Restaurant
Unclaimed profileLua Brewing
Des Moines, IA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Lua Brewing earned USA Today's #1 Brewpub 2025 title with a deep beer list spanning flagships like Gil's Pils and hazy IPAs to fruited sours, all available in 5oz pours starting at $3.25. The cocktail menu holds its own with classics like the Old Fashioned and a Siesta with mezcal option, priced $10-$12. Wine and spirits round out a versatile beverage program.
- What should I order?
- Start with a 5oz pour of Gil's Pils, the crisp flagship German Pilsner, to gauge the brewing range. Follow with a hazy IPA like Sun for Miles or a fruited sour such as Napping Under the Echo Tree. For a cocktail, the Siesta with Corazon Blanco or mezcal offers a bitter, citrusy contrast.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Beer enthusiasts will appreciate the breadth and the ability to sample via 5oz pours without committing to full glasses. Cocktail fans will find classic recipes with fair prices, and those wanting low-alcohol options have N/A beers from Untitled Art.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Beer pours start at $3.25 for 5oz and range up to $9.00 for 10oz of specialty sours. House cocktails run $10-$12, and wine by the glass from $9.75 to $15.25.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- Recognition as USA Today's #1 Brewpub in 2025 distinguishes the beer program. The ability to order pours as small as 5oz, with some at $3.25, encourages exploration across flagships, collaborations, and rotating sours without the traditional flight format.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
House cocktail menu offers classics like Old Fashioned, Mule, and Daiquiri alongside original recipes. Pricing is reasonable, with the Siesta allowing a choice of blanco tequila or mezcal.
Menu strengths
- — Classic and original recipes provide a balanced cocktail list.
- — Prices from $10 to $12 are accessible for a brewpub cocktail program.
Standout selections
- — Old Fashioned: Old Grand Dad bourbon and Jim Beam Rye with simple syrup, bitters, and orange-cherry garnish, $12.
- — Siesta: Corazon Blanco or mezcal with Campari, grapefruit, lime, and simple syrup, $12.
Pricing: $10-$12
Wine
Wine list includes white, rosé, and red options with glass and bottle pricing. Varietals span Spain, France, and Italy, with a notable red-rosé blend from Kristinus.
Menu strengths
- — Glass pours from $9.75 offer an affordable entry point.
- — Diverse regions and varietals include options like Zenato Pinot Grigio and Jean-Paul Brun Beaujolais.
Standout selections
- — Pinia 2023: Grenache rosé with red and white fruits and citrus, $9.75 per glass.
- — Kristinus Batatongolar Siller: Red and rosé blend with strawberry, wild raspberry, and red apple, $12.75 per glass.
Pricing: $9.75-$15.25 per glass
Beer
Beer program is a national standout, earning USA Today's #1 Brewpub 2025. Flagships, collaborations, and fruited sours come in multiple serving sizes, with customers praising crisp pilsners and flavorful sours.
Menu strengths
- — Voted USA Today's #1 Brewpub in the United States 2025.
- — Wide selection spans IPAs, sours, stouts, and pilsners, with collaborations.
- — 5oz pours starting at $3.25 allow sampling without full pours.
Standout selections
- — Gil's Pils: Flagship German Pilsner, crisp and flavorful, $7 for 13.5oz.
- — Sun for Miles: Flagship hazy IPA at 6.6% ABV, $4 for 5oz.
- — Napping Under the Echo Tree: Fruited sour with dragonfruit, passionfruit, mango, and guava, $5 for 5oz.
- — Finest: Premium Iowa corn lager collaboration with local businesses, $3.25 for 5oz.
Pricing: 5oz pours from $3.25
Nonalcoholic
Non-alcoholic options include rotating kombucha from Kismet and a range of Untitled Art N/A beers such as hazy IPA and Italian pilsner. Prices are moderate.
Menu strengths
- — Multiple N/A beer styles provide variety beyond standard sodas.
Standout selections
- — Untitled Art N/A Hazy IPA: Offers hop character without alcohol, $7 per 12oz can.
Pricing: $2.50-$7.00
Spirits
Spirits list covers major categories including whiskey, tequila, mezcal, vodka, and cognac. Prices are modest, with pours ranging from $3 to $8.
Menu strengths
- — Major spirit categories are represented.; Prices from $3 to $8 are budget-friendly.
Standout selections
- — Del Maguey Vida Mezcal: $8 pour, adds smoky depth to cocktails.
- — Old Grand Dad 100 Bourbon: A high-proof bourbon at $7.
Pricing: $3.00-$8.00
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