- Illinois has around 68 breweries and brewpubs per capita, giving it a ranking of 36 for brewery states in the country
- If you plan to drive to any of the breweries in Illinois, be sure you are not drinking and always carry the type of coverage Illinois requires drivers to have
- Chicago tends to be a hub where breweries are all grouped together, but there are also other breweries scattered throughout the state
Illinois has 202 breweries and brewpubs that are available for people to visit. Since the state is the fifth most populous in the country, that means they have 68 breweries per capita.
The state comes in as the 36th for breweries in the United States, and Chicago has the second most breweries of any city in the United States.
The Midwest plains of Illinois make an excellent place for breweries because they can source their ingredients locally.
If you’re looking to tour the breweries of Illinois and need better car insurance beforehand, enter your ZIP code above and compare at least three to four policies today!
Don’t Drink and Drive in Illinois
If you are going to visit a brewery on this list, you will need to plan how you’re getting there. Many people choose to drive their own vehicles, but you need to be sure you have a plan if you drink too much while at the brewery.
The penalty for driving under the influence in Illinois is:
- Up to one year in prison
- Losing your license for one year
- Paying $2,500 in fines
Having a DUI will not only make car insurance more expensive but can also make it more difficult for you to get covered under traditional auto insurance plans.
You should, therefore, be prepared by having a designated driver who does not plan on drinking at the brewery. If you accidentally drink more than you thought you would consider taking a rideshare service, a cab, or calling someone who would be able to pick you up.
Top 10 Breweries in Illinois
#10 — Engrained Brewery & Restaurant
Established: 2013
Recommended Beer: Oatmeal Stout
Even though the Engrained Brewery and Restaurant does not have its own bottling or canning facilities, it does offer a brewpub for visitors to enjoy. Since there is a pub and no place for the beer to be bottled, the brewery does not have a taproom for visitors.
The Oatmeal Stout is available year-round and makes an excellent choice for anyone who is visiting the Springfield, Illinois area.
#9 — Peckish Pig
Established: 2014
Recommended Beer: India’s Panic Attack
As an Evanston favorite, the Peckish Pig offers beer to anyone who is hoping for a craft brewery that feels like coming home. India’s Panic Attack is filled with rich spices and a bold aroma.
The brewery operates as a brewpub and provides pub fare to go along with the beers they sell, and the employees are trained to recommend beer choices that will go with each menu item.
There is no taproom though, and the Peckish Pig does not bottle or can their own beer.
#8 — DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works
Established: 2007
Recommended Beer: Here Gose Nothin’
The DESTIHL Restaurant and Brew Works company has three locations to serve Illinois. The first location opened in Normal in 2007. It was followed by a location in Champaign in 2011 and one in Bloomington in 2013. The beer is bottled at the Bloomington location.
If you are visiting any one of the locations, be sure to try a beer from their Wild Sour collection; the Here Gose Nothin’ beer provides a slightly fruity taste with notes of wild herbs.
While the beer is only bottled at the Bloomington location, you can visit any one of the locations to see how the process works. Every location includes a brewpub with traditional fare to pair with your beer.
#7 — The Lucky Monk
Established: 2009
Recommended Beer: Confessional IPA
Playing into the religion-associated theme, the Lucky Monk has created beers that have names to go along with their flavors. The names are generally related to the church or are something that is commonplace in religion.
The Confessional IPA was crafted by the brewery to include the best flavors and the finest hops to make it.
The brewery features a brewpub, but they do not bottle their beer yet. The South Barrington location makes it easy for them to serve their beer as well as pub food to people who are visiting and enjoying the various craft beer selections.
#6 — Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
Established: 2013
Recommended Beer: Sublime Ginger
One of Chicago’s most well-known breweries, the Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery started out as just a brewpub. When the company first started, they were using bottling companies around the city to bottle their various brews.
In 2016, they added bottling capabilities to their location so they can do everything on their own.
If you’re visiting the Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery, you can try their Sublime Ginger brew, which features a ginger taste with fresh grains that came right from outside the city in Illinois.
You can get a growler of the beer, you can get it bottled, or you can order it with your food in the brewpub.
