My wife and I spent several days in Valparaiso to both visit her sister and introduce me to the town where both of them went to college. I had always wanted to go there and am very happy to say that I totally enjoyed the visit. While there, we visited a lot of places and ate most meals out. Ironwood was one of them. Most of you know that I have serious OCD when it comes to craft beer. I like to try new breweries, always rate my suds on Untappd, and rarely drink beers that I have already had, unless there are no other options. So, of course I was going to try the breweries in Valparaiso. This one just happened to be owned by one of my wife's college friends. The brewery is in a nice little building. I'm sure it was probably a home before the remodel. It has ample parking in the back next to a small little patch of woods, probably about the size of a normal backyard. There were birds all over the trees, reminding me that I had made the stupid decision to leave my camera in San Antonio. My eyes immediately fell on the flight boards. They are set up with 9 spaces so that they can easily match the beer to a number, as they had nine choices to choose from. I asked for all nine to be on one, and she let me have them half-filled. I love beer, but never want to feel buzzed, if I plan to drive. In this situation, I just wanted to taste them. I liked all of the beers here. My two favorites were the Triple XXX Belgian Triple and the Cricket IPA. I also really liked Goliath's Demise barleywine. Barleywines in general are not my favorites, usually because they are not fresh. This one was fresh and not cloyingly sweet. My wife, as most of you know, is not a beer drinker- AT ALL. For that reason, we left after I finished the flight and a couple of small glasses of my two favorites. The atmosphere was very cozy. The local patrons who came in were all very friendly. One lady at the bar spoke with us as if we were there with her every day. The owner's husband came in and placed a plate with smoked salmon and crackers on the bar for everyone. And, most notably, there was not a TV in sight! Imagine, a place to cozily sit and converse with fellow beer drinkers without sports blasting in your ears! read more

Ironwood Brewing Co - That's the owner getting my flight ready. - Breweries Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

See all

Stopped here for a drink the other night. Very cute, small bar that's off the beaten path. The bartender and patrons were very nice. I had the Ruthenia (Imperial Stout), Commodore Porter (Porter), and the Mead. All the drinks were very good and the prices were cheap. There's various of sizes that you could get (3oz to Growler size). Menu changes frequently. Will be back soon! read more

A busy little brewery. Made from what seems a converted old house/store. It has a great selection of beers, amazing staff and is just like a british pub. Live this place. read more

Ironwood Brewing Co - Breweries Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I first stopped by last summer on a Thursday early evening, just before the local cycling club stopped by and took over the patio. I was welcomed by the bread baker and ended up chatting with locals for several hours. I had a blast! This summer I stopped by on a Wednesday and it was much more subdued; Covid19 didn't help much, either. The brewer has done an impressive job turning an old brick house into a nanobrewery. The table I sat at was an old door and I used the handle to tie my dog's leash around it. Barb came by and gave my dog a biscuit and a bowl of water as well. I agree with reviewers who say this is a place for locals. Barb knew everyone who walked in while I was there and chatted with them all, but she gave me courteous service as well. I came in to cool down after a hot and humid day and to sip a good Irish ale and an American wheat ale and I felt welcomed. The cycling club still stops by on Thursdays. No food is served but the pizzeria across the street will delivery to this place. One quirk that may interest people who travel with growlers: this place will only refill growlers from this business and they must be clean. read more

See all

Great beer and even better service! Tried 5 beers (though you can get a flight of up to 8)- and the American Wheat and Doppelbock were my favorites. Don't miss this spot! read more

Ironwood Brewing Co - Beer flight - Breweries Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I live halfway across the country, so I won't have the opportunity to come back here anytime soon, but I thought it was a unique and cool little neighborhood joint. Our friend lives walking distance away, and we saw this place on a morning jog. We poked our heads in to see what it was about, and decided to come back in the evening with our friends (and our wallets). Beers were solid, and the vibe was friendly. They don't have food for sale, but patrons are welcome to bring their own food - and share it. I had some brie and crackers, and more notably, really tasty homemade, cheddar jalapeno bread, and smoked salmon. Epitome of a friendly neighborhood bar. So cute. If I lived in this community, I'd come all the time! read more

