Sketchbook Brewing Co

Great selection of craft beers in a large setting with big and small tables inside and in a beautiful outdoor yard. A bit noisy when the train goes by, but the beer and atmosphere makes up for it. Inside is a separate window for coffee orders. Certainly a great addition for Skokie. No wine or hard spirits.

Nice Brewery near the train tracks, with indoor bar and seating. There is a patio area with plenty of space and is also dog-friendly. They serve beer and some apps. You order from the bar and can start a tab, and take your drinks to where you want to be seated.

Great beer selection. Really enjoyed the barrel aged stout in the summer. Yeah, that's right I drink stouts in the summer. Service was quick and friendly. Outdoor area made for a nice summer night. It's a drive for us but we will be back!

Great spot with a variety of beer options. You can sample and even buy cans to go. Staff are very friendly and helpful.

First time here - what a great place! Huge indoor space with lots of different types of seating. Huge outdoor patio that is dog friendly. We tried several beers and can't wait to come back. Note on food - not sure if they're here all the time but they had a cute food truck that served smash burgers. We didn't get anything but it looked popular.

Great place to stop in and have a drink. The outdoor seating area is great, with the Skokie Swift real close for child-enjoyment. The parking lot is big, and it does get full fast, so look for parking on Main or Niles Center. The menu of draft beers is very expansive, with a small selection of soft drinks. Do make sure to ask about the latter though, as they have no soft drink menu. Although Sketchbook does not have any food items on their menu, they often have food trucks parked outside for food in addition to their drinks. I would totally come back here, and I also love the fact that they don’t mind if you bring your own food, have a drink and enjoy the outdoor space.

Fantastic beer selection and a fantastic spacious yet still cozy taproom with a patio area. Parking is pretty tight though unless I missed an area, but otherwise was one of my favorite spots I’ve hit up in all of Chicagoland and would gladly go back.

Always a good and relaxing vibe here with a tasty food vendor! I love what they have on tap, even though I am not a big drinker. Tonight it was Radel, Cider and always a kombucha! Great space!

They collabed with Pinoy Grill Food Truck and had Karaoke Night after. Its a really cool place. I would probably check it out more now that I know what the parking situation is like. They do collab with different Chefs and Places for food from what I understand. I dont drink but there was like a Kombucha thats none alcoholic. I was a bit skeptical to try it maybe next rime. Service was great! The place has a nice feel and vibe to it. Its definitely a nice place to hang. Drfinitely coming back! Happy drinking!!!

We attended a friend's party at Sketchbook Brewing Company in Skokie. I had been here before for an event but I didn't know what it would be like on a weekday afternoon. Well let me tell you that the parking lot was already almost full, and there were more people here than I expected. I'm not really a beer drinker, but they did not offer any wine so I went with a cider they had on tap, Macintosh???, and it was light and crisp and very refreshing. We reserved tables, but they do not have food, so we brought in some snacks, pizza and cake. It was pretty low key and quiet, and our guest of honor had a great time at the get-together and we were able to converse and laugh for well past the scheduled time. This was a convivial place with a Cheers-like atmosphere and soon the clouds cleared up and people sat outside. With the nice weather, this is a very comfy and casual place to hang with friends.

Stopped by Sketchbook Brewing Company because they had a food truck there that I was wanting to try. They don't have a kitchen so they have different food trucks come through which is a brilliant idea. There is parking along the side of the building, on the a street and across the street in a lot. They have a nice outdoor area as well as huge indoor area. It is very family friendly. They have table games that you can play and they allow children in so there's something for the family. We happened to go while it was also karaoke night. I ordered the kombucha and it was refreshing. The line moved quickly and the the workers were friendly. I loved that they participated in karaoke also. Such a cool space to hang out.

Our favorite brewery. Laid back, welcoming atmosphere. Kids, dogs (even a cat on a leash!) are welcome, complete with a couple bean bag tosses. Tons of seating including outside with large tables for groups, around the oval bar, on high tops near the bar, and also comfy couches and chairs for lounging. Bring your own food is welcome here as well as board games. There's usually a pop up food truck Saturday nights which always have at least one vegetarian option. The beer is excellent. So much variety. Several IPA's but also many others from stouts to pilsners etc. there's a parking lot but it tends to fill up in summer. We park in a lot across the street which usually has ample room and the street is quiet - easy to cross. It's also right off the bike path.

Great location, big room, good service, finger food options, food truck outside, family friendly, good outside hang options for when the weather is nice. Live music 4-6 Sundays, although, even though they tried (acoustic tiles) the space is just not conducive to sound. I had no idea this location even existed. I always frequented the Evanston location, glad to know this space exists! My current favorite pour is the Lap Wing, give it a go! Cheers!

