Oasis Micro-Pub

Oasis Micro-PubOasis Micro-Pub
Oasis Micro-PubOasis Micro-Pub
Bar, Beer-to-go

901 E State St
Rockford, Illinois, 61104-1023
United States

(815) 964-7777 | map
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.36
Reviews:
22
Ratings:
30
pDev:
10.78%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of bptr
Reviewed by bptr from Illinois

3.16/5  rDev -27.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3
Usually pretty good with a good
selection of high-alcohol craft beers.
Also has a great fireplace and is the only bar in Rockford that I know of that stays open until 2am every night of the week and never closes early because of being slow. Most of the bartenders are pretty cool chicks (not one guy).

Minuses:
Sometimes it kind of turns into a gay hipster bar with twerpy guys in skinny jeans and obnoxious voices yelling. Also, one fat airhead bartender talks in upspeak, says "I feel like..." over and over, or just stares at her phone behind the bar when she isn't ignoring you and your empty beer for 20 minutes while talking to her abuse victim friend on the wrong side of the bar.

Also, it often reeks of perm solution from some old hair stylist place and loads of chemicals still stashed somewhere.
Jan 19, 2016
Photo of wapcap
Reviewed by wapcap from Nebraska

4.4/5  rDev +0.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
Probably the best craft beer place in Rockford, that is not a brewery. They had 20-30 taps, alot more bottles, and you can buy bottles to go. They do serve food, and the service was good.
I'd recommend checking this place out. It is walkable from Carlyle.
Jul 12, 2015
 
Rated: 4.72 by tt_andy from Illinois

Jul 11, 2015
 
Rated: 5 by BarronVonGruner from Illinois

Dec 04, 2014
Photo of EmptyPockets
Rated by EmptyPockets from Illinois

5/5  rDev +14.7%
Always a great selection of handles and the bartenders are well educated on the beer offerings.
Sep 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by rhynosorus from California

Aug 03, 2014
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.46/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
The sign out front was designed in Microsoft Word. By someone who had never before used Word, and who probably didn't even know what fonts are. So imagine my surprise when, upon entering the building, it turned out to be decorated like a mid-70s heroin den, like the office of a bad guy in an episode of The Rockford Files. Lots of places go for a pleasantly masculine 1970's vibe, but they usually do so with a ton of vintage brewery swag and memorabilia. While I like those places, it's neat to see a different approach. Feels more genuinely classy and confident, but somehow manages not to seem uppity or oppressive.

Peak class, I tell you. The bartender said it used to be a private club. That makes sense, since the place is as much of a literal hole in the wall as I've ever been in. It's about the size of a narrow studio apartment, with lots of varnished wood and classy/gauche, semi-pornographic watercolors and a bas-relief behind the bar . There's also a fireplace.

The selection is fairly wide and the bartenders are both knowledgeable and friendly. There wasn't anything that was exceedingly rare, but the area seems wonderfully bereft of tick-obsessed beer geeks, and so good stuff stays around longer than it does in most places.

The best part, arguably, is the prices, which are the best I've seen in years. We're talking "Milwaukee in 2005"-style prices. All beers were either 3 or 4 bucks. Amazing.
Jun 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Piske41 from Illinois

Mar 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by foretheloveofbeer from Illinois

Mar 23, 2014
Photo of smmeier819
Reviewed by smmeier819 from Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.75
Don Quixote, fireplaces, naked art, leather swivel barstools, tiny 19" TV in the corner if you want to watch something. I love this place just based on how I feel when I walk through the door.

Beer selection changes roughly every two weeks or so, give it 4 if you want a completely new menu to choose from. You get an honest to goodness 12oz pour for 3-5 bucks depending on the beer, highest you'll pay for a beer is 6 dollars and that's only on the really high abv stuff that would be 9 dollars anywhere else.

The wait staff is really knowledgeable, and friendly. Sit at the bar for sure, table service can be patchy, especially when they are busy.

The next best thing about this place other than the down to earth homey vibe, great selection, great prices, great service, great times (lump all those things together) is that you can order an uncle nicks gyro and cheese fries! CHEESE FRIES!!!

