Des Moines IPA vs Magnolia IPA: Which Should You Drink?

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Des Moines IPA

Confluence Brewing Company

United States · American IPA

hopIQ rank #2465

92%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Magnolia IPA

Fertile Ground Beer Company

United States · American IPA

HOPIQ TAKE

Des Moines IPA if you want a cleaner, more restrained hop expression, Magnolia IPA if you want something with more aromatic complexity and character. Both sit at the same ABV and IBU, so the difference isn't about strength—it's about philosophy. Confluence seems to favor balance and drinkability here, while Fertile Ground leans into what makes the hops themselves interesting. Neither is better; it depends on whether you're in the mood for a straightforward IPA or one that asks you to pay attention.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Des Moines IPA when…

→You're drinking multiple beers and want something that won't fatigue your palate
→You prefer hop balance over hop showcase
→You want a reliable, no-nonsense American IPA

Pick Magnolia IPA when…

→You want to taste the brewer's hop selection specifically
→You're slowing down and savoring one or two beers
→You appreciate aromatic complexity in your IPAs

SIDE BY SIDE

	Des Moines IPA	Magnolia IPA
ABV	6.5%	6.5%
Bitterness	Strongly bitter	Strongly bitter
Colour	Golden	Golden
Style	American IPA	American IPA
Origin	United States	United States

WHAT IT TASTES OF

7 shared · 1 distinct

Both beers

hoppycitrusycleancrisprefreshingfruitylight

Only Des Moines IPA

bitter

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Des Moines IPAMagnolia IPA

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Des Moines IPA

HoppyCitrusyClean

Des Moines IPA drinks like a classic American IPA that knows its lane. You get decent hop bitterness upfront, but it doesn't linger aggressively—there's a kind of refinement to it. The finish is dry but not harsh, and it doesn't demand anything from you. It's the kind of beer you can crush on a casual evening without thinking too hard about what's in the glass.

Magnolia IPA

HoppyCitrusyClean

Magnolia IPA has more presence on the nose and in the mid-palate. You're picking up floral or citrus notes that feel intentional, like someone made specific choices about which hops went into the blend. The bitterness is there, but it's woven into something more textured. It's the kind of beer that rewards paying attention—sip it while it's still cool and you'll notice more.

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