Stopped by Ironwood Brewing Co. after hiking at the Indiana dunes on our way back to Chicago. First of all, beer was 10/10. Had an Irish red and pale ale which were delicious. Second of all, friendly and welcoming bartender AND local patrons. Everyone was chatting and making friends. Also, dog friendly inside and outside - with homemade treats and lots of pets for your furry friends. Definitely stop by if you're in Valpo read more

when an owner allows one customer to treat a regular customer so poorly, despite a number of complaints, to the point the second customer feels they cannot safely enjoy the establishment, that is on the owner. It doesn't matter how good the beer is. read more

My favorite brewery in Northwest Indiana! Great beer and amazing service always!!! Female owned and brewed!

The beer was good but the bartender sucked. We stopped in from out of town and was told we were being cut off after ordering our 3rd drink. What??? Why???? He told me I didn't realize it but these beers were 6% alcohol. Ummm.... I'm 41YO and have been going to breweries for years. I said am I acting drunk or giving you and reason to not serve me? He said no it's just their rule. I asked the regulars if this is a rule and was told no. So strange. He just didn't want new people in the bar. It's a "regulars only welcome" type place. I would never go back or recommend this place to anyone. read more

Last stop before heading home. A pint of the English Bob (an ESB) for the allusion alone (and yeah, the SLIGHTLY higher ABV of 6.3 had something to do with it over the Porter, which would be a standard go to, but 5% in this case).....the snap of an ale and a slightly malty finish make it an okay option. read more

Ironwood Brewing Co - Breweries Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

I always drive by this place after work and it's always so crowded from the outside. Came by on a Friday night, and it was not as crowded which was good. We were able to sit at the bar. The size of the place is small, not a great place to go in a big group unless you guys are the only ones there since there is limited seating or maybe if you get there early. We got there an hour before last call. It's a small low key, causal spot for home grown brews. Barb the owner and bartender was very welcoming. They had bowls of Xmas tree gummy bears, mugs of pretzel rods and candy canes at the bar. Board games available. So the coolest part of this bar was the outdoor heated/lighted igloo on the patio. There are seats inside and a small table, you can probably fit 8-10 people in there. You are able to bring your own food in since there is no kitchen. I'm not a beer person so can't comment much on the brews, however I did like the raspberry wheat beer if you have a sweeter palate. read more

Ironwood Brewing Co - Breweries Near Me - Valparaiso, Indiana

See all

I will as a discloser say my hubby was unimpressed with the service of the bartender after I ran off to the bathroom. I loved this house to brew set up. Obvy homey and decently spacious. They serve pretzel rods and various beers. A decent amount was on tap, including a delicious sour- my personal fave. Love the outdoor seating and games available always gets me!! read more

KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF! Had the great pleasure of tasting their beer at Bartlett's Gourmet Grill at the start of the Great Distillery/Brewery Bus Tour on 11/10/13. This gal owner has the secret recipe for the next great crafted beer in Indiana. read more

Ironwood is the best of the Valpo brewery choices. The flight was huge - like 8 to 10 pours. The bartender was knowledgeable and helpful. The pub is tiny but was doing a steady business with growlers. There is a nice deck to enjoy in good weather. I don't know if there were food options but I will return for the beer. read more

Laid back atmosphere, very friendly staff, high quality product, and an exterior geodesic dome on their patio great for a group of family/friends. read more

Personally, I'm very pleased about the craft beer craze that has swept this country over the past decade. And, it's breweries like Ironwood that have begun reclaiming the beer landscape from big, bad corporate Goliaths of the macro-brew industry. It speaks to the vibrancy of this movement that a small community like Valpo is home to three solid breweries. While one certainly would not expect Porter County to be a hotbed of craft brewing, Ironwood does a lot to legitimize this area in the microbrew world. Let's start with the beer. On the few occasions I've been here already, the beers have been solid. There's certainly more remarkable brews out there from more well-known breweries, but for the locale and context it's definitely worth your visit. Their regularly offered Porter is quality, and I was especially pleased with the Saison. They also routinely roll out special and seasonal offerings that are also good. My only critique would have to be their lack of much nuance and subtlety of flavor that typify many of the styles they produce. But, despite that I have never really been disappointed. Ironwood also delivers with unique environment and ambiance. The entire brewery is housed in a small ranch-style house just east of downtown. So, the bar area barely has seating for a dozen imbibers. The setting is modest and cozy and the staff is exceptionally knowledgeable, engaging, and friendly. Ironwood is definitely a must for anyone interest in craft beer or the microbrew scene in the area. read more

