Tonewood Brewing - Barrington

A great facility, very spacious, very crowded in a good way, giving it a great social atmosphere. The quality of the beer is great, the service is very good. A worthwhile visit.

Hard for me to ever put numbers to things, read to interpret above...

Vibe for me here is more social and crowded than I prefer, if you go on weekends expect a few of birthdays, engagement parties, etc. at leas that has been my experience. Vibe from Tonewood is ALWAYS great but be prepared for me crowds here, depending on the day. Beautiful building but very cavernous and wide open.

The quality is second to none, always clean glassware and good beer; I've requested small samples multiple time aways given to me with a smile and a "sure." Beneficial I am only have one and want to test something new first.

Service is always happy and positive; smiles and helpful hands all around. Main reason I come to Barrington is for quick to go pick up, fridges right up front to pick your beer out then get rung up at the bar. If you do want a quick in and out for pick up go at opening or on a weeknight, as stated above weekends can get pretty crowded.

Selection is quite nice, sometimes leans hop heavy, but that is normal these days. The variety on top of that is as good as it gets anywhere, actually probably better.

Impressive second location opened up in a former lumber yard that for years I (and other friends) said might be perfect for a brewery. And they did a damn good job with the design and presentation. It was worth the wait.

I've been there at least a half dozen times now, probably more. Usually to sit for a beer or two then grab a pack of cans on the way out. They don't serve food, but I see people or parties bring in spreads all the time. I've been sitting at the bar more often as of late but, when they first opened, I would make a bee-line for the mezzanine to the right of the bar, which has a view overlooking the brew house, plus a sort of bird's-eye view of the main part of the bar room.

The draft list tends to be IPA-heavy, but I usually opt for any kind of lager first, and they usually have at least one on. The take-away beers often include brands not on tap, which is cool. One can get drafts at the bar. When it does get busy in there, however, luckily there's another counter at the back near the take-away coolers and merch that has a second tap for every brand they have on the menu.

It does get loud in there when it's packed, like last night when I dropped by. Crowd and DJ had me raising my voice and/or asking folks to repeat themselves. On nights they're not busy, the place can feel cavernous. Big communal tables throughout. They do also have a yard near the back with plenty of room for folks to hang when the weather is cooperative.

Service has been pretty top notch so far. All of the bartenders have been friendly enough. One time, I got home only to realize I was mistakenly charged for a more expensive pack of cans, and they refunded my money. Not necessary, but appreciated, and warrants continued patronage.

I do enjoy my visits and I love having this place relatively in the neighborhood.