If You Like Wineries or Breweries
Raise your glass anywhere along the Byway at one of these quaint
vineyards, breweries or specialty locations.
We recommend calling or visiting each website for up-to-date information on hours of operation, etc.
Northern Leg of the Byway
Ottawa
The downtown Cat's Eye Wine Bar offers over 60 wines by the 2 oz. pour, 5 oz. glass, and by the bottle. They also have a selection of flights and coravin pours, craft beers and seasonal cocktails, and non alcoholic choices, along with a changing menu of small plates.
Ottawa
The Brew Master at Tangled Roots Brewery pays as much attention to the lighter, fresher brews as he does to their award-winning IPAs and Winter Porters, making sure they have a wide range of tastes to appeal to everyone.
Peru / LaSalle
Big Ben Brewing is a nano-sized brewery located in the iron and brick depths of the old Westclock clock factory.
Peru / LaSalle
Star Union Spirits is the first licensed distillery in Peru in well over 100 years, specializing in hand-crafted, artisan spirits including brandy. They are also housed in the iconic Westclock building.
North Utica
August Hill Winery sits on a quiet hill surrounded by woods overlooking the Illinois River. Enjoy tastings of their wines and purchase a glass, a bottle, or even a case of to share with friends and family. Weather permitting, you can enjoy your favorite wines while relaxing on their outdoor patio.
North Utica
Clarks Run Creek Gifts and Wine offers wine and bourbon tastings, domestic and craft beer, slushies, and mixed drinks.
North Utica
Try out a flight of beers at Ginger Road Brewing Company, a small nano brewery that offers a pet-friendly outdoor beer garden/patio.
Princeton
Check out Coal Creek Brewery for the full craft beer experience.
Central Leg of the Byway
Toulon
Just west of Lacon is Indian Creek Vineyard, located on an old family farm and named after the creek bordering the vineyard. The old barn has been converted into the wine shop and a wine tasting room. The main house also serves as a B&B. Stop in for a tasting in season.
Peoria
Obed & Isaac's is nestled just up the Riverfront in a converted 1889 church and will have you looking around at the award winning architecture throughout your meal, coupled with one of their craft beers or creative cocktails. Their outdoor area is pet-friendly and cyclist-friendly with a dog run/pickup station and large bike racks.
Peoria
Rhodell Brewery is a craft brewpub specialize in small batch brewing, with 10 oft-changing taps & a traditional English hand pump for cask-condition beer.
Peoria
Industry Brewing strives to take something simple – beer – and put their own spin on it, bringing the “Whiskey City” a product like no other in a unique and vibrant setting that completes your dining experience.
Peoria
Black Band Distillery is located inside a century-old building in the historic Warehouse District of Peoria. It is a certified organic craft distillery producing award-winning spirits from some of the finest organic grains in the Midwest.
Washington
Tres Rojas Winery serves high-quality dry red and white wines, both locally and west coast sourced to evoke California style. You'll find sweet and fruit wines too. Wines are available by the bottle, the glass, or build your own custom flight of 3 or 4 wines and find your favorite. The Tasting Room is open for indoor and outdoor seating, retail sales, and curbside pick-up.
Metamora
Old Mill Vineyard is a 10 acre vineyard tucked away just outside Metamora, Illinois on the eastern bluff of the Illinois River. The Bent Tree tasting room is situated by a pond where many enjoy the annual geese broods, wandering wildlife and tranquil setting. The tasting room offers a small patio area with additional surrounding grassy areas that are ideal to share our space or bringing your own lawn chair to set up your own special spot so you can enjoy a relaxing summer afternoon! Enjoy a walk through the adjacent vineyard rows.
Mackinaw
Just a short drive from Peoria, East Peoria and Pekin, the Mackinaw Valley Vineyard produces 20+ wines made on-site from French American Hybrid grapes and some native varietals. They also offer tours, tastings & summer concerts. The tasting room offers an amazing 30 mile view of the valley and farms below, situated on a glacial moraine with a natural high point.
Southern Leg of the Byway
Lewistown
Big Horse Vineyards invites you to enjoy a bottle of wine, sit back and relax while taking in the scenic views of the vineyard, farm and the majestic horses for which the vineyard is named. They hold a variety of events throughout the year and Sunday Funday events throughout the summer on their outdoor patio.
Lewistown
The wines at Native Trails Winery are crafted with the Oneota Indians' spirit and freedom in mind. The winery grounds neighbors Big Horse Vineyards and offers 4 miles of groomed hiking trails for the nature enthusiast. Patrons can rent the tasting room and outdoor patio area for weddings, events, and other sorts of different parties.
Canton
Spoon River Junction Winery (SRJX) specializes in making creative wines for the adventurous! They’ve got something for everyone - reds, rosé, bourbon barrelaged, even a vermouth. They also specialize in creating small batch, bourbon barrel-aged wines for the adventurous.
Manito
The seven acre Mockingbird Vineyards are surrounded by timber and field crops adjacent to Spring Lake Fish and Wildlife Area. If the timing is right, you can see many types of wildlife: fox, turkey, American bald eagles, swans, geese, and of course…mockingbirds. Grapes are also available for purchase for individual winemakers.