Found out about this in the middle of nowhere brewery outside Fairbury. It certainly is one of the…read morefew places around here to get beers or anything it seems. Emancipation is a brewery not a lot of people have heard of because it's not close to anything of course. Has a surprising amount of variety on tap and in cans to go. They may not have a whole lot but everything is full of flavor and quenches one's thirst. Even with it being a smaller brewery it still has quite a lot. It's got several of their own beers on tap along with a few others. There's also more cans in a refrigerator. Has the basics along with a few interesting ones. More than just the IPAs and the usual. It's about $7 a pint. The Farmer's Favorite is the IPA and is a pretty good medium one that's crisp and smooth. Has a few things to snack on here. It's about $3 for the Krack Mix. Basically like Chex Mix but it's made locally. They also will let you bring in stuff. Great place that's pretty hard to find the first time going here. It's located on N. 2500 East Rd. a few miles north of Fairbury surrounded by corn fields pretty much. They're closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

We love the fact you can find a little beverage get away in rural Illinois. We stopped here with…read moreextended family for a quick drink. Our group had a variety of beverages including a mule, red lager, homemade radler, wine, and even a homemade non-alcoholic lemonade. The ambiance is rustic and comfortable. The bartender was friendly and helpful as our group was sampling a few of their offerings before we landed on our orders.

The vibe is welcoming the moment you walk in, and the space is very clean with fun beaver art…read moreeverywhere you look. It gives the place a light and playful feel without being over the top. For food, we had two vegan options to choose from. I went with the vegan steak with vegan mozzarella and a side salad. It was flavorful and satisfying, and I appreciated having a good plant based option at a brewery. My husband ordered the smash burger and really enjoyed it. Our server was knowledgeable and efficient, which made the whole visit even better. Overall, a fun stop with great service and good food, and I would be happy to come back.

Patio is great. Food consistently good. Tried pizza for first time- thin crust pepperoni and also a…read moresupreme...

This place is awesome. Food was good, beer was awesome. It's a great spot for kids to run around…read moretoo. Highly recommended.

Was disappointed in my last visit. They have changed their menu to mostly burgers with potato chips…read more. There was very little burger on the bread and it was too salty, for $17!!! How do expect people to drive to the middle of nowhere for that?

Amazing brews! So many flavors to choose from! Great surroundings inside and outdoors. They make…read moreyou feel at home.

Love Artesia. Great farm setting and good beer. Always get a beer flight. Great summer spot.read more

Finally tried the new menu in subsequent visits. The food is outstanding. I recommend the…read morebattered green beans, any of the flatbreads but especially the Smokehouse BBQ flatbread, the Nashville hot chicken sandwich and the chicken & waffle. All awesome. Need to get back in to try some on the menu. So thankful to have HOF in Menard County! It's one of my favorite spots.

The food and drink at Hand of Fate was amazing. We went out for lunch around the area and stopped…read moreby for a beer and a sandwich. We ordered the fried onions, which were thin and not the expected onion rings, however the fried green beans were the best! When ordering, it takes a little while to put in your order and they get the beer for you as you are ordering. We had a group of 5 and if you ordered your beer first, then you had to wait to order anything else. There was plenty of seating inside, but as it was a beautiful day, we decided to sit outside where they have a nice 3-4 table area for some people to lounge.

Great service by the friendly staff, a great selection of drinks and the food was good!…read more Hamburgers are outstanding cause they're a blend of meats. I sent the brussels sprouts back because they were way too crunchy. They cooked them a little longer and brought them back and they were fine. Enjoyed our visit and we'll go back.

Best place to get beers in Lexington is at this brewery. It surely is quite surprising a small town…read morelike this has this type of place. Analytical has a kind of science theme going on with the chemistry artwork. Has quite a few beers to choose from. The inside is big enough for a few friends, just not a massive group, because it's sort of limited on space. Among the few places in town to get craft beers instead of corporate cans. It's for sure not the brewery with the biggest selection but still what they have is actually impressive. There's a pretty good variety. A few are quite limited of course. Small batches usually taste better though. It's about $7 a pint. We had a few including the Analyze This! It's an IPA. This uses Centennial, Chinook, and Simcoe hops for notes of citrus and piney. For sure make a stop here if finding yourself around. It's closed Mondays. They have a few snacks like popcorn, but check on the website for events, because they often have food trucks.

wow this food was so good. came a little after open and got helped right away. drinks didn't take…read morelong just got some waters and sodas. then ordered food and that didn't take too long either, timing was reasonable. the server was very nice and the bartender as well. i got the cesar wrap 9/10, towards the bottom is was thigh meat i think and i didn't like that very much. the wings 10/10 it was half off as well. super flavorful. off the menu the spicy chicken pita 7/10, could use a little more flavor. all fries were very good and the ranch was very good reminded me of wing stop ranch.

Local Tap Craft Kitchen and Ale House in El Paso, Illinois, has quickly become a culinary standout…read moresince its 2022 opening, blending community roots with inventive Midwest flavors. Owned and Managed by Aaron Thomas with his really great team. This family-friendly alehouse prioritizes local partnerships and menu creativity, earning its place as a surprise standout in central Illinois' dining scene. Culinary Highlights The menu shines with elevated bar classics, including Ropp Jersey Cheese curds sourced from Normal, Illinois. ~a crispy, creamy nod to regional agriculture.  Wings tossed in bourbon-Sriracha glaze and lemon-pepper buffalo rub draw regulars, while the Italian beef sandwich, paired with sweet potato fries and maple mayo, offers a sweet-savory twist. The showstopper is the custom steak-blend burger: certified Angus beef smashed on a brioche bun, smothered in American cheese, and served with loaded fries-a "step above" typical pub fare. Surprise Standout Culinary Chronicles' sleeper hit is the maple mayo dip, a sweet-smoky companion to crispy sweet potato fries. While rumors swirl about its cult following, the dip exemplifies The Local Tap's knack for balancing familiarity with innovation. Community and Craft True to its name, the restaurant champions local breweries such as White Oak, Riggs Beer Company, and Casper Brewing. Also, fostering a patio-to-indoor vibe that's equally suited for family dinners or friend gatherings. Weekly cocktail features, like the raspberry Long Island iced tea and barrel-aged Old Fashioned, underscore their bar program's versatility. With its commitment to Midwestern flavors, community ties, and dishes that surprise even seasoned foodies, The Local Tap is a destination worth the drive. As Osborn and Thomas expand their culinary playbook-including this week's chicken cordon bleu ciabatta with white wine cream sauce-the restaurant solidifies its role as El Paso's flavorful heartbeat.

On a recent 04/17/26 visit to Bloomington-Normal we stopped in for dinner/drinks and had an…read moreexcellent time. Very nice space: the beer was terrific, as was the food. Highly recommended!! As we were finishing up our meal/drinks some really bad weather moved in, and suddenly tornado warnings hit everyone's phones. Destihl management quickly moved all remaining patrons (us included) into the brewery portion of the building for safety for approximately 45 minutes or so. Kudos to all members of the Destihl team that night, as they were friendly and professional during this severe and intense weather event.

The tour is worth the hour slot. Great information…read more I did not know that Wrexham (Ryan Reynolds) is only produced in Normal, IL (Stateside production). Many options for beer connoisseurs. Food is good. The Barrel Room is beautiful.

Checked out this local brewery in Bloomington. It has quite a surprising amount of variety on the…read morebeer list. Keg Grove is a good place for groups and hanging out. Far away enough from the craziness of the college campus and downtown bars but still not too far away. They have events and food trucks, so there's some good times to be had. A brewery that's located in a shopping plaza with a patio and indoor area. It's bigger than it looks. There's arcade games and even more tables upstairs. For sure anyone can find something fun. It's about $7 a pint. Last time I got the Show Me Your Stem. Good one. This is a pumpkin pie wheat. On the rim is graham crackers. The rest of the beers include IPAs as well as wheat beers in flavors such as blueberry and peach. For sure we could come here again. It's located on Empire Street in a shopping plaza. There's no food menu but usually there's a food truck.

My husband and I were just in Bloomington/Normal for a conference and decided to hit up the local…read morebreweries. We enjoyed all of our stops, but Keg Grove continued getting recommendations from locals. As a result, we had to stop by. And, in the end, Keg Grove WAS our favorite! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a kind warm welcome from the bartender. The space was also welcoming. It was wide open, clean, and spacious. My husband each got our own flights (see pictured). We loved all 8 of the beers that we got, but here were our 4 favorites: 1. #3 Malo Pina Colada Wheat, 2. #1 Holey Jeans Blueberry Wheat with a sugar rimmed glass, 3. #11 Love is Love Orange Guava Passionfruit Hard Seltzer, and 4. #7 Cornfuzed Corn Ale. There was not a bad beer and there were several more we would have loved to try. We ended up getting a 4 pack of the Hokey Jeans because the Malo was sold out. Prices are great, portions are reasonable, and presentation was solid. There was nothing to complain about and much to praise. We will definitely be back at Keg Grove the next time we are in town! Thanks for a great visit!