Great beer selection and good service. Nice outdoor area. Great place for the pups.

Sketchbook Brewing Company is a local brewery that has 2 locations - one in Skokie and one in Evanston. They have been around since '14, and while providing space to enjoy various drinks on taps, they also host live music, various holiday events, and other social get-togethers. Plenty of space to relax, and the staff are friendly. Their outside patio is a 'Skokie Beautification Award Winner', and you can see the plaque on one of the pillars. Plenty of parking on the side. +local brewery +plenty of parking

Breweries are popping up all over and around here. In Skokie there's a new location of this one. Sketchbook has the original in Evanston, and they expanded over here to one in Skokie. Lots more room in this location. The beer is about the same as you'll find at the other one with a few exclusives on tap. As with the other location, the main thing is the beer. It's about $7 a pint. That's not a great price but for craft beers around here it's pretty typical. Lots of beers to choose from. There's light and there's strong. Amitosa was the best one so far. This is a Mexican lager. Has a hint of citrus. There's not much in the way of food except kettle chips for $1, but you can bring food in. Also you can have it delivered. There's codes you can scan to make an order. Fun brewery with another location. If you like the other one you should also like this one. There's more room here so it's good for private events and parties.

Great counterpart to the location in Evanston! It's RIGHT off the bike path, a pretty easy ride from the lakefront. Get in your cardio, and reward yourself with a delicious, low-alcohol beer! Love the outdoor area, it's really chill with lots of chairs and umbrellas. The beer is tasty, and there are many varieties for pretty much any beer taste. I also love their branding and glassware. Win!

Mannie gets five stars too for putting up with my "is anything sweet?" Yeah beer is normally "sweet" yet he found something I loved. The vibe is good the prices are fabulous. Very patient staff since we stayed past closing time and the said nothing. And Mannie let me sample until I found the right beer. Great great GREAT

When I think of Skokie, I don't think of cool breweries to hang at but here we are. Sketchbook is such an unexpected gem! This brewery goes beyond a good beer selection. There's also a sense of community. They incorporate other businesses through rotating food offerings by local restaurants, hosting trivia nights, having live music, throwing events to support good causes, etc. There's always something to look forward to on their calendar. I love that you can bring in your own food/snacks or have it delivered directly to the brewery if you choose. There's also plenty of seating, so there's no stressing if you're looking for a last minute spot to have fun with a large group of friends.

I used to go to the Evanston location quite a bit, but I hadn't been to the new Skokie taproom (because, pandemic). I ended up here tonight because Temperance was way too crowded and didn't have parking, and I was meeting up with a few folks who wanted a beer garden night. This place is huge! I'm so glad we came here. Like the Evanston tap room, there are tons of options, and they have a $6 happy hour special until 6pm during the week (including Fridays), which was a nice surprise. The outdoor area is super nice and a great vibe. I'll definitely come here again. And obviously their beer is great -- I had the Oktoberfest and then the radler, and both were fantastic. They also had a food truck tonight, which a few of my friends decided to partake in and it looked tasty, too.

Huge space with both indoor and outdoor options. The bartenders are super friendly and helpful with great suggestions. Bummed that they didn't do flights, but I was pretty happy with my (giant!) pour of their latest IPA. You definitely get a good bang for your buck here. This is a good place for large gatherings given how large it is.

this place is so cute! i love the bring your own food aspect but theres also a food truck outside (at least on a saturday night)

Cute place. Lots of seating and inside. They have a lot of variety. They also have a lot of merchandise from glassware to hoodies. Parking is on the side and on the street.

Service is spectacular! Very attentive and relatable. Our waiter did a great job gauging the style of beer that I like and recommending something to meet my taste buds! The atmosphere is where it's at! Bing your babies, toddlers, teenagers, friends, parents or even grandparents! All are welcome and there's plenty of room. I had 3 beers. All the beers were good, nothing so exceptional that I would highlight them. Overall, good time.

