Sunday 24th of July 2011 09:42:32 AM

link
As a recent transplant to the Libertyville area, I have to say that this is THE beer destination around here, pretty much head and shoulders above the rest.

Tap list rotates frequently and they often find unique beers to put on tap. Always lots of good Illinois, US and imports on tap and usually a good mix of all of them. They have a good bottle list, but there is almost always something good on tap so I haven't looked at it that hard. They have had something on cask every time I have gone in (the Two Brothers IPA was really good).

The atmosphere ranges. It is very busy at night and it gets loud and crowded, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But in the afternoon it has a much more relaxed atmosphere.

Staff is knowledgeable about beer and very friendly and helpful. And the all the food that I have had there has been excellent. I would describe the food as upscale gastropub.

If you're in the area, this is the place to visit, you won't be disappointed.

Thursday 28th of January 2010 04:11:19 PM

link
I went here with a small group last weekend for dinner. My advice is to arrive early as it is very popular and they don’t take reservations.

There is a long bar along one wall of this narrow space and the rest of the room is filled with tables. As the place filled, waiting folks crammed into every available space between the bar and the tables. This made it uncomfortable for the folks dining near the bar and made it hard for the waitress to get through.

They have a great tap selection and a very good bottle offering. In addition, they offer two cask choices. During my visit, I was lucky enough to have the Centennial Amber from nearby Emmet’s on cask. It was delicious and well cared for.

The tap choices appear to be constantly rotated so, I would suggest checking in often. Selections while I was there include offerings from Bells, Metropolitan, Three Floyds, Surly, Goose, Victory and other worthy breweries. The beer prices were fair and the taps seemed to well maintained.

The service at the bar and the table was professional and beer savvy. Great to see them hire folks that can talk about all the great beer.

Unfortunately the food did not live up to the beer or my expectations. Of the four folks in our group, only one liked their meal (a burger) and the rest thought the food ran from just ok to overly cooked. I’m willing to give them another shot, as the beer list is great. Maybe a weeknight would be a better option.

Monday 20th of July 2009 12:22:52 AM

link
This is a top 10 bar in Illinois. Maybe #6-7-8-9 after Maproom, Hopleaf, Long Room, Publican, Lunar, etc. *but* certainly in the top 10. I would venture a vote that it's worth a trip from Chicago via train, I know i'll return and that would be my preferred method of transit.

The decor is truly original, a mashup of 20th century styles remixed and attached to the walls. A unique bar that looks to be salvaged wood from some antique establishment. Checked it out on a quiet Sunday afternoon, which may have had some bearing on the relaxing mellow vibe.

25 taps, 50 bottles. Some rare & exclusives such as FFF Gorch Fock & Blunderbuss, Koenigshoeven Witte, Emmetts McCarthy Red on cask, and many others. I was too busy taking it all in to focus on the drafts. Deep list with a few gems like Fantôme and Juliet.

Food was tasty, I had a venison sausage sandwich that was on special. Overall there was a very creative menu. Service was personable, Adam was the bartender, and he chatted about beer and traveling in Chicago.

A real gem in the Chicago burbs, there aren't many out there...

Monday 16th of March 2009 03:15:28 PM

link
I had enough beers at Mickey Finn's on Sunday night. (I preferred the Marzen.) I still had an hour before the train back to Chicago.
Somebody had mentioned to me that there was allegedly a really good beer bar near Mickey Finn's; "about a block away".
He was correct. But it may not be the one you think. After you exit the train; if you walk south on the east side of Milwaukee Ave., which is the side on which Mickey Finn's is, you will pass a bar with some German bunting.
That is not it.
The bar you want to visit is _Firkin_, which is on the _west_ side of Milwaukee Ave.
You can't enter this venue from Milwaukee Ave. You must walk around to the west side of the edifice, near a free parking lot, to find the entrance | exit.
I was stunned by the atmosphere here. The _functioning_ Champagne Velvet_ beer clock was the ultimate.
You want to have draft beers here. You'll find brews you did not expect (or knew were available in Illinois). For example; Metropolitan Brwg.'s Dynamo Copper Lager was on. There were two beers on handpump: Three Floyds' Brian Boru, and Emmett's McCarthy Red. [I was at Emmett's in Downers Grove weeks ago, and it _did not have this on handpump_.]
I had the Brian Boru. I took photographs here, and I am inquiring to beerinator to be able to post them here.
Is it worth a trip by itself? Maybe. But if you're visiting here for Mickey Finn's, you probably should visit here as well.

Transit options: See the directions to Mickey Finn's. But it is 1½ blocks north of there (closer to the train station), on the other side of the street. This is why I checked the box for "Public Transit".

Tuesday 17th of July 2007 01:03:16 AM

link
been stopping in up in libertyville for a couple years, but I don't think i've been to this one more than 10 times.... I like it, it's fun.

