The Atmosphere - 5 stars. I love hanging out at the Piglet, whether it be in the snug inside at one of the small wooden tables, or especially the fantastic patio in the alley out back. The ambience is great outdoors with strings of lights hanging and a small water fountain, and its a great place to come read or catch up with friends.
The Guest Taps - 5 stars. Though only 12ish taps are available, I always find two or three beers that I can't wait to try, and the rotating nature of the taps keeps everything fresh!
The Blind Pig Beer - 2 stars. I've just never been super impressed with what I've tasted of the beers made at the Piglet; some too thin, some too heavy, some with just a weird funk!
Overall - 4 stars. I waffled between 4 or 5 here, my experiences being at the 5 level. But if my review is to encompass the whole place, and the Pig beer is part of that, and I just haven't fallen for it yet!
Great service, and always a few house brews on tap. Â The crowd definitely skews to grad students/other people in their late 20s. Â About 12 beers on tap and a large selection of bottles. Â Cramped inside, especially on busier nights, but in the summer you have the tables out back to enjoy. Â For the quality of beer you get the prices are pretty good, but it's not like you'll find $5 pitchers of PBR. Â Also no TVs (but usually some good music).
Review Source:Great atmosphere and brews! We go most Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays for mug night - which is a great deal for the only brewery in town! The only disappointment is the lack of any type of bar snack for sale... however, you can bring in outside food which is fortunate (but a little bit of a pain when you just want a snack).
Review Source:The Blind Pig - and now their brewery - are really probably the only places you should go to if you're an adult (or grad student) and find yourself at UIUC. I've been impressed with downtown Champaign on a couple of recent visits and glad to see it growing.
This nano-brewer's output is small enough that they don't yet offer growlers to go. Bit of a bummer, but understandable. I got a sampler with 3 of their beers - good sized pours (see the pic) and cheap too. Nice breadth of styles and flavors. This isn't going to be the next [insertcurrentlytrendybrewer] but then again, I don't think that's the goal. I get the feeling they want to make good beer, local beer, something that satisfies and share it at a price we all can afford. They've exceeded at each of those.
Head out on a nice night and hang out in the beer garden and if I'm lucky enough, I'll see you there.
One of my all time favorite breweries. Â If you like the original Blind Pig, then you will no doubt love this place. It looks the same, and has the same wood work as the original. With an old barn look and lots of dark wood. The wood is taken from a 200 year old barn and antique tables. A relatively small and centrally located bar in front of the taps, the bar back is over 150 years old as well. The area has a couple of tables out front, and a great beer garden out back. Character oozes out of every wood poor here. Really laid back and relaxing. The service is good. The bar tenders know their stuff, and are usually quick. Â Sometimes it takes a little to get noticed.
The house beers are great. Usually 3-4. There was a Winter Warmer, a Belgian Dark, and an IPA the first time I visited. The house beers are constantly rotating, and they are always something interesting and unique (A Peach Wit, Dry Hopped Pale, Cherry Stout, Barleywines). They also have about 15 taps of other good micros and imports that rotates regularly as well. There is always something different to try. There are a ton of bottles as well. The quality is always exceptional, just fresh as can be.
You can't beat a quality brewpub, and this one is excellent. Very fresh and always enjoyable. It is about time there was a good brewpub in Champaign. Really, one of my favorite brewpubs I have been to. I can't recommend this place enough.
Delicious beers (and cider!) My first experience here was after the reception of two of my friends' wedding in 2010. It's a staple of C-U. I've always liked it because of the low-key, relaxed atmosphere (most of the time). It's a great reprieve from the usual under-21 rowdy crowds on Green street.
A good place to relax with old friends with a tasty brew.
For years, I would see Champaign on the map and would always say "I should go there at some point." A number of my favorite bands are originally from Champaign, and I've known a number of U of I graduates over the years. I finally did a year or so ago right after we moved to Indiana. I was just looking for a day trip and it seemed like a good idea. I hit the Blind Pig when it opened on that Tuesday because they were listed on a site as brewing their own draft beer. Since then, I've come out to Champaign twice more and will be back again, and the Blind Pig has a lot to do with that. This is a great beer bar. In fact, it's become one of my top ten beer bars in the country.
One thing that makes it a great beer bar is a great draft list that the staff really gets behind and knows a lot about. It changes regularly, but it's always really interesting and from various places around the country. Last time I was in there, they had a Two Brothers, a Left Hand, a Schlafly and a Stone, and I don't believe I had had any of the particular varieties, even though I'm a regular drinker of all those breweries. They also do their own beer. Sure, it's hit or miss, but they're trying. And you get some really good stuff sometimes. Downside, as mentioned, is that it's really small batch, so you're lucky to find the same house beer on tap for two consecutive weeks. They do reuse recipes though so it may come back.
