Atmosphere on a Thursday night: PACKED AND AMAZING! Tons of fun drink options. Lots of wood, very nice read more

Went on Thursday night with a group of friends for $8 barrels and they are large! I don't like to taste any alcohol in my drink so I asked for sour mix and the bar back added it and was friendly. The aesthetic inside was okay; the lights made it very red but they were on theme with the wood. It also wasn't too packed when we got there and got a table for our group after a little bit. I had a good time! read more

See all

Barrelhouse 34 is a place for trying a beer. In fact many of beers that is. Prices are pretty okay for some things. Lots of local and regional beers on tap and some that are kind of hard to find anywhere else. There's also activities like darts and games. I like how it samples a lot of close by craft breweries. Lots of these are pretty well known. There's some however that aren't and this is what makes this a cool place. Also the darts. But the beer is the main thing. A friend and I came in here recently to each get a beer. She had something better known like a Goose Island. I instead got one of the more local beers by Triptych called Pretty Nice Little Saturday. It's $5 a pint. This is an American light lager and is smooth. A lot of good local beers. It doesn't have any kitchen so they don't save any food. There's a good truck across the street and you can bring it over and bring the food inside. read more

Barrelhouse 34 - Triptych Pretty Nice Little Saturday - Beer Bar Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Unbelievably rude service. At closing time we were aggressively forced out the door at 1:01 am. No exaggeration. The staff was belligerent and insulting, as if we were vagrant trespassers instead of customers. I cannot understand how they can stay in business treating their customers like animals. read more

I wish I could give them less than one star. I enjoyed the ambiance, but the experience was completely ruined at closing time. The staff abruptly and rudely told everyone to leave the moment the clock hit 1 AM. When we moved to the patio to finish our drinks, we were told again--this time in an even more hostile manner--to leave immediately. When we voiced our concerns, one employee became confrontational, escalating the situation. He acted as if he wanted to fight. It's disappointing that such a nice spot was ruined unprofessional and aggressive behavior. read more

I wish I can give them a zero star. Worst cocktail. worst bartenders. Worst service ever! read more

came on a thursday evening for $8 moscow mule barrels and they were so yummy the rooftop area was cute too read more

Barrelhouse 34 - Moscow Mules - Beer Bar Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

This is my favorite bar in the CU area, the drinks are a little on the pricey side but honestly is so worth it. The bar tenders are great, the place is beautiful, and it's always a great vibe, love the outdoor eating for the summer as well! They let you bring in food from other places since they don't serve any and that is always nice read more

Good place to grab a beer. Not a brewery but has a good selection of beer. Dart boards are a plus.

Awesome environment, cool dart throwing option. Drinks are good and simple. Wish they had appetizers but it's a bar, what more could you want than great drinks! read more

Barrelhouse 34 - Cute little Moscow mule at a really nice low key bar, darts available if you want them! - Beer Bar Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I love Barrelhouse -- it's nice and quiet and it's gently lit with hanging string lights to the perfect amount. They have darts, and a lot of craft beers to try. But the best part is Virgil's Beer School on Monday's. This is a great experience where you'll get to taste 10 different beers for $10 only. And Virgil, the resident beer expert, tells you all about the beer and brewery -- as if it was a typical wine tasting. At the end, you and your friends get to finish off whatever beer is left, so you actually get to drink quite a bit if you want to. It's also a great community: many times, regulars who had traveled recently would offer up beers they brought back from breweries (we had some really rare Trappist beers shipped from Europe once). read more

Stopped in and had 2 Miller Lites. Hand the bartender my card and said start me a tab. They run a preauthorization for $25 for 2 BEERS Ridiculous won't be back. read more

I enjoy this bar so much, even though they do not sell any food and the prices are not really "cheap", the good atmosphere makes going worth it. MOSTLY during good weather days in which you can enjoy the nice rooftop Staff wasn't the nicest read more

Barrelhouse 34 - Bloody Mary and some beers - Beer Bar Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

A bar in downtown Champaign with a rooftop? Finally! The bar itself is decorated very nicely overall and it's fairly large, which is a plus. But what's really good is the cocktail and beer menu. I'm happy this place is open. I can tell I'll be here often! read more

