River Saint Joe — Restaurant in Buchanan Township

This is absolutely on of the best brewery we have been so far combining: atmosphere, beers, and foremost, the food. We are an avid beer enthusiasts and we had visit lots of breweries in the Midwest and Chicago area so we had a very good idea what to expect. Some good breweries have only a tasting room which is still a great idea but after consuming few pints you always thinking about something to eat and I am not talking about bar food. Having a good brewery and fantastic food is a winner by all means. River Saint Joe Brewery is the place for both! Its located on the farm and the view is so relaxing, they grow their own hops so you can expect it is definitely organic. The place opened at 12pm and within 30 minutes it got quite busy over there. Our server Annie was so nice, and we got the time to chat about the farm and food. They got an outside seating which we took minding gorgeous weather but they also have tables inside. I can only imagine how nice it is out there to sit in the evening when the light are on giving this place even greater aura. I also like the addition of the music to be heard outside. Now lets go to the major part:

Beers:

The brewery has a decent list of beers to fulfill your needs. It is not a wide selection but there are Ale, Porter, Pale Ale, Saison etc. We have tried:

Harvester Ale--very good complexity, very drinkable, nice mouthfeel, definitely good for warm weather. We took two growlers of it at the end.

Farmhouse Pale Ale--to my big excitement this was more Hazy Pale ale, New England style. Very citrusy, made only from local hops. Great aroma, little bit dense, finishing with a bit of bitterness at the end.

Double Ipa--same color and mouth feel as the farmhouse ale but more Citrus flavor most likely due to amount of Cascade Hops. Very good beer and minding it was 8.6% ABV, you did not feel this at all. Great Double IPA.

Food:

We have tried few dishes from the kitchen and all of them were absolutely delicious. Menu is short which is always an example that everything is fresh and made to the order. You can tell be the taste of the ingredients that all are harvested locally and represent the farm to table idea, which is great. We had a chance to meet the chef Carly and we talked about food and the concept of this place. I appreciate the time that she gave for the conversation with us. Keep up the excellent work up there ! :)

Garden Harvest--salad with rotating vegetables and this time it was cherry and heirloom tomatoes served with aji verde and queso fresco. Chili threads on top gave it a substantial and spicy kick. Fresh and delicious.

Baby Butter Lettuce--excellent combination of fresh lettuces, herbs and greens with citrusy dressing.

Orchard Salad--baby spinach, breadcrumbs, apples and butttermilk dressing. Jowl bacon and smoked trout were a great marriage with the rest. I could definitely have one right now!!!

Flank Steak--seared to perfection with just salt and chimichurri on top was tender and packed with natural flavor. Served with refreshing corn and garbanzo bean salad. The quality of beef was superb.

Bangers and Mash--artisan sausages served with sweet potato puree, ramp pest and fresh cheese. This was definitely one of the best sweet potatoes puree I have ever eaten, it was amazing! Combination with savory/sweet sausage and pesto was so comforting.

We were told that the kitchen and chef change the dishes based on season and product they can find locally so the menu may change periodically. With that being said I am only looking forward to try new things at River Saint Joe. I wish there were more place like that closer to Chicago but this place is an example that excellent beer can be enjoyed with food on the same level. I say thank you and see you in...

River Saint Joe is a charming and inviting farmstead brewery located in Buchanan, Indiana. The brewery is nestled on the scenic Flatwater Farm, offering a unique and delightful experience that combines delicious craft beer, farm-to-table food, and a beautiful, rustic atmosphere.

The brewery's atmosphere is both relaxed and professional. The tasting room features large windows overlooking the farm, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. There's also plenty of outdoor seating with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, providing a peaceful and tranquil setting for guests to enjoy their beverages and meals.

The farm itself is a highlight of the River Saint Joe experience. Visitors can take a stroll around the grounds and see the organic hops and other ingredients that are used to make the beer. This is a great way to connect with nature and appreciate the farm-to-table concept.

There's also a wide variety of activities to enjoy at River Saint Joe. Besides enjoying the delicious food and drinks, guests can play yard games, relax by the fire pit, or simply soak up the peaceful atmosphere. The brewery also hosts regular events, such as live music and trivia nights.

One of my most beloved features of River Saint Joe is Snowball the cat, a friendly feline who is a regular fixture at the brewery. Snowball adds a touch of charm and personality to the already wonderful experience. Everyone said hello to him as he made his rounds.

Overall, River Saint Joe is a truly unique and memorable brewery experience. It's a great place to relax, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and appreciate the beauty of the surrounding...

A nice looking place. Granted they were extremely busy, but there were definitely shenanigans. Room temp tap water saved me from dehydration during the wait for my beer. I was told that the pint glasses were hot (out the dishwasher perhaps) and I would have it shortly but I saw other pints on customers tables sat after myself, and a few that took off from the bar in-between the message and the arrival. The shandy was delicious if not a bit too sweet. My food arrived almost immediately after that. Sadly the only thing I actually finished on my plate was the pickle spear. The pulled pork BBQ was closer to crockpot potroast with a modest amount of knockoff baby rays, the bun was of high quality. The Mac n cheese was barely warmer than the aforementioned tap water. The melted cheese on top looked inviting but beneath the cheese lay underdone macaroni in watery cheese substitute. I think a boba tea straw would have been more appropriate than a fork. Still the place does look marvelous and Sara (apologies if the spelling is off) my server was gracious if I'll equiped to handle the situation and she had a look of exhausted panic. Appeared that she was 1 of 2 servers and she was putting in the work with sincere consideration and effort. So I made sure to tip the young lady because none of what was wrong was really on her. I overheard the bartender say the menu changes regularly so maybe this was just a horrible attempt at pulled pork, maybe it's an off day. See for yourself but...