Lena Brewing Company
9416 W Wagner Rd
Lena, Illinois, 61048-9664
United States
(815) 369-2588 | map
lenabrewing.com
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Reviewed by Scanny95 from Wisconsin
4.63/5 rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5
4.63/5 rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5
Fun little place. Really cool bathrooms! Friendly and knowledgeable people working there. We went on Groupon and got the tour. I would recommend it!
We stop every time we go by!
Apr 04, 2017We stop every time we go by!
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois
3.28/5 rDev -22.6%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 2 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.25
3.28/5 rDev -22.6%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 2 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.25
This place was a bit of a mixed bag. The highlight was the all you can eat fried chicken at the Rafters restaurant next door, and it wasn't even close. The taproom and restaurant are in separate buildings, but obvious once you pull off of Highway 20. Beware of speed traps on this road by the way...
The Rafters restaurant was cozy and quaint with some interesting updates to it, though it has been here for awhile. Booth seating along the wall of the bar room when you walk in, and bar seating for 15 or so. The bartender was sweet and talked with us though was clearly overworked from 9-9 on a Sunday. The tap room bartender was great and showed us around, and was extremely nice and helpful.
The beer at Lena Brewing is poor quality. Most were thin and dull, typical of brewpub extract beers, that really needs some work. Highlights were the APA and Caramel Pecan Coffee (artificially flavored) stout out of 10 beers, which weren't without flaws. Two others were undrinkable, the Dunkelweizen and Vanilla Rum Stout. The brewery opened in January 2015, all 2014 reviews are fake. Staff/owners giving their brewery and beers all 5's before they even open is just sad.
It looks like they sunk a bit of money into this place, they'd do well to focus on improving the beer instead of doing all the hokey merchandising. A quality product and atmosphere are the only things keeping people coming back. Beer prices were ok, though I'd pass on the $20 sampler next time. They claimed the sample glasses are 8 ounces, which had me skeptical due to the size. Ask for tasters, I couldn't finish a third of them due to the poor quality.
The space itself was brand new and nice, with a great outdoor porch area.
Only worth a stop from Rockford or on the way to Galena for the curious, not a destination.
Go to The Rafters and get the fried chicken...
Aug 11, 2015The Rafters restaurant was cozy and quaint with some interesting updates to it, though it has been here for awhile. Booth seating along the wall of the bar room when you walk in, and bar seating for 15 or so. The bartender was sweet and talked with us though was clearly overworked from 9-9 on a Sunday. The tap room bartender was great and showed us around, and was extremely nice and helpful.
The beer at Lena Brewing is poor quality. Most were thin and dull, typical of brewpub extract beers, that really needs some work. Highlights were the APA and Caramel Pecan Coffee (artificially flavored) stout out of 10 beers, which weren't without flaws. Two others were undrinkable, the Dunkelweizen and Vanilla Rum Stout. The brewery opened in January 2015, all 2014 reviews are fake. Staff/owners giving their brewery and beers all 5's before they even open is just sad.
It looks like they sunk a bit of money into this place, they'd do well to focus on improving the beer instead of doing all the hokey merchandising. A quality product and atmosphere are the only things keeping people coming back. Beer prices were ok, though I'd pass on the $20 sampler next time. They claimed the sample glasses are 8 ounces, which had me skeptical due to the size. Ask for tasters, I couldn't finish a third of them due to the poor quality.
The space itself was brand new and nice, with a great outdoor porch area.
Only worth a stop from Rockford or on the way to Galena for the curious, not a destination.
Go to The Rafters and get the fried chicken...
Reviewed by GoBearsWalter34 from Illinois
4.53/5 rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
4.53/5 rDev +6.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Cool country barn setting. Lots of parking out in the middle of nowhere, but on way home frm Galena, Il. Very friendly and prompt service. 5 on tap, but out of most of their stuff because of unexpected popularity f new brewery. No food. Carry out options with glassware and clothing. Kids stayed out n car sleeping and very safe.
Jul 12, 2015
Reviewed by TheSSG from Illinois
3.43/5 rDev -19.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
3.43/5 rDev -19.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3
So, I gave this place a whirl after seeing them on the guest tap at Generations.
I like the location and the vibe is good.
It was CRAZY busy, so we had to just swap cash for pints at the counter, so service seemed adequate (all things considered).
Selection was a bit surprising; maybe 5 or 6 brews on tap. I was hoping for a few more.
Quality was so-so. The flavors weren't too bad, I was just really disappointed with the thin mouthfeel on everything. Also, I'm always a bit less-than-impressed when growlers are clear...that's like Beer 101. A petty gripe? Yes, but whatever.
I think I'll give them a try again sometime in the future, but I didn't really find it worth the drive.
Jan 25, 2015I like the location and the vibe is good.
It was CRAZY busy, so we had to just swap cash for pints at the counter, so service seemed adequate (all things considered).
Selection was a bit surprising; maybe 5 or 6 brews on tap. I was hoping for a few more.
Quality was so-so. The flavors weren't too bad, I was just really disappointed with the thin mouthfeel on everything. Also, I'm always a bit less-than-impressed when growlers are clear...that's like Beer 101. A petty gripe? Yes, but whatever.
I think I'll give them a try again sometime in the future, but I didn't really find it worth the drive.
Reviewed by twig78 from Illinois
5/5 rDev +17.9%
5/5 rDev +17.9%
As a consumer of beer for about 15 years, & as a feller who's grown a deep appreciation for craft breweries over the past 5 years, I was quite excited to find out my town was going to have a brewery! Sometimes, excitement can get the better of me... so I kept my expectations reasonable... just hopin' they'd make a beer or 2 that I could stock in my fridge, to at least say I was supporting the local guys...
That being said, my expectations have, thus far, been BLOWN AWAY!! These guys have been churning out some serious beers! Huge array of styles, & most of what I've tried has been a very talented take on that given style. It's cool to see the experimental stuff, right along side the more mainstream stuff. They do it all very well...
So now i am super-duper-uber excited for the Lena Brewery to open its doors, and show the masses that they are not messing around! Great beer, very nice facilities... for what more could a person ask?
Oct 17, 2014That being said, my expectations have, thus far, been BLOWN AWAY!! These guys have been churning out some serious beers! Huge array of styles, & most of what I've tried has been a very talented take on that given style. It's cool to see the experimental stuff, right along side the more mainstream stuff. They do it all very well...
So now i am super-duper-uber excited for the Lena Brewery to open its doors, and show the masses that they are not messing around! Great beer, very nice facilities... for what more could a person ask?
Rated by CraigLeBaron from Illinois
4.5/5 rDev +6.1%
4.5/5 rDev +6.1%
Restored barns turned into a good restaurant and bar with this new brewery next door.
Oct 17, 2014
Rated by Timbo5555 from Illinois
4.75/5 rDev +12%
4.75/5 rDev +12%
Great variety of beers, great knowledge of brewing process, Like their IPAs
Oct 17, 2014
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