If I could give them 10 stars I would. By far my favorite local brewery. There are almost always 15 different ales on tap, beers to go and I can call in advance to get kegs ready for pick up pretty quick. The owners and staff are awesome, friendly people and so is everyone I've met while visiting the brewery. I wish I lived closer to visit more often. They don't have a kitchen but on occasion they've had food trucks, pop up kitchens and you can always order Uber Eats and have it delivered. The brewery is dog and kid friendly which is great and very inclusive for everyone. So many varieties of beer everyone is sure to find something they like. I like them all. read more

Great beer, friendly staff...I'd knock it half a point for parking as it's a bit crowded in the lot when they've even moderately busy...but it's a minor gripe. Nice growler deals on Saturdays, pretty unheard of for a weekend deal. read more

This place is so comfortable and great for groups. This definitely feels like a local hangout. We had been out all day doing wedding planning and I definitely need a break and a good beer. BuckleDown did not disappoint and made for a great escape from a busy afternoon. Everyone was very friendly and relaxed. Beer here is pretty good and they have a wide variety of options. They don't serve food so bring your own or look out for a food truck. read more

I'm not a beer drinker but my husband wanted to try a new beer. I brought a cocktail for myself and my husband had a beer. What a comfortable environment! I sat on the couch and enjoyed my cocktail. I felt like I was at home. Great vibe! read more

Went here with my brother on a Saturday afternoon to refill a couple growlers. Nice space inside, given that it's an old auto repair shop across the street from a gigantic warehouse. Apparently they've been slowly sprucing it up. He's been here a lot but I haven't, so we got a sampler flight of all the beers (7-8). All were good quality, but my taste veers toward Belgians - Belgian IPAs don't count in my book. That said, the standouts were the standard IPA and the imperial stout. There were two imperial IPAs on draft, which were nice because they weren't blow-your-mouth out hoppy or syrupy thick. But like I said, it's not my style. Good job guys, keep it up, and don't forget the Belgian styles that my brother says you used to brew more often. read more

BuckleDown Brewing - Sampler. - Breweries Near Me - Lyons, Illinois

Hands down one of my top 5 favorite breweries in Illinois. The entire staff is extremely friendly and nice, the beer is great (my current favorite is grapefruit belt and suspenders). The only problem I could see people having with this place is that there is no air conditioning but when the garage doors are up and there's a breeze it's really not bad at all! Cannot wait to come back! read more

Such an interesting gem. It's in the middle of nowhere but I live close by so it's worth it. I love the breadth of assortment and the cool details. They have live music some nights and the guy I saw last was super talented! Food trucks come out too, not sure when because I always miss them. My only suggestion would be to stay open just a litttttttle later. read more

Have been here several times; while not a "regular," this place is everything I would want from a neighborhood tasting room. The beer is great - the Cactus Pants and Fritzicuffs are personal favorites - and while there's no food there is usually a food truck or you can bring in your own. Pet friendly too and just an overall great vibe. read more

Went here during a Sunday. They have a nice tent and it was pretty empty. They have a few beers on tap and a couple TVs. The employees were very great and it had a chill vibe...definitely bring a coat it gets pretty cold in there. Really wish they served food it would take this place to the next level we were starving there. read more

Went in with a large group of fellow bartenders (aka people who know how to treat other people in the service industry well and tip well on top) and proceeded to get neglected and ignored the majority of our stay. There were two working bartenders I think? Who spent their time chatting with the same two people, not caring about their other guests. Plenty of great breweries with better beer and better staff. Hard no! read more

Had a pretty enjoyable experience the first time at Buckledown. The atmosphere was nice, the beer was flowing, the bartenders were friendly enough, so we stayed a couple hours and even bought a growler and glassware to-go. The second time was a huge fail. They had two, I repeat TWO beers available on tap. "This is a brewery, right?" I kept asking myself. A brewery only having two beers...what's next? Starbucks gonna run out of coffee? Police would have to fend off large groups of white girls yelling "oh my gawd, I can't even!!" Back to Buckledown only having two beers. It was a midday on Saturday. So...why? The bartender wasn't friendly either, so we had one of the available two beers and went somewhere better. This can be a decent brewery as long as, you know, they beer, which is the thing that's the point of the place. read more

Excellent beer, great vibes and safety! What more can you ask for? They are doing what they can to keep their customers safe against COVID while not entirely taking the vibe away. It was my first time out during the pandemic and not my last! read more

BuckleDown Brewing - Outdoor seating, social distanced - Breweries Near Me - Lyons, Illinois

Greatest Place on the Planet. Great Beer. Great Owners. Great Bartenders. If I ever go missing, check Buckledown first.