Barrelhouse 34 - a woman pouring a drink at a bar - Beer Bar Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I experienced nothing but super friendly bar staff. Some of them are more knowledgable than others but it's obvious that this place just opened so hopefully with time, they'll get it sorted out. This place also has a really great selection of whiskey. Some of it distilled in Illinois! I'm no connoisseur but I don't think you can get some of this whiskey at any other bar in town. So, where this place starts to unravel in a big way for me is the concept. The beer selection is good but not all that impressive. I only saw one beer on tap that I couldn't remember drinking before and my boyfriend and I had a lengthy discussion where he remembers us tasting it so maybe I had. There's better selection at the grocery store down the street from my house. For a place that supposedly prides itself on "midwestern craft beer", I felt like a deflated balloon when I finally saw the draft list that lists lots of bigger name craft beer with much of it from outside the midwest. The cocktails are kind of rebranded versions of things I've had at other places in town. They're just not unique. I had the winter mule which was good, a little on the sweet side and kind of just tasted like your average wells drink from a dive bar. Also, the decor in my opinion is a little tired. Lots of "reclaimed" wood and I mean LOTS like floor to ceiling lots! It reminds you of a lot of other craft beer + whiskey bars in town. Even the antique pig sculpture behind the counter seems like a blatant rip-off of another bar thats been doing this concept for way longer. I say come here when that bar gets crowded beyond what you can stand but I'm not sure I'd make a trip just to check this place out. With craft beer and whiskey at the height of popularity right now, they're just not doing enough to really set themselves apart from the rest. They're kind of getting there with the whiskey selection but more could be done to really flesh out the whole concept. read more

Barrelhouse 34 - Rotating Beer List - Beer Bar Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

See all

If you're coming for great ambiance, this is the place to come! The lighting and reclaimed wood make this a picture-worthy place. They also have a rooftop decorated in the same manner and it's so cute and different for Champaign! The staff was average--they weren't particularly rude, but they also weren't friendly. One thing they could improve on is their service. I think the prices here are average--don't expect the prices of a dive. They have a good selection of beers, mostly from Midwest craft breweries, and offer $2 off draft beer on Tuesdays. I tried the Texas Mule and although it was good, it was nothing special. Although I would go back, I would get something other than a mule. read more

Barrelhouse 34 - the interior of the barrelhouse - Beer Bar Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I love the rooftop area. The drinks were great and priced well. We had great service the entire time.

Came back here over the weekend and things have definitely changed! My last review mentioned some issues ordering but, even on a busy Friday, we were able to order with ease. There seemed to be a designated place to order and there was a staff member who consistently came around checking in on patrons and taking drink orders. Loved the atmosphere and environment as always, and really enjoyed their music selection. The drink menu seemed to be revamped and there was a wide variety of beers, local and otherwise, as well as specialty cocktails. I know wasn't too high on Barrelhouse before, but my opinion has completely turned around. read more

Too crowded on weekends. But an overall good venue. Darts and drinks. Wine list is lacking but beer is on point. Excellent place during the spring and summer to have a few upstairs or on the patio. Warm in the winter and the mules are great. Just needs some live music. read more

Excellent craft beer selection. The draught list is well curated and shows knowledge and love of good brews. Lots of midwestern and IL breweries represented. The house cocktail list is creative and interesting, with a lean towards whiskey drinks and competent mixology. The interior is simply gorgeous. Warm, softly lit. Totally beautiful wood furnishing is the theme. Much, if not all, of the wood looks to be reclaimed and repurposed, which I love. Remarkably refined and polished for a brand new establishment. Service was prompt, knowledgeable, and smiling. read more

Jenna/Gina saved this place. I got some kind of old fashion and was served fermented tang, but then Gina/Jenna remade it and it was great (tony the tiger style great). Why 5 stars? Because for the first day opening and the staff being JUST hired, everyone had a drink in the hand. There was no wait, the servers came through to check on our table (at least that's how Jenna/Gina found out that I didn't like my drink), I could touch the floor with my feet (rarely happens, yup, short legs here) and it just fits in with downtown area. Diverse crew of folks. You can bring your own food here. Oh, it's got a roof deck outdoor space. It's loud but not overwhelming (good acoustics). It's a good space and worth a try. read more

