Be Kind. Drink Beer.
Step into the heart of Big Lug Brewing Co.,
where every pint tells a story.
Our Brews
Our beer selection is diverse and delicious. We offer everything from crisp lagers and hoppy IPAs to smooth stouts and refreshing wheat beers, ensuring there’s something to satisfy every beer lover’s palate. Whether you prefer classic brews or want to try new and innovative flavors, our selection has something for everyone to enjoy.
Irish Amber Lager
“Who all seen the Lugprechaun say yeah!” Every season our mischievous friend breaks in and brews this beautiful amber Irish Red lager. Who are we to try to catch him when it tastes like gold!
Raspberry Berliner Weisse
A simple kettle style Berliner Weisse with copious amounts of Raspberry. Lactose is added to provide a touch of sweetness to this exotic colored wheat ale.
Fruited Sour – Peach
Released to highlight fresh seasonal peaches with a big juicy finish. Sun soaked beach and bohemian vibes of Venice Beach were in mind for this tasty beverage.
New England IPA
A floral/herbal NEIPA with a orange citrus finish. Brewed with a healthy dose of Indiana grown oats, and a selection of German and American hops with German parentage. Sweet malt character and a full body balanced with slight hop bitterness. Finishes very clean and does not linger.
Schwarzbier
A glossy black beer that’s light and smooth with some roast and medium bitterness. The perfect companion for a Kurt Vonnegut read.
Hazy IPA
A blend of beautiful tropical and citrus forward hops that jump out at you off the light malt bill. Whether the king of the rodeo or the queen of the underground, this beer is the hop explosion you’ve waited for.
Stout – Pastry
A pastry stout to soothe your sweet tooth and your beer tooth (whatever that is). Made with hundreds of pounds of our cinnamon pecan coffee cake, this beer has the festive flavors of Sahm’s Coffee cake blended with the luxuriousness of stout!
Stout
Our fall Stout with a focus on balance of dark malts with American hops. A little higher alcohol so you won’t be scared of any ghouls, goblins, or slimers.
LAGER
A traditional light German lager that many consider the inspiration for the American light lager beloved by so many. Our version is golden in color, light and crisp, and features very light bitterness.
CITRUS PALE ALE
Easy-drinking, approachable, maltoriented American craft beer, often with interesting fruit, hop, or character malt notes. Well-balanced and clean, it is a refreshing pint without aggressive flavors. Our version is dry hopped during fermentation and after fermentation, hence “Double Dry Hopped” Blonde.
Irish Amber Lager
“Who all seen the Lugprechaun say yeah!” Every season our mischievous friend breaks in and brews this beautiful amber Irish Red lager. Who are we to try to catch him when it tastes like gold!
Raspberry Berliner Weisse
A simple kettle style Berliner Weisse with copious amounts of Raspberry. Lactose is added to provide a touch of sweetness to this exotic colored wheat ale.
Fruited Sour – Peach
Released to highlight fresh seasonal peaches with a big juicy finish. Sun soaked beach and bohemian vibes of Venice Beach were in mind for this tasty beverage.
New England IPA
A floral/herbal NEIPA with a orange citrus finish. Brewed with a healthy dose of Indiana grown oats, and a selection of German and American hops with German parentage. Sweet malt character and a full body balanced with slight hop bitterness. Finishes very clean and does not linger.
Schwarzbier
A glossy black beer that’s light and smooth with some roast and medium bitterness. The perfect companion for a Kurt Vonnegut read.
Hazy IPA
A blend of beautiful tropical and citrus forward hops that jump out at you off the light malt bill. Whether the king of the rodeo or the queen of the underground, this beer is the hop explosion you’ve waited for.
Stout – Pastry
A pastry stout to soothe your sweet tooth and your beer tooth (whatever that is). Made with hundreds of pounds of our cinnamon pecan coffee cake, this beer has the festive flavors of Sahm’s Coffee cake blended with the luxuriousness of stout!