Sketchbook is a gem. We're long-time fans of their beer, dating back to before there was even a brewery (my husband knows Cesar and Shawn from the local home brew club). While I've only been to this location twice, you'll often find Sketchbook beer in our home (if it lasts long enough for you to find it, that is). This space is worth a visit. The interior is spacious with plenty of seating, including some different vignettes like a couch, smaller tables, high top tables, and stools at the bar. There's a cute little merch corner with all of the Sketchbook swag you could need, and there's a cooler for your to-go beer purchasing needs. The patio is the real treasure, especially during our fleeting Chicago-area spring and summer. Choose from picnic tables, outdoor lounge seating, or more standard patio fare. There's grassy area for the kids to run around or the dogs to settle in for a snooze. I appreciate the diversity of their beer list because it makes it easy to find something that sounds good. I often order the Amistosa, a Mexican lager, because it's crisp and smooth. They have pop-up food service, including food trucks, and occasional live music. Staff are friendly and helpful, and the entire vibe is laid back. Highly recommend popping in here for a beer and a nice sense of community.

Wonderful ambience and great brews! We enjoyed the outdoor patio and it was a good place to come with your kiddo.

The beer is so so but I have to say the parents with the kids that run all over with no supervision is horrible I won't go back because of this when you try to drink a beer without a kid bumping into you and can't

Loved this place. It's so spacious, making social distancing easy, and gives kids a place to run around, while enjoying all the beers and the nonalcoholic kombucha they have on tap. Everyone here is super friendly. They also have a medium sized patio outside for when it warms up, but the interior is great. There is more of a lounge-like section, that reminds me of a coffee shop, and then plenty of tables and chairs on the other side. They also bring in food options after certain hours, great spot!

Wow, that's what I have to say - Wow! We lost Temperance Beer to Evanston awhile ago and Skokie's thirst to have it owns brewery remained unquenched. Months passed, perhaps more than a year and then suddenly - Sketchbook committed and the opening of this brewery exceeded my expectations!! How so Gerry?? - It was an informative and excellent tour by Cesar, one of the master brewers. He'll answer all of your home brewing questions - the size is incredible, the interior seating area, the patio and the tall ceilings. It's really airy and that's particularly important while we wait for the vaccine. Not to mention their increased brewing capabilities - partnerships - I've seen Libertad's food truck and an Italian food truck parked outside, that's really convenient. You can also order food from Nearby restaurants - the bier - I already have my favorites (Berliner Weiss, all of their IPAs and Orange Door) - Finally, their location, just walking distance from the Yellow line and downtown Skokie and right next to the Skokie Valley Trail bike path. There's also a very deep parking lot, if you want to drive here So there you have it!! Thank you Sketchbook for maintaining your culture by opening in Skokie. Thank you Mayor Van Dusen for yet another improvement for our village.

I love a beer flight Nice large inside and outside areas - outside trees are covered in fairy lights Great tasting beer (sampled multiple IPAs, a cider, a Belgian tripel)

Good for company, but beer selection can be a bit out there. They have some takes on the classics, but most of their beers have a bit of a twist. Just make sure you read the description to make sure the beer is something you'd like. Good vibes, friendly staff and weekends have food trucks or a visiting restaurant. Food trucks or pop up kitchens on weekends. Lines can be long for food at the pop-up kitchens and food trucks so heads up. Check the website to see what food truck or pop up kitchen is visiting. Sketchbook sell chips, and pretzel sticks at the bar, but nothing meal worthy. Parking is also pretty limited. Make sure to look on their website for where you can park. The lot right next to the bar fills up fast. I've seen it full by 4:30pm.

We have seen you grow from a tasting room which we had to find thru an alley to a standing only tiny space. And now look at you: all grown sophisticated and bold in all kinds of ways. Congrats. I can't wait to see what you come up in the next few years. Make us proud. Cheers!!!!

Stopped here with the family after a dinner to chat and catch up. The space is beautiful and open, with nice, quiet nooks to hang out. There are a range of beers, something for everyone. The service was wonderful. Recommend for a Happy Hour, weekend chill hangout spot or even for an event - their event space looked beautiful!

Went there this past Sunday to listen to music. Really nice venue that can be described as a kid friendly brewery. Tried a couple of beers that were very good and the pop-up restaurant was great. Will be back.

Great brewski's and good service. Yelp don't bug me to write more than I feel necessary. If you don't stop I will no longer review. .

The brewery is nice. And has a spacious outdoor area. They have a wide variety of beer that I think for the most part are pretty good. But I'm not sure how we got to 8 dollar beers plus tax and tip. For that reason I have to give it a lower score because I wouldn't drink here on a regular basis. After tax and tip you're talking about 10 dollars for a pale ale. Place is constantly packed so maybe I'm the only one that isn't up for 10 dollars a beer.

A lovely place! A lot of space in a great location. The beer is grate, orange door IPA is my choice here. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 on he weekends and it is near the trail, so you can get there during your walk, like ride or jogging. This place is definitely recommended.

