Half Liter Brewery, Bar, & BBQ

I've been here twice in the past 2 weeks with my girlfriend. The overall impression was great both times and I think that's their standard. From the moment I walked in I was greeted and given a choice of seats. The first time I chose to sit upstairs and the second time downstairs. All the staff I met were very good. Some even complimented me because they liked my shirt. The food was delicious, not expensive and the portions were very filling. I would highly recommend !!!

Half Liter BBQ: Where Smoke Meets Scene in Broad Ripple 5301 Winthrop Ave, Indianapolis Tucked just off the Monon Trail, Half Liter BBQ is more than a pit stop—it’s a destination. On a Monday afternoon, the crowd was already swelling by 1 p.m., signaling a loyal following and strong midday appeal. The layout caters well to Indiana’s fickle weather: a sprawling outdoor patio, ample indoor seating, and large garage doors that create a seamless flow between the two. The space strikes a balance between casual comfort and controlled chaos. It’s lively, a bit loud, but never overwhelming. Service is quick and confident, and the menu is ambitious—covering everything from smoked staples to bar snacks and sides that attempt to go beyond the usual. We began with the burnt ends. Nicely charred, tender, and served on a slice of Texas toast, they hit all the right notes. The combo platters followed—one meat and two meat options—with pulled pork, brisket, and wings. The brisket was the standout: juicy, deeply smoked, and well-rendered. Pulled pork was nearly as good, though less distinctive. Wings were flavorful, if undersized. Sides were hit or miss. The mac & cheese was excellent—rich, creamy, with real depth. Collard greens had an unusual hint of barbecue sauce that may divide purists. The baked beans, unfortunately, leaned too heavily on a ketchup-like base. Brussels sprouts were polarizing: roasted well, but the flavor profile felt unfinished. Despite a few culinary stumbles, the overall experience is warm, family-friendly, and worth repeating. Half Liter nails the basics and dares to stretch beyond them, with mixed results. It’s a place that knows its audience and feeds them well—casual, confident, and just refined enough.

Two meat combo - brisket and pulled pork. Came with two sides and we ordered a third. Everything was very good. The meat was most definitely able to stand on its own, but I did hope to try some of the sauces that seemed to be readily available at some tables but not at ours. We didn't ask for sauce, which was our fault, but neither was it offered. Still, great beer and barbecue.

Stopped here for lunch. The place is very cool. With the outdoor decks, dog friendly, and great bourbon selection. The food was also good. This might become out stopping place while walking the dog.

The bbq is flavorful, lots of different sandwich options. Atmosphere is relaxing and fun. Great spots to grab drinks on the patio.

This place is awesome. Great BBQ, lots of beers to choose from. Sweet outdoor space to enjoy everything outside too. It was slamming in there and for good reason.

I give Half Liter a 5 star rating because the food overall is really good and the atmosphere is welcoming but it mixes bar and pseudo mountain lodge vibes. So while I do not mind it, others who are looking for a more BBQ style atmosphere may not see it here. I keep coming back here because the service is fantastic, the food is really good, and because they have some really fun events from time to time.

This is a typical hipster place now. It looks clean with nice decorations. Everything looks well put together like the appearance of a good BBQ place. The food is not great it's just normal. The prices would make you think it's the best but it's far from it. They don't season. Or if they do they don't use near enough. The BBQ sauce is also just normal. I really expected more seeing the other reviews and Tik Tok videos. The Mac and cheese had no salt and pepper. The one thing we had that was really good was the baked beans. If they work on the parking situation, make better sauce, and season the food then they could really have something here. Alas I'm just a single person and my opinion will fall on deaf ears as they take their money to the bank from the people who don't have taste buds.

Ummm hello summer time outdoor dining and live music. Count me in. I came to Half Liter over the summer to celebrate a friend's birthday and the outdoor ambience was perfect. Picnic style dining for our group of 10, with friendly wait staff and great live music. I ordered a summer menu item, a salad with brisket, blackberries, and candied pecans. When I tell you I talk about this salad constantly, I mean it. Ask any of my friends and they will tell you it lives rent free in my head. Everything I try here has been great, and it's always fun to stop in after a bike or walk on the Monon. Half Liter, please bring this salad back for summer 2025. Love, your dedicated and enthusiastic fangirl.

