For me, vacations are anything but lazy. When it was time to return to Eau Claire for some shenanigans with Matt and Tim, I knew this go around would need to have some brewery action despite Tim and Matt not being big drinkers. I love visiting breweries and trying out local offerings. Lazy Monk was on my list of places to visit based on just the name alone, but their current beer list was looking pretty good, too. Tim and I (Matt was coming up the next day) dropped in around early dinner time and it was fairly quiet in the brewery. There were a few people chatting with the bartender when we went up to order some drinks. First and foremost, I grabbed a sticker and magnet before I would inevitably forget. I grabbed a flight of beers since a lot of them sounded really good. Unfortunately, the one beer I was really hyped to try was out until the next day. That was the kolsch. I ended up getting the Bohemian Pilsner Lager, Raspberry Lemon Shandy, Kristall Weiss, Mad Monk IPA, and Bohemian Dark Lager. The Mad Monk was really good. It was my favorite. The Kristall and Bohemian Pilsner Lager were really good, too. The Raspberry Lemon was good but not really my cup of beer. I got it to sample since I was taking home a 4-pack for Emily. As for the Dark Lager... not a fan at all. Not that it was gross but it just isn't for me. The bartender was super cool and took the time to explain all the beers I ordered, made great small talk and really made us feel welcome. Lazy Monk really leans into the German/Bohemian aspect. The exterior of the building has some strong German vibes and once you walk inside, it really feels like you walked into a bar in the middle of a small German town. I believe there is also an outdoor seating area but we only saw it while we were out walking around. If you find yourself in Eau Claire and want a really chill place to grab some beer, Lazy Monk is the place to go. read more

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Still brewing solid traditional Czech and German styles beers. The outdoor deck is fantastic in the summer. View of the Chippewa rover. They have some outdoor games you can do, there are indoor games as well. It's dog friendly. Four packs of cans to go. They will fill a growler for you, but it's not very economical, better just to buy the cans. They have all their own beer on tap now and root beer on tap plus a few cans of soda and bottled water. No food here but you can bring in anything you like and eat it inside. Nice meals, occasionally have some special events and live music, you have to check their social media for those updates. They have a Mug club for regulars. Always great service from personable bartenders. They really know the regulars. Occasionally you'll catch the owner slinging beer too. No TV or jukebox so you can actually have a conversation. The acoustics can make it a little echoey at times however, especially if there's a lot of people inside. read more

I had a flight, which is pretty pricy, but you get 5 oz of 5 beers, which is more than many flights. The Peanut Butter Milk Stout was good, it tastes exactly like Belching Beaver PB stout. The Imperial Stout was good, nothing special. But the Anniversary Ale with Bourbon Vanilla and Coconut was fantastic. And I had one of the fruity raddlers, tastes yummy like a soda. I love the venue, with all the wood, open space, and outdoor patio. read more

We stopped in on a bustling Saturday as Lazy Monk celebrated Oktoberfest. We didn't get any of the food, but wow, it smelled great! The whole setting was cozy, designed to resemble a beer hall. We sat at the bar where the company and bartender were incredibly friendly. The beer flight was diverse and delicious. My husband noted that there was a hilarious mural in the men's bathroom--you have to appreciate a business with a good sense of humor! read more

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full disclosure: I LOVE this Brewing Tap Room. Full stop. oh-and I can ride my bike here (just off the bike path)? and there's a bike rack downstairs? and they are friendly (not haughty or crabby like some other places)? reasonable prices for quality products? an outside patio upstairs and down? dog friendly? locally sourced? or we can sit bar side and talk to Sue or one of the regulars? or in a tap room that looks like it belongs in Bavaria, Germany? Strawberry rhubarb Radler to GO? Yes, please. I have happy dreams of this gem! Thank you Lazy Monk! read more

Lazy Monk Brewing Tap Room - Breweries Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

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We have been to the Monk maybe 3 times now since we live in EC. On each subsequent visit I wonder why I went back. Not that the beer is bad, or it unclean, or the service is bad...mostly just because it is soooo average and uninspiring. I get the whole Bavarian Black Forest motif, but let's face it-this not Austria. I've been to the Augustine's Brau brewery in Salzburg and the Monk has some catching up to do. A bit expensive. Uninspiring decor. Pretty generic beer. Sorry gang. But please visit and judge for yourself. read more

A very quaint space and a wonderful guy behind the bar who could not have been more friendly and welcoming. Beer was terrific. Some background music might be nice, but it did not deter from the experience. read more

Don't let the unassuming front of this brewery fool you (or deter you)! Big open indoor space with warm lighting perfect for a date night or get together with friends (pre or post covid times of course). Huge patio in the back which would be great in the summers. Beers are inexpensive and you can get a flight of 5 for $10 and add a few more if you're indecisive like me haha. My favorite was the peanut butter milk stout and cranberry ginger radler. Wish I lived closer so I could come here more often! Come check this place out if you haven't yet! read more