Barrelhouse 34 - Cool wooden tables? - Beer Bar Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I guess if I was super into whiskey maybe I'd like it more? But I could also go to that other bar down the street with lots of whiskey. And maybe if I was super into wood furniture I would like it more? But I could also go that other bar(s) down the street with lots of wood furniture. And maybe if I had just discovered that they brew craft beer in the Midwest I would like it more? But I could also go to EVERY OTHER BAR IN TOWN. Literally fits the definition of "Meh. I've experienced better." Nothing new. Just a big ol' helping of the same old same old. read more

This place is beautiful! The design and layout is really well thought out plus clean bathrooms! My only criticism is the inconsistent service. Some of the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about their inventory, while others don't seem to know what they have or where its located. Like any new business, there are kinks to be worked out. The Barrelhouse 34 is a wonderful additional to the downtown bar scene. read more

I went here for drinks after my boyfriend's graduation dinner and it was phenomenal! I'm not a huge fan of beer, but my boyfriend's family knows their stuff and were raving over the beer selection and how reasonable the prices were. The staff clearly has a passion for what they do and were able to give us suggestions and answer any questions we had with great enthusiasm. They also gave us samples of the beers before we fully committed to a glass, which was awesome. The bar tender helped me pick a cider that I instantly fell in love with (It's called B. Nektar's Zombie Killer and you have to try it if you go!) I highly suggest this place to anyone visiting the Champaign-Urbana area. I know I'll be back here as soon as school starts again in the fall! read more

My fiance and I went once and will never go back. The selection is good, and the bar looks nice, but the service is abysmal. My fiance ordered a whiskey and coke for herself, and a Moscow Mule for a friend. The bartender asked her to repeat her order twice, condescendingly, and then proceeded to make her a rum and coke. Meanwhile, the same bartender demanded that she turn over her ID because she ordered the Moscow Mule and was worried she wouldn't return the copper mug. I have no problem with that policy- in fact, given the expense and the overhead, I completely understand it- if it's enforced universally, but four of our friends ordered the same drink and zero of them had to turn over their ID. My fiance has a lisp and an accent, which makes her hard to understand, but to butcher the order and then treat her like a child? That's completely unacceptable. We'll be going to Quality from now on. They're incredibly nice there. read more

I loved the ambience and they have BYO food since they just serve drinks! Lots of food options around and a great place to chill after a hectic day at college or work. I love the mules they serve (lots of varieties). Will surely visit again. read more

Location. Location. Location. This used to be where I believe the Champaign Historical Society was; not sure, but 75% sure. Anyways, I was in town for a wedding/visiting friends and they told me this place had opened. It looks amazing on the inside. Huge space-- great for a group of friends to hang out. We ended up spending time on the rooftop. There are a limited number of tables and chairs up top so be sure to find a space. It would be nice to have some seating near the railing. The lighting was perfect too. It was a bit windy. Oddly, there is a fountain placed on top that kept spitting water everywhere. Some people were okay with it and some were not. Service = non-existent. We waited a while before someone came to our table. We had to ask for menus. Then we didn't see them for a while after they dropped off the menus. Then someone else came to get our drink orders. We had to provide our IDs for copper mugs for the Mules. Totally understandable. The problem was no one came to our table ever again. We were ready to go....and we had to go downstairs to pay. Guess what? We get to the bar and there are at least 4-5 people behind the bar and we waited a good 7-10 minutes before anyone helped us. We practically had to wave our money. There were several people who came to the bar after we had already made it there and the 4-5 people attended to them and got them their drinks and they were also able to open a tab/pay. This was the part that bothered me. We were clearly standing right at the bar....waiting and waiting. We could have left without paying because NO ONE was paying attention -- but we are honest people and our IDs were being held hostage. Drinks? The Texas Mule was ok. It wasn't very strong. The only thing Texas about it was the Tito's Vodka in the Tito's Copper Mug. Haha. I'll probably go again, but not get a Mule. They just need to figure out the service....and this place is GOLDEN. read more