What I really like about the Pig is the vibe. This is very much a locals place. In fact, the first time I heard the word "townie" used non-sarcastically was by a bartender here (it's more of a Midwestern thing, I guess, because I've heard it several times since). But it's a local beer snob place. The regulars here are a little old and drunkenly, but they really care about their beer, which is why they come back. I've always met interesting people here when I've come.
But the main reason I come back: mug club. For $5 you can buy a Blind Pig mug, which you can choose to leave there or take home. And that mug gets you $2 off all drafts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. As a result, I've always gotten out of there well toasted for under $20.
The interior has old college town bar written all over it (although it's certainly not an undergrad sort of place), and it has a very nice patio in the back. They tend to have good music, but it's at the bartender's whim, so it varies. No food. I've seen it brought in, but I wouldn't try to bring it in myself.
I should add, also, that, although I'm not really a liquor drinker, they seem to have a very good liquor selection. This is one of the few places I've seen Johnny Walker Blue Label.
My girlfriend and I always stop in on Monday nights because they have $2 off all bottles. (beer) Â That being said, we usually have about 4 or 6 beers in total for around $10. A great deal! Â We each have about 3 beers and end up only paying around $10 total.
As of this past Monday, we will not be patronizing the Blind Pig any longer. The bartender told us they were completely out of the Weach, which is my favorite. I then ask for the apricot, which they are out of as well...keep in mind, both of these beers run about $1.50 each on Monday nights with the discount. Â He then offers up a raspberry beer that he promises will be comparable to the fruit beers that they were out of. Â
However, the bartender forgets to mention that the beer he suggested, which I've never heard of before was $25 per bottle!!! Â Â How deceptive and shady! Â I am clearly a regular there on Monday nights due to the cheap bottle beer...shouldn't you give the customer a "heads up" that the beer you just suggested to them was $25 a bottle? Â Shady and very deceptive. Â I ended up ordering his suggestion, which I hated and later found out it was $25 a bottle when I went to close my tab. Buyer beware!!!
It felt like a tavern crossed with a kitschy antique store in here, but maybe that's just me. Â I really appreciated that they played music at a level that can coexist with conversation at your table. Great tap selection and decent prices. Â It was busy but not packed on the Friday night of our visit, and the setup was just right to play some cards at one of their barside tables.
Review Source:For beer connoisseurs, this is the place to go to. Every week they have different beers and usually over 20 beers on tap every night. They also have alot of hard to get beers in bottles. Best of all the have a cask beer that they open every friday. I have been to the bar more that 10 times and everytime I come there is a different list to choose from. I do not think I have had the same beer tqice at the bar.
The bar looks more like an old fashioned bar without tvs. At night the bar is rather dimly lit, but still a great ambiance. The most surprising thing, is that many of the beers are priced around 4 to 5 dollars which most bars would charge 6 dollars for. Being from CA I am happy to see alot of Stone brewery beers which are extremly tasty. Many of the customers are young people who are in grad school or are working, with the atmosphere really laid back.
I'm a pretty picky person and not really a beer connoisseur so I don't usually like to try different kinds and just stick to my bud light. My friend and I happened in here one night when our usual bar was WAY to loud (stupid salsa night). The bartender let me try several of the on tap beers and I found one I liked. We LOVED the atmosphere and the music was fantastic. We started to frequent this bar every week and have never had a bad experience and I am now on my way to trying new beers. I also enjoy that they change the draft beers often. Mug night (Tue, Wed) is defiantly a night to visit.
Review Source:The piglet is a huge disappointment. Â I've been there multiple times and their brewed stuff really sucks for every variety I've tried. Â The place itself is a horrible location for bar, just like it was before when it was IIRC Barfly. Â Incredibly narrow, difficult to sit at and manages to feel hectically crowded even when there aren't many people there. Â They do occasionally have a really good beer on tap on their other taps, so that's a good thing.
The only thing pulling it out of the cellar is its nice beer garden. Â Besides that, just go to the regular Pig instead!
Long story short: if you are going to label yourself a 'brewery' and offer a really good selection of beer (they do), then OWN it.  My guess is that the owner/manager/shot caller knows and loves their beer (me too!).  However, I think that  If he/she went into his/her own bar as a paying customer, they'd find their staff cannot execute on that vision at all. Â
I won't go into the details, but their staff treated me like a transient when I asked to "taste" one of the beers on tap. Â I was first taken aback (it was like the guy had never heard of that), then insulted, then embarrassed...for him! Â He pretty much refused me and it wasn't like I wasn't spending money. Â It wasn't like I was sitting there ordering Busch Lite all night and then suddenly wanted just a little freebie of the good stuff for chrissake! Â
Still, they have good beer, the concept is great and the atmosphere (kind of low-key dive-ish) is good, so despite the staff; 3 stars.
