Excellent riverfront tap treat, sampled a couple and enjoyed a lot of the darker options, decadent and roughly better balanced with clean fresh notes that offered smooth drinking. Went with the red ale for its surprising brightness and enchanted spirit bringing real flavors unlike most I've had! read more

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This is the original craft brewery in Peoria and a cool place to stop for good beers. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Really good beer with great service. We also ordered a pizza that was really good. Thin crust, tons of toppings. Really cool, casual atmosphere to grab a good beer. read more

Had a great time here. Mark is beer knowledgeble, helpful in your beer selection, and, fun to talk with. We were able to bring our dog in, everyone can over to say hi, yes to our dog. The place is neat, lots of room. The bar has lots of room to sit, tables for big groups, couches for a few, and corners to hide in when you what to be alone. A go to place. Stop by and check it out! Oh yeah the beer is great!! We were there twice on are last trip and we're able to try three or four different beers. read more

Pour me another one, cap'n. Years ago, Rhodell Brewery was located just a block over from their new location and truth be told, I've been to this new location quite a few times. A few times for birthdays and a few times for just grabbing a beer and shooting the breeze. I was in the mindset of not re-reviewing places until recently but I figured new places (and time) mean new experiences so here we are, visiting Rhodell's again. Emily and I decided to drop in on a day full of plans going awry. We dropped in on a Friday afternoon and it was a bit less busy than I expected but the line at the bar was short. The bartender that was working has been there for a long time and has always provided excellent service. I wasn't sure what I was in the mood for so I sampled their Midwest Wheat and decided to order that. Emily got the Strawberry Blonde and I also snagged a sticker for $3. Since this was a bit of an impromptu visit, I wasn't super in focus on reviewing it for this blog so bear with me on that since I was just wanting a beer and to chit-chat. We snagged our usual seat next to the door leading out to the patio and talked life. I won't bore you with those details but while we were sipping our beers, a group of young'uns came in (god, I sound old) wearing shirts with extreme sexual innuendo. It was hard to not try and read their shirts and laugh out loud but we eventually did get to read them all and they were all great. I haven't really explored much of the interior or patio area due to it always being busy and I don't want to disrupt others just to look around/take photos. But the one thing that sticks out to me is the lack of the giant creepy kilt wearing guy from the old location. I don't know the history of it but it was such a striking thing to encounter and I think it may be a thing of the past? I would love to know what the deal with that thing is. Since I've been here a few times, I've tried: blueberry cream ale, american wheat, strawberry blonde lager, wild berry sour and various other seasonal beers. The blueberry cream ale is one I am especially fond of. I'm not sure which beers are seasonal and which are part of their repertoire so check their Facebook page to see what's currently on tap. There were some pizza signs around the bar so I do think they need food if you need something for the beer to wash down, but don't fully quote me on that. Rhodells is the staple brewery in Peoria. I can't imagine Peoria without it. So, if you are in 'whiskey capital of the world' and need a delicious local beer, Rhodells is the place to go.Pour me another one, cap'n. Years ago, Rhodell Brewery was located just a block over from their new location and truth be told, I've been to this new location quite a few times. A few times for birthdays and a few times for just grabbing a beer and shooting the breeze. I was in the mindset of not re-reviewing places until recently but I figured new places (and time) mean new experiences so here we are, visiting Rhodell's again. Emily and I decided to drop in on a day full of plans going awry. We dropped in on a Friday afternoon and it was a bit less busy than I expected but the line at the bar was short. The bartender that was working has been there for a long time and has always provided excellent service. I wasn't sure what I was in the mood for so I sampled their Midwest Wheat and decided to order that. Emily got the Strawberry Blonde and I also snagged a sticker for $3. Since this was a bit of an impromptu visit, I wasn't super in focus on reviewing it for this blog so bear with me on that since I was just wanting a beer and to chit-chat. We snagged our usual seat next to the door leading out to the patio and talked life. I won't bore you with those details but while we were sipping our beers, a group of young'uns came in (god, I sound old) wearing shirts with extreme sexual innuendo. It was hard to not try and read their shirts and laugh out loud but we eventually did get to read them all and they were all great. I haven't really explored much of the interior or patio area due to it always being busy and I don't want to disrupt others just to look around/take photos. But the one thing that sticks out to me is the lack of the giant creepy kilt wearing guy from the old location. I don't know the history of it but it was such a striking thing to encounter and I think it may be a thing of the past? I would love to know what the deal with that thing is. Since I've been here a few times, I've tried: blueberry cream ale, american wheat, strawberry blonde lager, wild berry sour and various other seasonal beers. The blueberry cream ale is one I am especially fond of. I'm not sure which beers are seasonal and which are part of their repertoire so check their Facebook page to see what's currently on tap. There were some pizza signs around the bar so I do think they need food if you need something for the beer to wash down, but don't fully quote me on that. Rhodells is the read more