A fantastic spot on a cold Friday night with two kids under 5 - the server was great with kids and they've got OG Crayola for coloring. Server was very helpful for maximizing our order and advised not to over-order on the kids menu which I appreciate. Very, very kid friendly. We ordered a 50/50 burger with Mac (smash burger with fries onions was yummy), a chopped brisket grilled sandwich (very tasty) , and a kids chicken tender with Mac & side of pineapple for the 1yo (4 good size tenders and a rich Mac with shells - and they brought it out first!). We will definitely return again without fear of kids being out of place on a Friday evening.

I've been here to dine in a handful of times and to enjoy their wonderful patio during great weather, conveniently located next to the Monon. The service is always very good and friendly. I've ordered many different things from this place: vegetarian dishes, salads, and chicken-based dishes. I've come to the conclusion that this place just isn't for me. The dishes are way too overly salted, and the chicken is smoked (which I'm not a fan of at all). The sides are usually where I find some good tastes. The kimchi tots tasted like a salt block the last time I had them, and my recent chicken tacos reminded me that chicken shouldn't be smoked. Just my two cents. I'll keep coming back here - but for the patio, the service, and the N/A brews.

A member from my bookclub suggested this location and since I've had it bookmarked for a while, it seemed like a win win! If you've never visited, this place really is a "Hall", it's pretty big and during warmer weather, they have live entertainment on their patio area - they also have garage door seating! Our server was nice but our food wasnt really impressive. My cider was tasty but it didn't create a buzz, not really worth the $11 they charge for it. My friends had the nachos and the brisket grilled cheese while I had their Turkey sandwich with potato salad. I was very disappointed in the potato salad, it just wasn't very good and the Turkey sandwich was okay at best. We agreed we would love to come back for the live music but I would most likely try something else on the menu.

It was everything I had hopped it would be!! The last time I was here it was called Liter House and it was a completely different restaurant. I knew they remodeled and changed everything a while ago but never had a chance to get back here. We went early on a Friday, not too crowded but had to sit upstairs, which was great. Out server was fantastic!! Amazing energy very polite and quick with everything!! I had the combo platter with Hoosier hot links and brisket with a side of tots and hot honey brussel sprouts. The food was fantastic!! The beer was good, Big Lug is a decent Indy brewery. They do have some variety which is nice. They have some pretty cool cocktail options and a gigantic whiskey and bourbon selection that is very impressive!! The space is laid out really well, roomier upstairs and outside than the main floor. The outside has a heated patio, a fireplace and tons of picnic tables. TVs around. So yeah, great food, great service, good drinks, cool place! I'll be back for sure!!

We decided to try Half Liter for the first time on Valentine's Day. There wasn't much of a crowd when we got there, so it was perfect. The menu is huge, and the specials all sounded delicious. There is also a massive drink list including tons of bourbons and beers. I got the smoked sirloin pasta. The pasta was a bit overcooked and left me disappointed, but the steak was excellent. I'd love to be able to have that with just a side or two. Chimmichuri sauce was delicious too. My husband ordered a BBQ platter with brisket and pork with baked beans and Cole slaw. The side portions were huge. If you're not too hungry, two people could share this meal. I prefer fattier brisket but it had good flavor. I don't love the picnic table vibe. It is uncomfortable to sit on a backless seat for dinner. Overall, this was a pretty good place . We are from the south originally, so we're always nervous about trying new BBQ but this is one of the better options we've found in central Indy.

Half liter is one of our absolute favorites in Indy! If you're looking for good vibes and good food, this is the place. We love sitting outside when the weather is nice, and they're dog friendly! My favorite is the brisket grilled cheese and the brussel sprouts, they NEVER disappoint. They have a huge selection of drinks, there is something for everyone. The service is always attentive and friendly. We are regulars here!

The beer is big lug. Service is great ask for katie she is out of this world. Can be loud but a few beers stops that lol

This is a great spot to grab something to eat and drink. It is located right of the Monon trail which is super convenient if you are walking or biking on the trail. They have a ton of outdoor seating where we saw a lot of families and dogs enjoying the atmosphere. We opted to sit inside as it was a warm day. I will note, they have giant fans inside which I wasn't a huge fan of. We ordered the pretzel as an appetizer for the table and it was delicious! It did come out at the same time as the food. I ordered the brisket grilled cheese. It is hard to pick a side, as they all sound so good. I'll definitely be back!

