Rockford area brewpub named among best in the US

One of the top brewpubs in the United States is right here in the Rockford area, according to USA Today.

Pig Minds Brewing Co., 4080 Steele Drive, Machesney Park, is no. 8 on the newspaper's 10Best Brewpubs Readers' Choice list.

"We were excited to be nominated," said Pig Minds co-owner Brian Endl. "It was fun watching the voting. It's nice to have some recognition."

With more than a dozen house beers on tap including Blackberry Hogwash Cobbler, Drunken Rook and the Death Grip West Coast IPA, Pig Minds completed a 9,000 square-foot expansion in 2020, adding a wood-fired pizza oven and bringing its total square footage to 13,500 square feet.

Brian Endl and his wife, Kelly, opened Pig Minds 12 years ago and continue to draw from markets outside the Rockford area. The establishment is a brewpub, entertainment venue, event space and a restaurant with a menu that makes it a regional attraction.

"We are a 100% plant-based menu, so we get a lot of people from Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago and the suburbs — even from the eastern end of Iowa," Endl said.

Related: Owners have sights set on 2025 for new downtown Rockford brewery

And it's not just any vegan menu.

Because they've been vegans since 1992, Brian said he and Kelly know what goes into a plant-based menu that appeals to everyone, even those looking for traditional bar fare like burgers, Reubens and grilled cheese sandwiches.

"People love to travel for that and craft beer," Endl said.

Then there is the atmosphere. Pig Minds is nestled inside a Machesney Park industrial park, a unique location for a brewery. But when the sun goes down, especially in warmer months, it's the place to be.

"We have two outside patios — one off the back bar and one off the front bar," Endl said. "We do live music on weekends and those fill up. It's usually a great time."

Rockford resident Mary Cassioppi said she isn't surprised that Pig Minds has received national recognition.

"Brian and Kelly had a vision for creating a vegan brewery and restaurant many years ago, and they have worked tirelessly to make their dream a reality," Cassioppi said. "Brian's artistic talents shine through with his art and Kelly's creativity with the vegan menu accentuate the uniqueness of Pig Minds."

Others agree, as Pig Minds has received thousands of positive reviews in the last 12 years.

"If you didn't know it was vegan, you wouldn't know," D.L. from Schaumburg said in a Yelp review. "Buy some of their brews to take home for later. Good music — outdoor patio very nice."

"The pizza was amazing; beer and customer service were excellent," pennyb366 wrote on Tripadvisor. "Last minute decision and didn’t disappoint."

Pig Minds is open 3-8 p.m., Monday through Wednesday; 3-9 p.m., Thursday; noon-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and noon-8 p.m., Sunday.

Jim Hagerty writes news stories for the Rockford Register Star. Email him at jhagerty@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Illinois brewpub named among best in the US, Readers' Choice