Basically brand new in downtown Champaign. They did a great job with the build out. Dark wood everywhere, long bar with tables scattered. A huge place overall. There is nice patio outside, along with a rooftop patio as well. Seating is very limited on the rooftop, but if you can get a seat, well worth it. 24 beer taps and a good selection overall. They focus on Midwest craft breweries, so Founders, New Holland, the local Triptych. There is an extensive bottle list as well. All good, nothing particularly unique to the handful of great and established beer bars in the immediate area. Service tries hard, but I feel they are overwhelmed right now. They aren't as on top of things, and are just scattered. Some know the list, and beer styles to boot, others don't. So, sometimes you are waiting, and when not waiting, sometimes the bartenders don't necessarily know what you are trying to order. Though, again, they try hard and eventually get you what you need. A good bar, with a good beer selection. Though they seem a little behind the already established beer bars in the same block, and I feel they are just riding their coattails. Enjoyable and I am sure I will stop in from time to time when in town. Though I will almost always be at The Pigs, Radio Maria, or any number of other places downtown as first priority. read more

I was very frustrated with the bar due to lack of service on the floor and the space being cramped with people ordering drinks. My original message was very scathing, and a manager from barrelhouse messaged me back right away letting me know they understand the issues they are faced with and are working to fix them. Great customer service. I would recommend them for their beer selection, staff, and how beautiful of a bar it really is. read more

This is a fun place to visit if you are visiting or living in Champaign. I have been here a couple of times and have always sat outside on the rooftop bar. If it's a nice summer night, it's a great place to meet and visit with friends. The atmosphere is nice and the facilities are clean. They have a nice selection of drinks and cocktails as well and the prices were not too bad IMHO. Also, since it's in the middle of downtown Champaign, you are always a short walk from other restaurants and bars. read more

This place denied service to my boyfriend and his friend and left them standing in the rain. They let in the man before them, who happened to be of the same race as the other staff and customers in the bar, then just left them standing there in the rain. Then, they let in the man who came after them (but waited till the drove off). They came back just to see if the man who came after them (who also happened to be of the same race as everyone else) had been let in. And he had! Smh they are racist! read more

One of my favorite places to go downtown for a drink. Nice deck and roof patio with ample space to sit. The interior is stylish and complimentary to their ideology of delivering beer, bourbon, etc from the barrel. I really commend the staff too, as I've had nothing but positive experiences with them. Really down to earth place with tons of craft beer to choose from. They even offer beer class on Monday evenings. read more

Some of the worst customer service experiences from any bar in Champaign. I am a regular and had an issue with the drink I ordered. I believe the taps were labeled incorrectly? It certainly was not what was stated on the menu. The bartender (young, I've not encountered him before, first name on the bill started with 'E' last with 'W') tasted it and said it tasted strange, but he hadn't had it in awhile. He had another co-worker take a single sip and declare that it was fine and that I could not switch for something else. I had literally taken about 3 sips from my drink. The bartender then started to explain what an IPA was to me... which felt very condescending. I've literally had hundreds of IPAs in my life. I know what they are supposed to taste like. I decided to leave and request the cheque. He hands it to me and I see that there are two extra drinks on it that I did not pay for. This is corrected. I check my bank statement and there are literally 3 different charges on it. The first two were redacted but what's the deal? Whoever is hiring these new bartenders needs to properly train them in how to provide proper customer service. It really sucks because this was one of my go to establishments with friends. I will not be back. read more

May 7th, 2022, nighttime, more like nightmare actually. First, cups are never washed properly. They always will rinse the glass cups under water and if the previous person had the same drink, they won't wash it at all and simply pour the drink and give it to another person. I understand that beer glasses are rinsed for a slippery glass for an even pour, but I am certain they take old glasses and use them multiple times without washing it properly with soap and water. Look out for it if you go. Next, what is the theme here? Medieval? Seems like a 6 year old put the bar together. Similarly, the drinks seem as if they were put together by 6 year olds as well. They are never consistent with their drinks, if you like a moscow mule that tastes like lemonade with no sugar, this is the place for you. Lastly, extremely horrible staff. I'd easily say worst staff I've ever dealt with on multiple occasions. Very ironic that the girl with tattoos is working in a hospitality related business, when she is the least hospitable person ever. And the bald guy also working at this time that ive seen on a few occasions is horrible with a bad attitude and says things to people like "show me some love", why don't you get on your hands and knees and beg for an extra two dollars. My friends go here when bar hopping so I'll tag along and am sure not to buy any drink because I don't wanna risk getting a used unwashed cup. Music is trash and quiet. Not surprised this bar is always dead. read more