My favorite brewery in Illinois! Great prices, friendly employees, cozy interior and beautiful patio space. They recently added frozen pizzas from Candlelite, which are fantastic (I recommend the white one), but you can bring your own food, and local restaurants frequently pull up with food trucks or pop-up menus. I recently held an event in the back area, and everyone involved in scheduling, set-up and take-down, and service during the event were fantastic to work with. Whether you're just grabbing a cold one after work or having a get-together with a bigger group, you can't go wrong with this spot! I love Amitosa, their Mexican lager available year-round, and there's a great range from IPAs to ciders. There's truly something for everyone!

We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and were happy we did! We loved the beer flight, which allowed us to sample a variety of house-made brews, as well delicious sandwiches from featured food vendor Soul and Smoke. The ample and comfortable seating options, with games and cards available, led to an afternoon of relaxation with good music, laid-back vibes, and great beer. We will be back!

Coming from another local brewery where we were treated like second-rate citizens, Sketchbook welcomed us with open arms. This was a huge contrast in service, with smiles, hellos, and even a joke thrown in upon arrival. My party and I suddenly felt human again! The bartender described what was what amongst their tap list, offered suggestions, and what the popular beers were. Flights were an option, so all of us beer nerds started there. Although it's difficult to not contrast this visit with our last, all of these beers were at least decent if not very good. We grabbed a table with couches and chairs which was super comfy. And the music was good and not too loud to have a conversation. The space itself is large and rustic yet modern. I could see spending a lot of time here. After finishing our flights, we ordered more pints and shared some of those yummy boxes of pretzels. I loved the regular & the white cheddar. I also picked up a few cans of my favorite IPA (Hop Thirsty Void w/ Sabro) before we (regrettably) had to hit the road. They're cool with splitting four packs, which is very helpful when you're low on space because you're bicycling. Speaking of which, this location is RIGHT off the Skokie path that takes you all the way down to Bryn Mawr in Chicago. From there, it's easy to connect to the trail down to LaBagh Woods. As if Sketchbook / Skokie wasn't already appealing enough, this makes it that much easier to return on two wheels!

Great for place to get a beer and hang out with my kids and friends. My kids had a great time playing on the patio.

My cousin took me here for the first time. There are outdoor patio and also indoor. We sat outdoor patio since it is a nice day we also bought out door foods there too. We order bunch of beers and there are water where you can drink too. The staff and service are very friendly. Would definitely come back here it is nice atmosphere to be in

I loved this place and the beer was excellent. It has a great patio right by the bike trail. Next time you ride your bike, stop for a beer. There is cute lighting on the trees by the patio too. Also, I love flowers but they bring bees and this patio didn't have flowers or bees. Lol! The servers were very polite and guided you along when you were unaware of the directions on the floor. Nice place!

I can't say enough good things about this place. Last night we enjoyed some great beers, and tacos from Libertad. The staff Marie & Geo went out of their way, making it really the best! The manager Barb deserves a big shout out too! Come support & enjoy all that they do!

I've been here once before at their Evanston location and wasn't a fan of all the lagers I tried. I returned with my wife and family for some birthday day drinking. The cider was on point and I really enjoyed their IPAs. Some of the other stars were Insufficient Clearance and Holiday Hops! The space is huge so didn't feel worried as groups were spread out. Looking forward to spending time on their patio in the spring!

Great brews, great outdoor space, friendly staff. You can tell they're in their first stages of opening, indoor space needs decor but a great start! Can't wait to see how they grow and if their Evanston spot is any indication, it's gonna be amazing! Great addition to Skokie!

The beer at Sketchbook Brewery is very good. I've enjoyed several kinds and each was very good. This past weekend's Octoberfest was enjoyable. Weiss beer was excellent. The food service was not good. The Bratwurst was tasteless and the veggies burger was awful. The German potato salad was good. Hopefully next time a better food vendor will be involved.

A welcome addition to the local brewery scene. Outstanding beer, great atmosphere, outdoor seating, great service!! Plenty of parking, near the CTA and bicycle friendly. I highly recommend this excellent brewery!!!

Great brewery! Make sure to make a reservation since they have limited seating during covid. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Staff is super friendly and they have a wide beer selection. It's bring your own food so my bf and I brought a pizza but they also had a food truck outside which looked delicious so if you're hungry always check on the food truck situation first. Will definitely come back!

And now we are bar hopping! Fun night at Sketchbook after dinner out. Always a great atmosphere and good beer.

The beers are wonderful and this place is a great fit for Skokie. The beer garden outside is pet friendly. Overall, everyone seems to have a good time. We will go back again and again.

