My first time in Des Moines and I had the best time on my little brewery tour. Lua has an awesome vibe full of energy and uniqueness. The bartenders were great and let me try several different beers before I made my decision. Am I going up? A sour with marshmallow was a strange choice but absolutely delicious. I also took a few single cans to go to take home with me which I thought was really cool. Most places make you buy a 4 or 6 pack and I really liked the single can option. Would definitely recommend this brewery if you're in Des Moines! read more

Lua Brewing - Am I going up? - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We were in town for a wedding and our flight got in earlier than check in time so we stopped here to catch up on work and grab a bite and dang, we were not disappointed! We tried a few beers--a hef, a sour, and their super light beer; all were great! But the food (specifically the lunch special) was where they really outdid themselves! What we got: the burger with fries and a salad and the half torta (not the largest but darn delicious!) with chips and salsa and a salad. Literally everything was great and it didnt break the bank! No one made us feel weird about working and having computers on the bar and it wasn't too loud inside to make/take a professional call. Our bartender was also great! Parking was easy and the outdoor space was cute too! read more

We grabbed dinner here with some friends on Friday night. The place was hopping around 7PM. We didn't have a reservation so we had to wait maybe 20 minutes but they texted us when our table was ready so that was nice! Food was tasty! I got the seasonal fish and chips. Tartar sauce was delicious. Fish was the size of chicken tenders but very good. Fries were delicious and they gave you a MOUND of them! My husband got the burger and loved it. Also came with TONS of French fries. Sour beers were really good! I got the mule and the margarita since I'm not much of a beer drinker. Their marg was REALLY good and fresh for a brewery! Ambiance is casual but you could wear something dressy casual and be fine. The place had the lights dimmed on Friday night when we came so it made for a fun date night atmosphere! read more

Lua Brewing - Fish and chips - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Disclaimer: I'm a diehard sour fan - but I tried sips of my friends' IPA and Hefeweizen and they were actually really good! I recommend all the sours, they're some of my favorites and perfect for anyone who loves fruity sours! Lau's vibes are sooooo cute and it's smaller compared to big grove, so it felt more intimate. Their outdoor seating is cute, but you can still also feel the outdoor breeze inside because it's like one of those open air/garage door layouts. The service was super quick and speedy, even on a Saturday night around 8. Their smush burger is really good!!! It has a horse radish sauce to it but it was delicious. I'm not sure how else to describe it besides "smush" but it was a solid smush burger. read more

Lua Brewing - Smush burger - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Lua Brewing has done a fantastic job in creating an atmosphere where people can hangout while enjoying drinks and food! They have a great selection of beer and food items. My friend and I shared the Spinach and Leek Dip, and it was yummy, I would highly recommend! Also, Lua Brewing is very dog friendly! Will be back again whenever I visit Des Moines! read more

Lua Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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came here in a gorgeous sunny spring afternoon, sat on the patio. The burger was excellent. The fries forgettable. Nice vibe.

I looove the food here! It's my favorite spot to recommend if you're looking for something tasty with a good beer. I'm not a beer person but I like getting their sours here. They're well known for their smush burgers here, which I've gotten a lot. I also recently tried their breaded mushroom sandwich, and it is definitely something I will get more often. I love mushroom burgers and theirs was crispy and juicy. Check out their Instagram, and they note days where they have limited edition specials! I went in on their pork belly ramen night, which was aaaamazing. They have a cute view of downtown's skyline especially during golden hour, so I highly recommend coming on the days when their patio is open. Lately they haven't been doing their QR code ordering so they might be doing regular service now. read more