I almost forgot to mention, you can buy a sixer or a bomber to take home...but why would someone ever want to leave here?
Mar 02, 2014
Photo of mkel0365
Reviewed by mkel0365 from Illinois

4.46/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 3
Not a typical bar at all...very narrow, straight bar with bar seating and a few tables.
What it lacks in space it makes up for in selection. From takeovers to regular taps, this place is the go-to for micros. Wait staff is knowledgeable, having a good idea of what's going on with the beers.
Should not miss if you're traveling through town. Literally a "corner bar"..make the effort to find it.
Jan 05, 2014
Photo of KFBR392
Reviewed by KFBR392 from Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
Atmosphere: A small, very relaxed feel. No TVs, just an atmosphere where you have to enjoy the beer your drinking or chat with follow patrons. Is usually pretty quiet overall which is nice.

Quality: High quality with the brews they offer. I've enjoyed KBS and many other quality brews here. They recently tapped a 2010 Nemesis keg they had been storing. At any one time they will have a few gems on the menu.

Service: Always pretty good, its a small place so two people are usually working the whole place. Friendly and get you your beer in a timely fashion.

Selection: Like I said, always have some gems on the menu and many solid mainstays. Mainly US products, but when I'm complaining about that, I'm really getting picky. Any drinker can find something to enjoy here.

Food: They do serve food which comes from the establishment across the street which is called Uncle Nick's. They do have good food but I've never had it while at Oasis so I'll withhold judgement.

Value: Always running specials and can always get a great brew for about $3. Not going to find much better then Oasis.

Overall: My favorite bar to drink at in Rockford. It is tough to talk my non craft drinkers to coming since there are no TVs or macro beers they can drink but in a way that makes this place better. No doubt worth stopping in some time for a beer by yourself or with a group.
May 23, 2013
Photo of 1beerqueer
Reviewed by 1beerqueer from Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +11.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
This is the best selection of craft beer you will find in Rockford. Not only is the beer cheap ($3+), but the staff is friendly, the atmosphere is warm & cozy, and the crowd is usually pretty interesting. I enjoy coming here at least once a week for the constantly updated beer menu.
Jan 26, 2013
Photo of Trifecta1
Reviewed by Trifecta1 from Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I've been going to Oasis about once a week (sometimes once every two) for the past 2 years. I love this place. The bartenders are extremely nice, and always willing to chat. The place has an old 60s-70s tavern feel, with Don Quixote paintings lining the walls. 26 craft beer taps, with ONLY craft beer. They're all the cheapest I've seen in the Rockford area by far, and they rotate selection every week. No Guinness (usually) and never PBR.
However, this does not deter the hipsters from running amok in this place on weekend nights. Hipsters are why I can't rate the service and atmosphere higher; they come in fleets, talking about how the new Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs album is so understated, how they made their own scarves from hemp, and their new fixie bikes are organic.
All this aside, they deliver delicious gyros and BBQ fries from next door for cheap, or you can take a nice drunk stroll over to the gyro shop (open til like 2 AM) and chuckle at the antics of Rockford degenerates that come out of hiding when the sun goes down. Either way, it's a great time, and a great place to drop in.
Oct 26, 2012
Photo of Darkstar
Reviewed by Darkstar

4.58/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
We love this place! It's quaint, cozy and the beer selection is awesome. If you can appreciate a nice craft beer, then this is the place and they have something for every palate. They rotate their kegs after a couple of months so the beer selections are as fresh as possible. The chairs are comfy and the overall atmosphere is warm and inviting, especially in the winter next to the fireplace! You don't have to worry about trying to talk over loud music, which can also be a plus if you are in he mood for a quiet evening out. The bartenders are very friendly and know their beer. This is THE place to go if you are into craft beer in Rockford, just don't even think about asking for a domestic beer because they don't serve them here.
May 06, 2012
Photo of bertram
Reviewed by bertram from Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -15.1%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4
This place is a hidden gem. You wouldn’t know to look at it from the outside...and if you find your way in you wouldn’t know it from first glance inside...but this place carries some quality beers from brewers like Founders - and at incredibly great prices. It’s decor is like the Regal Beagle but the great craft beers selection is definitely this century.