This is a tasting room for beer. They just opened it last week. Their beer is good. The space is minimally appointed, tasteful and sleek, yet comfortable and spacious. There are a few tables, a single long bar, and a lot of standing room. They do not serve food. The ceiling is open to the warehouse rafters up above, and you can see some of the brewing tanks and apparatus from the public area. They started brewing on-site a month ago. (I think they brewed elsewhere and collaborated with other breweries prior to that.) So far, they appear to have four beers on draft here -- an American IPA, a Belgian IPA, a porter and a Belgian single. I tried two of them at an event during Chicago Craft Beer Week in May 2013 and tried the others this week. The beers were all solid, but there's not much point in reviewing them in detail here. Just know that you can get a good beer if you stop in. It looks the tasting room will be open afternoons and evenings. Oh yeah, you can buy growlers and mini-growlers if you want to take their beer to go. No bottles (yet). (But I think they have plans to distribute in the Chicago area in the future). read more

I come to Buckledown maybe once or twice a month. Their beer is really good and they often have food trucks and live music here too! They recently got a really awesome cheery beer that I fell in love with! The atmosphere of this place is just so laid back, it's so nice to just kick back and have a few beers with some friendly people. Employees are some of the nicest I have ever encountered, they are always helpful and attentive. They do need to get some A/C though, that place could be such a great summer stop but it is reallllly hot in there. read more

It escapes me how I haven't left a review of BuckleDown yet. I suppose I just thought that if you knew about it, you knew it was good. There's not much more to say than that. But I'll say a little more. BuckleDown is cozy inside. It is small but they make the most of the space. The bar is a little on the short end and the seating/standing area easily fills up on a Saturday night. Despite their limited space it is full of personality. The brewery used to be an autobody, and it shows. It hasn't lost that rough-around-the-edges character that would have been typical of an auto shop on 47th street in Lyons. The beer itself is beyond compare. As others have noted, BuckleDown is easily the best brewery in the suburbs. Although, I would recommend to try their canned beer before making the drive out to it (it's far for a lot of suburbanites because it's so close to the city). If you like it, this place is more than worth the time to get there. If you don't like it, well, at least your Saturday night wasn't wasted. BuckleDown is available in most Trader Joe's and Whole Foods around Chicagoland. There are only two negatives I can think of for this place, neither of which are big enough to take a star off. One, like I noted, the space is pretty compact. If it's a busy night, which it often is, you will undoubtedly be elbow to elbow with the other people there. Second, they often host live music. The music itself is usually pretty good (usually also pretty country) but can be really, really loud, to the point where it can be difficult to hear yourself think, let alone try to speak. All in all, BuckleDown is an experience in itself. It is small, cozy, and the beer is really, really good. I realize that beer, like most things in life, is a matter of opinion. But if you're on the fence about this place I would really recommend trying it. BuckleDown will be my go-to brewery for as long as I'm in or around Chicago. read more

I feel like I need to give BuckleDown another try before I can really rip them apart so I'm going 4 stars until I have a few more stops here. Here's the thing: the beer here is good but the atmosphere is rough. I made the mistake of coming here on a day that was 97 degrees. Little did I know that the brewery had an open garage door and NO air conditioning. It was absolutely miserable in there even while standing directly in front of the one fan in there. That's right, I hogged the one fan in there like a jerk and still had a mad case of swass. Not okay. Also? I really wanted to get a flight to try all their beers, but in my sweaty-ready-to-pass-out-from-heatstroke mind frame I wasn't able to figure out if I could. I ended up just getting a pint of their DIPA and calling it a day. It was too hot to sit there for any longer than one drink anyway. Hopefully I can make it out here in the fall and actually give their other beers a try comfortably. Until then, I'm getting beers at Binny's (BuckleDown or otherwise) and keeping my butt in the AC at home. read more

This place is a little gem in the suburbs. I didn't try much on the tap list but the Citra IPA was delicious. This place is low-key and casual. When we stopped by on a Saturday night, a food truck was parked outside and the big garage door was open. We didn't find a seat immediately but a table opened up pretty quickly. It's a very open style and you can see all the exposed ceiling the beer barrels. Our bartender was lovely and friendly. I just wish they had some other brews on tap. I hope to go back and get myself a growler though. read more

This is an excellent brewery and a comfortable pub. Home of my favorite IPA. Live music is common on weekends...check their Facebook page.

