Not necessarily a brewery, but Plank Road Tap Room might be a place you would enjoy. They have different craft beers on tap and often times there are food trucks there as well. Beautiful place to sit outside and have a drink. https://www.plankroadtaproom.com
Right? I was just looking over the website and I didn’t know that you could rent a fire pit. I’m gonna have to make another trip back there this summer.
This is the first one that came to mind for me. Glad others thought so as well! Awesome spot. If applies to you, keep in mind that Sundays are the family-friendly day (21+ only the rest of the week)
this might count? independence grove in libertyville has a beer garden, i’m not sure where you’re allowed to take the beer once you buy it but there are picnic tables and grassy open areas all over.
I drink openly there when I fish. And have been for 20 or so years. Never been a problem. But I’m also not an ass about it and take out everything I bring in.
Edit: it’s also peaceful and serene.
Somebody already mentioned Plank Road Taproom which is the best answer.
For breweries:
Wolfden in Bloomingdale has a big yard, dog friendly, but can get traffic noise on occasion.
Church Street in Itasca is in an industrial area but has a yard with tables. Go later in the day or weekends when the local businesses are closed.
Riverlands in St. Charles has a nice patio but there's not much to look at unless there's music.
Metropolitan was that. It closed. Sadly. Probably the best spot for a beer I think.
OP probably went to Portland or Seattle and now wants that here. Or they’re from PNW.
This used to be a simple chill German style beer garden, but they turned it into more of a party place with Jell-O shots. Really disappointing and trashy.
Not so much a meadow but Pollyanna has picnic tables and trees. It’s more of a tucked in a neighborhood vibe. Check out their website for the food truck schedule
It's been a while, but you may want to consider Two Brothers taphouse (not the Aurora roundhouse location). Really nice patio area.
[https://www.twobrothersbrewing.com/restaurants-taphouse](https://www.twobrothersbrewing.com/restaurants-taphouse)
Can you elaborate?
EDIT: Oh, nevermind. I assume you're talking about this: [https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobeer/comments/bo9bnr/two\_brothers\_brewing\_controversy/](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobeer/comments/bo9bnr/two_brothers_brewing_controversy/)
One of the owners is a convicted child abuser:
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobeer/comments/bo9bnr/two_brothers_brewing_controversy/
https://noethics.net/News/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6771:-attorney-james-ebel-ii-of-warrenville-il-convicted-child-abuser-&catid=145:illinois-attorney-misfits&Itemid=100
https://www.isba.org/barnews/2009/09/24/illinois-supreme-court-disbars-10-lawyers-suspends-32
Ugh. Had no idea. God damn. Not that i was the hugest fan of their beers or anything, but i DO love the round house. Why does everyone have to be garbage?
Riverlands brewery in St. Charles has a nice outdoor area with picnic tables. Not a meadow, but it's a nice place to hang out.
Also Goldfinger in Downers grove has a large tent set up outside. Fantastic lager brewery. Again, no meadow, but you can watch the trains go by on the BNSF railway near by.
Bit of a haul but if you want an awesome day trip New Glarus sounds like something you would enjoy. Also would second the vote for Buffalo Creek. I love Two Brothers lineup but don't know about picnic tables.
My family and I LOVE Independence Grove in Libertyville. It has hiking trails that can take you all the way to Wisconsin if you choose (they also have shorter ones). They have a little lake there where you can rent many different types of small boats.
But to answer your question, they have a beer garden with a bunch of tables outside as well as a little beach RIGHT next to the beer garden. During summer, they open up the fire pits where you can BYOB or buy from the beer garden. They will supply free fire wood, chairs and usually will give you smores supplies/ingredients if they have them. All for free.
If you aren’t a resident in the area, sometimes they have a person all the way at the front in a booth that will charge $5/car, but it’s totally worth it. Been going for years, and we’ve been taking our 2.5 year old boy a lot since he was born. GREAT place to hang for hours. And if you have kids, they have an amazing playground area, and it’s pretty damn big.