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Place looked great. Beer options were great! AND loved that we could bring in our Black Lab to sit in the corner. Perfect place for friends to socialize and relax at the end of the day! read more

Breweries are aplenty in Peoria, and this is yet another one to get some good ass beer. It has a pretty good variety to choose. John S Rhodell is the oldest brewery in the city currently operating. A cool atmosphere in an old building, and it's easy to get to a few other breweries in downtown. There's just beer so don't come for food. An old factory is where to find this brewery. It's in the middle of downtown close to the river. The interior was nicely done and it's spacious enough for big groups and parties. Focus is on the beer. There's no kitchen, so no food, so forget about that. It's about $6 a pint. We tried some and each were good enough we could try these another time. Best was the Midwest Wheat, which is a wheat ale. There's also a Blueberry Cream Ale for those wanting something fruity and sweet. For this long time local brewery it's doing good it seems and this is a popular place for things such as wedding receptions and other crap you don't care about. It has IPA, sours, and stouts among the beers to choose from. There's no kitchen but you can bring in food from outside. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Midwest Wheat - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Decent place, very pricey, poor service. Very rude waitress, slow staff. On the upside the joint was clean. read more

This is a nice causal brewery that's located downtown Peoria along the river. The variety of beer was good and very comfy.

The atmosphere is great ! The service was good and the food was even better! There were vegetarian menu items that were delicious. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Veggie burger - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

great local beers. the bartenders are always nice and knowledgeable. they really suffer from the lack of a kitchen. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - a woman at the bar - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Went for a walk and got a thirst for a good brew, stopping in was a quick maneuver beautifully executed ending up on a stool at the bar. Tasting was a pleasure that tantalized the taste buds, got the saliva flowing and ended with a pint of delicious beer unlike anything you can get from a can or a twist too bottle. If we are ever in Peoria again we will go for a repeat performance! read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Sitting at the bar - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

I owe this superb find to my boyfriend, who had the afternoon free while I was running around Peoria. When I called him, I wasn't surprised to hear that he had found a brewery to hang out at, but what I didn't realize was that he found the best microbrewery around Central Illinois. Rhodell's has 13 taps of their own beer in several varieties, so you're best off going with a flight for a proper experience. The beers will receive approval from everyone, whether it's your mother who only likes "beer that doesn't taste like beer" to hop heads who love being assaulted with bitterness. Accompanied by a non-beer drinker? Rhodell's has root beer on draft too. Sounds like a win-win microbrewery to me. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Flight #01. - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Best beers on tap. All small batch, taps change regularly. Excellent variety from stouts to IPA's and sours (great natural sours, not chemically induced ones you get elsewhere). If you are a bud light drinker, save the space for people who like beer with flavor. The crowd is careful to follow COVID restrictions. We all want to live for the next tap of a new brew. Growlers for take away. Don't let the proprietor know you are a Hibs fan. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Imperial Stout 12% abv. Yum! - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