Stout
Our fall Stout with a focus on balance of dark malts with American hops. A little higher alcohol so you won’t be scared of any ghouls, goblins, or slimers.
LAGER
A traditional light German lager that many consider the inspiration for the American light lager beloved by so many. Our version is golden in color, light and crisp, and features very light bitterness.
CITRUS PALE ALE
Easy-drinking, approachable, maltoriented American craft beer, often with interesting fruit, hop, or character malt notes. Well-balanced and clean, it is a refreshing pint without aggressive flavors. Our version is dry hopped during fermentation and after fermentation, hence “Double Dry Hopped” Blonde.
Brewing Locations
Big Lug Canteen and Half Liter are fun, laid-back spots where we craft our own one-of-a-kind beers. Swing by and hang out in our cozy digs or kick back in the beer gardens. While you’re here, grab a flight or a pint and taste the love we put into every brew.
- Location 1
Big Lug Canteen
- Location 2
Half Liter
Upcoming Events
We have an exciting lineup of events scheduled. From live music performances to themed trivia nights, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Stay tuned for more details on these events and get ready to have a great time at Big Lug Canteen and Half Liter!
Featured Beers
Our Story
The idea for the brewery kicked off when Eddie Sahm, who was running a craft beer restaurant at the time, crossed paths with brewer Scott Ellis. They hit it off over a shared love of classic beer styles, chill vibes, and good tunes. Their goal? Build a food-focused brewpub right on the Monon Trail in Indy and help breathe new life into the neighborhood. So Scott teamed up with Eddie, and the two rolled up their sleeves to build Big Lug from the ground up.
After tossing around a bunch of ideas, they landed on the name “Big Lug” — something that felt warm, welcoming, and full of personality. From day one, the goal has been simple: create a spot where folks can relax, connect, and enjoy a great beer together.
Big Lug's journey
Big Lug’s
After Big Lug Canteen opened, our restaurant group, Sahm’s Hospitality, began growing across central Indiana. That meant more Big Lug taps showing up in new places, but it also made us realize that the word “Canteen” didn’t quite fit everywhere. So, while our Nora brewpub kept the Big Lug Canteen name, we renamed the brewery itself to Big Lug Brewing Company.
In 2018, we took the opportunity to purchase and revamp a nearby brewery. The upgrade tripled our brewing capacity and added a canning line that we’re pretty sure is the oldest still in use in the country (we’re at least 98% convinced). Alongside the new production brewery, we also opened Liter House Event Space and Half Liter Beer & BBQ. Today, all three are staples of the South Broad Ripple neighborhood.
Since the challenges of 2020, we’ve focused on quality, innovative brewing techniques, and a balanced lineup of beers—all aimed at exceeding the expectations of our guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is where all the answers to your questions are.
It just felt right. Using Brewery or Brewpub seemed too polarizing when it came to who we would attract. The word Canteen allowed us to be more creative in the conceptual stages.
Also, Eddie loves Star Wars, and having a Canteen is just fun to tell other Star Wars nerds.
As an outdoor-focused duo, the goal was always to build where walkability was at the forefront. The Monon connected many of the neighborhoods where family and friends lived, and if you haven’t done it before, walking or biking to a brewery hits a little differently.
We will continue to build in locations that help connect Indianapolis and Indiana in unique ways.
There’s definitely a love for ranch around here, but not the dressing kind. The name actually came from a day on the golf course, drinking lagers and tossing around recipe ideas. As the beer started to take shape, it needed a name. Eddie tossed out “Goat Ranch,” inspired by the oddly shaped course they were playing on, and it just stuck.
Ales and Lagers. The layout was created to give equal opportunity to all beers. While there is no claim to be experts in any specific style, you will see just about everything from Pilsners, Porters, Stouts, and Kettle Sours, to Belgians, IPAs, Radlers, and Festbiers.
Yes! Between Half Liter BBQ and Big Lug Canteen, all of the beer sold at Big Lug Brewing Company is made on site.
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