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• Best Beer Selection

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(Tom Root, Buzz photographer)

Runners-up

Mike ’n’ Molly’s 105 N. Market St., C. 355-1236
Murphy’s 604 E. Green St., C. 352-7275
See complete Best of CU results

Related Venues

Blind Pig Co., The »
Address: 120 N. Walnut St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 398-1532
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Although Mike ’n’ Molly’s, Murphy’s, Radio Maria and Crane Alley made tough competition, The Blind Pig in Champaign won the Best of CU’s best beer selection category for its numerous brew choices.

Bartender Jason Ewing said the Pig has more than 100 bottled beers and 26 taps. Half of the taps change to a different beer every week or two, and every week there is also a new cask-conditioned ale.

Michael Clewley, a three-night-per-week happy hour customer, said he prefers the ale. Cask-conditioned ale is brewed differently than macro-brewery beers, and it is hand pumped instead of pressurized on tap. He said it gives the ale a different taste, which is more traditionally English.

The owner, Chris Knight, is English and has designed the bar like a pub from his home country. Clewley said he will not let a television through the door.

“You don’t have to listen to that stupid television blaring all night,” Clewley said.

Ewing said the customers primarily come for the beer and stay for the socialization.

“When you come in here, you wind up talking to somebody,” he added.