Heartwork Brewing — Restaurant in Bloomington

Took Jeff Browne up on his offer of a free pizza to try at Heartwork Brewing! Here’s my review: I admit, I’m a pizza snob. Speakeasy has been all I can seem to find to satisfy my craving, but it’s a drive. I’ve not had much luck for my likeness here in town. I don’t like regular “chain type”pizza. A nice, legit wood fire pizza oven is actually on my list someday. At first I was skeptical because it wasn’t actually wood fired. He (jeff) claimed its just as good though. It was cooked at a high heat on stone. Upon arriving I was greeted with a very friendly staff. The menu for pizza was extremely confusing to us. EXTREMELY !Different fancy words for like sea salt, mozzarella…confusing. Might be a beer joint, but definitely not rednecks. 😂 They jumped right in though, an explained all the lingo. I wanted a coke, which they didnt have your typical sodas They do their own line though. I tried the cola, just wasn’t my preference. Kinda sweet for me. They do offer a zero sugar one though as an alternative. I switched to water, which is offered as self serve (which was nice) from a keg cooler. My biggest wish on drinks was that they offered ice. It’s a no ice facility. Upon getting our pizzas, I was very pleased with the looks of the dough. Great char! When pulling a pice away an holding up, it had minimal flop. A lot of Neapolitan pizzas, wood fire pizzas, are undercooked in the center. This dough was perfect. Cant say enough on the dough. He delivered on his statement! The sauce was extremely tasty. Very good sauce. Some sauces come across to strong. This one had a perfect balance. My only complaints on the pizza. It wasn’t really that hot when served. Just a mild warm, which is better than cold. That could’ve been a 1 time oops though due to getting to the table quick enough. It had fresh mozzarella (which some prefer) in patches versus shredded covering whole pizza in a cheesy, goodness. Topping are unfortunately limited (keep in mind they’re just starting the pizza side), so I tried prosciutto versus bacon. Prosciutto isn’t my thing on pizza I found out. They have red pepper flakes but no parm for table side.

Overall it was a good pizza, an will be my new go to for Bloomington. I feel they will just keep dialing in. They currently don’t have GF for the wife, but hope to in the future. Give them a shot. That...

Located on College just north of 17th with a decent sided parking lot and a large glass window front Heartwork is in a currently untapped location in Bloomington. I visited on Locals Night (10% off via Instagram) for the soft opening, and this new brewery was packed. The menu is front and center as you enter the place, and so is a smiling bartender ready to share their opinion of the best beer on tap. Really, you can't go wrong. The menu has something for everyone. But the Double IPA, Kolsh, and Stout on nitro are must try. A few snacks are available in addition to a rotating food truck parked out front. Merch is available with a cute anatomical heart/hop logo. Growlers are coming soon. There are lots of tables in a sunken living room style area to the left. And even Mortal Kombat II and Pac-Man arcade games. Everything is brewed on site by a couple of local dudes. Can't get more...

The highlight of my experience was their West Coast IPA - a perfect blend. Their Czech Pilsner, with its crisp and refreshing taste, and the slightly more malty German Pilsner, were both delightful surprises.

The range of other delicious-looking brews caught my eye, and I'm already planning a return trip to try them. The brewery's beer selection is outstanding.

This visit was made even more special by the event organized by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with community leaders and fellow enthusiasts. The connections made during this event were invaluable.

Heartwork Brewing is not just about great beer; it's a hub for building community relationships. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for quality brews and meaningful conversations in...