Lua Brewing

This place has great beer. Their selection of styles was right on point, especially since they have lots of onsite and to-go options. Staff were super friendly and their attentiveness was top notch. The food options were nice with large portions with great flavor. The atmosphere was very relaxed and definitely made this a favorite place to visit. Overall if your looking for great beer to drink now or later check this place out, but if your staying for a draft get the food you won’t be disappointed.

Beautiful spot with a nice patio, lots of inside seating, great service, full food menu, and delicious top ranked beers. I had the chicken Caesar wrap with French fries that were perfection. Their hazy ipas are some of the best I've ever tried. They have 5oz sample sizes which are a great option plus they were generous with a small taste of their special selection stouts.

Phenomenal. Great service. Clean. Plenty of room. Food is next level and I found my new favorite sour in Candy Paint. I wish I could have it sent to me in Ohio. The breakfast burrito absolutely hit the spot and my wife said the strawberry salad was the best she's ever had. Well. Done.

Loved the food, and the service was amazing. Every employee we spoke with was engaged and extremely attentive. Keep up the good work. Would not recommend the kimchi cheese steak sandwich greasy and very one note not in a pleasant way. Highly recommend the burger and caviar appetizer.

Went to Lua w/ two of my girlfriends and had a good time! We were seated immediately on a Thursday night. Our waitress was very kind & patient with our group. The service was very quick. We got our drinks immediately and our food shortly after. Kayla & Paula got the same sour & chicken Caesar wrap (LOL) and I got a THC beverage with the fried chicken sandwich (which was huge btw- I had to eat it with a fork and knife😭). My side salad was also very fresh, I’m glad I got them over the fries because Paula’s fries were very salty! Overall, we had a good time. I would come back but I would like to try more of their appetizers.

Excellent place with great ambience for a group outing. The service was friendly and helpful. The food arrived quickly and was delicious. The Lia Smush burger was especially mouthwatering. Recommended.

I was happy to find avocado toast on the menu. The description sounded great. I also added a side Caesar salad at the server's recommendation. Both were absolutely wonderful and full of flavor.

The Climbing Kites is what first drew me to Lua. If you know, then you know! This is not the average brewery as the menu is stellar. With drinks like local Kombucha, THC/CBD infused drinks and menu items make this an adventure. The outside patio with fire pit is a perfect way to wind down. I believe Lua just was awarded Best Pub in America!

Great experience at Lua. 1. Smash burger was really, really good. A bit heavy, but I don't normally eat smash burgers. 2. INCREDIBLE FRIES. I'm a FRY SNOB and these were the perfect mix of crunch and soft and salty. 3. THC+CBD drinks. I don't drink alcohol so I was SO pleasantly surprised to see an alternative! 4. Great atmospheres the space itself is super cute and I bet even more fun in the summer with the outdoor area. Definitely recommend! Great prices as well.

Such horrible service. I showed up and waited 20 minutes for someone to give me a menu and they were all so rude. I feel like they are coasting on their reputation and not caring anymore. The food I ordered was just average, Panera or some other chain restaurant would be much better or at least equal to this and at least I don't get the indifference and judgmental stares. The food runners from the kitchen were the nicest people there, the host and the waitresses were the opposite of antidepressants. Only visit if you want to be ignored multiple times as they walk by you. If that gives you Joy, this is right up your alley. .

I came here after running the Des Moines half marathon before heading to the airport. The smash burger is legit! So good! And I'm pretty picky, coming from Chicago. If you like a good smash burger, you would be disappointed. I got 3 samplers for the beer and all were good. No complaints there either. Huge outdoor painful and lots of seating inside also. I sat at the bar because I was solo but it was pretty busy when I arrived around 1pm on a Sunday. I would definitely come back again!

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.

Don't know how I've not left a review for this place. Honestly this is the highlight of any visit to Des Moines. Dope beers that are constantly rotating, and ridiculously good food, especially for a brewery. Nice festive atmosphere anytime I've been through, with one seating options inside and out. Love the wrap around bar where I'm posted up at most of the time. Friendly bartenders and TVs to catch a game when on as well. Love the 5oz pour options so I can maximize the beers I get to try. Food wise I've not had anything bad here; from the tofu bites to the Buffalo cauliflower, to the ol standby smush burger, you'll like something they have. If you don't, maybe Applebees is more your sp

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.

I went to Lua Brewing in Des Moines, Iowa with my husband while visiting his brother. I loved the setup and layout of the brewery and how it was so open with both really neat indoor and outdoor patio seating. We were greeted by many nice and friendly staff. We ended up sitting at a table inside and ordering from both their incredible craft beer menu and amazing artisan food menu. I ended up ordering their Pork Belly Bahn Mi Sandwich and side salad with house dressing, along with trying their craft beer also. Everything was absolutely delicious! What a really Cool spot! Can't wait to return!! Definitely recommend!!

The Lua Smush Burger and the Rarebit Burger were both very good! Service was attentive and friendly. We were able to watch the last half of our NFL game on one of the TV's. They had a bunch of stockings decorating the restaurant for Christmas. We bought our son and daughter-in-law a gift card due to the vegan menu they have.

