On some weekends, Whatcha Smokin? BBQ + Brew draws more people than the entire population of Luther, Iowa — just 125 residents north of Madrid in Central Iowa. In this small Iowa town, the smokers turn out brisket so tender it barely holds together, burnt ends cut into bite‑size cubes for weekly specials, and pulled pork seasoned with a five‑spice rub and smoked for up to 14 hours until it develops a deep, smoky flavor and a crackling bark — all shaped by the heat of white and red oak burning in a Moberg smoker. This week, the Central Texas-style barbecue restaurant in Luther made national news: Along with 38 other restaurants, whatchasmokinbbqbrew has been included in the 2026 USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year list. Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #Iowa #DesMoinesFoodie #DesMoinesEats #barbecue #ROTY2026