I loved the beer. At first I was like naahh is not hitting. But is actually really good. The only thing is u can feel the sticky sugary saliva after a few. But I'm glad I try em. I will definitely consider this beverage in the future on my next beer run.

A brewery with delicious beer within walking distance from my house? What more can you ask for?! We are those annoying people who bring a child with them, but we aren't alone! Family friendly with a great outdoor space to burn off some energy. They also have pop up food vendors that make this place just the best.

I went here last night with a girlfriend for drinks and because I saw my favorite local bakery was going to be a pop up there. I passed by it the first time but was easy to spot going back around. Right by the train tracks on Main st between Skokie Blvd and Niles Center rd. They had their own parking lot with plenty of spaces. I had never been there before so when I first arrived I wasn't sure where to go but there were plenty of signs to help out. I wanted to sit outside but didn't know we had to make reservations but luckily there was a cancellation so I was able to be seated there. They only serve beer here I believe and you can get food from whatever pop up restaurant is there that day I believe. Very nice way to support local and independent businesses in Skokie. They have a beer menu up front where you order and you could also download it to your phone which gives you a better description of the beers. I decided on a flight and enjoyed all the beers I chose as did my friend who also got a flight. It was a cooler night but it was still nice sitting outdoors and I didn't get too cold. I loved that there were several dogs there with their families who were eating there, I don't have a dog but my friend said she'd like to come back and bring her dog now that we found out dogs could come there, on the outside at least.. Service was friendly too, it was a bit busy when I went inside to order my beer as they only had two people working the counter but the ladies were pretty speedy and efficient and got the line moving. Can't wait to go back!

We hosted our employee appreciation party at Sketchbook's Skokie location and wow did we have a great time! Both the indoor and outdoor space are so nice and welcoming. The staff was beyond accommodating and kind. There were so many varieties of beer and they all were so good! The space worked out perfectly for every aspect of our event, including the live band, taco truck, awards ceremony and more. I have never hosted a corporate party with zero negative comments...until now! I highly recommend this brewery as both an event venue and amazing local spot!

This review is for the Skokie location. I Stopped by this Saturday for the first time. They are located in an old factory building next to the train tracks right off the Main street. So I parked on the main street and walked through their huge patio door, assuming that is the entrance, mask on, purchased a beer and went out to sit at a table. Few minutes later, a friend of mine joined and did essentially the same - purchased a drink inside and joined at the table. Apparently we missed the correct door - there is another entrance on the corner of the building and we were supposed to go through there. The tables are also to be reserved, so even though walk ins are "welcome", we made mistake of not knowing about the reservations so we sat at a table which was reserved by someone else. Well, we regretted this mistake when the person working the door (who later told us his name is John) walked out about 15 min later and in very rude and condescending tone asked if we reserved the table, voice raised accused us of stealing some lady's table, "jumping the fence", "not reading the signs which are posted everywhere", etc. He got into my face (he did have a mask on) so close that at one point I had to ask him to please move away little further. This angered him more so he became even more rude and loud. Now we could see other customers looking at us wondering what is going on. I wondered why something that could be handled with polite "Excuse me..." was being handled in this manner. It's not as if we were fighting for the table - we complied with his demand immediately as soon as we realized what was going on. I don't know what was going through this man's head but I couldn't help but feel that the way he approached us and the way he talked to us had something to do with the way we looked. There is a kind of beard that is hipster and welcome here, I suppose, but there is also another kind of beard you sometimes see in Skokie that might not be welcome here or at least this guy John might not like it. Again, I am not sure what was going through this guy's head but maybe some training along the lines of "Skokie is a diverse community which welcomes everyone and we'd like to keep it that way..." would be helpful. Anyways, beer is fine, I guess, and if you don't look like someone staff despise you might even enjoy it. We finished our drink inside, felt unwelcome the entire time and left. I don't think I'd be coming back which makes me sad given that its right there in the neighborhood.

Rode my bike here on a Friday evening. Very convenient location near downtown Skokie right off the bike trail, making it accessible by bike from the northwest side and Lincolnwood as well as Skokie. The staff did a great job with social distancing and took temperatures at the door. There was a food truck in the parking lot serving tacos. Inside, a beautifully rehabbed warehouse with top notch beer and cider.

Those in Evanston and Rogers Park should take a trip to Sketchbook. Great beer - the reason to recommend a brewery. Also a great space. Large open air space, friendly staff, nice growler club, and rotating taps. Always something new to try. Stop in. It's a gem!