Guide to the Lake County Libation Trail During Lake County Restaurant Week 2022
By: Jonathan Jones 03/30/2022
“I get no kick from champagne. Mere alcohol doesn’t thrill me at all. So tell me, why shouldn’t it be true? I get a kick out of brew.” – the late libation lover Daniel Dumile otherwise known as MF DOOM.
Restaurant Week may be known for its delicious eats and even more delicious deals, but some of the participating restaurants are stepping up to the plate with an array of spectacular beverages to wet your whistle. Not to mention the Lake County Libation Trail showcases 30 breweries, wineries and distilleries to quench your thirst.
Lake County Restaurant Week: Ten Days to Savor offers diners an opportunity to CHECK IN TO WIN » as well as a photo contest. Visitors can win various foodie prizes like a $50 gift card to a participating restaurant, a cooking class at The Joyful Gourmet in Libertyville and a chance to win an overnight stay at Lincolnshire Marriott Resort which includes a dinner/theatre package at Wright's Brew & Bistro (a Lake County Libation Trail participant) and Marriott Theatre.
Don’t forget to put these participating Lake County Libation Trail/Restaurant Week drinking holes into your 10 Days to Savor schedule. Here is your guide to the Lake County Libation Trail during Lake County Restaurant Week.
Savor the flavor of an extensive beer list at the Lincolnshire Brewery. The brewery commemorates the town’s real name, Halfda, contrary to popular belief of a half day’s journey from Chicago. The chief of the village, Chief Aptakisic of the Potawatomi tribe, was a Native American leader known for making the Treaty of Chicago in 1833 surrounding the Black Hawk War. And now we move to the present. The five-year-old Lincolnshire brewpub frequently swaps out and adds new delicious craft flavors. Some of their lauded beers include Chieftain Session IPA, the Meridian Wit and their marquee beverage, the Barrel-Aged Warrior Paint Imperial Coffee Stout. Their eats menus are highlighted by award-winning wings, wood-fired pizza, tacos, burgers, sandwiches and a host of other delectable bites.
This downtown Grayslake pub serves innovative brews, modern American cuisine, locally sourced craft spirits and top-notch draft wines all handcrafted in-house. Light the Lamp has 14 craft suds drafts created internally. For those who aren’t beer lovers, the seven-year-old Grayslake brewpub also offers tap wine. Besides libations, the hockey-themed also offers unique meals, including burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads, shared plates, bowls and desserts. Some of Light the Lamp’s signature suds include the Red Line Ale (amber ale), Sin Bout Stout (oatmeal stout) and the 1980 Miracle American Pale Ale Kick back, relax and let that lettuce down.
Illinois’s eldest winery is Lynfred, who just celebrated 40 years in operation opening initially in Roselle. A hobby that turned into a full-fledged business was founded by Fred E. Koehler, who’s also known as the father of the Illinois wine industry. The Lake County vino tasting room has been earning awards and national recognition since 1985. Lynfred has four locations: Roselle, Wheeling, Wheaton and Naperville. The Wheeling room has been open since 2008 and is known for favorites like Fred’s Red, Vin de City White, and a ton of other electric flavors, but also you can pair them with cheeses, confections and other little bites Lynfred offers during Lake County Restaurant Week.
The first craft brewery in the land of lakes is Mickey Finn’s Brewery in Libertyville. Illinois’s oldest brewpub serves up a ton of house-made ales and lagers as well as eats. The 1994-established suds haven has served over six million pints in that period and sits in their industrial/renovated home on MainStreet Libertyville. Currently, Mickey Finn has 18 of their homemade brews on tap. The Libertyville business is known for its Santa’s Magic Belgian Strong Golden Ale, Can I Kick It IPA, Pineapple Express and an array of other rotating sips. Mickey Finn’s serves brunch (weekends only), lunch and dinner, including salads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, seafood, tacos and thin crust pizza.
North Shore Distillery is the first craft distillery in the Land of Lincoln (the first to open in the state since the Prohibition Era). Since 2004, Derek and Sonja Kassebaum (and their larger-than-life friend Ethel) provide vodkas, rums, gins, absinthes and unique seasonal beverages. The self-proclaimed nerds and Illinois-Made inventors love to experiment on new flavors with a plethora of different ingredients, and that’s why the award-winning Green Oaks distillery designs innovative art with their liquid creations. Sonja was featured in the article “Chemists, Bartenders and British Royalty: Eight Women Who Changed Gin History” by the Wine Enthusiast.
Click here to learn more. The Green Oaks distillery was also honored with the Illinois Office of Tourism honor of
“Illinois Made” recognizing the state’s makers, creators, artisans, artists, family-owned businesses and more. During the height of the pandemic in April 2020, the husband-wife team got their hands wet in the hand sanitizer-making business, providing requests to first responders, health care workers and others providing critical care. Also during the pandemic, In collaboration with North Shore Distillery, Sonja created
Lake County Sunset Sips. This beverage concoction is as refreshing and beautiful as a Lake County sunset: sweet, fruity, and closes with a crisp finish.
The Highland Park brewery features a variety of beers and Mexican street fare like tacos, burritos, salads and more. Your tasty Tuesday is now paired with brew and southwest cuisine. The brewpub was recognized for the “Best Beer Garden” by the North Shore Choice Awards. A collection of their trademark libations includes the Flight of the Rooster Saison, the Steep Ravine IPA and the Baldwin Porter. As springtime comes along, the Ravinia brewhouse offers their Food Truck Pilsner.
This local favorite has been a staple in southwestern Lake County since 2003. The brewhouse creates handcrafted beers and hearty comfort food. The Lake Barrington brewery’s philosophy is being firmly grounded with a passion and respect for many of the world-class beer styles that exist in today’s brewing renaissance. The Onion Pub’s signature brews include the Misfit American IPA, the Hop Slayer Double IPA and Beggar’s Brown (English-style). The brewpub’s menu is highlighted by soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, seafoods and more. They also have a patio overlooking a pond that provides a pretty dope setting. This summer they celebrate its
quarter of a century born day on June 25.
Offering a casual dining experience that is exceptional is Wright’s Brew and Bistro, located inside the Lincolnshire Marriott. The Lincolnshire bar and restaurant provides the honey to Five Eyes Honey Ale brewed by another Lake County Libation Trail partner,
Tighthead Brewery in Mundelein. In the fare department, Wright’s serves traditional Midwest comfort food with a modern twist of spices. On the foodie side of things, Wright's Brew & Bistro serves an array of casual eats like steak, seafood, pasta, salads and more.
For more information about the Lake County Libation Trail, continue here. To see all of the participating eateries in Lake County Restaurant Week, click here.
Enjoy photos from our social media friends on the Lake County Libation Trail.
Be sure to continue sharing with us socially!