What a gem. Growler prices are steep, but worth it for really good beer! it was interesting to see a 1/2 growler size for to-go beer. I imagine that being that be a good party size. My current favorite is the robust porter. No Food. I'm not even sure about a brewing tour, but they have merch. Not much to say cause this place is small. still plenty of room for a large party. I prefer to stand while I drink anyway. I would consider this venue for private parties in the future. read more

Alright. I'm all about new, small breweries and their quirks - but this one had some unique ones. Upon entering the building, their was an odd smell that reminded me of the mash of bourbon while it's being distilled - but the smell was off putting instead of welcoming. The space is awesome - unique lights, bright yellow bar stools and it looked like someone was setting up for live music. My friend and I ordered the raspberry beer. Not a fan at all. Took two sips and had to stop. It was over powering and not easy to drink. I went ahead and ordered the Oktoberfest which was better. I quickly went to the bathroom and my friend had moved from the bar to talk to his friends. When returning from the bathroom we found that in that short time our seats had been taken and my beer poured out. The bartender probably thought we left - but we were still present. I'd go back - but not for the raspberry beer and wouldn't leave my seat. read more

Dope spot!! Let's welcome and enjoy all new brew pubs in Chicago and outside suburbs.. read more

BuckleDown Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Lyons, Illinois

Really disappointed. This was our second time here. First was OctoberFest 2016. The beer this time just didn't taste good, any of it! Waitress or bartender spent more time talking to just one patron. We stayed for one and left. We Love Laguanitas Brewery as well as Revolution. read more

I definitely like the beer here, Belt and Suspenders is my fave. I especially like the old school punk music playing during our visit. The location and atmosphere is also pretty cool, as it's located in a warehouse where they obviously brew their own beer. What I didn't like was the bartender pouring. Bartenders should be nice and personable. Possibly give suggestions on what other people like, especially when we told her we have never been. She was lacking in this department, as she was curt and anxious to head to the other side of the bar. Any woman who puts on some heavy eye makeup and serves shouldn't depend on her looks alone for tips. There were an abundance of after work males there, so I somewhat understand...but no excuse for caring for all customers. Yet, I digress. I had my Belt and Suspenders and the husband had the four option flight. The flight was a good price at $8 for 4 different tastes. I love having a local brewery so close to my home. And this place definitely isn't pretentious or assuming, it's actually quite comfortable. They even have a selection of board games one is able to play as you drink their beer. I will definitely return, I just wish the customer service was a little better. read more

BuckleDown Brewing - Interior - Breweries Near Me - Lyons, Illinois

See all

Bare bones but comfortable. Lively on a Saturday afternoon. Buckledown makes really good beer. This is just a tasting room so no food or frills but a good experience for craft beer lovers. Growlers and grumblers available. We liked the open air feeling and high ceilings. read more

BuckleDown Brewing - Cool decor. Big open place. - Breweries Near Me - Lyons, Illinois

Perhaps my favorite brewery! Great quaint vibe with a very diverse selection of homemade brews. They frequently change up their selection while a few staple beers remain. Their great Octoberfest celebrations are accompanied by authentic German styled food and live music can be enjoyed a couple nights a week. Most weekends you will find a food truck outside to add to experience. Newly released beer on draught can be taken to-go in a growler or typically a 4 pack of cans. Not sure what to try from their 15+ options, opt for a flight to sample their creations. read more

This is one brewery that has a cool vibe and makes great products to match. Let's face it, there are a lot of people trying to cash in on this industry, but Buckledown is legit. It's a cozy little industrial spot. They often have live music. I recommend them! read more

Finally, a great craft brewery within a 15 minute drive! Went after work with some colleagues and it was a pretty cool experience. The place is located in a pretty nondescript area off of 47th and 1st avenue across the street from a large industrial park. It's a fairly small operation and you would easily miss it if you were not paying attention. The parking lot is super small so be prepared to park on one of the side streets. Once inside it's a pretty bare bones operation. About 10 tables in the front, seating along the bar and in the back are the vats, fermenters and all the other cool stuff for making beer. It's not a high end look by any means but you're there for the beer not the ambiance. I didn't know what to get so I ordered a flight of their dark beers. Every one of them was really good. Their porters and stouts were outstanding, especially their Shady Aftermath and Awkward Exchange brews. They don't really offer any food but on the Thursday we were there they had a small buffet from one of the area restaurants which hit the spot. Also I understand some of the better food trucks in the area make regular stops there during the week. All in all a great experience highlighted by some really exceptional beer. Anyone in the city or western burbs who enjoys exploring the explosion of local craft beer should definitely put Buckledown as a must try. read more

Awesome place .... Love all of their IPAs. Fun place, BYOF= bring your own food !!! Live music some days and on Thursdays, food is on them!!! In town? A must try !! read more

BuckleDown Brewing - Mosaic IPA 8.1 abv ... Yum - Breweries Near Me - Lyons, Illinois