While visiting family in Peoria, my husband suggested trying a local brewery while we checked out the riverfront. I was turned off by the brewery's interior, with its very traditional dark wood paneled style and the overwhelmingly strong smell of hops from the brewing process. It was so strong and offensive that we even saw a young family leave without eating or drinking, making "that smelled gross" faces as they walked out the door. Unfortunately, we didn't spot the few outside patio tables until we were leaving ourselves. We arrived right when the brewery opened at 1pm on Saturday. There were already several people sitting at the bar, and our party of four snagged a table. After sitting there for a couple minutes, the bartender yelled over that there would not be table service until later in the day. The good news is that the beer flights were inexpensive at just $12 for four beers. I tried the Harvest Ale, Pumpkin, Blueberry Cream, and Midwest Wheat. My personal favorite was the Midwest Wheat, but none of the beers were anything that I would be craving again. Both the Pumpkin and Blueberry Cream were too sweet, likely appealing only to guests who don't like beer in general and need a lot of sweetness to cover up the flavor. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - $12 flight of four beers - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

I went with a couple guys from work. To me it's ok but I'm not a beer guy. The two guys I was with loved it and swear by this place. They really enjoyed one of their beers that's only been made about six times since they opened and surprisingly they had it on tap when we were there a couple weeks ago. read more

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Great place to go and have a relaxing beer (no food served). The quality of their beers is great. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Great beer and fantastic staff! Knowledgeable about the beers and very friendly! Unique selections and very delicious! I would recommend to everyone! read more

This is hands down the best beer in the area. They have new brews weekly. The blueberry cream ale is the best as you can really taste the blueberry. Great location downtown and ample seating. read more

Love this place. Excellent standard brews, as well as really delicious creative varieties. It's a large space, so plenty of room to come with a group of friends to hang out. They also have a really nice patio area right on Water Street. They brew in-house, so be warned that it smells like a brewery. Not super pleasant, but I find that it only takes a minute or two to adjust and not even notice it. It can also get very crowded at night, so I prefer it for an earlier stop rather than an end of the night stop. No food (or maybe they have some frozen pizzas? I'm not sure.), but I've seen people order pizza to be delivered here and I've seen people bring in food from street vendors during festivals. They're totally cool with it. The staff and owners here are super friendly and know their beer. It's just a really wonderful spot, and Peoria is very lucky to have it. read more

Stopped here and had two flights of 4 beers. Each flight was $12 which isn't bad. We got to try 7 of their beers, one of the beers overlapped with our selection, and all of them were good. I liked the Golden Dragon beer and my wife enjoyed the Midwest wheat beer. All and all a cool place ever to hang out and good beer to be had. read more

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An amazing space with really good beer. Don't be scared off by the smell (it's the nature of having the brewing premises onsite), the drinks are great and the layout is awesome. A pool table, a bunch of rugged wooden tables, a lounge area...they've got everything, but it's nicely laid out and doesn't feel cramped. Beer highlights: - Panzer Pilsner - I don't even like pilsners. This was hands down the best pilsner I've ever had. - Zombie Pumpkin Flesh - Delicious, not too sweet, not too pie-tasting. - Kilts on Fire, Red Rye IPA, and Hopgasm - All very tasty. read more

My wife and I stopped in randomly this weekend. If you're a beer fan, you will like it. It was very busy, as it seems Peoria shuts down at around 8pm. I think most of the town was here. So seating was minimal. But we made do. I'd give it a higher rating if I had sampled more of their selection. If I ever make it back and try more, I may raise the rating. read more

This is a fantastic place to have a beer. They have so many great micro beers on tap it is hard to choose. The variety is excellent for the novice beer lover to the experienced one. There is also other spirits for those who don't like beer. The staff is amazing and I was extremely impressed with their friendliness and efficiency. You have to try this wonderful place. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

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Love this place. Beer great. Atmosphere nice. Glad it's on riverfront near where we stay when in town. Visited couple other breweries while in Peoria. Overheard the owners or brew guys at the brewery down the way not speak well of the beer and Rhodell Brewery but gave it a shot anyway. It seemed to be established and we are looking forward to going again when in town. Cheers!! read more

We were here on a Friday evening so the crowd built as we lingered over our beers. I had the stout which was good. Another in our group had the IPA which he pronounced acceptable. The staff was friendly and attentive and there were several TVs so it is easy enough to catch the game. Parking was also no problem. We will stop here again when next in the area. read more

THE MUST PLACE for beer lovers. The new place is larger, well designed and has a laid back pub atmosphere. The fall brews are on tap now. Be sure to pick up a growler or two. The Autumn Sun and Zombie Pumpkin are excellent. read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

Rude bartender. Zero customer service skills and surly personality. Too bad because the beer was good but we left after one glass.

