Prison Brews

The food use to fantastic here but not anymore. The homemade root beer was watery, had barely any flavor, and no carbonation to speak of. Today I had the loaded fries that were just ok with the cheese that was on them a little salty, the buffalo chicken wrap the was more sweet than savory, the sweet potato fries that were over cooked, and the Pasta Italiano that canned Alfredo sauce could out do. This use to be a frequent place for us when I lived here years ago but no more will I return.

Great lunch and dinner menu! The home brew root beer and microbrew are amazing!!! Grab a growler to go!!!

Very solid brewpub. They always have good seasonal beers and there regular homemade craft brews are above average. The Warden’s Ale is a great beer. As for food, I enjoy their brick oven pizzas, salads, and the soft pretzels with beer cheese! Excited to check out the outside patio during the summer.

Get the oatmeal stout. Salads and appetizers are quick on a busy lunch day. I ordered fish and chips. For $ 20.00 it filled me up easily.

Great stop with really good food, (and beer). Grabbed a quick lunch after state track meet. Appetizer of nachos were great, all lunch items were really good. 7 beer sampler didn’t disappoint either! Topped it off with ‘the big cookie’ for dessert. Worth the stop for sure.

Good craft beers and pub-​style food! nice patio too!

Enjoyed lunch here today. I thought the food was good. We had the club sandwich and the fish sandwich with fries. Their fries were 5 stars, as was the ranch dressing! My issue was the staff. They were young and so unfriendly and slightly confused. It was like they didn’t have any personalities. They had a really hard time seating the two top before us and had no idea where to seat us. The place was empty. Our waitress never greeted us, just asked what we wanted to drink. The atmosphere of this place could be really cool but I think that starts with the staff. Our waitress was attentive and provided good service. We were passing through and try to avoid chain restaurants. We like to support local but I wouldn’t drive out of the way again to eat here.

The atmosphere was great, the food quality and beer were disappointing. We’re from Kansas City and apparently are spoiled by Boulevard Brewery. The beer was very flat tasting. The milk stout was the best. Beer bread was okay. We ordered the wings and a portobello salad. The wings were the best part of our visit. The salad was disappointing. We wouldn’t return to this pub again. There was also a school bus of kids who showed up.

Love the food and the atmosphere.

Best pasta I’ve ever had, there beer is amazing to. Steve the bartender is a pretty nice guy.

Awesome atmosphere and great drinks! Beer is great and the outdoor bocce ball pit is a blast too!
Food is less than awesome. I’ve never had anything there that was anything above average and I’ve been several times. Moral of my review: go for drinks and fun but eat before you come!

Average food. Nice patio area. The unique inside is a conversation piece for out of town guests.

Prison Brews has a wonderful atmosphere for everyone except maybe criminals. Great little brewery with good draws and great food. They always talk to you when you get here. No strangers ever come thru the door. Enjoy!

I am not a beer drinker, but the people with me all really enjoyed their drinks. The food was a good quality and portion for the price. I got the brisket sandwich which was really enjoyable. I would be happy to go back to this location.

Prison Brews is a good place to visit if in Jeff City. The beer they brew is decent and they have regular AB products in bottles too. The space is comfortable, food is typical brewpub stuff and the staff is very friendly! I will be back to this spot as it has the best beer in town and is inviting. Give it a try!

This place is really neat and has a great concept! I love how they took something that is so historical and played such a big role in Jefferson City’s history and applied it to beer. It’s a really old building itself. Not sure what it used to be but a great spot to turn into a fake prison/​brewery. Yes, as others have said, it’s kind of hokey and cheesy, but it’s supposed to be!
They have a good selection of different beers. Nothing too crazy or unique though. They’re all named something related to prison or jail or whatever. I had the applewood smoked bacon cheeseburger for my meal. Bartender was great and she was very friendly. My burger was pretty good, the bacon was awesome. Overall pretty average food for a brewpub. What really makes this place is the cool atmosphere and the feel of it. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in town or passing through.

Great beers and a fun atmosphere at the Prison Brews! I enjoyed the death row stout and big yard Belgium blonde. My sandwich and presentation of the meal was terrible. My portabella mushroom sandwich was a soggy mess. The sweet potato fries were undercooked and soaked up the excessive mushroom juice, making them inedible.
The bartender was very observant and kind. The other servers stood by the bar and complained about their tables and jobs the entire meal. Very disheartening.
If you want some great beer, visit the prison, but go elsewhere for dinner!

The space is pretty awesome. Beautiful brick walls and a giant skylight in the center. The «prison bars» are a bit hokey, but I understand the concept. I’d kind of prefer they weren’t there — the story of how you got the name is great! We don’t need you to be a theme restaurant.
The owner was also my bartender for the day. A very friendly guy, more than happy to talk to me about the history of the place. I was also very pleased with the price of my flight — seven 7oz. tasters for about $ 10 allowed me try every beer on the cheap.
The woodfire pizza oven is impressive as you walk in so naturally I had to try a pie. My sausage and mushroom pizza was delicious — nice crunch to the crust and a good spice to the sausage.
There are bocce ball courts out back and I imagine this is a great place to come with a group of people!
Unfortunately, my beers were mostly just OK. They tasted like a brewery who has been in business 6 months, not 6 years. Only the Pretty Boy Peach really delivered on flavor. That they sell beer in clear growlers shows a but of a lack of respect for their product (in my opinion).
If you’re a serious beer drinker, you may be underwhelmed at Prison Brews. However, this is a great spot to upgrade from the basic domestic beer and enjoy some good food.

Had a fantastic «pub salad» and two wheat beers there today after going on the MO State Penitentiary tour. My daughter had a kid’s meal (chicken nuggets, fries, applesauce) which was a good amount of food.
The beers were quite good — they are brewed on site. I think there were 6 – 7 on the menu. In addition there was a full bar and wines as well.
The building itself was decorated really nicely inside with prison memorabilia. Lots of exposed brick and the beer-​making cisterns are visible through glass at the back of the restaurant. Large outdoor area to eat, but it was too hot today.

Good food for good price and a great place. Recommend food except for — coffee & creamer not real cream/​half-​n-​half but coffee mate.
Cheesecake with «seasonal fruit» was a strawberry syrup tasted more like sugar & dye than strawberries. Didn’t finish as not pleasant.