The best brewery in the burbs. I have tried other breweries and compare them all to Buckledown. Cool atmosphere, laid back and just a fun place to enjoy a few beers. They are also respectful of the neighborhood. Please follow their lead. They have food from time to time, otherwise you can bring/order in. What are you waiting for? Get your growler filled now! read more

Another small craft brewery taproom, they all pretty much follow the same formula, BYO food, cheap drinks and flights, laid back vibe, I admit there isn't much to distinguish this one from other breweries, but that's not to say it's bad at all, I enjoyed all the beers I tried, including the barrel aged mega pale, and I often order Belt and Suspenders when I'm out, if you're in the area it's worth stopping by read more

Terrific low key atmosphere mixed with phenomenal Mosaic Double Imperial IPA makes this brewery a must visit for beer snob enthusiasts! I had a terrific time sampling their finest and will definitely be back. Very friendly and courteous service to go along with great beer and industrial contemporary decor. You will not be disappointed. A must try! read more

See all

What a nice little place! Parking was a little tough, but it was nice to see how popular it was even at 530 on a saturday. I ordered Mirth Belgium singel beer- light and delicious! Friendly staff. Could use a little more seating, they have the bar, a few small tables and a couch. I love supporting local businesses. I highly recommend this place! read more

BuckleDown Brewing is in an out-of-the-way industrial area. They have a small parking lot, sufficient for a weekday afternoon crowd. There is no way the lot can accommodate a large weekend crowd. The taproom is small but comfortable. There are a few tables of different sizes, a couch, and bar seating. On this particular afternoon, the bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. She gave me a free sample of Mark of the Yeast, an IPA with a floral explosion. It was my favorite beer this visit. For some time, I have enjoyed Belt and Suspenders and Clencher. But instead of ordering old favorites, I opted for an eclectic flight of four new brews. Here is a listing of my flight: 1. Fiddlesticks (6.2% Belgian IPA): My favorite of the flight, this beer had a powerful hop taste to it. 2. Raven's Cloak (5.9% Black Rye IPA): This dark beer had a slight sweetness to it with an aftertaste. 3. Painted Turtle (4.6% IPA): The lightweight of the flight, I don't think I got a true appreciation of this beer. The tastes of the other beers drowned it out. I do know it has a delicate refreshing taste. 4. The Shane (5.3% Dry Irish Stout): Much to my surprise, I liked this beer. I'm mostly an IPA/APA drinker, so this was a big change for me. But it had a rich, warm, possibly nutty taste to it. read more

BuckleDown Brewing - 4-beer flight - Breweries Near Me - Lyons, Illinois

This is a good place to start a night out or just grab a beer or two. Don't bother to get too dressed up, though because this is a really casual vibe. They do not have food, but the food trucks that do come in bring some good stuff. If you keep in mind this is a brewery, not a bar, you will have a great time here. Totally worth checking out. read more

This is a very low key brewery/ tap room which I appreciate. It's easy to pass up because it's also in the middle of nowhere, across the street from an industrial park but accessible from first ave and i55. I really enjoyed the IPA and stout heavy lineup but my gal (who is not a IPA fan) didn't appreciate it so much and wished there was a wider variety of choices. She did love the blackberry and painted turtle, she even liked the american IPA - suspenders and belt(!!!). The music left a lot to be desired, it seemed to be alt bluegrass and county night which quickly got old. Also if you're going with a date or single companion you may want to plan ahead and bring a board game or cards as the atmosphere isn't can be a little drab. The beer is really the star of the show and it was extremely flavorful. It's hard to describe the specific details but the hoppy flavors are extremely fresh. Overall, if you like beer and are around Lyons where else are you going to go? read more

Great place!! Very cool atmosphere! I ordered a flight of their 4 most popular beers and enjoyed all 4 with my favorite being the "belt and suspenders American IPA". I would recommend this place if your into craft and local beers. The citra clencher would come in as my second favorite. I would have liked to try them all but I would have missed my flight back home! Will be back if ever in the area. read more

BuckleDown Brewing - The brewery! - Breweries Near Me - Lyons, Illinois

What a great microbrewery. Great beer awesome staff very highly recommend. They have been in business for 5 years now

My boyfriend and I stopped by on Saturday night. The Toasty Cheese food truck was stopping by and the brewery is an walking distance from our place. Sounds like a great Saturday night and it was. The beer was good. The place is nothing fancy. A bar, couple of tables and that's about it. Everyone was really nice. I am pretty sure we will be hanging out here quite a bit during the summer. read more

Great place and excellent beers. I usually ride my bike over and have a beer or meet with friends. The beers are very good. On some days, they have a food truck. I mainly go there for the beer, atmosphere and a very positive vibe. read more