Winter is Here. You Need a (Local) Beer
You often hear about the joys of drinking an ice-cold beer on a hot Summer's day, right? What about the joys of drinking a beer, while wrapped up in your a fleece-lined hoodie? Although we always have a hard time letting go of Fall, Winter is officially here. With that, we are going to argue that now is actually the perfect season for drinking a local craft beer. Think about it...What’s the one thing that makes the holidays and a quiet snowy day a little more manageable? A beer.
As the weather continues to chill, you’ll settle in with friends and family, cozy around the fireplace. You know as well as we do, that winter is coziest when you have a koozie wrapped beer in your dominant hand. Maybe you're already a fan of the craft brew scene in the greater Champaign County area, but if you haven't gone out and explored it just yet, Winter really is the season to do so...
Add some of these to your Winter Bucket List:
RIGGS BEER COMPANY | 1901 S. HIGH CROSS RD., URBANA | 217-718-5345
Riggs Beer Company is a family-owned production brewery, tap room, and beer garden on the eastern edge of Urbana. They offer four year-round beers, plus seasonal beers, cold-brew coffee, and wine. Two of their year-round beers include corn grown on the Riggs family farm in Champaign County. Their unique fusion of German and American brewing styles creates unique beers that are easy to drink and enjoy. Lagers and Wheat Beers are their specialty. Surrounded by green space, with a play area for children, it’s a great destination for the whole family. The brewery conducts weekly tours; see the website for details.
25 O'Clock Brewing Company | 208 W. Griggs St., Urbana
After 6 years of searching for the right location, in 2016 two longtime residents of Urbana-Champaign (U-C) decided the banks of the legendary Boneyard Creek in the heart of Urbana, IL was the place to be. Located at 208 W. Griggs Street, 25 O’Clock Brewing Company, U-C’s first worker-owned cooperative brewery, has begun serving beer. The menu focuses on traditional and American variations of Belgian and English style ales.
The patio and taproom offer a relaxing setting to drink some of the finest locally produced beers in Central Illinois. They do not serve food, but feel free to bring snacks to the patio and we will soon be partnering with local restaurants.
Triptych Brewing | 1703 Woodfield Dr., Savoy
Triptych Brewing is an award-winning microbrewery in Savoy is dedicated to the production of high quality craft beer. Triptych beers are rooted in old world brewing traditions, draw upon a variety of inspirations including local ingredients, and cover a very wide gamut of tastes. At the tasting room in Savoy, Triptych offers up to 8 different beers in a lineup that changes with the seasons. Their Dirty Hippy English brown ale received a silver medal at the 2014 World Beer Cup. Since their opening in 2013, Triptych has brewed over 100 different varieties.
Ready to plan your beer trail weekend? Download our Visitors Guide for more area information, or discover the many hotels available in the area!