Nice downtown bar with a cool aesthetic and awesome rooftop deck. Definitely a great place to end the night at after getting dinner elsewhere. The staff is very nice and the drinks are great. Just be sure to be willing to give them your ID for the copper mugs. read more

Love barrelhouse. Perfect drinks and people. The place is so cool and I love it here. You have to come here!! Also their rooftop bar is awesome. read more

Excellent whiskey and tequila selection, solid classic cocktails with top shelf liquor for $5-$9 (a value in my opinion), great beer list, friendly staff, excellent ambiance. read more

I went in on a Tuesday night about 6:15 PM. It was not busy. No hostess, so I seated myself. After sitting at a table for over 10 minutes and no service, I asked a fellow patron, "what do you have to do to get any service?" I was told that you have to order at the bar, Really? I went up to the bar, and still no one acknowledged me, I just saw beer & drinks listed on a clipboard. I turned around & walked out. They have no food. Parking stinks. read more

The atmosphere is interesting in this place. I liked that the crowd seemed pretty mix. The decor is very woody of course, and appropriate for the "barrel house" feel. It gets a bit busy so the times I've been, it feels like we are packed like sardines. The beer list is just alright with options such as Ballast Point which I truly enjoy and some more Midwest beers. I'm not huge into beer lately so decided to try their cocktails. There are a variety including some of whiskey, gin and rum and costing between $7-8. I have gotten the old fashioned twice so far and both times I feel like I've been drinking just simple syrup. Very disappointing...so sweet! My friend has gotten one of their Texas Mule and this too did not taste so great as I got to try some. I think the atmosphere will be nice when they open the upstairs rooftop patio. I hope they improve with the cocktails! Those could be worked on a bit. Definitely some better options too (and copper cups for the mules!). Overall, interesting new addition to the downtown Champaign area. read more

Summary: Great rooftop seating and beer selection but you're probably better off just bringing your own drinks and some food because the service is obscenely horrendous. Our group of 8 came here on a Thursday night and were lucky enough to get some rooftop seating on a beautiful summer night. As we started out night, the waitress was good about greeting us, taking our orders, and bringing our first round of drinks. However, everything pretty much went downhill from there. Half of our group ordered a round of Haymakers but she instead brought up Half Acre beer because she misheard us. Fine. It was an honest mistake, and she corrected once we told her about it. Moving on, another friend in our group ordered a Georgia Mule but the waitress instead brought him a regular Moscow mule. Even then, can't really blame her because it may not been her fault since she's probably not making the drinks. Thereafter, I placed a order for another drink and about 30 - 40 minutes later she comes back with our receipts, even though we never asked to close out our tabs or indicated that we were leaving. I didn't even get my second drink. It was barely midnight, nowhere near closing time, and our night just got cut short. By that time, it wasn't even worth correcting her to tell her that we didn't want to close out our tabs. To place the cherry on top, payment was a nightmare because the waitress could not keep anyone's card and drink receipt in order. She brought back the cards and receipts for people with open tabs but then she later asked for them back because she forgot to swipe them. I think we spent good 15 minutes downstairs with her to walk her through each person's receipt and payment. Honestly, if we didn't have such abominable service from this very clueless and unsympathetic waitress, it would have been a really great time, especially considering the variety of beers and cocktails Barrelhouse has to offer. However, the reality is that Barrelhouse needs to spend more time training their personnel on being able to accurately taking and making drinks as well as being able to handle multiple cards and receipts from larger groups. The only other for minor improvement could be that there could be some snacks/food to order. It is nice that they allow people to bring outside food up but it would be great to have a few food items to order just to keep the night going. read more