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Joe's Brewery »
Address: 706 S. Fifth St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 384-1790
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Located on Fifth Street and nestled in-between Green and John streets, Joe’s Brewery has been a staple of campus nightlife since its opening 18 years ago. Once famous for the brewing of its own beers, Joe’s has more recently become legendary for its dance floor. However, the bar boasts a sizeable and accommodating beer garden, one that should not be written off quickly.

Open daily until 2 a.m., the garden is surrounded by a partly wood, partly metal fence, giving it a slightly secluded feeling. The garden boasts a seating area for 64 yet allows for a total outdoor capacity of 453 persons, which provides a lively atmosphere as the night carries on into the wee hours. Patrons have the option of simply sitting back and enjoying a drink or ordering off of the menu (before 8 p.m.), which is full of American favorites such as hamburgers, sandwiches and salads. Illini pride is not lacking in the outdoor seating area either, as the majority of the garden is covered by a bright orange tent. Though the canopy is practical in the sense that it accounts for all types of weather, it traps noise, making the garden one of the noisier ones in the CU area. Local musicians also frequent the beer garden, something that often adds a calmer atmosphere to the otherwise loud, high-energy bar.

In terms of beer selection, Joe’s is neither a front-runner nor a bar to be ignored. With 11 beers on tap, including Miller, Coors and Guinness, and anther 24 bottled, their selection is by no means lacking. However, it doesn’t offer much for the beer enthusiast or someone looking to experiment with extremely diverse libations.

How does their garden grow?

Beer Selection — 2.5: Joe’s has all the staples but not a lot of variety.

Atmosphere — 4: Joe’s always draws a diverse and energized crowd.

Noise Level — 2: The blaring music inside coupled with throngs of students who flock here at night make this one of CU’s noisier beer gardens.

Ambience — 3: Decked out in orange and blue, you definitely get the feeling you’re at a campus bar, which could be off-setting for local residents.

Service — 3.5: During dining hours, the staff is eager to please, but once the bar gets crowded, garden sitters can fall to the wayside.

Average — 3: If you’re looking to bust a move all night long, you’d be hard-pressed to beat Joe’s. But if you want to share a good beer and relaxing conversation with some friends, look elsewhere.