Stopped by while passing through Valpo on a Sunday afternoon. I had the Irish red and my husband had the IPA. Outstanding beers- coming from true craft beer aficionados from Chicago. The place is small and they do not serve food which is perfect because the friendliness and vibe of this place is on point. They were also welcoming of our rambunctious doggies! If you're in the area and love beer, stop by. If you live here and love beer, be a regular. Cheers! read more

On a recent beer adventure we decided to stop by Ironwood and were pleased to see some barrel aged beers on their menu. We are huge fans of the bourbon barrel aged beers, so we had to try both offerings. Both beers lacked that bourbon quality that make barrel aged beers so unique. Unfortunately, we were disappointed by both. I'm not sure what type of vibe they are trying to achieve but beer and classical music? Oh well, I guess it's better than listening to the local Ag Report. read more

While there are a couple of beers that I really like, I have never felt very welcome here. We go to breweries quite a bit and I have always thought people are friendly. Here, I feel as though you have to be a regular to feel welcome. read more

This is really the definition of a small brewery. It's situated in a little house off the main drag and the brewing outfit is in the garage. This is also one of a handful of breweries owned and operated by a woman, so that was a neat bit of trivia for us when we visited. My husband and I got the flight to share while we set up a Jenga tower in the back room. A few standouts were the Indiana Pale Ale (an IPA made with all Indiana hops and grains) and the barrel aged. The porter was also a nice crisp dark beer to sip on cooler nights. Overall, friendly service, good beer. Would have killed for a food truck. read more

This is the neighborhood bar you always wanted to visit. The brews are amazing, and the fact that they're constantly changing, and then there are new amazing ones, tells you that this owner knows what she's doing. The people are friendly, and the place is well worth stopping in. After a couple visits, you become a regular, and you're treated even better by all. It's great brews with some great people. It's just a great place to end a day. read more

A really nice microbrewery. They're not fancy, they don't serve food and it's not that big. But the people are super friendly and the beer is THE best in Valpo. A MUST stop if you want very very good beer. read more

Tiny brewery with decent beer & affordable prices. I don't recall their being food which is something I wish all breweries offered. All in all, not bad. It's worth checking out at least once. read more

A charming neighborhood brewery that deserves recognition well beyond just its neighborhood! Beers are thoughtfully and beautifully crafted, with creative flourishes that don't turn their back on tradition. Welcoming, friendly, and just about perfect. read more

It's an interesting little brewery that structurally resembles a private residence. As others have stated this bar seems to have it's share of regulars, which made up most of the crowd. There are some cool little details you can miss if your not paying attention like the fact that our table was an actual door (with a knob and all). I guess having a door for a table isn't really a "little detail", but cool none the less. The IPA was arguable the best beer I had from any of the Valpo breweries, and the other samples I had were solid as well. The crowd was a little on the older side, but I was just looking for a place to sit back and have a few brews, so it was cool. read more

This is an excellent place to grab a pint after work or with a buddy. The tasting room is rather small but they also have a deck. We each had two drinks while we were there and bought a growler for home. The bartender was informative and talkative about their beers and brewing which was nice. They definitely have regulars but the experience was overall a good time. read more

Nice sour, very aromatic IPA, very good barrel aged. We had a great conversation at the bar and brought our food from Barada just down the street. This is the best beer in the area- sorry they were out of mead. read more