We wanted to try out their new devour menu so we used a family brunch day to try it. I started with a fuego margarita from the tap and it was delicious. It's a little spicy but just right. We all shared a plate of wings and burnt ends. Those are a no brainer as they are always delicious and cooked perfectly. On our devour menu we shared a birria flouta plate and it was yummy. I had the churrasco focaccia meal with a side of waffle sweet potatoes. My husband loved the sweet potatoes so I traded for his collards which are the best ever. My sandwich was tasty and so plentiful that I had enough leftover for a carryout dinner. We shared a heath cheesecake cup for dessert that I would for sure order again. It was amazing! Our service was great. The pacing was perfect for visiting with family and no wait for checkout and a carryout order to go. The noise level was average and available TVs were showing the sports for the day. Love this place. You can smell all their yums as soon as you get out of the car.

EVERYTHING we ate was delicious!! We sat inside and it's a really cute and casual spot for the whole family. Service was good and the food came out faster than expected! The ambience was really cute! I would love to bring my kids here on a nice day to sit outside. Definitely will be back the next time I'm in indy!! Right off the monon trail!

Visited for the first time this summer and already can't wait to go back. The food was delicious. I had the brisket platter with mac and cheese and a salad. It was all so good. The brisket wasn't dry and well seasoned. The server was so kind and quick! The outside patio area is huge and great for families. Definitely would recommend if you're in the area.

Portions are ginormous. They have some unique flavors for a BBQ joint (lots of kimchi), but overall the food was meh and not as good as we'd hoped. I thought the pastrami kimchi sandwich was the best thing besides the twice baked potatoes. We also had mac and cheese (a kids meal is huge), the fried chicken, collards, green beans, brisket queso, nachos, 50/50 burger, and soft pretzel. Service was also not great - took forever to get our bill and to get anything we asked for. Overall we'd go back if friends wanted to go but wouldn't choose to go ourselves.

We have been here several times and ordered delivery several times. The food is typically very good, although as with any BBQ spot, it sometimes is a bit salty. The brisket is probably some of the best I've had....which ultimately lead to this review. I am not a salad person. I hate ordering salads and I typically avoid them but thanks to needing to eat better, I saw the salad that featured brisket and decided I could pretend the lettuce made the brisket healthy (obviously sound logic). The salad, Eddie's Favorite Salad, is one of the best salads I've ever had! The black pepper honey dressing was delicious and added just the right amount of sweet with spice. Of course the brisket was delicious, and the fresh berries with feta always pair great. Topped with candied pecans and fried chow mein noodles for a bit of a crunch, this salad has it all! I definitely recommend checking this place out--whether to enjoy their great patio, inviting indoor seating, or ordering for pickup/delivery, it's a local staple that also features some pretty great bourbon!

I've been to Half Liter many times, and even as someone who isn't a big meat lover, I absolutely love it. The outdoor patio is amazing in warm weather, and the indoor/outdoor setup allows them to open up the inside when the weather is nice. I personally love all of the sides - my fav is the hot honey brussel sprouts and the 4 cheese mac is elite. I am not a big drinker, but the frozen strawberry daiquiri is a must try. It's not too sweet like most frozen drinks. Definitely one of the best spots in the Broad Ripple area and a favorite in Indy overall. It's a good pick for any size party but keep in mind that the wait can be long during the dinner rush. They sometimes have live music and it is dog friendly.

One of my Broad Ripple staples! Whenever we don't know where to go, we go to half liter. Great outdoor seating in the summer/fall. The Instagram is always providing updated specials menus and events. Overall, Half Liter has delicious barbeque (the pork nachos are my favorite), very quick service, and a wonderful atmosphere!

Had the pleasure of visiting again! Yay! We had a short 10 minute wait for a table outside (Friday, around 6 pm) I had the Fried Chucken. My server informed me I go the last order available that evening. I loved the flavor ... but sadly, the chicken was cold and a little soggy. I was extremely jealous of the burger someone else in my last got. Next time! Regardless, we will had fun and enjoyed our dinner. Watching all the kids and dogs was just what we needed after a long day. Happy people. Good drinks. Good food.