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Sunday at 4p. No crowds. No electricity but two lovely ladies (mom and little helper) still served fine beers. If you like German beers, you may find this place interesting. There were 14 beers (two of which were non alcoholic) to choose from. They give you a small basket of pretzels to snack with your drinks. read more

Lazy Monk Brewing Tap Room - Breweries Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

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We walked into Lazy Monk Brewing on a weekday evening to try out a new brewery. The interior had a cavernous, beer hall atmosphere. I use the word "cavernous" because the handful of people in the large interior were congregated at the bar. I imagine that on weekend nights during the school year, the place would fill up and feel warmer. After buying got a couple of beers we went outside. There was a scattering of people at tables. While I appreciate any effort a brewery makes to create an outdoor patio, it felt a little stale. The beers on the other hand were not stale; they were good quality. There were many unique beers on tap that I would look forward to sampling. read more

I have come to the Lazy Monk a few times, since it is right down the road from my house, and I absolutely adore it. The tap room itself is very large, with white walls and these gorgeous dark wood floors and ceiling beams. The staff has ALWAYS been friendly, and even though there are usually a few regulars hanging out, I've never felt like I'm bothering anyone. Which is good, because several bars in Eau Claire can give off that vibe. They have board games available for people if you want to play and more seating areas than you can imagine. There is a wonderful deck off the side that looks out towards the river, and it's enclosed. The beers are delicious, always priced reasonably, and the atmosphere is always top notch. read more

Lazy Monk was a quiet spot on the Saturday night that we rolled in. We had no problem finding some comfortable seating in this German themed tap room and were even treated to some free pretzels by the bartender. She suggested a mix of the Blood Orange Sour and the Cranberry Ginger Radler and it did not disappoint - it almost tasted like a kombucha (which can be a good or a bad thing depending on the person) and I loved sipping on this while catching up with friends! I would definitely come visit if I ever find myself in Eau Claire again. read more

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The beer was good and they are dog friendly. We sat out on the deck but loved the bier garden vibes inside too. Had the Pilsner which seemed a little different than your standard Pilsner and Oktoberfest which was spot on. read more

We were making a trip going to north west Wisconsin and decided we wanted to stop at a local brewery. We searched and found the Lazy Monk in Eu Claire. First warning, they are cash only. Number two, they sell pre filled growlers that they fill at their actually brewery. They will not fill yours. Number three, they do can some of their beer in four packs to purchase. We walked in to this cozy yet very large tasting room and were immediately greeted. At the time, they were kind of in the slower time of the day. It was a Sunday evening. Everyone sitting at the bar was a local regular and they were super nice. They had flights to try and so we did a mix and match of them. All the beers were absolutely delicious. It was quite a variety. They also have a mug club and people's pictures up on a wall. The atmosphere was like you were in a German bar. We loved it. Next time we go to through, we will stop again and stock up. If we lived there, we would be a regular. read more

Lazy Monk Brewing Tap Room - Breweries Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

I ended up at Lazy Monk by joining the tail end of an EC bar crawl with some buds. I wanted to like this place, but there were two things that inhibited my enjoyment. First, though, the good. They've got a lovely patio with picnic tables that are perfect for groups. The inside rocks a cozy cabin vibe with a fireplace and comfy seats in addition to more tables. The available brews are clearly displayed and I appreciated the basic tasting notes listed under the names to help newbies to the brewery make decisions. All the pours were affordable. The downside was that I didn't actually get to try anything of my own because they're cash only and didn't have an ATM. If you know before you go, it's not a big deal, but inconvenient if you, like me, end up there randomly. The other bummer was the staff that night had salty attitudes. We came in with ten or so people and the woman that helped us did not seem pleased. There was eye rolling, she was short when asked questions, and overall it was a very unwelcoming vibe. We were there the night before a large festival, so maybe she'd just had enough of tourists, but regardless of the reason it didn't make me want to stick around any longer than it took for my pals to finish their beers. read more

Great beer, great interior, great prices - even the pretzel was delicious. My only complaint? BRING CASH - this place is cash only and they have no ATM on the premise!! If you need cash you have to go kiddy-corner to a gas station. The day we were there the weather was cold and rainy, you don't want to have to go back outside once you're in. If you're not sure what to get, I suggest the 5 beer sampler for $9. I got to try everything I was interested in and the pours were a good size. read more

Great beer, friendly service, and the tap room has a very welcoming ambience. 10/10 would return again and again!