Lua Brewing - Breaded mushroom sandwich - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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A must stop in Des Moines, Iowa is Lua Brewing. We were lucky enough to visit before they had been open for a year, and visit nearly every single time we are in town now. They are one of the few breweries that knock it out of the park on every single beer they do. Whether it is a classic Kolsch, a fruited sour (straight up or in slushy mode), a DIPA with experimental hops, or a pastry stout - they knock it out of the park. The food is also not to miss as the kitchen is headed by a chef trained in Michelin starred restaurants and uses the freshest of ingredients. Great food and beer, what more could you want? Beers: Project Hop Fisch Vol. III: A Hazy Double Dry Hopped Double IPA brewed in collaboration with Toppling Goliath and Big Grove using Citra, Mosaic, Idaho 7, Cashmere, & Columbus Cryo. A pleasant balance of bitterness with big juicy double dry hopped goodness. Boomslang: A Double IPA brewed in collaboration with Yakima brewed with Phantasm, YCH 303, Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, and Southern Cross. Phantasm and Nelson Sauvin gives a strong white grape flavor while the other hops give slight pine / citrus / tropical fruit. Kingmaker: A classic Kolsch brewed in collaboration with the one and only Fair State Co-Op. Served in the traditional stange Kolsch glass, poured slowly to provide a thick and velvety head. Crisp, dry, clean, and perfectly executed. Am I Going Up? A Fruited Sour with Strawberry, Guava, Pineapple, & Marshmallow. Thick and sweet, while still providing tartness and acidity. Guided By the Moon: A Cold IPA in collaboration with Bricksworth Beer Co brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Idaho 7, and Azacca Cryo. Dry and crisp like a lager, bitter and hoppy like an IPA. Court Avenue/Lua Roulette Dares: A Hazy Double IPA brewed in collaboration with Court Avenue Brewing using Nelson Sauvin, Citra, & Mosaic. Another Nelson Sauvin IPA! This is one of my favorite hops and to glad to see it used so much as it provides in this beer the same white grape flavors / aromas. Food | Kimchi Deviled Eggs: Deviled eggs with a Korean flair with gochugaru, mustard greens, and kimchi. Chicken Hot Wings: Giant chicken wings dredged in buttermilk fried, but extremely moist with just enough heat. Fried Shishitos & Potatoes: A great combination of tangy marinated red onion, fresh cilantro, queso fresco, and charred corn on top of perfectly fried shishitos & potatoes. BLT w/ Fries: Wanted to grab a burger, but was too full to down one after all the apps. This BLT was the Mona Lisa of BLTs made with Heirloom Tomatoes, Webster City Custom Meats Bacon, Arugula, and Roasted Garlic Aioli on toasted White Bread. ____________________ read more

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A regular stop for me when I visit Des Moines. Awesome food, awesome beer selection, great staff, inclusive environment, and great service. Wish I lived closer to enjoy it more regularly. read more

Went here on a Thursday night to grab some dinner and a drink. The outside was so packed that there was a wait to get a table, but the inside had plenty of space. There was also a large garage sized door that was open, so the inside could feel kind of like the outside. A waitress was quick to bring us water and explain that we ordered through our phones and then someone would bring the food out to the table, so there is not one specific person waiting on you the whole time. Not a bad system to use. We ended up getting the pushpop and call it dreaming beers, and the fried tofu bites and Lua smush burger. Call it dreaming was decent and you definitely got the coconut taste. The pushpop was very smoothie-eske and you could taste all of the fruit. The fried tofu bites were very flavorful, but beware of the puffed rice. We're pretty sure that some of our pieces of rice never puffed and they made us feel like our teeth were cracking! Not something you expect with a soft tofu and they didn't really add anything to the dish to justify breaking your teeth. The burger was a solid smash burger style and the cheese and sauce gave it a good texture. No flavor truly stood out, but overall it was good. Overall, they were very prompt at getting food out once we ordered and wait staff was generally friendly. They have a very unique menu of beers and food and it's definitely a place that we would be interested in trying again. Also the patio is dog friendly!! read more

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I am very big into sour beers, and their two sours were so good I had to get both (Stay and Say Yes), plus some of their cans to go!! I usually go for more sour of a flavor which these lacked, but they were so dang good I didn't even care. I also loved that they offer THC/CBD seltzers. We got the orange flavor and it was very yummy and gave the perfect buzz. On top of their great drinks, the restaurant has great uplifting vibes and a large patio perfect for cooler evenings. I would be a regular if I was from here! read more

