Spots to hit in Peoria, IL

You know, I really don't know much about Peoria at all. You're correct that there is a Tucks and Binny's there. If OP is driving from QC to Peoria via I-74, the HyVee in Galesburg is definitely worth a stop for beer and bourbon browsing. It's literally right off the interstate and that HyVee has a Starbucks in it if you need a coffee break. Last time I was there a few weeks ago they had Cafe Deth and Ryeway to Heaven on sale.

But yeah, @CityFarmer is your guy for Peoria intel. Although now farther into the Hinterlands, @semibaked has some good knowledge of the area too!

 

I'd recommend Slow Hand BBQ in Peoria, two locations with 12 & 16 taps. Bearded Owl has a new brewer that recently came from Hand of Fate, so you might want to give them another shot.

Coming from the Quad Cities area, Iron Spike in Galesburg had some decent beers and good food specials last year. Reserve Artisan Ales recently opened in Galesburg and looks promising. Patton Block brewpub in Monmouth also looks to be worth a detour for good food & beer.

Tangentially related, but anyone heading downstate on I-55 should check out Kemp's Upper Tap in Lexington. Great selection of regional drafts we don't see in Chicago, and good food as well.

 

Slow Hand BBQ in the Heights is very good, but that link is not for the one in Peoria. They have some alcohol on site, but the right thing to do is bring your BBQ directly downstairs to Pour Bros with their 16 tap pour-it-yourself beer wall.

A good local option for beer with food is The Fox on the north side. Their 25 taps usually make up the best taplist in Peoria. They are really good about keeping their menu on Untappd up to date, and you can get any draft beer as a 16oz crowler to go. Sometimes they have really limited stuff, I got some no drama crowlers of VSOJ here.

Other options you may consider are Kellehers and Thyme, both downtown. 8 Bit Beercade doesnt have food, but is pretty fun, with a solid beer selection and free vintage arcade games. 8 Bit, Bearded Owl, Kellehers and Thyme are all pretty much on the same corner downtown.

If you want to emphasize the boutique-y spots, Obed & Isaac's downtown is neat, but think of it as a beautiful restored church that has a brew pub in it rather than a great brewpub that is in a cool building. In other words: Awesome building, good food, forgettable beer. Oliver's (2 locations with split ownership - I prefer the north side location) would also fit the bill.

For packaged beer, Binny's and the two HyVees are your best bets. Friar Tuck is an option too, though as @FBarber warns, check for freshness.

 

Or to positive spin on it, where else are you going to find the last two 6-packs of Hopslam on a retail shelf in town?

Not joking, was just in there tonight. They also do have a good selection of Deep Woods 4-packs in stock too! Deth's Tar, Straight Jacket, Vanilla, & Ryeway.

 

Tucks is where I go to get more of a limited release that has been sold out everywhere for weeks, sometimes many months.

 

Don’t have much to add to the above but I will recommend fox pub and cafe….good food and they get some decently hard to find beers on draft every now and again. And they’ll crowler anything to bring home.

Thyme is a particularly good option if you’re trying to taste some harder to find (and overpriced) bourbons.

 

I thought of you immediately when I saw this...

 

We have a similar treasure here in Chicago.

Capone's on Elston and Waveland



Typically pop in a few times a year and I'm typically satisfied with my haul. They are willing to give discounts on some of their very old stock if you take a few off their hands.

 

Did anyone mention 8bit bar and the bearded owl? Kelleher's Irish Pub is also a must. There is thyme kitchen which has tons of beer and bourbon. These all all in downtown Peoria.

 

My kids have sporting events in Peoria this weekend. Anything interesting distro'd down here that we don't get in Chicagoland? Planning on stopping at the Binny's to pick up beers for the hotel.

 

@CityFarmer
@emerge077

 

Not from the area but have lots of family there. As others have already repeated Friar Tuck is my go-to but Binnys is also good. I usually stock up on Triptych whenever I'm down there because it very rarely ever makes it up to us in Chicago and their product is always fantastic.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Avanti's as far as food goes. Their Gondola sandwich is stellar, not much to it but its damn good. Can always grab it to-go as well. Donnelly's Irish Pub is also good and they usually have a pretty great tap list.

 

Burger Barge in East Peoria. Maybe not a boutique but good food. Not sure they have craft beer. Last time I ate there I was in recovery mode from the night before and didn't order anything from the bar. In Galesburg Iron Spike has a good menu and a variety of beers. The Pizza House is good and has a nice variety of food. Another is Baked Pizza which was excellent. Both places have reasonably fresh Two Hearted bottles.

 

Yes, it's been ages since I had a Gondola. They are fantastic. The bread is unusually sweet, it makes the sandwich really unique.

 

So Triptych, Riggs, Blind Pig, and a couple other random Central Illinois breweries I'd never heard of was the answer to what was at Binny's that we don't already get in Chicagoland.

 

Were you expecting Treehouse, Cantillon & Westvleteren?