Great Pilsner (#8?) and nice to have pretzels, but the atmosphere is too quiet, desperately needs music! Any kind, just something to give people privacy... read more

If you're into a brewery with a very German feel, then Lazy Monk is the place for you. It is constructed in a German beer hall style with long wooden tables and wooden floors. This makes the acoustics a bit rough, especially on a weekend night, but it's also an enormous tap room that can accommodate lots of people. The beer is the usual Lazy Monk fare, favoring Czech and German style beers. Traditional and good. Oddly, they also serve beer from other breweries, which seems a bit different than most tap rooms. But I suppose if you're not down with Lazy Monk's brews, this would be a plus. Occasionally they offer food trucks, which is a nice amenity, as they typically only serve soft pretzels which are delicious if you get them fresh or not-so-great after they've been sitting out for awhile. Pluses: The new brewery location is definitely easier to find and I like that it's helping to build up an area of the city that was once kind of shady. The outside deck is great in the summer time. Highly recommend it. Minuses: To my great dismay, they don't accept cards of any kind (credit or debit). Only cash. So come prepared for that. In this day of Stripe and Square, it baffles me when businesses don't accept credit cards. Also, super loud on even a moderately busy night. read more

Looks like crap from the outside but is really nice on the inside. They don't brew strictly German beers so don't worry if you are a hop head-they have a decent Rye IPA with deep body and a hoppy soul. Nice that they put out free pretzels. Private party room available. Cans available as well. Parking could be an issue. Drink and be merry. read more

Lazy Monk Brewing Tap Room - Rye IPA. - Breweries Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

My husband and I finally checked this place out and we really liked the vibe and the beer choices, but they really need music. It's awkward to have a conversation because it can be so quiet! If they started playing music, we would really like this place! We also really enjoyed the fact they have different board games to play! read more

Lazy Monk Brewing Tap Room - Breweries Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Out of towner --- Great variety. Great for Dog lovers. Great service. Want to go again!

Pretty good beer, loved octoberfest and citra Hefeweizen the rest were just ok, really cool atmosphere. Prices were reasonable and they had cans on hand for sale as well. read more

I love the beer and I love the atmosphere. What I don't like is the fact that they won't fill a growler from another establishment. I'm sorry. I'm from out of town so after traveling six hours I left my lazy monk growler at home proudly displayed but apparently that's not accepted so instead of continuing to spend my money I will leave. Too Bad really. I went elsewhere to buy multiple bears and a growler. Sad to feel like an outsider here because of treatment from a bar tender and an aloof response read more

I love the atmosphere of this brewery. The beer is also fantastic! This is a must stop in Eau Claire.

Man that is some good beer. The tap room is the nicest one I have ever been to. You would do well to drop in and have a flight. You will definitely come back. read more

Lazy Monk Brewing Tap Room - Breweries Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Very good beer, morgue- like atmosphere unless more than 40-50 people are conversing to drown out the echoes of silence, I guess the brewmaster feels this replicates an "authentic Biergarten"- I will have to inform my German relatives in Erlangen that their Biergarten is way off. Finally, when I attended their Oktoberfest, I nearly stroked-out when the featured band was an Irish trio. read more

We were headed to a festival in Eau Claire and The Lazy Monk was the perfect way to start our festival weekend! Easy to find off a busy street with lots of parking, this is strictly a brewery tasting room; but what a cool tasting room it is. There's so much space, but doesn't feel cavernous; in addition to the typical bar to belly up to, there are lots of cozy seating areas, large tables & benches reminiscent of a German beer hall AND a lovely outdoor patio. We sat at the bar and were immediately drawn into wonderful conversation with fellow customers and the super friendly bartender. We ordered two flights, which gave us a 4oz taste of all the beers on tap. There was not a disappointing beer in the bunch. My favorite was the Kolsch, a traditional German beer style that's incredibly difficult to do well. Also, no worries on no kitchen at The Lazy Monk... food trucks are scheduled often to fill that void. read more

Lazy Monk Brewing Tap Room - Try the sample paddle! Though there's no food, they serve HUGE Bavarian pretzels on Saturdays! - Breweries Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

It is a hobby of my husband's and mine too road trip and visit breweries. We really enjoyed this find. Every beir we tried was delicious. The tap room is spacious yet cozy. Ask the owner about the history and decor. This place is worth the drive from anywhere! read more

Beer is good and staff are friendly. Neat building. Has a monastery feel to it. Large place with plenty of places to sit inside and outside.

Great new location with lots of space to enjoy some really good craft brews. Lazy Monk is really getting it's act together serving up some very enjoyable brews along with a few guest brews and a root beer for the kiddos or designated driver. Generous seating allows for large groups to relax and converse. If you're into craft brews, then the Lazy Monk is a definite must visit. Oh yeah, very friendly staff. read more

Hi quality German beer in a large, clean, and comfortable setting. Definitely the best brewery we've encountered in Eau Claire. Our favorites were the dry stout, the dunkle, and the rye IPA. Good stuff! read more