The vibe of this place is really cool. Stopped in during a work trip in October 2022 and had to come back in February 2024 to have the brisket again! The outside looks like a great place to watch live music and enjoy the weather in the warmer months. Brisket is great and the sauces on the table are very flavourful. It's fun to mix up it up for each bite. The chilli was too watery for my taste but the fritos added nice texture. The corn bread is good too!

Was solo today for lunch so I decided to stop in for the first time today as I was in the area and was craving some BBQ. Best decision I've made so far today. From the friendly staff to the great food and drink this is definitely a spot I'll be bringing my Wife back to.

Wicked spot in Indy. Really cool atmosphere. Sat at the bar and had a beer while waiting for a to go order. Bartender was awesome and recommended a beer and what to order. BBQ was really solid, probably some of the best I've had in the Midwest. Would recommend to anyone who is in the Broad Ripple area!

We love this place in the summer! There's something about eating out on their patio with the lights strung across. It's walkable off of the monon trail and dog friendly! They have a little bit of everything from all over. And it's a good place to bring in a large group with different taste buds!

Half Liter remains one of my favorite spots for lunch. First, I always enjoy their Old Fashion..... can't believe it's on tap. I am constantly impressed with their weekly specials. I had a smoked shrimp green goddess salad which was huge and so so good. My wife had the brisket sandwich which she said melted in her mouth. We got the DOLLY as a carry out for our daughter and her husband. She had knee surgery the day before and her only wish was for Half Liter food. She craves their daily pickles and he loves the corn cakes. They both always love the brisket which was exceptionally tender today. And service is always top notch and quick. The whole HALF LITER TEAM runs like a well oiled machine.

Super good food. Always great service. Love all the outdoor seating (along with inside seating and bar seating). Tonight we got lucky and had some live music too outside! Menu includes their current specials

This is a fun spot to meet friends for a meal, a drink or to watch a sporting event. They have a large patio but as it was too cold we sat inside. They have a family area and an upstairs which is 21+. We sat upstairs to make room for others, but in the future I might choose to sit downstairs near their fireplace. More ambience! Their menu has a lot of great meat options as well as sides and handhelds. And beverage choices as well. I loved their honey Brussel sprouts and Hawaiian macaroni salad (random but was in the moose for those). Lots of robust flavors and perfect with a side of BBQ. The staff was friendly and service was quick deposit the fact that there was a lot of holiday events and people coming and going. I'd definitely go back and maybe on a night with t hockey as they did mention you can request a game on one of the screens. Nice!

Fun spot with outdoor seating and live music. Good beer from Big Lug, and the food was great. Servers are great, hostesses have no personality, nor do they seem to want to be working.

Great beer. Mediocre BBQ. Spotty service. The pros first: the beer was delicious here. I got a very fresh and crisp oatmeal pale ale. Also their house BBQ sauces are very good. Especially the Texas BBQ. Finally the waiter was very friendly. Also the restaurant is set up like a German beer hall Texas BBQ hall combo. I like that! The cons: this BBQ does not stack up. The chicken and pork were dry. Neither tasted very smokey. Seemed like it needed more TLC and time in the smoker to me. Other BBQ places in Indy are just better. The sides were good, but they do not have baked beans and that is absolutely baffling. The portion size was very underwhelming for the price. Finally the wait staff was swamped. I came a bit after lunch rush and they were behind. They were still very friendly, but I think maybe the management here needs to hire more help. It took forever to get my beer. It came after my food. Overall this place has good beer. Also a great location near the Monon trail and two IndyGo BRT redline stops. Come here to try their beers or get a snack. Don't expect much from the BBQ itself and be ready to be patient!!

We had a blast at this fantastic open-concept restaurant with a vast selection of beers and drinks. The menu offered delicious BBQ dishes with a touch of complexity that we loved. We visited for a late dinner mid-week and were pleasantly surprised by the quiet yet active atmosphere. The outside seating area was a delight, located right off the Monon Trail, and we can only imagine how busy and lively it gets during better weather. While we didn't find the beers we tried to our liking, we appreciated the extensive selection of options available. The heirloom salad was a unique and exciting dish, although it was a bit of a letdown since nothing was in season. But my husband thoroughly enjoyed the Cuban sandwich hybrid they had. All in all, it was a lovely and entertaining place, and we can confidently say that we'd happily bring a large group here without any concerns about drawing any disapproving looks.

