Pizza and beer in Uptown Ankeny

Sampling from a cask of Oatmeal Cream Pie Burnout Brown at Firetrucker Brewery, left. Its got a cream soda essence going on, but not as sweet. 5.3% ABV, 32 IBU. Madre de Dios! The Mole Grail imperial stout, right, is well worth a quest to Firetrucker. Cinnamon paired with ancho and pasilla chiles lend warming spice and raisin to this hearty stout. 8.0% ABV, 31 IBU.

Great thin crust pizza at Uptown Food & Beverage Co. in Ankeny, formerly in business as Encore Pizza in Johnston. There's an even spread of Graziano’s Italian sausage, on this build the hot variety so its spicy on every bite. ‘Honey pot’ squares in center are crisp. Like Encore, Uptown offers a weekday pizza buffet!