By Jake Hawkins and Carson Hayes
If you’re wandering around downtown Tuscaloosa and looking for a place that doesn’t just serve beer but serves up a whole vibe, Loosa Brews is your spot. Before you even step inside, the place makes a statement. Their logo, painted in bold red and white, stands out against the dark brick building like a neon sign without the electricity. It’s got that “you’re about to have a good time” energy. The windows are practically swallowed by towering plants, giving the place a jungle-meets-dive-bar aesthetic that somehow works. You know the vibes are chill before you even touch the door handle.
Inside, Loosa opens up into a spacious bar area that’s equal parts cozy and eclectic. There’s plenty of seating—bar stools, high tops, and even a couch with some comfy chairs that look like they were rescued from a vintage furniture store. It’s got that lived-in feel, like the kind of place where you could post up for an hour or five and no one would bat an eye. The walls are covered in stickers, posters, and beer signs, each one telling its own little story. It’s not curated, it’s collected. And that makes all the difference.
Toward the back of the bar, there’s a door that leads to a dimmer room. That’s where the magic happens. Loosa is home to one of Tuscaloosa’s only actual arcades. Not just a couple of machines shoved in a corner, this is a full-on arcade room. You’ve got old-school classics like Galaga and Pac-Man, plus some “newer” ones that still feel retro enough to fit the vibe. It’s the kind of room that makes you want to grab a beer and challenge your buddy to a game of Street Fighter. There’s something about sipping a funky brew while button-mashing that feels right.
Step outside and you’ll find a pretty spacious patio. Plenty of tables, each with its own ashtray, which is a nice touch for the smokers. A cigarette never hurts after a couple of cold beers, especially when the weather’s nice and the conversation’s flowing. The patio’s got string lights overhead and just enough greenery to make it feel like a backyard hangout. It’s perfect for people-watching or just zoning out with a drink in hand.
Now, let’s talk about the booze. Loosa Brews has 63 beers on tap. That’s not a typo. Sixty-three. And they’re not just throwing numbers around, these are carefully curated, delicious, cold beers. Half of them are local to Alabama, which is awesome if you’re trying to support the home team. The other half come from all over the world, so you can take your taste buds on a little vacation without leaving town. From sours and shandys to IPAs, lagers, pilsners, porters, stouts, and creams, Loosa’s got it all. They even have a home-brewed root beer that’s worth a try if you’re skipping alcohol or just want something sweet.
But we didn’t come for the basics. We came with the sole intention of trying their funkiest brews. The weird ones. The ones that make you raise an eyebrow and say, “Wait, they made a beer out of what?”
We started off by just straight up asking the bartender which four beers they thought were the weirdest. No hesitation. She pointed us toward SIPS: Pinot Noir Grape and Black Currant, the Rhinestone Rancher, Chamoy Peach Ring, and a coconut beer. I wasn’t too fond of the coconut one, but my buddy Carson enjoyed it. That’s the thing about funky beers: some hit, some miss, but they’re always interesting.
I took my tasters back to our sticker-covered table, bright red and green beers in hand. The SIPS and Rhinestone Rancher worked surprisingly well to drink at the same time. They’re both sweet, but in slightly different ways. The SIPS: Pinot Noir Grape and Black Currant tasted like a light pinot noir and a sour beer had a love child in a grape vineyard. It’s the kind of drink that makes you want to sit outside on a warm day and just vibe. It’s fruity, tart, and just a little boozy, like a wine cooler that grew up and got a degree in fermentation.
Following that up with a sip of the Rhinestone Rancher was like diving into a liquid gummy worm. That’s not an exaggeration. The Rancher was brewed using real green Jolly Ranchers, and it shows. The beer itself is a bright green, almost glowing, like something out of a wizard’s potion book. It tastes like a sour green apple Jolly Rancher with a kick. It’s sweet up front, then hits you with that sour punch that makes your mouth water. Honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. One: because we’re in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and two: because it sounds like something you’d find at a novelty beer fest. But Loosa pulls it off.
Would I get these again? Absolutely. Not as my go-to drink for the night, but as a sweet treat every now and then. The SIPS and Rhinestone Rancher are as tasty as they are colorful. 8/10 would recommend. They’re the kind of beers you bring a friend to try just to see their reaction.
I didn’t end up getting full pours of the Chamoy Peach Ring or the coconut beer. The tasters were enough to get the idea. The Chamoy Peach Ring had that spicy-sweet thing going on, like biting into a peach ring candy dipped in Tajín. It’s bold, for sure, and probably a hit with people who like a little heat in their drink. The coconut beer was creamy and tropical, but just not my thing. Carson liked it though, said it reminded him of a beach vacation in a bottle.
After the sweet stuff, I needed a palate cleanser. Enter the Chimpanhazee. A milder hazy IPA that’s perfect for people dipping their toes into the IPA world. It’s not too fruity, not too hoppy—just a great, refreshing taste. I sipped it a little slower, partly because of the previous drinks, and partly because it was too smooth to rush. It’s the kind of beer that makes you appreciate the craft behind it. Balanced, mellow, and easy to drink.
The final drink of the night was a peanut butter nitro brew. I asked the bartender what her favorite tap was, and she surprised me with this dark and foamy beauty. The name alone might make some people hesitate, but I was ready to dive in. The smell alone was enough to draw me in: rich, nutty, and a little sweet. After the first creamy sip, I was hooked. It’s definitely a dessert drink, but not overly sweet. Just the right amount of savory to balance it out. It’s like drinking a peanut butter cup, but with a smooth nitro finish. A great way to end the night.
Loosa doesn’t just offer legendary brews, they’ve got events throughout the week that bring people together. Trivia Tuesdays are a hit, with teams battling it out over beers and brainpower. Wine Wednesdays give the vino crowd a reason to show up, and live music on Fridays turns the place into a mini concert venue. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re a beer nerd, a wine lover, or just someone looking for a good time.
They also sell bottles of wine and cases of beer if you want to take the party home. It’s a nice touch, especially if you find something you love and want to share it with friends later. Loosa’s got that community vibe, people chatting with strangers, bartenders remembering your name, and regulars holding court at the end of the bar.
All in all, Loosa Brews is more than just a bar. It’s a hangout spot, a beer haven, and a little slice of funky paradise in Tuscaloosa. Whether you’re there for the arcade, the patio, the trivia, or the wildest beers on tap, you’re bound to find something that makes you want to come back. And next time, maybe we’ll try the Chamoy Peach Ring for real. Or maybe we’ll just stick with the Rhinestone Rancher and pretend we’re drinking potions in a wizard’s tavern. Either way, Loosa’s got the goods.
