Imperial Oak Brewing

Imperial Oak BrewingImperial Oak Brewing
Imperial Oak BrewingImperial Oak Brewing
Brewery, Bar, Beer-to-go

501 Willow Blvd
Willow Springs, Illinois, 60480-1705
United States

(708) 330-5096 | map
imperialoakbrewing.com
BEER STATS
Average:
4.12
Beers:
212
Ratings:
787
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.42
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
67
pDev:
7.69%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Zuidman:
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Rated by Zuidman from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -12.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75

Oct 09, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 5 by dandanvandanne from Illinois

Jul 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by Dkloubec from Illinois

Jul 10, 2018
 
Rated: 4.4 by REVZEB from Illinois

Jun 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.43 by thfreedumb from Illinois

May 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by Tucquan from Pennsylvania

Dec 11, 2017
 
Rated: 4.74 by Jinx989 from Illinois

Jun 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by enelson from Illinois

Apr 08, 2017
Photo of Dankacheese
Reviewed by Dankacheese from Illinois

4.36/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
I love me some Imperial Oaks! The surrounding area is awesome, year round. The building itself is impressive but modestly sized and tucked behind some trees in a cool location. It's a very nostalgic experience going to Imperial Oak.

New space is really nice with alot of attention to detail. Wide open and clean and it was especially a nice change waiting for bottle release's inside the new space while getting a pour on tap. Big bonus drinking beer while I wait in line.

If you've ever heard of IO or seen IO while driving by then make the time to go in and get some fresh brews. The brewer's are all cool dudes, staff are all cool and down to earth and there is plenty of seating. And one of the best highlights...its a brewery with TV's!! Why can't I enjoy a good game while enjoying good beers? If I don't want to talk to the company I'm with then that's my choice.

Doing my best to trade their BA bottles to out- of state folks. There is alot of time, effort and beer knowledge that goes into their small but impressive barrel aging program.
Mar 07, 2017
Photo of kreg02
Reviewed by kreg02 from Illinois

5/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
They just expanded and have yet to check it out but great selection of beers! Staff is great! One of the few breweries with tvs so good place to watch the game and have some beers. No food though but they do have food trucks come through.
Feb 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by Duff27 from Illinois

Jan 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4.06 by CPAles from Illinois

Dec 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.44 by Rubeodos from Illinois

Nov 23, 2016
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Reviewed by IpeeA from Missouri

4.58/5  rDev +3.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.25
Extremely cool place with great beers. Crowlers and limited bottles to go. Looking forward to future visits! Limited parking, but right off a train stop.
Aug 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.34 by Poloplaya from Illinois

Jun 04, 2016
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Reviewed by GrumpyGas from Illinois

4.57/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5
This would be awesome in good weather >75 degrees because 2 large overhead garage doors front the north side of the taproom between picnic tables outside and the long bar on the inside. Occupancy stated is 199, but at least half of those would be standing.

High ceiling with breweriana, merchandise, and art displayed on the walls. Music plays at a level that still allows for conversation and a couple of tv's let you follow your favorite team.

Lots of house beer pulls, a few outsider bottles/cans for more choices, and although they do not have a full bar, they have a wine and can make most any cocktail, taking pride in a few specialty cocktails. The menu is displayed on the wall, separating the tasting room from the brewhouse, as a bar-length chalkboard below a colorful and inspiring painting of the logo.

No food but they are on a regular food truck route and BYOF is allowed.
Standard growlers and a crowler/can option to go at reasonable prices.
Overall a nice place, good beer, good service.
May 15, 2016
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Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois

4.39/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Kind of out of the way, quiet location in Willow Springs (suburbs of Chicago). Parking isn't too bad - you can use the Metra lot across the street after 5PM.

The brewery is located in an old converted industrial building. Space inside is pretty cool, ample seating on a weeknight, although I could see it getting crowded fast for an event. Long bar area with a big chalkboard that has all their beers listed. Reasonable prices for the pours and a surprisingly large selection. Tried about 6 or 7 of their beers and all were very good. (they do offer tasting flights).

I was really impressed with the service - the bartender was knowledgeable and friendly. Also he let us try a taste of any of the beers before we ordered them.

As for to go - they offer growlers and "crowlers" which are essentially 32oz cans of their beer - pretty cool concept.