Local person suggested I try Lua and I am so happy I did. Walked there from my hotel. Lively but not too crowded. Service was excellent: attentive but didn't rush me. Beer and food is outstanding. I tried two different IPAs which were both very nice. Everything lox on toast was perfect. Big enough to share with someone else but since I was by myself I had to sacrifice and enjoy it all. Definitely want to come back when it's warmer and enjoy their outside area. read more

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Unexpectedly great brewery! Not sure why I was surprised but I'm glad it was a pleasant one! Steve and I had one of their beers. It was Waking Up In The Sun which was so refreshing! It had great citrus and grapefruit notes in this double IPA! It was a warm, toasty day and IPA'S are always so good to match up on days like that! Would love to explore more of their beers in the future as it looks like they have very intriguing beers beside the one we had! read more

Lua Brewing - Waking Up In The Sun... excellent IPA and a fun one to drink! - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Seems like a cool place, was recommended by a bartender at another local spot but your waitress thinks she is too special to answer a simple menu question and decided to give me skme attitude so I walked away. read more

Great food,service and loved outdoor patio. Would definitely return. Need to return to try the brews.

Awesome patio and very cute place. B/F liked the beer selection and we both loved our food. Don't skip dessert! The women's bathroom is gorgeous! read more

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I was passing through the area on my way to decorah and knew I had to stop by here as a big craft beer fan. I had heard great things and it was awesome to see where the magic happens. I immediately thought it was a cool colorful space and when we sat down, we immediately got service. They asked if it was our first time in and we said yes. The server was very helpful and attentive to us even though we ordered through our phone. It was an interesting method of ordering and they said they would be rolling out a new method a couple weeks from that point in time. The ordering was easy though and worked pretty smoothly. Our server also provided us with samples to give us a taste of their variety. All of them were spectacular. I grabbed a shirt and some cans to go on my way out. Any time I am in the area, I will be sure to stop by again when I get the chance read more

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Oh it feels so good to be reunited with my love again . I was here last time and was super disappointed that the Buffalo cauliflower was of out the menu. I am here now and the love fest is back on . She is crispy on the outside but not as juicy as I remembered her.. but she's Back and for now that's all that matters . This place is exceptional .. I received dessert on the house and a phone charger to charge my phone so that I will have a fully charged phone for my flight back to home . Wow love this place ! read more

Lua Brewing - Buffalo cauliflower - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

We stopped at Fat Hill brewing on our way down from Minneapolis to Des Moines. The Fat Hill folks said we had to try Lua. We stopped in at the end of our day for dinner and a few drinks. Don't order food if you aren't hungry, because not only is the food here really tasty, the portions are quite large. We were super hungry so we started with the buffalo fried cauliflower and it was a HUGE bowl full and simply outstanding. 10/10. Not knowing that that appetizer sizing was basically meal sized, we opted to also share the drunken noodles and a smush burger. Order the noodles, now, don't wait, and get them extra spicy and dig in. Yum, yum, yum. The smush burger was...... Perfectly seasoned, ooey gooey melty cheese, pickles and just real freakin good. Highly recommend. Personally had the blackberry sour, and while the hubby thought it was quite sweet, it's quite delicious with lots of berry flavor and not too too sour. (Even though sour is good). The flagship Sun for Miles is lovely and hazy and really great. Overall the site is a big space with tons of seating (indoor and outdoor) and had an actual parking lot. Check it out for sure. read more

I had the passing afternoon and the basic afternoon beers, both were incredible! The impossible smush burger was also cooked very well. The vibes were great, and the weather was perfect for sitting outside. read more

This is my 2nd time at Lua and I highly recommend this place! They have a great variety of beers and great food! The Smash burger is def a must try! read more

