The Award-Winning Brewery In This Historic Illinois Town Makes Beer In A Pre-Civil War House
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published December 12, 2018
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
Few Illinoisans know that there is a historic brewery in Waterloo, Illinois that is full of artifacts from the past. Built before the Civil War, the building housing this incredible brew house is truly something to see.
Good food and great drinks abound at this downtown eatery. Scroll on for more details.
Just outside of St. Louis is a historical small town that few people know about. Downtown Waterloo is home to a bunch of old buildings that have been converted into modern businesses, and the one housing Hopskeller Brewing Company is no different.
In business since 2014, this award-winning brew house is located in an old home that was built prior to the Civil War. It was constructed in 1854 with additions built in 1972 and 1910. It is believed that the original home had four rooms and an exterior summer kitchen.
Over the years, the building has had many uses. By the 1920s, the property was not exclusively residential as it contained apartments and offices. Today, the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce inhabits a portion of this old building.
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Exterior seating is available in addition to interior. Just about everything is made from repurposed wood. From the chandeliers to the stamped-tin ceiling, each piece of decor is a historic artifact.
The main draw to this place, though, is the beer. This historic brewery has been winning awards left and right since it opened, and you'll want to taste why. In addition to brews, this joint can also put together some excellent cocktails.
Don't forget to have something to eat with your drinks. Pub food like hot dogs, brats, sausages, pretzel knots, and wood-fired pizzas will get your stomach grumbling.
Fun specialty pizzas like L.A. Woman (chicken and mushroom), Paradise City (meat and cheese), Smoke on the Water (smoked salmon), and Green-Eyed Lady (pesto and artichoke) make for an extra exciting meal.
The best time to show up at Hopskeller Brewing is on Tuesday for trivia night. Between 7 and 9 p.m., guests can play to win gift cards and merchandise. Otherwise, this joint is open Tuesday through Thursday between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., Friday through Saturday between 11 a.m. and midnight, and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