We came by to get our 5K registration and stopped to grab a drink. Our server was so friendly and gave lots of recommendations we will have to come back and try. Very cool outdoor space that's dog friendly and family friendly!

We went with a large group. I had the honey fried chicken. The breast was a bit dry but the breading was crispy and the honey delicious. Mashed potatoes were awesome the Mac n cheese was just average. Service was terrific.

Fun stop along the Monon. We have been here many times. Sometimes it's excellent, and other times it's a bit disappointing. This past time we went we biked there and sat on the patio for a beautiful evening. We had to wait for a bit for our server, but when he came he was great. He gave us great drink recommendations and encouraged us to try several of the beers before ordering. We decided to split a two meat platter. We chose brisket and pork butt, then tater tots and coleslaw for sides. The food was delicious, but the tater tots were a bit cold. The meat was fantastic and the coleslaw was also tasty. The food came very fast. We have been here other times and have been disappointed by how dry the meat was and slow service. We hope that we continue to have great experiences like we did this time moving forward!

Wife and I ventured here last night because she had a gift card she won in a giveaway. Super happy we came. Had to wait a little for a table-no worries as it was a busy Friday night. Server greeted us quickly. Place wasn't too loud despite being busy. Had a Deep Eddys vodka and lemonade for drink, as the deep eddy was on special. The bartender had a heavy hand when pouring so I appreciated that :) Wife and I split the pretzel for appetizer. The pretzel was one of the better restaurant pretzels I've had. Queso that came with it was mid. The mustard was top notch. Didn't try the pimento cheese, but my wife said it was good. Chicken wings were half off, so I had those with a side of Mac and cheese and tater tots. Mac and cheese was meh- for it being listed as four cheese, it lacked any sort of great flavor- I honestly only had a couple bites of it and didn't desire more. Tater tots were pretty run of the mill- nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about (can you really ever write home about tater tots though?). Chicken wings were the star of the show though- jam packed with different spices, and had a great smoky flavor. Definitely meaty and not wimpy ones you sometimes get at places. Would definitely return just for some chicken wings. Overall, food and drinks were great. Be patient for trying to find a parking space though, as the lot is jam packed and hard to find a space in.

I love this place! The building, the beer garden, the bar and the wait staff -- everything is easy, convenient, efficient and top notch! The food is really good and inventive! I had the brisket gumbo tonight and where has this been my whole life! I could eat it everyday. The barbecue is for real and the sides are authentic. Sauces are on point, and the BigLug beers are plentiful and cold. The bar selection is top notch! My only complaint is you guys have to get Suavecito Tequila! It would be a perfect compliment to your vibe & food! #StaySmooth!

The beers were good. The food was delicious. We got the wings, bbq grilled cheese, and tater tots. The sauces were good. Cool spot. The inside had plenty of tvs and places to sit. The service was great.

Half leader is such a South broad ripple staple. It's massive and there are spaces that will fit large groups. They have a nice outside area and they allow well behaved dogs. They have an awesome drink menu and something on the menu for everybody. I got a Sazerac, burnt ends, and the kimchi melt. The sack was so good. Service is pretty quick.

TL;DR Great BBQ, but food was not served hot. Sigh. Huge pet peeve of mine is to get cold or warm food. They nailed my pet peeve. I got the brisket tacos with a side of corn cake. My wife, the Cuban with a side of hot honey Brussel sprouts. Her sandwich had brisket too. Both of us loved the taste and leanness of the beef served, albeit a bit dry. No FM or fat. Corn cake sweet and yummy. Sprouts weren't very spicy and very good. Could have been cooked a bit longer for our liking. All of the pluses were overshadowed by nothing was served hot. The only thing served warm was the Brussel sprouts. Everything else was cold. The butter served with the corn cake was not melting. The outside seating was fun and comfortable. Waitress was somewhat attentive yet preoccupied. I had to drink my wife's water since I didn't get refilled while she waited for a refill on her pop. They serve Pepsi Products.

I had heard great things about the Half Liter. I went with a friend who is a master at smoking ribs. His were burnt. The lady brought him a replacement of pulled pork and brisket. I got the same thing. The brisket was ok. The pulled pork very dry. Mac and cheese rubbery. Baked beans pretty awful. Bush's straight from the can much better. With tip, spent $55. Worst meal I have had in a long time. The only thing good was the kosher pickles. We left the most of the meat and took the Mac and cheese home for the dog. We won't go back.

