Local breweries are popping up everywhere, but the Des Moines Metro has some great ones that have been around for awhile now.
My husband and I really love local breweries. We are "regulars" at Exile in town, and have tried a large handful of breweries in the metro and state. What I love about local breweries is that there's always something new coming out and they're allowed to be creative. This trip was our first time at Lua's. We have been meaning to get here for years, but the pandemic kind of put a hold on that. They have a cool location inside and out, although seating and parking can be a little tight.
The Sour- Pushpop: Cats on a Leash (6.0%)
Lua does a great job of featuring their limited releases on social media. I was scrolling through Instagram and saw this bright red/pink sour in great lighting. The description was "sour with prickly pear, raspberry, & lemonade... It's tart. It's sweet. It's gorgeous. It's on draft NOW." I knew I had to try it as it has all my favorite qualities. It was absolutely delicious! It was smooth and sweet with a hint of tartness. It's not for everyone, and I probably wouldn't be able to drink more than one, but it was very nostalgic of summer as a kid with melting ice treats.
The IPA- Metatron (7.1%)
I will start by saying that I am not an IPA drinker. They are just a little to hoppy for me (yes, I know that's the main trait of an IPA).
My husband on the other hand loves IPAs. I asked him for his review of this beer. The Metatron is a hazy IPA with Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, Columbus, and Simcoe Cryo hops. Beers made with Mosaic hops are usually at the top of my husband's lists. He said that this was one of his favorite beers that he's had. He definitely has favorites, so this was surprising to me and of course, high praise. He credited Lua for being more "craft" than some of the other places around.
The Dark- Hollow (6.0%)
The Hollow is an English Brown Porter. Normally when we start to hit spring, I hold off on stouts and porters as they're much more warm and filling; better for the winter months. We went on a cold spring evening, so we decided to try one and end our meal with just a 5 oz. It was a nice porter although not my favorite. It wasn't as rich and full as some of the others we really enjoy.
The Food
I will say that Lua's food menu is a little selective. It's not going to be for everyone, although I think that everyone could find something they'd like. I like that they have fun, new things each week. On our visit we ordered the Loaded Potato Rosti and a Lua Smush Burger. I don't like to give out perfect scores because I haven't been to every restaurant ever, but Lua's food was pretty close to perfect for me. Everything was cooked really well and the flavors were nice. The Loaded Potato Rosti was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.The Lua Sauce added a nice kick of flavor and anything topped with bacon is a win. The burger was really my favorite from the night. Burgers don’t need to be fancy if they‘re cooked right. The Smuch Burger had fried onions, American cheese, Lua Sauce and pickles. The burger itself was butter burger style and melted in my mouth. The fries were crispy. We asked for a side of ranch, and it wasn’t your basic buttermilk or dill. It had a little kick to it and was almost like a mayonnaise. Not what we were expecting, but a pleasant surprise. I would definitely go back to try other things on the menu!
I love trying new breweries around town, and there are so many great options. Living downtown for three years allowed us to frequent a variety of them. Overall, I give Lua high marks. They really know what they're doing and have a great spot.
What's your favorite brewery in town? Where should I be checking out? Comment below, let me know what you love. And of course, don't forget to subscribe!
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