What a great find in Des Moines. Staying downtown for business, I decided to walk over to tip back a few pints. A great space with an open concept with a great patio in warmer weather. On this particular night, there was a band on the patio that added to the atmosphere. Beer wise, Lua hits it out of the park. I was particular fond of the kolsch as well as the hefeweizen. For food, I recommend the fried chicken sandwich. The highlight is the chipotle pimento spread. Perfectly fried nestled on a freshly baked bun, it was a great pairing with the beer. It was slammed the night I was there but the bartenders were hustling and great with recommendations. Definitely a great stop if you are in the area.

I was in Des Moines for work and wanted local food and beer. Lia Brewing delivered both and they were tasty! I had a pork belly Banh mi and a delicious IPA served by a personable bartender. There was a beautiful mural on the wall, and it seemed like a local hangout. It didn't hurt that I could walk to another local brewery since I was only in town for a few days!

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

This place is great! It's indoor/outdoor seating. Delicious food and beer! Although they were very busy on Friday evening, we were seated quickly, had beers quickly, and perfect timing on food. Casual atmosphere is great for pre-concert gathering.

I really like the variety of beers available plus a nice menu to pair with it. The seating was open air with the large doors opened to the patio. The night I was there they had live music, which was really nice and volume level was perfect. We paid our waitstaff so she could get the tip, but in our rush forgot to ask for a box for my food. Bummer since I only had eaten half of it and was pumped for leftovers.

My brother-in-law has been raving about this place for the past few years. He said it's one of his favorite places for food and beer. It's been on my list to try but I've been reluctant to try it because nothing on their menu sounded very appealing to me. My husband and I finally decided to try it out over the weekend for dinner and were kind of disappointed. They said it was going to be a thirty minute wait for a table. We didn't mind waiting so we went to the bar so my husband could order a drink. He got the Dan's Dunkel which he really liked. It was $6 but when he got the receipt from the bartender he saw there was a 3% service charge. My husband paid in cash so we couldn't figure out what the charge was for. The fee was $.19 so we let it go. We only had to wait fifteen minutes for our table so we were happy about that. When our waitress took our orders we asked her about the service charge and she said that was for payments made with a card. She said we shouldn't have been charged the fee and went back and got us our $.19 back even though we didn't ask her to. She was very friendly and gracious about it and we really appreciated it. We ordered our food and waited for about 40 minutes for it. No big deal. They were busy and we didn't mind the wait too much. The thing that made me upset, though, was that a couple and a family of four that was seated well after we ordered our food got their food before we got ours. Then to add insult to injury, the food was disappointing. We both ordered Italiano Cubano sandwiches with fries. The bread was as stiff as a wooden board. It was so hard and dry that it was hard to enjoy the sandwich. It didn't have much flavor, either. The fries were thin and wimpy like fast food fries. They also used plastic glasses for our water. I guess I was expecting more from a nice place like that. The place is cool-looking and has a fun atmosphere but the food didn't wow us. The rest of the menu seemed kind of boring so there isn't anything that would tempt us to come back again. There are much better places to get a great sandwich for less money. The only good thing I found was that you do get a lot of food for what you pay for. I still wouldn't come back again though.

Beer selection was great. The tofu was ok. Very salty. Seeing was friendly and the space is great. Love the fact there's plenty of parking and indoor and outdoor seating.

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!

Really great food for a brewery. Who would think to find a burrata, and peach salad here? It was really delicious too, good quality cheese. Their beers are excellent. I had one of their Hefeweizens with my meal, and it went down sooooo well on this 104F day. Also had their buffalo cauliflower, and that was just ok. Service was really good, very attentive to us, and friendly. If it weren't so hot outside, we would have sat on the patio as it was really nice. Would come here again if I were in the area for sure.

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.

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!

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!

Really standout! Menu on the smaller side but they seem to rotate through a fair amount of seasonal items which keeps it fun. I had the sauerbraten as part of their Octoberfest menu and it was very good! The gingersnap crazy on the short rib gave a unique flavor that was really good! Spatzle and potatoes were also super nice and savory with it and the red cabbage complimented it well. We also got the zucchini appetizer which was great and I'd recommend! Great flavor with the Chili's which went well with the ricotta! Burger was pretty solid and Octoberfest beer was very smooth! Ambiance was really fun! Open area with a garage door that opened up the restaurant to their patio which makes this place a great choice if the weather is nice! The staff was all welcoming and helpful.

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.

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!

I am still dreaming of my meal from Lua Brewing. My burger (on gluten free bun) was incredible!!!! And the cheese smothered on top with the fries... YUM. I can't wait to come back!!!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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. ____________________

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.

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!

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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!

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 !

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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!!

Great atmosphere, friendly staff, tasty beverages. Stopped in for pre dinner drinks on a weekend and the place was bursting. We grabbed a couple seats by the bar and watched some hockey for a couple of rounds. The food coming out looked delicious. Restaurant was open to the outside and had a great open air vibe.