#5 — Half Acre Beer Company
Established: 2007
Recommended Beer: Daisy Cutter Pale Ale
The Half Acre Beer Company has locations throughout Chicago. The first location opened in 2007, but the beer was brewed in Wisconsin. Then, the company started to brew their own beer in 2009.
A taproom was opened in 2012, and the company opened a second brewery within walking distance of their first. The location on Lincoln Avenue has a taproom, and the location on Balmoral Avenue has a brewpub that was opened in early 2017.
Visitors to each of the locations can try the Daisy Cutter Pale Ale which has a light flavor, which is available throughout the year.
#4 — Lagunitas Brewing Company Chicago
Established: 2014
Recommended Beer: Lagunitas Sucks
While Lagunitas has been around for over 20 years, they opened their brewery in Chicago just recently in 2014. Now that Heineken owns the Lagunitas brand, they can make beer and distribute it around the country.
The location in Chicago has a bottling facility and a brewpub. There, you can pick up an inappropriately named Lagunitas Sucks brew. You can also enjoy the food pairings they have for the beer.
If you have a chance, visit both the California and the Illinois locations to see how they vary just because of the locations they are in.
#3 — Begyle Brewing Company
Established: 2012
Recommended Beer: Hophazardly
While the taproom at the Begyle Brewing Company didn’t open until 2015, the company was operating a bottling facility in 2012. It is one of over 150 breweries in Chicago, but is a rarity because it does not have a brewpub.
There, you can choose to bottle your own Hophazardly brew at the taproom, or you can choose to take some home after watching it being bottled.
Even though there is nowhere to eat at the Begyle Brewing Company, you can tour the building and see the bottling process in action on most days. As a bonus, there are many restaurants close by that serve the Begyle Brewing Company’s brews for you to enjoy.
#2 — Revolution Brewing
Established: 2010
Recommended Beer: Anti-Hero IPA
At Revolution Brewing, you can enjoy the beer they have to offer at the brewpub that was opened in 2010. Later on in 2012, the taproom and the bottling facilities were added to a different location.
While they are both in Chicago, you will need to go from one destination to the other if you want to take your beer home or if you want to have food with your beer.
Whether you are dining at the brewpub or filling up your growler, the Anti-Hero IPA pairs well with a variety of foods and offers just a hint of a darker flavor for an interesting twist on an otherwise traditional IPA.
#1 – ZumBier
Established: 2014
Recommended Beer: Citra-Tasm
When ZumBier opened in Waukegan, there were many options of beer for people to choose from. Now the brewery has been open, they are offering different things for people to try.
Even though there is no brewpub at this brewery, visitors can fill up their growlers or watch how the process works.
The quick tour ends in free samples for visitors. If you are looking for an exciting new choice, consider sampling ZumBier’s Citra-Tasm brew. It is a fruity and citrus-based beer that is ideal for the warm summer months in Illinois but is also available year-round.
Safety Tips Before Hitting the Road
Anyone who is going on a brewery tour needs to be prepared with safety measures. The first thing you should consider is where you are going and how you’re getting there.
Map out your plan ahead of time so you know where you’re going on your way to the brewery. It is a good idea to have a paper map in case you cannot use your cell phone while you’re traveling.
After you have routed your trip, you will need to make sure you have the right insurance coverage.
Illinois requires you to carry liability insurance to protect you up to $25,000 for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage.
The best insurance may not always be the cheapest so keep that in mind when you’re comparing your rates. Always review your policy every six months to make sure you are going to be covered for all the things that could happen on your brewery trip.
Get a tune-up on your car before you go, carry an emergency kit, and have a backup plan. Whether your backup plan is related to how you’ll get home after a few too many beers or to what you’ll do if your car breaks down, it can protect you from any unnecessary hassle and may even prevent you from committing a crime.
Ultimately, the best way to do a trip is to have a solid plan in place before you leave so that you’re ready if the unexpected happens.
A brewery trip can quickly be ruined if you have a totaled car and can’t get to your destination. It is also not much fun to end up in jail because you didn’t have a plan in place for getting home once you’ve enjoyed the brewery.
Looking to safeguard you and your car before hitting the road? Enter your ZIP code below and start comparison shopping today for the best car insurance!