Food is available from the owner's restaurant across the street, and there is a selection of carry-out beer as well (may take a few minutes for them to get for you, so enjoy a beer while you wait).
Dec 16, 2011
Photo of SpdKilz
Reviewed by SpdKilz from Illinois

3.91/5  rDev -10.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
So, I have heard about this bar and had to try it out for myself. I have heard they have decent taps (at times) and was, honestly, a bit disappointed when I was there. I will not write this bar off by any means, however, it was a bit of a letdown. We tried to walk in the front door but I guess they lock it due to bums trying to come in. We had to get in via the side street entrance. Walking in I felt like I was warped back to the late 80’s. The bar, in my opinion, needed a drastic revamp. Very dive bar like. While the draft list was “solid” per-say, there was absolutely nothing that stood out. Perhaps I am becoming too accustomed to having crazy beers on tap, but I was somewhat dismayed that the best beer they had was Stone Subliminally Self Righteous. In addition, a few of the beers they had that were worthwhile were out. The service was quite nice, and the waitress was great. I didn’t buy food while here, so I can’t comment on that. As for the atmosphere, it seemed there were quite a few locals there and they sort of rolled their eyes as my brother-in-law and I walked in because we didn’t “fit the part” if you know what I mean. Again, not writing this bar off, and I will be back there soon (they do get some good beers [i.e. KBS] but obviously none when I was there). Cheers!
Nov 06, 2011
Photo of ZenAgnostic
Reviewed by ZenAgnostic from Texas

3.78/5  rDev -13.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Inexpensive if you buy to go (at or near retail). Somewhere around twice as much if you drink at the bar (typical).

Decent selection, though they were out of many of the beers on their menu. The to-go menu was much larger, and had lots of beers you couldn't drink while at the bar. To-go is sold by the 6pack unless otherwise specified as 4packs. They had Founders Breakfast Stout when I went.

Food was pretty legit. Prices were generally good.

Service was snarky but nice. Apparently the guy who owns/runs the place does it as a labor of love more than as a business, so that's why the beers are so near to retail. At least, this is according to the bartendress.

They let you buy 5oz samples of beers for usually $1, but sometimes $2. Maybe even $3 for the really top shelf beers.

A little too dim for rating appearance, but that is just all too common these days.
Sep 20, 2011
Photo of kevin7912
Reviewed by kevin7912 from Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +11.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
This is a GREAT place for a variety of craft beers. I had a couple of mugs of Founders KBS last night.. What a smooth beer on tap. Nick has recently had CBS on tap also. Being a Stout person, the selection is awesome with at least 4 to choose from this week. Stone Arrogant bastard, Founders Breakfast Stout Rogue Nitro Stout along with a couple of brown ales including Smuttynose Old brown Dog. I believe they have 16-20 beers on tap right now.

Very friendly people at this small 70s looking micro pub..
Apr 06, 2011
Photo of Contagion
Reviewed by Contagion from Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -9.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
This is a great little secret in Rockford. It's a good bar with a wide selection and great prices. On draft they have a lot of the local and/or popular craft beers. Their selection rotates, but usually only to other local/popular craft beers. You hardly ever see one that isn't a staple in any of the local liquor stores. (Bell's, Founders, Dark horse, Avery, Flying Dog, Rogue, Two Brothers, etc) They also have some imports.

Service is hit and miss. Sometimes I'm served quickly, other's it's a slow long wait. This place is a night ender. With the average beer having a higher ABV than what most people are used to, you don't hit this place early unless you want to get thrashed.

Prices are amazingly cheap for what you are ordering.
Feb 19, 2011
Photo of 4DAloveofSTOUT
Reviewed by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -13.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
This is a regular place that I like to hit up in Rockford. They have a fantastic selection of craft beers on tap. Atmosphere is kinda dark, but the fire place in normally going! Price are the best i have ever seen for craft beer & great selection too. Had some really impressive beer here. KBS on draft, Nitro Rasputin, Lots of IPAs, any beer that a beer geek could love...its here. Food is order-in from a place called uncle nicks which the bar owner happens to own as well. Don't eat the foos very often, but comes in handy when the beer munchies hit you hard!
Feb 09, 2011
Photo of phartzog
Reviewed by phartzog from Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -12.2%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 2.5
The Regal Beagle with a great selection of beers! Decor is very 70s with paintings of nudes with the nipples brushed out, dark lighting, wood paneling, and furniture that could have come out of a. . . well, '70s bar.