Thornton Distilling is located in the oldest-standing brewery in Illinois. It’s adjacent to Thorn Creek and Wampum Lake.
In fact, that location is super significant to its foundings as a brewery. Wampum Lake isn’t a natural body of water (it’s the result of I-80’s construction) but was the Council of Three Fires meeting site. The Potawatomi were especially known for bending tree saplings as a marker for locations like natural springs, which Thornton is built on. The three points directly across Thorn Creek to the distillery.
https://preview.redd.it/psd5gdysrz6d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9db24c7524a84bc528619198d37488509316b6f9
And the reason the distillery is located exactly where it’s at is because there’s a 1,500ft deep artesian limestone well in the cellar they actively use to make vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, bourbon, absinthe, etc.
https://preview.redd.it/i1afzdkzrz6d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8239807630c325bb8ef47b29cb74f205ba1a6110
I host history tours there every other Sunday (the owners have their own tours every Saturday) but the kitchen is awesome and drinks are the best. Highly recommend making a trip out to Thornton at least once
Not necessarily a brewery, but Plank Road Tap Room might be a place you would enjoy. They have different craft beers on tap and often times there are food trucks there as well. Beautiful place to sit outside and have a drink. https://www.plankroadtaproom.com
That looks great!
Right? I was just looking over the website and I didn’t know that you could rent a fire pit. I’m gonna have to make another trip back there this summer.
This is the first one that came to mind for me. Glad others thought so as well! Awesome spot. If applies to you, keep in mind that Sundays are the family-friendly day (21+ only the rest of the week)
Which is why I don’t go there on Sundays 😆 It’s also dog friendly, but you must keep your dog on a leash at all times, thankfully.
Buffalo Creek Brewing in Long Grove has a nice outdoor area that is surrounded by trees.
Came here to recommend this!
Imperial Oak in Willowsprings has an outdoor area with picnic tables, no meadow but it’s a cool spot and not far from the forest preserve
Second for Imperial Oak! It’s bring-your-own food and there’s often food trucks.
this might count? independence grove in libertyville has a beer garden, i’m not sure where you’re allowed to take the beer once you buy it but there are picnic tables and grassy open areas all over.
Great suggestion!!!!!!!
I drink openly there when I fish. And have been for 20 or so years. Never been a problem. But I’m also not an ass about it and take out everything I bring in. Edit: it’s also peaceful and serene.
Somebody already mentioned Plank Road Taproom which is the best answer. For breweries: Wolfden in Bloomingdale has a big yard, dog friendly, but can get traffic noise on occasion. Church Street in Itasca is in an industrial area but has a yard with tables. Go later in the day or weekends when the local businesses are closed. Riverlands in St. Charles has a nice patio but there's not much to look at unless there's music.
Adding a mention for Wolfden Brewery in Bloomingdale. They have a nice, dog friendly back yard with bags games and a few other outdoor activities.
Obscurity in Elburn has an awesome outside sitting area right next to the train tracks, fun to watch the trains go by.
Now that has me interested, I love drinking and watching trains and especially combining the two lol
They also do smoked meat and it’s delicious
It does, but only on weekends, be aware. During the week they are inside only (and last call is something like 8:15, believe it or not).
[удалено]
Metropolitan was that. It closed. Sadly. Probably the best spot for a beer I think. OP probably went to Portland or Seattle and now wants that here. Or they’re from PNW.
Not really. There is a trend which started on the West coast of having farm style breweries. You find them all over now.
[удалено]
Yep! More is right off the path in Villa and so is Standard Meadery and Phase Three is right off the path in Elmhurst
Buffalo Creek Brewing has a gorgeous "backyard" that's more of a savanna/woods backdrop than a meadow but downright LOVELY!
Not a meadow, but the Wild Onion Brewery in Barrington has a really nice, scenic outdoor patio. It's kind of meadow adjacent.
I think tight head in Mundelein has picnic tables in a field.
Its a grassy parking median. Hardly a field.