First of all- this place has two beers from Stone Brewing Co,
.......ON TAP.
I take it that Champaign is a drinkin' town, but this is a phenomena universally considered as kick-@ss anywhere within the known galaxy.
Also- the 'Pig is gritty, dark, and distressed inside, as any good watering hole should be. But like it's booze selection- is not without a bit of distinction. It's a labrynth of cathedral arches and dark recesses. The only thing missing is a dirt floor. It's crazy like that.
I love this place!
They always have freshly brewed beer on tap, and if you are in the mood for something else, just get a bottle of something, there is a huge list of bottled beer.
I have never had any problems with the bartenders, they are always quick and courteous.
The only problem you might ever have here is finding a seat. Â It is so popular that they sometimes fill up all of the inside and outside (even when it is freezing outside).
Sweetie and I were slightly divided on this one. We agree on the goodness of the beer selection and on the delight of being able to create your own beer flight from the draught menu. It is a dark, cellar-like space with a cellar-like aroma; it;s here that we are divided. I liked it and found it charming and comfortable; sweetie likes things newer-smelling and brighter. If you like bright lights, they do have a patio.
Review Source:I love the Brewery (Piglet?). Â It has become my new go-to bar for when I want to have good beer, overtaking its older brother in my esteem. Â While the Pig is now crowded and full of people asking for Busch Lite, the Brewery is comfortable and usually has available seating.
During the summer, this place can't be beat: a huge amount of comfortable outdoor seating, and excellent service always. Â In addition, their beers are generally good, with a few (I remember a certain honey cider with "50 pounds of honey") being FANTASTIC. Â
Mug night is also a deal, and you won't get quality at that price ($2 off each beer) anywhere else.
The Blind Pig has a pretty good beer selection. Â I tried their Apricot wheat and it was very tasty. Â The Blind Pig is a good place to go if you're trying to stay away from the college crowd. Â They have a nice outdoor seating area as well. Â My only small complaint was that they ran out of toliet paper in the women's bathroom. Â I used the unisex bathroom and the lock appeared to be having some trouble locking. Â Even though I locked it some drunk woman was able to power through the lock and nearly walk in on me.
Review Source:Positives: Very good beer selection. They rotate taps often. Cool patio out back.
Negatives: Their own beer is generally terrible. Seating situation inside is poorly designed: a small corridor is filled with awkwardly placed round tables.
Note: check prices. If you look carefully you can find some very good deals on larger bottles.
I've been here twice now, and my only complaint is the size of the tables in the booths, but whatever, I'm just being persnickety. Â
The bartenders are quite knowledgeable and will allow you to taste what they have on tap. The local brews are very tasty, quite strong (as all true beers are), and inexpensive.
There's trivia (w/ deals on Jameson & Guinness) on Sundays, a beer club on Mondays, and probably other fun stuff throughout the week, too.
A beer garden/patio is situated out back. Once the weather gets warmer, I'm totally plopping my rear, a pint, and a book out there on a Saturday afternoon.
There are two kinds of bars: ones that serve food in order to compensate for the lower quality of their beer and ones whose beer is so damned amazing that food is something you should've thought of beforehand. The Blind Pig Brewery is definitely of the latter type.
There are 3 distinctions between the Brewery, which my friends and I refer to as "the Piglet" in reference to its smaller size and the original Blind Pig:
1. The wide availability of outdoor seating makes the Brewery better than the Pig for people who enjoy fresh air over enclosed caverns of noisy stuffiness.
2. Beer Club Mondays have a $1 off bottled beers which allows others to experience an incredibly wide array of European and specialized microbrews. Also its fun to attempt to conquer the long list of beers.
3. Trivia on Sundays.
I love beer and places like the Brewery and the original Blind Pig convinced me that my move to Champaign for education hadn't abandoned my tastebuds completely. If like good foodstuffs, this place is one that won't disappoint you at all.
I really like this place. The bartender was really friendly and since it wasn't too busy when i was in took the time to talk to me about different stuff to do in Champaign since i had just moved here. I really appreciated that!
When I went in there was only one microbrew left of the four (I think there are four) but it was actually really good. I was disappointed that I couldn't try any of the others, though. It seems like they need to readjust their brewing schedule/amount or something because it seems like they're running out of their brews really fast!
Next time I go I'm going to check out the outdoor patio area because it looks so lovely and perfect for a nice summer's evening.
