There’s a style of restaurant that’s starting to trend more and more. Even people who don’t care to drink enjoy dining at these 13 best brew houses in Illinois. Known for their casual atmospheres and hearty portions, these restaurants will drive you wild.
From pizzerias to burger joints, this list has them all. Scroll on for all the best brewpubs.
1. BrickStone Brewery
This up-and-coming brewpub is all about craft beers and an inviting atmosphere that is just as addicting as the food. In operation since 2006, this wonderful restaurant is popular for its burgers, steaks, seafood, and other entrees. There are also a plethora of amazing appetizers like giant pretzels, Thai nachos, loaded potato spirals, homemade pork rinds, and much much more. Find it all at 557 William R Latham Senior Dr., Bourbonnais, IL 60914.
2. Granite City Food & Brewery
With various locations throughout Illinois, as well as in about a dozen other states, this delicious eatery got its start in Minnesota in 1999. Due to its amazing food and delicious brews, it has 32 restaurants in total. The menu is tropical and includes fish tacos, burgers, jerk chicken, and coconut curry rice. In the Prairie State, locations are in Shaumburg, Northbrook, Naperville, Rockford, Orland Park, and East Peoria.
3. Iron Spike Brewing Company
Featuring expertly-designed craft beers, this is one of the coolest brew houses in Illinois. Guests enjoy amazing eats like sandwiches, wraps, salads, and appetizers like poutine, sliders, wings, and more. Try it all at 150 E Simmons St., Galesburg, IL 61401.
4. Obed & Isaac's Microbrewery and Eatery
Leave it to our state's capital to have one of the best brew houses in the state. Set in a building that was once the home of some of the friends of Abraham Lincoln, this place became a restaurant in 2012 and has been a hit since. Guests enjoy salads, flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches, seafood and chicken entrees, and a wealth of appetizers like pulled pork nachos, onion rings, rib tips, Scotch eggs, and much more. Find this place at 500 S 6th St., Springfield, IL 62701.
5. O'Griff's Grill and Brewhouse
This microbrewery is bigger than it looks from the outside. In addition to some of the best beers in the state, guests also enjoy a wealth of traditional meals like fish n' chips, ribs, corned beef and cabbage, wings, and much more. Find it all at 415 Hampshire St., Quincy, IL 62301.
6. Destihl Restaurant
This fabulous chain has two brew houses that serve up some of the best eats in the state. Located in Normal and Champaign, it got its start in 2007 and has been popular ever since. In addition to award-winning beers, guests enjoy pizza, pasta, burgers, salads, and brunch on weekends, which includes chicken & biscuits, bacon sausage skillets, quiche, croque madame, and more.
7. Effingham Brew Company
Recently opened by three friends, this fabulous restaurant is all about traditional pub food like burgers, fried fish, ribeye steaks, mac and cheese, salads, sandwiches, and more. Find this brand new spot at 221 W Jefferson Ave., Effingham, IL 62401.
8. Galena Brewing Company
In operation since 2009, this rustic eatery is all about traditional beers and offers 12 different styles for guests to try. Locals love this place for its amazing takes on classic eats like Italian beef, pulled pork, ribs, BBQ chicken, and sliders. Try all this and more at 227 N Main St., Galena, IL 61036.
9. Half Day Brewing Company
This Chicagoland brewpub is well-known and rooted in some Native American history. The name of the restaurant comes from an ancient Indian town from the 1700s and 1800s. Guests stop by most often for the wings, wood-fired pizza, sliders, salads, burgers, tacos, steak, and much more. Find it all at 200 Village Green., Lincolnshire, IL 60069.
10. Hopskeller Brewing Company
This brewpub, founded in 2014, is located in the metro area of St. Louis and is a popular place to go to taste a wealth of different beers. If you come here, you must try a wood-fired pizza, but there's also soups, salads, hot dogs, nachos, and much more. Find it all at 116 E 3rd St., Waterloo, IL 62298.
11. Monarch Brewing Company
This most gorgeous of brew houses has been in operation since 2017 and is situated in what was previously a Methodist church. Burgers, soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees like steak and seafood bring guests back time and again. It also serves a variety of appetizers like potato skins, shrimp cocktail, nachos, and wings. Find this place at 212 S Independence St., Monticello, IL 61856.
12. Pig Minds Brewing
Since 2012, this magnificent place has brought in Illinoisans from near and far. Burgers, tacos, salads, flatbreads, and an awesome selection of sandwiches make this one of the most delicious restaurants around. There are also a bunch of amazing appetizers like wings, nachos, garlic fries, giant pretzels, onion rings, and much more. Find it all at 4080 Steele Dr., Machesney Park, IL 61115.
13. The Old Bakery Beer Company
This bare-bones eatery lets you dine amongst the brews. The restaurant was born in 2015 and is situated in a building that was a bakery from the late 1800s to 1929. Guests enjoy soups and salads, burgers and sandwiches, burritos and tacos, and snacks like pretzels, flatbreads, and sweet potato nachos. Find this wonderful restaurant at 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton, IL 62002.
If you’ve ever been to these brew houses, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us in the comments below.
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