Anyone living in the Chicago suburbs can easily make a routine jaunt into the city to experience a cornucopia of great American craft breweries. This time, however, I decided to head in a completely different direction: Rockford, Illinois.
The Plan
My goal was to hit all four breweries in the Rockford area, time permitting.
- Prairie St. Brewing Co. – The definitive first stop. It opens an hour earlier than the other food-serving spots, giving me an extra hour of daylight fun right on the Rock River.
- Urban Forest Craft Brewing – Next on the list for a quick pint.
- Pig Minds Brewing Co. – The third main destination.
- Carlyle Brewing Co. – The ultimate wildcard. Located right near Prairie Street, it was the outlier—I’d hit it first or last if the clock allowed.
The Parade Roadblock
Driving to Rockford is seamless, but navigators can only do so much when a city-wide Pride Parade completely blocks your final approach. Even though the parade hadn’t officially kicked off, the streets were locked down. While I thoroughly enjoyed the vibrant colors, flamboyance, and incredible costumes of the participants, the local traffic was rerouted by the sheer deafness of police cones.
Unfortunately, this early logistical hiccup is the exact reason Carlyle Brewing Co. had to be cut from the itinerary.
Stop 1: Prairie St. Brewing Co.
Located in the historic, old Rockford Brewing Company building, this place is an absolute jaw-dropper. It’s an enormous red-brick structure sitting right on the banks of the Rock River, boasting beautiful architecture, massive indoor spaces, and a spectacular outdoor patio that easily measures 30 by 150 feet.
I arrived shortly after opening to a bartender who was visibly recovering from a hangover of her own. Despite a slightly sluggish setup and a minor order mix-up, she took total ownership, fixed it immediately, and was completely pleasant.
- The Food: Based on her recommendation, I ordered the Korean Fried Chicken Bowl. It was outstanding—perfectly crispy with a touch of zing, balanced by a deep, filling medley of rice and vegetables.
- The Beer & Value: I only had time for one beer. It was good, though not completely mind-blowing, but I’d definitely return to sample more of the list. Even better? The draft prices here are easily a dollar cheaper than what I pay back home—a solid 13% savings.
- The Takeaway: Getting here is a breeze (when you aren’t dodging a parade), though parking might get tight on peak days due to the shared public boat launch.
Stop 2: Urban Forest Craft Brewing
Tucked into a highly accessible strip mall with multiple entry points, Urban Forest was a massive shift in environment. The inside was absolutely packed with a happening crowd of passionate regulars.
- The Vibe: Because the interior was so slammed and I didn’t quite fit in with the hyper-local crowd, I ended up sitting at a lonely picnic table on the side of the building. Sitting out there honestly sucked; it made getting service incredibly difficult unless the only other occupied table ordered a round.
- The Beer: I stick strictly to a single beer here. It was a perfectly average, middle-of-the-road pint, and the pricing was standard for the area.
Stop 3: Pig Minds Brewing Co.
This place was a incredibly cool, pleasant surprise. Located right off a main road with ample parking, it had a fantastic crowd for the size of the facility without feeling overwhelmingly crowded.
- The Vegan Irony: Despite having pigs plastered all over the walls and inspiring the name, the kitchen is entirely vegan. Since I had already eaten, I skipped the food this time (leaving room for a higher score on a future review), but the tap list alone is worth the trip.
- The Regular’s Choice: I sat inside at the bar on a slow Saturday afternoon, happily avoiding the blistering sun outside. I ended up chatting with a friendly regular sitting next to me who gave me an awesome, patron-side history of the brewery. Based on his advice, I ordered Death Grip IPA. The beer was so solid it forced me to buy a 4-pack to go. They even named a beer after this guy, though his name definitely wasn’t Norm.
- The Takeaway: Like Prairie Street, prices here are a welcome break from Chicago rates, saving you at least 12% per pour. I will absolutely visit again.
Final Thoughts
Rockford is a fantastic city with some great history and a highly underrated beer scene. I’m already planning a return trip—next time with my wife—to grab lunch at Prairie St. Brewing Co., take a scenic walk along the river, and finally coax her into hitting up Carlyle Brewing Co. for great eats and good beer. Enjoy!