This was our first time here. I was hesitant because I read many negative reviews about the bartenders. Our bartender was so friendly. He happily prepared my husband's flight and my watermelon wheat. As he was pouring mine, the tap ran out, so he said it was on the house. It was almost a full beer! Wonderful beer, and even better service! read more

John S Rhodell Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Peoria, Illinois

What a great place! Friendly and knowledgeable staff, great quality of beer, and a wide variety of styles. I wish there was food so I could stay here all day! read more

Hands down, this is always a great choice. Incredible, small-batch, brews done in house. New location has great seating, atmosphere, and the bartenders are top notch. If you like visiting breweries with real craft beer, you'll love this every time you come due to its constantly rotating selection of beers. read more

Eh. Probably won't go back. Bartender was not happy that we got a couple of flights. Sorry for being first timers and wanting to try everything! The beer was nothing to rave about, inside was very dimly lit and reeked of hops, but at least the bathroom was nicely kept. read more

Oh, Rhodell's, it's great to have you back in my life. The small batch beer is incredible, unlike anything else you will find in Central Illinois. It's rare to find a craft brewery that does so many styles so well - whether you like your stouts, IPAs, wheats, saisons, or reds, there is always something for everyone. Each beer is true to its style, with actual flavor and different ingredients (as opposed to other breweries who use the same yeast for each beer and you can't tell an IPA from a Red Ale). And now, with homemade sodas - root beer & cream soda - Rhodell's has something for the designated drivers / kids. They are offering liquors/cocktails now, which I have not tried. But I know friends who aren't beer fans who sing praises. The new venue at 100 Walnut Street is spectacular - it has just the right amount of the same vibe as the old location, but is much brighter and more inviting. I do miss the bathroom art though - probably the only thing missing from the old location. read more

Best microbrewery around, if you like good beer do yourself a favor and stop by rhodells

Hands down the best Microbrewery I've ever been to. The interior is very nice and has good ambiance. I'm an IPA fan, and I'm never disappointed. My wife is a stout fan, she is never disappointed. If you like beer, real beer that is, you shouldn't be disappointed either. If you have people in your group who aren't beer fans, they do have a selection of spirits and wines. For the teetotalers / designated drivers there are a few home made sodas such as root beer etc.. Staff is great, very friendly. read more

As good as it gets for Midwest micro brewery. Mark, the owner is a magician and has some awesome recipes. They are not afraid to experiment but also do some great brews right. Although it's hard to catch the same thing twice. The saison farmhouse is the best I have ever had. Even though they do not have food, "please eat first"!!! It is way worth the trip. read more

Visited this brewery based on a friends recommendation. When walking in the pub has a good vibe. We got to the bar and asked if there was a menu. Was told no and that we could read the labels to see what we wanted. Absolutely no customer service. Decided on a flight. Was never once asked what we liked and after a while we grabbed our check. Would have been more than happy to have a pint or two but didn't feel they cared if we were there. And it was pretty dead. read more

I've been all over Michigan to all the micro breweries... this place is still the BEST! 1. Strong beer 6% to 9%. 2. Excellent Taste 3. Great selection that is always new 4. Very modern but casual atmosphere. 5. Bar tenders are friendly and nice looking 6. Prices are $4.00 to $6.50 per PINT 7. Also, delicious micro brewed Root Beer and Creme Soda for Non-Drinkers read more

Rhodell has good beer, but it isn't always available. Most of the beer there is fine, but there are a few gems, like the Cherry or Blueberry Wheat. read more

Decent beer and friendly staff! I'm not going to bother critiquing the beer since everyone has different tastes and the options change regularly...but if they have the Belgian wheat, I'd recommend it! read more