Thousands packed Toppling Goliath Brewing Company in Decorah for their 2019 Mornin' Delight release.
Uncertainty is growing about plans for Iowa's most-acclaimed brewery to open a Des Moines location as a $22 million, 110,000-square-foot project in the Drake Dogtown neighborhood is running more than a little behind schedule.
The Des Moines City Council is poised to vote Monday on an amendment to the city's agreement with developer Merge LLC that calls for two five-story, mixed-use buildings on Carpenter Avenue between 24th and 25th streets near the Varsity Cinema. Once slated to wrap up construction by Dec. 31, 2024, Merge would be permitted to extend the work to the end of 2026.
A city staff communication to City Council members said that the project, which is supposed to include a Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. taproom, fell behind schedule due to high interest rates and delays with construction materials.
The plans have been on the books since 2019, when Drake University decided to sell the land to help spur redevelopment east of its campus. Initial estimates pointed to Merge Urban Development Group beginning work in fall 2022.
Decorah-based Toppling Goliath announced in August 2023 it would be opening a taproom on the ground floor of the development, with co-founder Clark Lewey saying it expected to begin operating in 2025.
The site was cleared last February, but not much has happened since.
Per the amended development agreement, Merge is now expected to begin construction by March 31. However, there are some exemptions baked in. If further delays occur, the project won't have to wrap up till June 30, 2027. And, if a "major" delay occurs, the grace period can extend to the end of 2027, the agreement says.
Some of the project's incentives are at stake: Des Moines pledged to provide 90% of the tax increment generated by the development to address a financing gap, amounting to about $5 million, or 14%, of the project's total cost.
Is Toppling Goliath still part of the plans?
Lewey did not make himself available for an interview when the Des Moines Register inquired in July if the brewery was still part of the Dogtown plan.
Brent Dahlstrom, co-founder of Merge, did not respond, either. He also did not immediately respond to additional emails asking about Toppling Goliath's involvement Thursday evening.
The brewery holds three of the top 10 spots on beer aficionado website BeerAdvocate's list of the world's best beers, including the No. 1 spot for its Kentucky Brunch imperial stout. RateBeer likewise ranks Kentucky Brunch at the top of its list and includes two other Toppling Goliath brews in its top 25.
Lewey has said he wants to open a Des Moines location for Toppling Goliath fans who will find it easier to visit than the Decorah brewery, which is distant from major airports.