The fireplace is warm and cozy in the winter and the place has a strong following of regulars who tend to be either older like me (40+) or gen Y literary snobs (meant in a friendly way!) who want a good conversation and good beer.

The beer selection is wide ranging and ever changing, making Oasis a fun place to come with a hint of mystery. I always have that "Oooh! That sounds good" moment when I browse the beer menu and there is typically something for everyone.

Don't come here for the food. I like a good Uncle Nick's Gyros as well as anyone, but food is not why you come to Oasis. Come for the beer, the friendly patrons and staff, and for the fireplace on a cold winter night.
Jan 06, 2011
Photo of EROCK75
Reviewed by EROCK75 from Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This is my first review on BA so here we go. This is my favorite local watering hole and felt they deserved the credit they're due. This place is amazing for a town like Rockford for any craft beer lover. 9 out of 10 bars in the area are BMC only sports or dance bars and look at you funny when you try to order craft. This place serves NO BMC at all! Knowledgeable staff are helpfull with recomendations and updates on what is new. Prices are very reasonable, most pints 3-4 dollars, with nothing over 6. Last night my bartender gave me a mix of Rogue Double Chocolate Stout and Left Hand Milk Stout she dubbed the Milk Chocolate. Food is not made on sight, but is delivered from the place across the street. Delicious gyros and other sandwiches. Would recomend to anyone looking for a a laid back place to have a good craft.
Dec 11, 2010
Photo of robbyc1
Reviewed by robbyc1 from Illinois

4.28/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Had to try this based on the ratings. Not disappointing.

Quiet beer bar, Decent jukebox, with 17 taps on when I was there. Mostly Midwest micros, counted 4 Founders taps, no sign of macros other than the ones served in bottles to idiots. Ample bottle list of more than 50, though no need with the taps they had.

Excellent choices, quality on par, service was great, a nice greeting for an outsider, with full menu of what they have! Unusual.

Selection has some depth, had a Rogue I had never heard of. Well done, worth a trip if you are near by. Prices exceptional, alot were $3, most $4 per pint. Nice.
Dec 06, 2010
Photo of Drinkquisitor
Reviewed by Drinkquisitor from Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Now, this is a place that deserves justice. And I say this because of what I just read on the last review. Because of my job, I travel a lot, and I've been to so many craft beer places, and The Oasis Micro Pub is awesome. I'm glad there is a place like this one in a small city like Rockford, which specializes in high quality craft beer, and quality craft beer only. You go in there and find a nice, quiet, friendly atmosphere. Don't know who's been to the Monk's Kettle in San Francisco but The Oasis kind of reminds me of it. The staff members are very pleasant, and quite knowledgeable about the beers. The beer menu helps a lot though; every beer listed on it, comes with a brief description that, pretty much gives an idea, of what a beer will be like when tasted, and how reasonably priced they are (come on people, it's craft beer) As far as choices, you can choose from 20 different taps! Really! From Founder's like: Dirty Bastard, or Rogue's Xs Scotch Ale, to Ballast Point's Sculpin which was put on tap just a few days ago. Hey! I even got to try The Sea Monster Imperial Stout which was one of my girlfriend's favorite; too bad is retired though. I don't think I've got enough space here to list all the great beers I've had at this place; you'd have to come and see for yourself. Overall, this is place is amazing, it's got a lot of potential and choices for the beer connoisseur. I can't wait to see this place being expanded, I mean, don't get me wrong, considering winter is around the corner, this is the perfect place to go, and spend the evening right next to the fireplace. I give The Oasis Micro Pub and AAA+ and I sincerely recommend it to people who wanna try something they rarely find anywhere else.
Nov 10, 2010
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.44/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
After striking out with several other spots to grab a bite and a beer on a Sunday (seriously does the whole town shut down? Carlyle, Irish Rose, and Olympic were all closed on a late afternoon...) we wound up at Oasis.