How is this the first time I'm writing a review!?!? We've been here several times, and it has always been a good experience. Want to enjoy the sunlight, people watch, and see random doggos? The patio is the place for you. Want a slightly quieter, chiller vibe? Dine indoors. On warm days, the garage doors are open, so you can get a table "indoors" and get the best of both worlds. The service is always great, as is the food. The beer list is extensive, and servers usually give great suggestions. They have the best green beans and hot honey brussels sprouts.

BBQ NACHOS 8.6/10 - (Nacho cheese, guacamole, jalapeño, cilantro, bbq sauce, crema, green onion, and cheddar w/ pulled pork) - great nachos! The amount of guac was literally insane. We did run out a chips so we asked for more, got charged for an extra basket which was kinda crazy. ESPRESSO MARTINI 8/10 - (Wheatley vodka, hubbard and cravens espresso, kahlua, lemon oil) - Very good, must've been the espresso SPICY MARGARITA 7.4/10 - (El charro blanco infused with jalapeño) - Actually spicy

Still one of my favorite places in the city. Eddie Sahm is a gem of a person in the industry world. The food is always comforting (cue mashed taters) the service is always friendly, and although it's loud sometimes the vibes are spot on and the twinkle lights give the perfect ambiance.

This was delicious! Such a fun atmosphere too. I wish we had been here when the weather was warmer, as they have an abundance of outdoor seating that looked lovely. Inside was nice too - it's a hot spot, so expect a wait at busy times. The ribs were delicious and filling - more than I could eat in one sitting! The Mac was also a hit!!! And the green beans were excellent as well. I also loved the pickled that they included! I tried an interesting canned cranberry and cardamom cocktail drink as well that was refreshing and not too sweet. I'd absolutely come back here, especially in warm weather!

Fantastic scratch made barbecue, excellent service with a fun atmosphere! I had smoked wings that were served on housemade bread with these fantastic pickled onions (I cannot rave enough about these onions), baked beans and fried biscuits with apple butter. Every bite was delicious. 100% will return!

Seems like a great spot to hang for a beer with friends but the food was expensive for the quality. Service was fine. The brisket sandwich was on a good roll but meat was dry. The baked beans had a weird sour taste. Wife had the shrimp po boy. Shrimp was good but could have use more sauce. Twice baked mashed potatoes were real good.

Half liter is the place. Large gathering? Half liter After work decompression? Half liter Brisket grilled cheese and rare bourbon? Half liter Want to bring your dog or a bunch of kids but need a great environment? Half liter I think you get it. I've been dozens of times over the last few years. Love it and will keep going back!

This was a fabulous experience! Great space with huge capacity! Parking is a little dicey, but great indoor and outdoor spaces with great decor and vibe. Huge whisky and bourbon menu, great beer menu, delicious bbq and wide variety of food. Great service and really great experience! Excited to return to this spot again soon!!!

Love the outdoor seating and how this restaurant is right on the monon! The service is pretty good, not always perfect. Highly recommend the brisket!

Half Liter truly never misses! We live in walking distance and this is our favorite place to go when we want delicious food close by. The Mac and cheese is my absolute favorite. I typically get the tacos but I went for the prime rib French dip this time and it was delicious! They have a wide variety of drinks from cocktails to beer. We love the casual feel inside. You can dress up or go casual. Our waitress was extremely nice and prompt. Overall great BBQ in the middle of Indianapolis, and will always be one of our favorites!

For good BBQ Half Liter is a bit pricey but it's worth it for those wanting a good change of pace. The ribs are absolutely delicious and the burgers are good too. I just wish they would put the regular fries back on the menu as I'm not able to have sweet potato fries sadly.

Stopped in at half liter for a drink while waiting on a table elsewhere. The bartender was the BEST! He was so personable and gave me a few different beers to sample before I decided. He made great drink recommendations and was also able to get my friends to try one of their new seltzers. I always love the food when I go in, but this time, service and drinks were top notch as well.

This place has a great vibe to it. Huge outdoor seating. I must say the barbecue here is pretty good and what can I say? The beer is too I would definitely try it out.