Scooter's Bar Journal » Peoria

Thyme Kitchen and Craft Beer

scooterj — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 18:14:00 +0000

(Downtown, Peoria, IL)

Scooter’s 1741st bar, first visited in 2023.

My last bar in 2023 was the venue we selected for our NYE dinner reservation.

We had pork belly appetizers, then I started out with prime rib but when I found out I got the last piece and it was already cooked much farther than I like, they comped it and I switched to fish & chips (which were fantastic).

While this place has a quite respectable selection of craft beer — as tey should since it’s pat of their name — their massive collection of spirits is far more impressive.

I had an Alpha Klaus (porter) by 3 Floyds Brewing and a blackberry thyme bramble (gin-based cocktail) but apparently they ran out of thyme.

No thyme, no thyme, no thyme, no thyme
No thyme, no thyme, no thyme, no thyme
I got, got, got, got no thyme
I got, got, got, got no thyme
I got, got, got, got no thyme

736 SW Washington St
Peoria, IL 61604
US
[launch map]
+13097132619
Visit Web Site

Friendly Valley Tavern

scooterj — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 18:13:00 +0000

(Peoria, IL)

Scooter’s 1740th bar, first visited in 2023.

Our last dive bar for this trip opened in an old bunker in 1947. The oddly-shaped building features a low and sloping ceiling in the men’s restroom that makes it difficult for tall people to stand up in there.

Outside is an expansive beer garded with a stage and a sand volleyball court. The bar hosts volleyball leagues, or at least tournaments, according to the stickers they gave us.

I had an Alpha King (pale ale) by 3 Floyds Brewing and a shot of Dough Balll (cookie dough flavored whiskey).

3708 N Meadowbrook Rd
Peoria, IL 61604
US
[launch map]
+13096723886
Visit Web Site

West Town Tap

scooterj — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 18:10:00 +0000

(West Bluff, Peoria, IL)

Scooter’s 1737th bar, first visited in 2023.

This dive bar serves breakfast from 6am-2pm daily, so seemed like a good place to start the day. Most of the surrounding area is the town of West Peoria, but this business in one one of just a few small parcels on the west side of Western Ave that are still part of Peoria proper.

The south side of the building is the bar area, the north side is more for eating. In the far back corner is a bank of video slots, something it seems every bar in Illinois must have.

Along with breakfast I had an Irish coffee and a mimosa.

A Googly-Eyes Bandit has struck here. We would soon find their work in another bar as well.

515 N Western Ave
Peoria, IL 61604
US
[launch map]
+13098390576
Visit Web Site

The Basket Case

scooterj — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 18:13:00 +0000

(West Bluff, Peoria, IL)

Scooter’s 1736th bar, first visited in 2023.

We hadn’t been to a dive bar yet on this trip and my wife wanted to sing, so after we had dinner and then got some rest in we went to check out Peoria’s karaoke bar.

From the outside it looks terrifying. Down a back alley behind a bicycle shop, next to a creepy parking lot. But inside it was complete dive bar fun with friendly staff and friendly customers. We stayed for a couple of hours, singing songs and drinking drinks.

Among the singers, our group had “Cari with a C” singing, while another group had “Kari with a K” singing — it was that Kari’s birthday. This detail will come back into play tomorrow, 3 bars from now.

I had two Guinness, at least 3 shots that I can remember (1 lemon drop and 2 pineapple upside down cake), and sang Elvira just before we left.

610 W Main St
Peoria, IL 61606
US
[launch map]
+13096762273
Visit Web Site

Martinis On Water Street

scooterj — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 18:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Peoria, IL)

Scooter’s 1735th bar, first visited in 2023.

We saw this place — one of two venues occupying an old train station (the other a BBQ place) — while were were driving around the previous night and thought it looked worth a visit. We were heading back to our rental house to make dinner and this was just a short side detour so we decided to make a quick stop.

The beautiful and cavernous space has a rectangular bar island in the middle, with several different styles of seating areas surrounding it.
There’s a nice-looking pool table, and also a piano. Though I didn’t see it during our visit and only found about it later, there’s an almost equally spacious covered outdoor patio as well as open-air outdoor seating.

I had a Mochatini and a Dark Chocolate martini.

212 Southwest Water Street
Peoria, IL 61602
US
[launch map]
+13096555003
Visit Web Site

Bearded Owl Brewing

scooterj — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 18:13:00 +0000

(Downtown, Peoria, IL)

OUT OF BUSINESS

Scooter’s 1732nd bar, first visited in 2023.

When we found out that this brewery was closing for good this weekend, its position on our list moved from “suggestion” to “priority”. So when we realized it was right around the corner from where we ate dinner, and saw they were having a cocktail takeover party meaning there would be something for everyone in our group, we made it our next stop.

Because of the farewell party the place was absolutely packed.
Unfortunately they were out of nearly all the cocktails, so the two in our group who don’t like beer ended up not getting anything.

I had the Yülogy (winter warmer).

112 State St
Peoria, IL 61602
US
[launch map]
+13097133676
Visit Web Site

Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery

scooterj — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 18:11:00 +0000

(Downtown, Peoria, IL)

Scooter’s 1731st bar, first visited in 2023.

We decided to pick this place for dinner because it had a good menu and looked pretty. The bar area was pretty crowded (in part due to a Christmas pop-up bar operating in the back) so we wait in the covered entryway next to the fireplace.

I had fish & chips and a Brasserie Noir (2017) by Goose Island Beer Co. — Bourbon County Brand Stout aged in Brasserie Noir red wine barrels.

619 Southwest Water Street
Peoria, IL 61602
US
[launch map]
+13096736000
Visit Web Site

Industry Brewing

scooterj — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 18:10:00 +0000

(Peoria, IL)

Scooter’s 1730th bar, first visited in 2023.

I drove up to this brewery early in the day because it seemed unlikely I’d get a chance to visit it later.

Once side of the building is the brewery and bar, where food is also served including a weekend brunch. (It’s a full bar, not just beer.) Just outside the bar area is a an even larger, partially-covered patio.

The other side of the facility is an axe-throwing venue that, while partly integrated with the brewery, has to be booked separately.

I had the 2023 Barrel Aged Night Shift Regular (Russian Imperial Stout).

8012 N Hale Ave
Peoria, IL 61615
US
[launch map]
+13098392930
Visit Web Site