks, there are Jagermeister specials whenever a train goes by.
Of course, when you go to the Hessen Haus, you have to (unless you are only with a couple of friends) do das Boot.
Like any good drinking game, there are rules. It splashes on you while drinking, you drink again. It cannot touch the table. Finish it and you make someone buy the next.
Oh, and break it (and someone did while i was there, though not us), and you buy one ($60).
Check out some pics here. There was no polka band on the Friday night I was there- but there was no need as the place was packed.
The place is indeed a must-see in the Des Moines area.