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Oh, wow! I was in DSM for a long weekend and knew I had to stop at a taproom. I debated on the more 'known' breweries, like Confluence, Exile or Peacetree but ultimately, heard so many great things about Lua Brewing -- I decided to go somewhere new. I am so happy I did! What a treat! Lua Brewing opened just before the pandemic. They're slinging brews on the daily and serve up some delicious, 'foodie' bites as well. The brewery is the ONLY place to get one of their tasty-as-you-know-what beers! (It is not sold in stores, even locally.) I tasted almost everything on tap and I can confidently say you can't go wrong with any of them. Sour or IPA, stout or dunkel... they were all divine. The staff was insanely friendly and knowledgeable. Pricing was pretty standard. The patio looks legit and I love that the restaurant opens up to it, with big garage doors. My only knock was that they don't have a flight on the menu-- and seeing as all of their brews are worth tasting-- I wish they did! Can't wait to come back! Lua Brewing is where it's at. read more

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Not only do they make their beer but they have tasty seltzer's and sweet beers called push pops that are good for non-beer drinkers. I had only wished I tried the food here as I hear nothing but good things about it! read more

Lua Brewing - Strawberry Daiquiri Seltzer - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I had the muffuletta sandwich, it was not really that good. I would definitely not get it again, but maybe something else here would be better. The beer I had was nice. It was their sour brew. The atmosphere was great. The inside dining area opened up to the outdoor patio in a nice way that merged the two areas. I'd go back here for drinks, but not for dinner. The server did a nice job. read more

Lua Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

This was a hard one to rate Went for dinner and to try the beers The disappointment was the small list of beers. Most of what they had were ipa's, which I don't like. They were out of two beers and so I really had one choice. A place that calls themselves a brewery should have a better range of options. The rest of the experience was great. We had a wait a bit because it was prime time Friday. You leave your cell number and the wait was what they told us. Ordering was through a QR code on your phone. However that did not effect the level of service. Someone brought us a pitcher of water and that got refilled. When we were done someone cleaned up promptly I got their impossible burger which was a double and had their own sauce on it and a nice bun. Excellent. Thin fries were done just right too If they fix their beer they would be a 5, and I will definitely return. read more

Lua Brewing - Impossible burger and an IPA - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Lua Brewing is one of the most beautiful spaces I've been to in DSM! The taproom is beautiful, and the patio is huge! We ended up visiting on a beautiful day where the doors were open. The beer is phenomenal! IPAs, sours, stouts, and even the pilsner were all top notch. We also had the kimchi deviled eggs and smash burgers for lunch. Instead of table service, you submit your order thru the Toast website (provided by QR code at the table). Service was accurate and fast, and made it super easy not having to split checks! Will visit Lua every chance I get when in DSM. You should too!! read more

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The.service is great here. I like that we can order with the QR code and not just view a menu. It's a lot faster than waiting for a waiter. We ordered the lox and steak. It is pretty pricey. The food is good though! My husband had the lemon lavender beer. Check out was fast. You can click "close out tab" on the site. Then leave! We enjoyed the patio. We arrived around 5pm and was seated immediately. Parking can fill up but there's a couple lots and street parking. read more

Lua Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

It had been entirely too long since we've been to Lua. Forget EVERYTHING you knew about sour beers and try some of theirs. It's like drinking a smooth, juicy beer which does not compare to the sharp, saliva-producing sours I'm used to. For the menu, they always have seasonal offerings and the shareables are always a hit. We were both starving after shoveling for hours and these sandwiches hit the spot. The burger is more of a smash patty that has the most perfect cheese, sauces and pickles. Great summertime spot with the patio as well! read more

