As the leaves fall and the air turns crisp, the heart of Champaign comes alive with the warmth of community and the clink of craft beer steins. Our 1st Annual Downtown Craft Crawl brings together 21 local gems for an afternoon of sipping, strolling, and savoring the best of autumn downtown. Here’s your guide to every stop on this hop-filled adventure:
🍹 Punch! Bar & Lounge
This lively haunt kicks off the crawl with creative energy. Known for their bold cocktail flair, Punch! is bringing their signature style to the craft beer scene with a fall-forward pour that’s as vibrant as their neon-lit bar.
🥩 Hamilton Walker’s
Sophisticated and smooth, Hamilton Walker’s is offering up brews that pair perfectly with their swanky steakhouse vibe. Expect refined sips, rich wood accents, and the cozy glow of upscale fall charm.
🍂 Esquire Lounge
With wood-paneled walls and decades of history, Esquire is pure autumn nostalgia. Grab a pint at the bar, watch the leaves swirl outside, and soak up one of the most iconic corners of downtown.
🎯 Pour Bros Taproom
Craft beer meets self-serve fun at Pour Bros. With dozens of rotating taps, fall seasonals are just a tap away. Build your own tasting flight and cozy up around the fire pit out front.
🌙 Barrelhouse 34
This rustic-chic bar feels like autumn inside and out. Warm lighting, reclaimed wood, and a beer menu that leans into malty, spiced, and roasted seasonal selections make it a can’t-miss stop.
🎱 Jupiter’s Pizzeria & Billiards
Fuel up with cheesy slices and casual fun. Jupiter’s brings the college-town energy with a side of crisp craft beer. It’s the ideal mid-crawl stop to play a few games and recharge.
🍣 Tenkyu
This sleek sushi and ramen joint is putting an unexpected twist on your beer crawl. Pair a smooth Japanese lager or a crisp local IPA with a snack roll and bask in their modern ambiance.
🌳 Big Grove Tavern
Downtown’s neighborhood tavern is known for its welcoming energy, bold flavors, and attention to detail. For the Craft Crawl, beer selections are hand-picked by Scott himself—expect pours that complement the crisp air and cozy vibes of the season. With its stylish atmosphere and community spirit, Big Grove is the perfect place to toast to fall.
🍻 Bentley’s Pub
A favorite among locals for late-night hangs and darts, Bentley’s is pouring autumn ales and lagers with heart. This stop is classic Champaign: unpretentious, friendly, and full of soul.
🍔 Farren’s at the Inman
Burgers and beer are a match made in heaven, and Farren’s delivers both in their stylish new location. Their fall beer pick? A rich brew that’s just as comforting as their legendary fries.
🧀 Martinelli’s Market
This cozy market is all about slow sips and gourmet vibes. Sample a small-batch brew while you browse shelves full of local cheese, meats, and fall pantry treats.
🎃 Mother Ghost
During the Craft Crawl, this stop offers more than just a brew; it’s a chance to sip while discovering garments that are as thoughtfully crafted as your favorite local beer. Cozy flannels, upcycled denim, and a drink in hand? That’s autumn done right.
🏛️ PACA
Old meets new at the Preservation and Conservation Association, where salvaged architectural treasures create the perfect backdrop for sipping a rich, historic brew.
📚 Jane Addams Book Shop
A literary labyrinth of used books and cozy corners. Grab a brew and browse—because nothing pairs with craft beer quite like a dusty spine and a good plot twist.
🕊 Ten Thousand Villages
This fair-trade favorite offers global goods and local pours. Sip, shop, and feel good about supporting artisans worldwide—all while embracing the spirit of local fall festivity.
🎨 Springer Cultural Center
Add a touch of art to your ale. Springer’s mission to inspire creativity pairs beautifully with their craft beer offering. A thoughtful stop for those who love a side of culture with their cold one.
🛋 Furniture Lounge
Vintage vibes meet velvety pours at this retro showroom. Imagine sipping a malty brew while lounging on a mid-century couch—it’s like stepping into a perfectly curated fall dream.
🎭 Orpheum Theatre
Cue the stage lights—Orpheum is adding theatrical flair to the crawl. Whether you’re into spooky stories or showbiz sparkle, their beer station will be full of drama (the fun kind).
🎮 Live Action Games
Tap into nostalgia and nerdy fun with this arcade-meets-board-game wonderland. This stop is all about playful pours and craft beer with character.
📻 WEFT Community Radio
Champaign’s grassroots radio station is spinning tunes and pouring brews. Let the music guide your steps as you wrap up your crawl with rhythm and hops.
🍺 Blind Pig BrewPub
No crawl is complete without one of the OGs of the local craft beer scene. Blind Pig’s award-winning brews—crafted right here in Downtown Champaign—bring authenticity, richness, and a brewer’s heart to the Crawl. Their cozy pub is the perfect fall hideaway, and their lineup of seasonal ales and stouts is not to be missed.
🍁 Whether you’re in it for the beer, the vibes, or the local love, the Downtown Champaign Craft Crawl is your passport to the best sips and scenes of the season. Come thirsty, come curious, and don’t forget your stein—this is one fall afternoon you’ll want to relive every year.
🎟 Grab Your Tickets Now
📍 Downtown Champaign
🕐 Saturday, October 4 | 1:00–5:00 PM
🍺 21 stops | Custom Stein | Goodie Bag | Local Brews | Fall Vibes
Let’s make this crawl the toast of the season. 🍻