What started as a simple mission to pick up a special release at New Glarus Brewing turned into an epic, 10-hour, 350-mile rural expedition. I decided to make the ride home a scenic jaunt through a cluster of Northwest Illinois breweries I had never visited before.
The Plan
The original itinerary was straightforward:
- New Glarus Brewing Company – Grab the R&D Kriek release (a 9.1% ABV spontaneous coolship sour ale aged on Door County Balaton cherries in oak foeders).
- Lena Brewing – First stop for food and brews.
- Wishful Acres Farm & Brewing – A quick countryside stop.
- Hairy Cow Brewing – Mid-afternoon pints.
- Ogle County Brewery – The final stretch heading back toward home.
The Detour
Things went slightly sideways at Lena Brewing when a text from the wife asked a simple question: “Did you pick up Spotted Cow?” She didn’t realize I was 20 miles from the closest place to get fresh beer. This triggered an emergency 40-mile, hour-long detour to a Beverage Mart in Monroe, Wisconsin, completely scrambling the route and taking me from Lena, Illinois to Wisconsin back down to Oregon, Illinois for my third official stop.
Despite the logistical scramble, the drive through this part of the country is breathtaking—rolling hills, lush green vegetation, family farms, and wonderfully void of massive crowds.
Stop 1: Lena Brewing
When you drive up expecting a modest facility and it completely blows you away, you know you’ve arrived at Lena.
- The Vibe & Setup: It’s a massive facility with multiple indoor rooms and a large outdoor seating area (though it lacked umbrellas on a sunny day). While the interior is warm and homey, its sheer size can feel slightly detached.
- The Food: I ordered a Coldstream Lager paired with the “Mother Clucker” chicken sandwich. The beer was solid for the style, but the sandwich blew me away. The chicken-to-bun ratio was close to 2:1, served piping hot and tender with homemade coleslaw. At $15, it initially felt steep until I saw the size—easily shareable.
- Service & Takeaway: The staff was super helpful and friendly, though they only had two ordering stations at the bar, which could easily become a massive bottleneck during peak hours. It’s out of the way, but I’d gladly visit again for an event.
Stop 2: Wishful Acres Farm & Brewing
A quick stop before the detour, landed me at Wishful Acres.
- The Vibe: The inside of the old building—let’s call it an upgraded chicken coop—felt somewhat sterile and like remote farm brewing done on a tight budget. However, stepping outside to sit on a picnic bench beneath a magnificent 100-year-old oak tree right alongside nature changed everything.
- The Beer & Service: I stuck to my rule of one beer when hitting multiple spots, grabbing Leia’s IPA. The beer itself was average. Service was standard: they poured it, I drank it under the giant tree.
- The Takeaway: Easy to get to via GPS, but far from any actual town. If you want a peaceful outdoor space beneath a storybook tree, it’s worth a brief stop, though I probably wouldn’t rush back.
Stop 3: Hairy Cow Brewing
Located right on the scenic Rock River, Hairy Cow has an open, airy patio layout with high ceilings and a wood-fired pizza oven pumping out pies.
- The Experience: Unfortunately, the service missed the mark. Upon arriving at a bar with only 5 people and maybe 30% capacity, I waited an awkwardly long time just to be noticed, and the momentum never picked up. When the bartender asked if I wanted another round before heading to Ogle County, she casually dropped that I was “better off staying here because Ogle sucked.” Not a great look!
- The Beer & Food: I had a Mullet Nectar German Pilsner, named after a regular sporting a legendary mullet. I didn’t sample the food since I was still full from Lena, but the pizzas looked great.
- The Takeaway: Pricing was fair for the region and it’s easy to access. I’d come back to sit by the river and try a pizza, provided the service improves.
Stop 4: Ogle County Brewery
The final stop of a long, fun day. Housed in a really old downtown building in Oregon, Illinois, they’ve smartly left the interior patina alone to let the space tell its own story—even if it leans slightly cluttered.
- The Experience: The bartender was fantastic—attentive, engaging, and eager to chat about the local area and the beer. Pricing was also better than average for the region.
- The Beer: I tried the Mango Wheat. To their defense, the menu explicitly stated it was a sweet mango profile, but it fell below average for my personal palate.
- The Takeaway: Great historic space and top-notch service, but the beer didn’t win me over. I likely won’t return, but I’m glad I checked it out.
Final Thoughts
This was an epic day of great beer, unexpected detours, and discovering that Illinois isn’t just flat farmland. I covered 350 miles, spent 10 hours on the road, and can’t wait to head back that way for another round. Enjoy!