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We had heard a lot about Lua for a while now and it finally opened this week. We decided to stop in for a visit on Black Friday and the place was packed at around 6pm. There were a ton of tables and also bar seating but all were taken. Thankfully the turn around time was quick so we were able to snag a table for the 4 of us. The ordering process here is very streamlined. There are two separate lines to order food and drinks. The menu now is more limited but next year starting in January the menu is supposed to be more extensive with more choices. Tonight we tried the burger with fries and the fried chicken wings. The burger was okay but on the dry side. The fries were not memorable and not seasoned (even though they offer seasoned fries as an option on the menu). The chicken wings were good and slightly spicy but after sitting a while on our table they went from crispy to soggy. Service was hit or miss. The girl taking my order was friendly but she had forgotten to mention to me that the brewery was self serve. So when our food arrived, we were thinking "where are the utensils, napkins, water?" One of our meals was missing ketchup. Our chicken wings was missing ranch sauce, and another one of our meals was missing the side of fries. It was opening weekend though so we assumed they were still trying to work out the kinks. I did not drink any of the beers but others in our group did. The feedback was that the beers were pretty good. The best Lua beers were Loud as Hope and Sermons in Stones. Unfortunately they were out of Jabroni Pils so we were not able to try it. Overall the atmosphere was nice. The lights were dim and the seating was comfortable. The music was a bit too loud. We had a hard time listening to each other and spent most of the night shouting at each other. There are a few television screens here with games for us to watch. The brewing is on site and surrounded by windows so we could see the brewing equipment. They have outside seating and even a fire pit but it was raining when we came so we could not enjoy it. We hope to come back for another visit to try some of their other beers. read more

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Great sours. My son said the chicken sandwich he had was one best he ever had. I did the corn beef sandwich, abit messy but tasty. Their side salad was great. Solid service and dog friendly. I bought a bunch of their to go beers. My fourth time there. read more

Maybe I caught them on a bad night, but the service was terrible and the food was average. I guess I expected more based on what I had heard. I sat at the bar and although there were 3 bar tenders walking by constantly, I had to ask one of them to take my beer order. I asked for water and it was warm. The Smush Burger was acceptable. I was finished before anyone asked how I liked it. I then waited 10 minutes to get my check and I had to ask for it. The beers I sampled were actually pretty good. read more

Food was good and there was a decent variety. I did not sample the beer but instead opted for the CBD sparkling water. I enjoyed the flavor but if you are not into sparking water best to try one of the many beer options. I liked how they broke down the different brews. They are dog friendly but I don't recommend. Very busy and a little too tight on the seating for more than a lap dog. read more

I went here for my birthday and had a great time with friends! I got the push pop, climbing kites pineapple passion fruit, and a peach burrata salad with salmon. The salad was delicious! A good mix of ingredients. I had climbing kites at pride and knew I wanted more. I found out Lua had it and had been wanting to go for a while. I wish the push pop would have been more frozen. The vibe is laid-back. It has indoor and outdoor seating. Our server was helpful. Will definitely be back! read more

Lua Brewing - Inside - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I'm not a beer drinker but the beer here was the highlight of our meal! The appetizers we got (fried pickles, buffalo cauliflower, and spinach dip) were all fabulous but the entrees lacked flavor. We order the bahn mi and the fried chicken sandwich. If we went back we'd definitely try the burger or just stick to apps. read more

Excellent food, amazing sour beers, and great service. For sour beers I love the say yes (sweet) and lopsided are my favorites (sweet but less than say yes). Fried chicken sandwich is delicious. Love the atmosphere as well! read more

Casual brewery with a decent sized outdoor space. Service is a little confusing but once you sit down you can either order via a QR code or directly from the bar. Pretty big selection of beers, many IPA options and some good lagers and sours as well. Kim chi deviled eggs are pretty unique. Tried the burger as well which was a pretty sizable portion with lots of fries. read more

Lua Brewing - Deviled eggs - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great atmosphere and food & beverage selections. I really appreciate their gluten free options and that our server was knowledgeable and helpful. read more

Been here several times. Came here today and it was hopping. Wife and I both had the Breaded Mushroom Sandwich with a side salad. 5 stars. Both the salad and the sandwich were excellent. Presentation was beautiful as always. Wish I had photographed it. Beer was excellent as well. This place is a favorite. read more

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Hands down my favorite DSM brewery that also has a full kitchen. The beer is top ranked internationally and the food is upper echelon. Nothing beats their patio on a summer night or fall afternoon. Bonus: it's so easy to order from your table using their QR code system - drinks and food are served quick! read more

Lua Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Outstanding beers on tap, I'm always impressed with a visit here, Best Brewery in Des Moines! read more

Lua Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa