I cannot say enough good things about this bar. Having moved here a few years ago, The Blind Pig quickly became my favorite bar in CU. As a fan of draft beer, this is the place to go. They have about 20 drafts that rotate from week to week, aside from a few staple beers that are always available. I'm always excited to come in and try something new while I'm there. The atmosphere has a welcoming and cozy feel to it. There's ample seating that can accommodate all numbers of group sizes. I really like the beer bottles that line the rafters in the ceiling, it gives the bar a unique look in that way. Overall, if you're looking to get away from your usual mundane light beer this is the place for you. Great beers and great people, what more could you ask for? read more

Blind Pig Co. (not to be confused with the Brewery, also in downtown Champaign, which just opened recently) is a full-service bar in downtown Champaign. The Blind Pig (as I will refer to it for the rest of this entry) differentiates itself from other local bars by offering a HUGE selection of microbrews on tap (well over 20 at any one time) , as well as a large selection of beer by the bottle. This huge selection is one of the reasons this is my favorite bar in Champaign, as well as the fact that you can get a five beer sampler (of any draft beer) for just $8. The Blind Pig changes its menu weekly, with different beers entering and leaving each time. Another thing I like about the Pig is the fact that it is one of the few places I know of where you can get beer in a cask, which is just for unfiltered beer, and lets the beer continue to age and ferment while it is being stored. Considering the rarity of cask beer, at least in my experience, this alone is a good enough reason to stop by the Bling Pig. There is a different Cask every week. The Blind Pig also has special events at different times, depending on when the event takes place. These events usually involve some sort of drink special or giveaways. As an example, I attended the Blind Pig's 5th anniversary party just a few weeks ago. A representative from Rogue Ales, one of the first microbreweries in America, was present, and giving away t-shirts. I was lucky enough to get one when I got a Rogue Old Crustacean Barleywine (which was delicious). In addition, there was a selection of 6 Rogue drafts and a Rogue cask, with all pints being $5 each (a rather good deal for Rogue at the Blind Pig). The Pig tends to draw an older, off-campus crowd. As such, it is usually less crowded and rowdy than on-campus bars, though it gets busier on weekends. One of the reasons I like to go to the Blind Pig is that it offers a different kind of atmosphere that one cannot find in other bars (especially those on campus), as well as the superior beer selection. read more

When I visit Urbana-Champaign, The Blind Pig is a shining gem in an otherwise usually uninspiring visiting experience. I have a good high school friend who went to college here and never left, so when I come visit her and the bf this is where we hang! The atmosphere here is the exact sort of laid back, relaxed vibe I look for in a pub. Despite only being a visitor to the area I feel like a regular when I come here because the bartenders are so friendly. Blind pig is cozy yet lively, making it the perfect place to kick back with friends. Despite being in an area full of college students, I've never felt like it was overrun with 21-year-old frat boys. The decor is cute as well, and the outdoor patio is nice when the weather is agreeable. Lastly, but very importantly, they have incredible beer selection, at a great price. My friend's boyfriend is an anal-retentive beer connoisseur, so if he likes it here, that's a definite stamp of approval! read more

Amazing beer as noted by all. Award-winning selection and ambiance. Not noted by most: no TV in the place! I absolutely love that there isn't a television drawing everyone's attention. Otherwise, nice staff and dim decor, and a really pleasant Irish music session on Sundays from 5-8 p.m. (Sundays and Mondays also presently feature $1 PBR and $2 Jameson's whiskey). Can't be beat. read more

The Blind Pig is one of the places I'll miss most now that I no longer live in Champaign. The interior is modeled after old English pubs with mahogany and dark glassed windows, but there are plenty of unique touches. I always was happy with the music here too. I can barely hear myself think in most bars, but at the Pig the music, while good, keeps to its proper place. Sometimes they have live Irish and ragtime-style music. The beer menu is the best in the area, with high quality drafts on tap, as well as a huge stock of bottled beers. The usually have cask conditioned beer too, which is mostly wonderful, if a little strong (the last one I had was something like 11% alcohol). read more

This place makes me happy. It reminds me a little bit of Chilkoot Charlie's in Anchorage, Alaska: a cooky, made-of-wood, easy-going atmosphere with a friendly staff. I had the raspberry wheat (not gluten-free) and enjoyed the crisp, pure raspberry flavor. I appreciate a good berry beer, and this is one of them. They also serve Glutiny (New Belgium) for the gluten-free folks who aren't able to go off-diet from time to time. This is one of my favorite g/f beers and I'm glad to see it on the menu for a mere $4. Seating outside for folks who wanna bring their drink while they smoke. Dart boards and wicked cool booth seating. I'll visit this bar again for sure. read more

I've been here a few times, and I like the vibe its got going on; very English pub with the dark wood, dirty windows, and huge variety of beers (both on tap and bottled). I especially like how they always have unique seasonal beers on tap. It's interesting to try something different despite being more of a wine drinker. I'm still working on acquiring the taste for beer. The bartenders have always been good, but short staffed at times as this place gets really busy on the weekends. Oh, and even if you go at a time when the sun is at its brightest and there isn't a cloud in the sky, you're still going to be tripping over chairs as your eyes struggle to adjust to the dim interior. Most nights, there will be live music, and even if there isn't, the Blind Pig is just a good place to come and chill out. The crowd tends to be a bit older, which (thankfully) means there isn't dance music being blasted in your ears, or drunk frat boys tripping around, spilling their beers on you. read more

I was really excited when I heard about the Pig; I thought it'd be a cool, laid back place to hang out on a weekend and try good beers. Unfortunately, it's been way too popular and crowded on the weekends I've been (which I'm guessing is pretty typical for it). The place is really loud (hard to have conversations loud), it's pretty much standing room only (good luck finding a table to even stand around), and it takes forever to order drinks at the bar. All this stuff adds up to a not so great place at which to enjoy a beer. However, I will say they do have a great beer selection, and they even tend to serve it in appropriate glasses. So, maybe I need to go out and try it on a week night, and I'd like it better. But, since I usually drink on weekends, the Pig is only going to get 3 stars from me. read more

I truly enjoyed my time here. The beer on tap was excellent and the bartenders were some of the kindest folks I've met. They discussed all the different beers and even talked movies with me. I truly enjoyed my time there and loved their beer selection. The crowd there was pretty "hipster" and the bar itself looked like a good old fashion pub. I loved it! It's the best selection of drought beer I've seen in Illinois and they give you samples and will also do a "flight" for you. If you're a beer snob, this place is great. If you like to go out on the town, they've also got $1.50 PBRs and other less expensive beers. It's a great place! read more

The Blind Pig Brewery has become my favorite bar since moving back to Champaign from Ann Arbor. I like it a bit better than the original Blind Pig because it's a long, narrow space. This can work against it because it fills up easy, and it's not conducive to a group bigger than four people until the patio opens up. Still though, I like feeling cozy with my fellow bargoers. The decor and atmosphere are great. The beer list is good too; mostly bottles. It's the place to go to support your Michigan breweries! If only they'd order some Shorts. Their own craft brews have generally been okay, but supply does seem to run out quickly. This isn't really an issue for me since there's plenty of other beers on the menu I've never tried, but if you're coming specifically to try some local beer you might go home disappointed. The one other knock is that it can be hard to get served when it's busy (just like 90% of other bard, I suppose). The narrow physical space of the bar means that traversing it is difficult when there's more than a couple people waiting to order. All in all, though, definitely worth the modest prices. Great place to either sit inside or out back with the beautiful City Building in view. read more

So authentic. You must stop if you are in the Champaign area. We tried the sampler bc we were driving back to Chicago. Blueberry Cider, Octoberfest, It was delicious. Bartender gave us some great recommendations for food in the general vicinity. read more

Not a fan of the seasonal pale ale here, a bit too bitter at the end with a weird floral note. However, their stouts are pretty amazing and chocolate-y. This is definitely a place to go with your close friends and family. The place is dark and kind of broody...like a place you picture your sophisticated grad TA to hang out on the weekends. I wouldn't say dress up as dress down. No "going out" shoes or anything, aim for classy oxfords. This is a place where you just go for conversation and a drink. Simple and sweet as that. read more

I take it back, Guido's is no longer my favorite bar in Champaign. With the renovations and the new room full of beautiful gothic wooden booths, read leather couches, totally hot lounge chairs, and, importantly, twice the capacity, Blind Pig is now officially the best place in champaign for graduate students to hang out and bitch about their thesis research. The beers! Oh, the beers! So much Guiness and Stella on Tap! And the bartenders will be all nice and cool when they serve it to you! Blind Pig has somehow always managed to avoid having huge quantities of skanks and guys in striped, button down shirts, and even the golden oldies that frequent the place have a kind of hippie cool. I might have even gone to Blind Pig when I lived in Boston. It's that good. read more

Fantastic place to get a drink whether that's with a peer, professor, date, whatever. Drinks are great, craft beers are awesome, space is conducive to chatting (though it can get a bit loud sometimes), and the bartenders are all really friendly. The only downside is that there's no food-- but there are so many other options right next door that this is rarely ever actually a problem. read more

First of all- this place has two beers from Stone Brewing Co, .......ON TAP. I take it that Champaign is a drinkin' town, but this is a phenomena universally considered as kick-@ss anywhere within the known galaxy. Also- the 'Pig is gritty, dark, and distressed inside, as any good watering hole should be. But like it's booze selection- is not without a bit of distinction. It's a labrynth of cathedral arches and dark recesses. The only thing missing is a dirt floor. It's crazy like that. read more

Delicious beers (and cider!) My first experience here was after the reception of two of my friends' wedding in 2010. It's a staple of C-U. I've always liked it because of the low-key, relaxed atmosphere (most of the time). It's a great reprieve from the usual under-21 rowdy crowds on Green street. A good place to relax with old friends with a tasty brew. read more

The home-brewed beers first became available this week and we enjoyed 4 on the first day. But by Thursday and again on Friday they only had two home brewed, one of which was the cider. So, a little disappointing that they ran out of home brewed so soon after they first became available. That having been said, the decor is nice and feels warm, and the sound is muffled enough that you can have a conversation without resorting to shouting. The beer selection is good. The wine offerings on the other hand are proudly displayed to be "Black Box" box wines, which I have never seen in any bar... Its not that box wine is bad, it just was so strange. My last complaint, and this probably cost them a star is that they offer almost nothing to eat. Planters peanuts in a pouch and tiny sample bags of pretzels are the total menu. Maybe one or two other non-perishable bar snacks would keep folks from feeling the need to leave to get dinner. Can someone get this bar a Slim Jim or a pink hard boiled egg? read more

A great place to enjoy a drink, and an incredible beer selection. I would recommend a Delirium Tremens or the Bells Hopslam. They have a huge selection of beer on tap, as well as bottled beer. The bartenders there are really nice, personable and knowledgeable. This is the bar I went to at midnight on my 21st, and the bartender was super nice and poured my whiskey extra strong because it was my birthday. The atmosphere is really cool, lots of exposed wood, and glass top tables with random bits of memorabilia underneath. The lighting is what it should be for a pub and the overall vibe is very chill. The one complaint I have is that their clientele is sometimes a little snobby and high-strung. A lot of grad students hang out here and think of it as their bar, so they get a little uppity when undergrads show up. But if you can ignore the snobs, it's a great place to sit and have a drink with some friends in a relaxing and chill atmosphere. read more

The Blind Pig recently opened a second location, one street across on Neil St, providing downtown Champaign with another bar stocked with good beer. The real draw here will be the house-brewed beer - in the coming months, there will be four drafts of craft brewed Blind Pig brand beers. Until then, the draft selection is a (smaller) reflection of the selection from the Blind Pig around the corner. Despite that, the new Pig Brewery remains very busy, both in the small interior and the very large beergarden. read more

Easily has become my favorite spot. I tried the spot the first time around and kinda put off, but then my boston beer connoisseur friend said this place was suppose to be the bomb. I tried again and I totally fell in love with the place, Andy and Wynter. For those that hate red bull taste but want a pick me up ask for a Wynter's breeze. Da bomb. The best thing about this place? An old lady can put up her stinky ass feet and feel good about herself. read more

Where else in Central Illinois would a man with glasses and a bowler hat start rockin' out on the stand-up piano with, what else but, Piano Man!? This is my all-time favorite bar in Chambana! The interior. (I love the dark wood and deep red walls. ) The atmosphere. (Your friends are there. They regulars are there.) The beer selection. (Supposedly modeled after the Map Room.) The bartenders are so great. More times than not, I would ask for a Jameson on the rocks and get at least two shots worth for 3 bucks. I really miss this place. So many great memories. If I don't stop here while I'm in town, I feel the trip was worthless. read more

If you want a place that is great to sit down, talk with your friends without the fear of being drowned out by loud music. This is the place. If you want a place where the bartenders are more than happy to chat, more than happy to help discuss choices of beer with you (especially if you are a fledgling beer drinker)--then this is the place. If you want a place with a large variety of beer options--both draught and bottled? This is the place. Also, if you want a bar that harkens back to a wooden pubby almost German-esque kind of bar look. This is also the place! My brother and I dropped by to The Blind Pig on a Monday night. It was a quiet time, but the bartenders were very attentive and you could tell all the guests were having fun with them. I just started my venturing into beer a few months ago so when the bartender asked for our orders, I still had no idea what I wanted. But the barkeep and I went through the kind of beers I've tried and liked in the past and immediately he was able to draw up a sample of their beer that I just ADORED. (The Duchess--super awesome sour beer if you like the monastery-type beers like I do). Our time at the Blind Pig was very relaxed, very chill, and overall a very fun time. Now if only they served food...haha luckily Mary Ann's Diner is just down the road. read more

One of, if not THE best, spots in town to get your socializin' and drink on. The bar has a pub feel- lots of warm looking wood, none too clean but in a good not squicky way, odd mementos stashed and stuck all over. It is not a dancing or sports bar. It is a solid spot to enjoy their freakin' amazing selection of brews and actually conversate with the person/s you are hanging with. Amazing brew selection. I know, said it already, but serrriously. They have Rouge Ale Double Dead Guy. Beer with 10%+ AC? I am so there. You can try brew from all over the place- stateside and beyond. Sampler flights are a great deal and good way to try your options. They have liquor but I'm fairly certain it's not a wine drinkers type o' place. (I love wine, but not the atmo at wine 'bars'.) Get on the email list if you live in the area- best way to keep up on special stuff, great deals, and ever changing selection of beer. read more

Long story short: if you are going to label yourself a 'brewery' and offer a really good selection of beer (they do), then OWN it. My guess is that the owner/manager/shot caller knows and loves their beer (me too!). However, I think that If he/she went into his/her own bar as a paying customer, they'd find their staff cannot execute on that vision at all. I won't go into the details, but their staff treated me like a transient when I asked to "taste" one of the beers on tap. I was first taken aback (it was like the guy had never heard of that), then insulted, then embarrassed...for him! He pretty much refused me and it wasn't like I wasn't spending money. It wasn't like I was sitting there ordering Busch Lite all night and then suddenly wanted just a little freebie of the good stuff for chrissake! Still, they have good beer, the concept is great and the atmosphere (kind of low-key dive-ish) is good, so despite the staff; 3 stars. read more

Perfect little pub to hang out at while in town for a graduate/professional course!! GREAT staff & patrons, eclectic selection of brews, & ciders! Excellent prices..nothing cost me more than 2.50-4$ Tuesday Specials!! Would be a regular there if I was local. Thanks for the good times Blind Pig! read more

A great little beer joint. Attended a friend's function here. Plenty of room to sit, mingle, and meet people. Also not to loud so we could hear each other. Large selection of beers and whiskey's. Nice cocktail list also. Love of the old school atmosphere inside. Only downside, it may be a plus, is no food offerings. They can concentrate on the drinks and bar service. Service is good. Bartenders are on top of things helping people and making sure everyone is getting served. read more

I like "The Piglet" well enough but I really think downtown Champaign needs another bar like it needs another grad student sitting outside a coffee shop writing a thesis on their Macbook that is going to change the world. I've heard the rumor that The Piglet was built to hold the overflow from The Big Pig and I'm interested to see how the business holds up once the crowds who were enjoying the unusually beautiful and humidity free evenings this summer disappear into their holes for the winter. The interior is cozy and dark but I don't think it will be able to hold crowds in the winter months. On the plus side...they have $1.75 Old Style Drafts (rock on!), the beer garden really is monstrous and a nice place to hang out, and I've never had bad service from the staff. Keep it up Piglet...I'll be back to see you next time I'm in town! read more

This is a quintessential collegiate grad bar. I imagine lots of philosophical exchanges have been made here. Great beer selection offset by a dark wood setting, perfect movie scene. There's some pretty ecletic chinoiserie-esque booths. Coming from Chicago, seeing microbrews for half the price you get in the city is a wonderful perk. Good place to stop and have a drink. read more

$2 Jameson shots. The beer menu is pretty good. read more

Delightful. Comfortable. Well-decorated. Their mixed drinks are shitastic but it's a beer place, no more. No more except the warm atmosphere, the not-too-loud buzz of friends and colleagues, and a very interesting beer menu. Mini-update: I can still stand by everything I've said and would like to reiterate: the mixed drinks are awful. Beer is still awesome. read more

The Piglet is my go-to bar. It has great ambiance and provides an intimate bar setting with no frills or distractions other than a great selection. The best and worst part about this place is its narrow corridor shape and limited tables, small and narrow, intimate and personal and yet tends to get crowded and impenetrable during prime weekend hours. They have seasonal micro-brews that cater to most palates. I recommend the Wietbier and Hard Cider, both out during the spring and summer season. They also have a wide mix of bottles and ever-changing draft selection, along with the four or five micro-brews to go along with the full bar. There prices are reasonable for the area. The micro-brews typically run between four to six dollars. The only downside to the menu is the complete lack of food: no appetizers or peanuts here. This is a simple but fun bar and is especially good for afternoon get-togethers or cocktail hours in the early weekday afternoons. Something is always on special. Because they are in downtown Champaign, the management keeps a close eye on the clientele to be sure no underclassmen filter through. This is also a great place to start an evening on the town, too. read more

As I progress into the job market, martinis and wine become the beverage of norm. This doesn't mean i'm giving up my uncanny affinity to draft beer! Ambiance is, of course, the most visible selling point of the pub. Dim lighting, minimal sitting room, and a lot of unfinished and finished wood furniture. All the reviews of pompous or arrogant bartenders were not realized by me or any of my friends. We actually did a spectrum tasting with the bartenders' recommendations, pounding down pints that were strongly hoppy to beers that were flavored with interesting substances (blueberry beer anyone?). Oh, the 75 cent planters peanut packages behind the bar are A MUST. When you're drinking different pints, you want to have something to clear out the taste of the last beer so you can enjoy the next one. The bar was at moderate capacity on a Saturday evening at 1 a.m. when we rolled in; we waited about 5 minutes to get a table for the 6 of us. By the time we left 30 minutes later with 4-5 pints a person, we were starting the beginning of an interesting and sloshed night :) They have an expansive selection of draft and bottled brews, so utilize the bartender's knowledge! They are more than willing to recommend and let you sample some interesting ones. Cost of 6 pints with peanuts? About $34 including tip. Sold! read more

Went in the early evening for the first time here. Good atmosphere - older but with character. HUGE selection of craft beers on tap and bottled. This is just a bar though - so no food. Only downside - they don't carry/sell their own beer from the Blind Pig Brewery which was kind of a let down. read more

Worth the effort, if you can stand the odor of hipsters and irony. If the service here was half the quality of their beers, or half the excellence of the decor, it would be the greatest bar in the world. As it happens, though, getting a beer often takes as long as the fermentation process to make it. read more

Moved away from Champaign and still never found a replacement for The Blind Pig. Simple: dark wood and tables, great craft beer tap list. That's it. Great place for corner conversation over a beer. read more

The beer is decent. My favorite was Rhubarb Wheat.

Went on a Monday night and was really impressed by the specials. The bartender recommended a great beer and I got it for only $1.50! Really laid-back atmosphere, people are nice, kind of quiet (but I did go twice in the day time, so that could be why). Great bar, I'd definitely go back. read more

This is hands down one of my favorite bars in Champaign. The beer is great, the bar is chill and quaint, and there's always a good crowd there. I'll be coming back often. read more

If you want to try out a new beer, you should come here and check out the selection. There were so many beers on the list that I had never heard of but was very excited to try. The atmosphere was great too. Yes, it was a little busy, but on a Friday night I expected that. It still wasn't too crowded and I didn't have to wait too long to order drinks. Outside has a nice patio area with chairs and I enjoyed sitting out there as well. I would love to go back and try out more brews. read more

The Blind Pig is a great local brewery! They offer an enormous selection of craft beers and ciders. They have a lot of indoor seating, but I would recommend stepping outside behind the bar to their beautifully lit alleyway with great table seating. The ambience is wonderful there! They offer trivia on Wednesday nights, but it is not very well managed. It is very difficult to hear the trivia master and people who are not participating are not very considerate of those who are. Also, FYI: They do NOT serve food, so this is not a dinner or app place. It IS, however, the *perfect* place for a nightcap! read more