Is this the right place? Yeah, there's a sign on both corners...side entrance is a little sketchy looking. Not a soul around, weird. Once inside, it's smallish and cozy, carpeted with a fireplace and several octagonal wooden tables. Many shades of tan & brown, a color palette reminiscent of the Publican in Chicago. The ceiling was forest green stucco, and the walls were tan with a Don Quixote themed copper bas relief piece above the bar. The comfy bar stools were vintage vinyl captains chairs that gave the bar a 70's rec room sort of feel.

Most of the 20 taps were $3...wow! Amazing deals, I got a Founders Porter in a big mug, a 60 oz. pitcher was only $10. You serious Clark? I'm not sure if this was a temporary special, but the bartender seemed to think it was a long-term thing. Selection was US craft focused, with the imports Wittekerke and Youngs Double Chocolate. Lots of Rogue, including the bourbon barrel John John Dead Guy, DFH, Founders, Left Hand Milk Stout on nitro, Bells, and a few others. The beer menu came complete with detailed tasting notes and listed ABV. Also a dozen or so wines on tap by the glass.

Solid option downtown, near Carlyle and Irish Rose. Oasis is filling the quality craft beer niche in a town where there are few options. They have the best tap selection in Rockford, and cheapest prices just about anywhere.

Also of note in town is Toad Hall, an emporium of collectibles, mostly records, books, and odds & ends.

Beer list is regularly updated: https://www.beermenus.com/places/21910-oasis-micro-pub
Feb 15, 2010
Photo of hoosier222002
Reviewed by hoosier222002 from Illinois

4.64/5  rDev +6.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Oasis just reopened after a couple of months. A couple of friends and I stopped in on a Friday evening. To honor the reopening, they had all taps, 16 or so, for $3. Tap selection was very good. 90 minute, the Csar Imperial Sout, Ranger IPA, just to name a few. They removed some of the "booths" they had before which allows more light in. The fireplace was going which made for a nice atmosphere. Service was solid, three people behind the bar for the crowd. Comfortable bar stools are a plus as well.

Hard to find a better beer selection in Rockford.
Feb 06, 2010
Photo of homebrew311
Reviewed by homebrew311 from Illinois

4.86/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
After the huge disappointment which was Carlyle's, I gave the Oasis Micro Pub a shot. I walked in and it felt liked I walked in to someone's cozy living room. The bar stools and table chairs are oversized and padded comfy chairs ( There's a fireplace, about 5 tables, and a bar the has about 8 chairs. Very small and cozy. They had approx 20 beers on draft. This is where Oasis excels. In my opinion, this was the best variety I have seen for 20 taps at any bar. Mind you, I frequent some of the beer bars in Chicagoland which are great, but I was awed by the selection and pricing here. I had a DFH 90 min IPA for 4.50, and a Dark Horse Plead the 5th for 5.75. Others on draft included Rogue Nitro Stout (a blend of shakespeare and imperial stout) Rogue Charli ale, Boulder Flashback, Founders Dirty Bastard, Dark Horse Brown Ale (never even heard of this one), LH Milk Stout, DH Sapient TripAle, Celis White ale, among some others. The bartender was down to earth and extremely friendly. The crowd was older but fun and down to earth. The prices on the beers were also fantastic. The most expensive beer on the menu was 5.75 for a 12 oz pour of Plead the 5th (which is a 12% imp stout!), 3.50 for a pint of Founder's DB, and they had a whole list of beer specials (probably 6 or 7 of the selections) for a dollar off. The bartender was telling me that they recently scored a keg of Founders CBS. I was jealous that I missed out on that. It seems to me that the management of this bar have a very good relationship with their distributor and have a great knowledge of beer. This selection was well thought out and very well rounded. They don't have a bottle list for in house consumption, but they did have a list of carry out six pack, 4 packs, singles, and bombers. I was surprised to see KBS on this list at $7 a bottle (that includes tax). So in other words, a bar in
Rockford still has KBS and sells it for less than Sam's in Chicago. I was in heaven at this place, I will definitely make a stop here every time I am in the area.
Jul 19, 2009
Oasis Micro-Pub in Rockford, IL
Place rating: 4.36 out of 5 with 30 ratings