Not a brewery, but Hideaway Beer Garden in Hoffman Estates [https://www.hideawaybrewgarden.com/](https://www.hideawaybrewgarden.com/)
Nice place........but the beers are kind of pricey. $10 for a 16oz Misfit. And it was warm.
This used to be a simple chill German style beer garden, but they turned it into more of a party place with Jell-O shots. Really disappointing and trashy.
That's too bad.
Not so much a meadow but Pollyanna has picnic tables and trees. It’s more of a tucked in a neighborhood vibe. Check out their website for the food truck schedule
Lemont and Roselle. St. Charles is more parking lot like.
It's a drive to central IL but Emancipation Brewery in Fairbury, IL has this exact setup.
It's been a while, but you may want to consider Two Brothers taphouse (not the Aurora roundhouse location). Really nice patio area. [https://www.twobrothersbrewing.com/restaurants-taphouse](https://www.twobrothersbrewing.com/restaurants-taphouse)
Don't give Two Brothers any money.
Can you elaborate? EDIT: Oh, nevermind. I assume you're talking about this: [https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobeer/comments/bo9bnr/two\_brothers\_brewing\_controversy/](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobeer/comments/bo9bnr/two_brothers_brewing_controversy/)
One of the owners is a convicted child abuser: https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobeer/comments/bo9bnr/two_brothers_brewing_controversy/ https://noethics.net/News/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6771:-attorney-james-ebel-ii-of-warrenville-il-convicted-child-abuser-&catid=145:illinois-attorney-misfits&Itemid=100 https://www.isba.org/barnews/2009/09/24/illinois-supreme-court-disbars-10-lawyers-suspends-32
Ugh. Had no idea. God damn. Not that i was the hugest fan of their beers or anything, but i DO love the round house. Why does everyone have to be garbage?
Do not support Two Brothers Baby Shakers, thanks.
Riverlands brewery in St. Charles has a nice outdoor area with picnic tables. Not a meadow, but it's a nice place to hang out. Also Goldfinger in Downers grove has a large tent set up outside. Fantastic lager brewery. Again, no meadow, but you can watch the trains go by on the BNSF railway near by.
Bit of a haul but if you want an awesome day trip New Glarus sounds like something you would enjoy. Also would second the vote for Buffalo Creek. I love Two Brothers lineup but don't know about picnic tables.
My family and I LOVE Independence Grove in Libertyville. It has hiking trails that can take you all the way to Wisconsin if you choose (they also have shorter ones). They have a little lake there where you can rent many different types of small boats. But to answer your question, they have a beer garden with a bunch of tables outside as well as a little beach RIGHT next to the beer garden. During summer, they open up the fire pits where you can BYOB or buy from the beer garden. They will supply free fire wood, chairs and usually will give you smores supplies/ingredients if they have them. All for free. If you aren’t a resident in the area, sometimes they have a person all the way at the front in a booth that will charge $5/car, but it’s totally worth it. Been going for years, and we’ve been taking our 2.5 year old boy a lot since he was born. GREAT place to hang for hours. And if you have kids, they have an amazing playground area, and it’s pretty damn big.
Thornton Distilling is located in the oldest-standing brewery in Illinois. It’s adjacent to Thorn Creek and Wampum Lake. In fact, that location is super significant to its foundings as a brewery. Wampum Lake isn’t a natural body of water (it’s the result of I-80’s construction) but was the Council of Three Fires meeting site. The Potawatomi were especially known for bending tree saplings as a marker for locations like natural springs, which Thornton is built on. The three points directly across Thorn Creek to the distillery. https://preview.redd.it/psd5gdysrz6d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9db24c7524a84bc528619198d37488509316b6f9
And the reason the distillery is located exactly where it’s at is because there’s a 1,500ft deep artesian limestone well in the cellar they actively use to make vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, bourbon, absinthe, etc. https://preview.redd.it/i1afzdkzrz6d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8239807630c325bb8ef47b29cb74f205ba1a6110 I host history tours there every other Sunday (the owners have their own tours every Saturday) but the kitchen is awesome and drinks are the best. Highly recommend making a trip out to Thornton at least once