The Piglet is my go-to bar. It has great ambiance and provides an intimate bar setting with no frills or distractions other than a great selection. The best and worst part about this place is its narrow corridor shape and limited tables, small and narrow, intimate and personal and yet tends to get crowded and impenetrable during prime weekend hours.
They have seasonal micro-brews that cater to most palates. I recommend the Wietbier and Hard Cider, both out during the spring and summer season. They also have a wide mix of bottles and ever-changing draft selection, along with the four or five micro-brews to go along with the full bar. There prices are reasonable for the area. The micro-brews typically run between four to six dollars. The only downside to the menu is the complete lack of food: no appetizers or peanuts here.
This is a simple but fun bar and is especially good for afternoon get-togethers or cocktail hours in the early weekday afternoons. Something is always on special. Because they are in downtown Champaign, the management keeps a close eye on the clientele to be sure no underclassmen filter through. This is also a great place to start an evening on the town, too.
The Blind Pig Brewery aka Piglet is a nice place. Â I was able to try some of their brews and they are pretty good. Â I really like coming here in the warmer climate times because of the outdoor seating. Â The place is crowded every time I have gone in the winter. Â I like going here to try out a great new brew, but only if it is warm out because space is limited in winter.
Review Source:So The Piglet finally revealed their micro-brews a few weeks ago. Â Well, i was working for the grand reveal and missed on most of the brews as they were sold out by my next brew-focused quest downtown. I did happen to get a pint of their bitter... which i promptly gagged at. It had the distinct taste of a bacterial infection (some bacteria is needed in a good bitter, mind you) and it was simply overpowering.
I understand that, in order for it to be the Blind Pig BREWERY, said bar has to have some micro-brews, but I wouldn't supply my customers with poor product just to make up for batches of mistakes and wasted supplies. It's called integrity, my friends.
Poor business ethics, poor beer.
Unnecessary addendum: Â I don't understand the boxed wine thing... Must do some gumshoe work on this...
The home-brewed beers first became available this week and we enjoyed 4 on the first day. Â But by Thursday and again on Friday they only had two home brewed, one of which was the cider. Â So, a little disappointing that they ran out of home brewed so soon after they first became available. Â That having been said, the decor is nice and feels warm, and the sound is muffled enough that you can have a conversation without resorting to shouting.
The beer selection is good. Â The wine offerings on the other hand are proudly displayed to be "Black Box" box wines, which I have never seen in any bar...
Its not that box wine is bad, it just was so strange.
My last complaint, and this probably cost them a star is that they offer almost nothing to eat. Â Planters peanuts in a pouch and tiny sample bags of pretzels are the total menu. Â Maybe one or two other non-perishable bar snacks would keep folks from feeling the need to leave to get dinner.
Can someone get this bar a Slim Jim or a pink hard boiled egg?
I don't drink beer.
I know.
I enjoy a good hard cider, or a mixed drink, or perhaps a frou-frou now and again. I was excited to see that The Blind Pig is brewing their own cider, but bummed that it isn't being sold yet.
I (tried) to settle for Woodchuck Amber, but they were out--must have been popular, cause the guy two stools down had one, and the girl after me asked for one! I then had to double settle for the Woodchuck Pear, which actually ended up better than I remember.
It was crazy, back to back(or worse, front to front) packed, so we retreated to the patio, which is lovely. Thank goodness it was actually a decent night for November!
I like "The Piglet" well enough but I really think downtown Champaign needs another bar like it needs another grad student sitting outside a coffee shop writing a thesis on their Macbook that is going to change the world. Â I've heard the rumor that The Piglet was built to hold the overflow from The Big Pig and I'm interested to see how the business holds up once the crowds who were enjoying the unusually beautiful and humidity free evenings this summer disappear into their holes for the winter. Â The interior is cozy and dark but I don't think it will be able to hold crowds in the winter months. Â
On the plus side...they have $1.75 Old Style Drafts (rock on!), the beer garden really is monstrous and a nice place to hang out, and I've never had bad service from the staff. Â Keep it up Piglet...I'll be back to see you next time I'm in town!
I'll probably up my rating once the Piglet starts serving their own beers, 'cause god knows I love local microbrews. Â But for now it's just alright. Â It is a smaller version of the Blind Pig with a poor layout and a way toned down beer selection. Â I hope it'll get better with the introduction of their own beers, but if not, I still have its mother ship, so all is well.
Review Source:The Blind Pig recently opened a second location, one street across on Neil St, providing downtown Champaign with another bar stocked with good beer.
The real draw here will be the house-brewed beer - in the coming months, there will be four drafts of craft brewed Blind Pig brand beers. Â Until then, the draft selection is a (smaller) reflection of the selection from the Blind Pig around the corner. Â Despite that, the new Pig Brewery remains very busy, both in the small interior and the very large beergarden.
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