The Beneficience American IPA was 5 stars! However they don't take to kindly to the non regulars. The bar keep was rude and she didn't talk to us other than taking our order and our money. Please keep in mind we traveled more than 3hrs to visit the northern breweries. We didn't get the warm and fuzzies from this one visit the potty..... The Bull and Bush lithograph made the whole trip worth it lol. read more

The beer is honestly awesome, and may be the best in town. That said, the service will be keeping my wife and I away. We went in for the second time and were made to feel completely unwelcome. It appears if you're not the old guy that is apparently always there (from his bragging to us the first time we visited) then your business is not wanted. Instead of getting a couple of beers each and growlers for the weekend we decided a beer each is all of our business that they wanted. A tip to the owner: the reason Figure 8 and most other breweries in the area are always packed is because of their friendly staff as much as their beer. Make people feel welcome and they will spend more money and keep coming back for more. read more

I want to start off by saying the beer is EXCELLENT. My dad and I enjoyed our respective beers. My American Wheat Ale was a little weak, but still good. But the bartender sucked. We walked in, no greeting; no biggie but he just looked at us. My dad said, "First time here. What kind of beer to you have?" No real reply other than pointing to the wall and saying, "Our beer is on the wall." He didn't elaborate on any of the beers. He couldn't tell us about the beers. He seemed to not know anything about the beers. He couldn't even recommend a beer. What kind of bartender can't even make a recommendation? I don't think I would return. read more

We first heard of them and tried their Commodore Porter at Pikk's Tavern. We recently stopped in for a drink or two in their newly opened location. Service was great. We tried several beers and all were awesome! Seating is limited but I am hoping they will be able to expand as the business grows! read more

Nice little brewery, She usually has tasty sour on tap which is a big perk for me!

Wonderful beer in a warm, fun atmosphere. The owner knows her beer, and is sweet, helpful, and engaging and I look forward to her business growing. They also stated, early on, that they are open for service to EVERYONE. This is the kind of business Indiana needs in their communities. read more

We had the luck of being there opening day a while back. The back room addition is great when you get a chance to snag it. Be ready to get cozy with the folks around you! The only critical feedback I have is that some days there's an older crowd that don't seem too inviting, like they had a bad day or whatnot. It's a relaxing place to unwind, though. The best Wheat beer made in Valpo. Order up a pizza next door, carry it over and enjoy the beer! I appreciate them being here, it's a great addition to Valpo. read more

Had to give one star because can't give zero stars. Stopped by on Sunday at 220 and place was closed despite website and sign on door said it should be open. Could have at least had the courtesy to put up sign why they were closed. Feel we missed a good opportunity for some good beer. Could have least updated website for customers read more

Just awful!! Lady bartender was not friendly. Purchased 2 flights costing $43 and ended up leaving 2/3 of it. The beers were awful and tasted like grandmas floral perfume or a mixture of cleaning products. I never knew beer could burn going down!! read more

Porter was one of the best I've ever had, and was only four dollars for 16 ounces. Don't let the outside fool you, it may be small but it's well kept and halfway decent inside. If you like beer you owe it to yourself to check this place out. read more

I recently visited Valparaiso for my university's Homecoming weekend. Thank goodness I was able to experience Ironwood as a real adult, and not as a broke college student. Because who wants to pay $4 for a beer when you could get access to an entire keg in someone's College Ave apartments? Duh! But seriously, my friend and I stumbled on Ironwood while we were driving around town, and decided to check it out before hitting old haunts from our college days. I'm glad we did, because this place is absolutely charming. The woman we talked to at the bar was knowledgeable about their brews and told us a bit about the owner and the bar's brief history-to-date. It was converted from a residence, and is fairly small. It's cozy, though, and they have a back room and games. They don't sell food, but it can be brought in. Oh, and the beer? Fantastic! I had Derailment, which is aged in a bourbon barrel, so it packs a lot of flavor. I'll make it a point to stop in the next time I'm back in the area. read more

Very poor service for what the beers were. Owner was stuck up and made us feel like we were a burden to serve -- she made us feel very uncomfortable. Atmosphere was terrible. I felt like I was sitting in my grandma's living room. Save yourself the time and trouble and keep heading further into town for a drink. read more