Beer selection rounds out about upper 20ish taps including the two handpumps.... not as many american taps as euro taps, but the selection is good... really good... Reisdorf kolsch, Great lakes dortmunder gold, and mardesous 8 were my beers this evening. They were very pleasant.

Atomsphere is very cool, and you really need to gaze a bit around this place before you give it a score... there's lots to be had as far as eye candy.... the art on the walls is dyslexic as far as it's diversity... the three legged goat, also available as a print... is creepy yet intriguing... The bar and taps are fancy and the dining area off the bar is comfy and casual... I like the darkness of the place, gives it a great vibe.... I also like the slaughterhouse plastic as you walk in the door... It's pretty eclectic....

Service was good this evening (monday) as i was there primarily to chat up hopsing and we were in a chatty beerdirinking mood.... they were very attentive, but knew to stay back... good enough...

Food was great... I had a chicken sandwich with bacon, tho I regretted it when I looked over at the specials board... the specials are where it's at here....

Tuesday 10th of July 2007 08:48:34 PM

link
I finally made my first visit last Friday night. After numerous aborted attempts, I wasn't taking no for an answer. I work in Antioch now, so it looked to be, (and was) a pretty short drive Southeast.

I got held up at work, and didn't leave the store until just before 10, which put me there at about 10:30.

If no one else has said it, park in the back. It was raining and I was not aware there was no street entrance on Milwaukee.

As it was a Friday night, on the weekend before the 4th of July, the place was hopping. Lot's of shot drinkers and a fairly diverse age group crowded the bar.This did not stop the bartendress, (Ericka?) from shaking my hand and introducing herself when I informed her it was my first visit. Definately a warm welcome.

I had called ahead and knew my first beer would be Cane and Ebel on the engine, which was fantastic. As the last half inch of that went down, Dave (aka firkindave on BA) introduced himself and steered me away from selecting an Alpha King. He said a few people had experienced an "off" taste when chasing the C&E with the AK. I opted instead for a La Trappe Quad, followed in order by a Nostradamus and finally a Maredsous 8.

All were wonderful, and served in the appropriate glassware and at a perfect temperature.

I was too late for food, but the menus I looked at on their website looked pretty tasty.

Dave insisted on getting my e-mail address for future communication and I also provided him with my user name for this site and my BA handle. I hope he keeps me posted on what's on. He told me the Gouden Carolus-Grand Cru of the Emperor is due up next, after the Nostradamus blows.

Hopefully this will be on next Monday night when I meet up with "the labbit".

Sunday 8th of July 2007 04:40:38 PM

link
Wow, one visit and I'm in love with the Firkin. 25 or so brews on tap, many local including cask-pulls from Two Bros. and Emmet's, and a wide variety -- I remember Maredsous 8, Victory Prima Pils, 3F Alpha King, lots of German offerings -- two hefes, one dark hefe, a kolsch, a pilsener -- more Belgian offerings. One or two Great Lakes offerings. Beamish on tap. I think Miller Lite was the only American macro. The food was great -- a nice, eclectic menu. Wonderful long bar, with floortile burnished to a high gloss inlaid in the wood rails. More vodkas then I've ever seen outside of Bobak's Polish Market. Fantastic blues being played. The staff knew the patrons. Very beer knowledgable. All the proper glassware. Too bad about the drive for me!

I'm torn about saying "Above average" for the beer pricing -- compared to Chicago, it's quite competitive, and considering you can't find most of the brews on tap elsewhere, well... I _think_ they're slightly higher than the guest taps at Three Floyds, but you won't regret the money spent after drinking here for an evening.

Edit: I've been a couple more times, and the plastic flags get old, but it's still a fantasic place. Because of my parenting deal, I get to most places during dalight -- I'm not the guy to judge after-dark atmosphere in most places. Daytime -- I love the Firkin. Music, food, brew, liquor -- all high quality.

Wednesday 27th of June 2007 11:51:19 AM

link
The Firkin is a bit of a gem in Libertyville. The place is a bit small in size, and somewhat hard to find. Their main door is on Milwaukee street, but it's not used. Instead you need to go around to the rear for the entrance.

The Firkin is not a brewpub [at least I haven't seen any of their own beers], but a great beer bar.

The selection of draft beers is downright amazing. From big heavy Imperial IPA's, to hard-to-find German and Belgian beers, you'll find it there. They also have the right glasses for the right beers.

The food is top notch too, eclectic but not over-the-top.

All this goodness comes at a price. I find the beer prices to be "up there", no question about that. But quality comes with a price, as they say.

Well worth the stop!

Parking in the back. Family friendly as long as it's not too late as it has bands and a busy crowd around 10pm.