Overall a really nice location, Ill definitely be going back to try some of their barrel aged offerings as they come out.
Mar 17, 2016
Photo of ChiCubs78
Reviewed by ChiCubs78 from Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 3.75
Helpful staff and great beers to choose from. Nice sized brewpub with ample seating and a spirits bar as well. Their brewery release only barrel aged beer is awesome.
Mar 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.07 by egrace84 from Illinois

Feb 27, 2016
Photo of 3fdread
Reviewed by 3fdread from Illinois

4.21/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
Solid line up of beer, very modern feel to the tap room. Kinda under the bridge type location, so grab a troll and head for the bridge. Friendly staff, metra stop right at the front door, bike path nearby as well.
Feb 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.49 by kodt from Illinois

Dec 31, 2015
 
Rated: 4.54 by HabaJohn from Illinois

Dec 20, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by jeffrotell from Illinois

Dec 07, 2015
Photo of aceistheplace
Reviewed by aceistheplace from Michigan

4.52/5  rDev +2.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Have been here several times and I'm always amazed by their beers . My favorite is the Utterly Black Milk Stout (Nitro). Attended their Oak-Tober Fest this year and it was a terrific event.
Nov 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by qcbrewer from North Carolina

Oct 14, 2015
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Reviewed by 1000lbgrizzly from Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5
-Pretty standard brewery-sparse interior, but the garage doors provide ample natural light. TV's, cool personalized tables made with beer ingredients, indoor and outdoor seating, colorful chalkboard menu with some cool handmade art. Right next to a bike path, so a convenient place to treat yourself to some post-exercise rewards.
-Beer is surprisingly great, coming from a new and small brewery. Literally everything I had was great-phenomenal. Their watermelon beer was insanely addictive, their RIS and Belgians were spot on to the style, IPA's were noticeably different and accurate to the descriptions (dank vs fruit, etc), some curious experiments were successful (Honey Nut Beerios). Blew me away, I was kinda disappointed that by drinking one delicious beer I had to not drink their other delicious beers. These are all well-composed brews, and don't have that immature kind of new-brewery off-tastes, like you can still pick out the raw ingredients.
-Sampler flights are available.
-Staff were all great- super attentive, friendly, helpful, ready to talk beer in general or Imperial Oak specifically. I felt genuinely welcome and appreciated as a customer.
-Growlers howlers and crowlers available. Their one-off fruit beers are brewery-only, however, so I had to fill up on the watermelon while I was on location.
-No food besides chips, but they have local food menus available to order in. Also saw that they occasionally have food trucks come by.

THE best small brewery experience I've had out of a dozen or so, and I feel like that record will last for some time. The vibe was relaxed and inviting, the beer- oh, the beer- is already as good as most established, bigger breweries, and they can stand behind every single one of their creations- something I think those bigger breweries might be embarrassed to do. Service was exemplary. I want to keep praising this place but I think you get the point.
Oct 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4.43 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Aug 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.39 by PA-Michigander from Pennsylvania

Jul 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.19 by Kurmaraja from California

Jul 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by 773-F-I-B from Illinois

Jun 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.7 by kidzord from Illinois

Jun 27, 2015
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Reviewed by BlackBeerPirate from Illinois

4/5  rDev -9.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
One long bar with a huge black board. Knowledgeable staff, always a crowd, there are tasty Stouts and Porters and so are their other ales. Parking a little difficult.
Jun 15, 2015
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Rated by myuncle from Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
Just a great place to be.
Jun 14, 2015
Photo of shundahai
Reviewed by shundahai from Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +5.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75
An ever rotating selection of quality beers and a great vibe in this place. This brewery is a hidden gem and I don't look forward to when it's discovered by all of Chicago. That being said; if you haven't been here you really should check it out!
Jun 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by smartassboiler from Illinois

May 31, 2015
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Rated by Huberbockrox from Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5
Bert is the best bartender I have ever met. He introduced me to IPAs. The Bros would be happy.

SAW A DEAD BODY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!!
May 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by SWChi from Illinois

Apr 21, 2015
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Reviewed by southsidejoe8089 from Illinois

4.64/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
After some early growing pains, Imperial Oak has turned into one of my go-to breweries in the Chicago suburbs. Always an excellent selection (20 plus beers regularly on tap). The service is great and the space is perfect, with some outdoor seating when the weather allows. I wish they served food, but they typically have food trucks at least a few days a week.
Apr 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.57 by aussiebeer from Illinois

Mar 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.46 by Irishace9 from Illinois

Mar 21, 2015
Imperial Oak Brewing in Willow Springs, IL
Brewery rating: 4.12 out of 5 with 787 ratings