FOOD & BEVERAGE CLASSES
TAKE A TASTE OF BELOIT HOME WITH YOU
Planning a weekend visit to Beloit, or are you a local foodie? You’ve come to the perfect place! Beloit and the Stateline Area have an endless selection of food and beverage spots that create memorable experiences. Some establishments even go the extra mile, offering unique classes so you can take a piece of Beloit home with you. Check out our food and beverage itinerary during your stay, you’ll have a great time and maybe even learn something new!
WHISKEY WEDNESDAYS – MEET THE DISTILLERS SERIES
5BAR | 530 E. Grand Avenue, Beloit, WI 53511
If you are visiting Beloit, or haven’t checked out this cool combo of a dive bar with fancy cocktails, drop by 5BAR. Inside, it’s like a blast from the past, with vintage items and decorations throughout the entire space. And their cocktails? Some of the best in Beloit, thanks to the owner, Levi, who mixes up a frequently rotating menu that covers all of the five senses.
Levi is always up to something fun at the bar, and his latest project was completely renovating the back room of the bar. In July 2024, he kicked off Whiskey Wednesdays – Meet the Distillers Series. Every first Wednesday, local Wisconsin distillers featured their best whiskeys for attendees to try. Levi is bringing back the event in the fall of 2025.
Join in the backroom for the class, where you’ll learn how to pair whiskey with snacks, sample different spirits, and even create your own special signature cocktail. Plus, there’s a chance to win cool whiskey gear in their monthly raffle. Get all the details, posted soon on 5BAR’s Facebook or website.
COCKTAIL FESTIVALS
The Castle at 501 Prospect | 501 Prospect Street, Beloit, WI 53511
Levi Andersen, the creative mind and owner behind the beloved 70’s-themed hotspot, 5BAR, is also the owner of The Castle at 501 Prospect. This historic landmark has stood in Beloit for a century, once serving as the hub for the Presbyterian Congregation. The Castle is now an iconic venue for various events, including weddings, concerts, and live entertainment. Since acquiring the building in spring 2024, Levi has hosted numerous events of his own in the spacious location.
In November 2024, The Castle at 501 Prospect hosted an Old Fashioned Festival, which was a huge hit. The two-day festival drew in both locals and visitors, offering cocktail-tasting stations, interactive cocktail-making stations, live bluegrass music, and a lesson on the history of drinking in Wisconsin. This event will be returning in 2025.
Levi is also planning several new cocktail-centric events, like an Espresso Martini Fest, Midwest Coffee Fest, and Oktoberfest. To stay up-to-date on future happenings at The Castle at 501 Prospect, be sure to follow their Facebook page.
COCKTAIL CLASSES
truk’t | 443 E. Grand Avenue, Beloit, WI 53511
Have you ever visited truk’t in Beloit? They serve fantastic street tacos in an open-concept dining space with garage doors, along with their never-ending selection of tequila and whiskey. It doesn’t get much better than that! And if you’ve attended one of their cocktail classes, you already know about the insider secrets that make their cocktails famous.
truk’t hosts public, ticketed tasting and cocktail classes every other month. A favorite is the Bad Santa Cocktail Class, offered around the holidays. Attendees learn how to concoct specialty cocktails in their ugliest sweaters and sometimes even with a surprise visit from Santa himself! truk’t offers private cocktail classes with customizable menus for special occasions like rehearsal dinners, bachelorette parties, birthdays, and corporate gatherings.
To get a jump start on crafting mixology masterpieces, check out the tips you will learn during the classes here, and keep an eye on their website for updates on upcoming classes. If you are interested in booking a private class, plan your event here.
COCKTAIL CLASSES
Hidden Creek Estates | 13276 White School Road, Roscoe, IL 61073
Hidden Creek Estates, located in Roscoe, IL, is a newer destination to the Stateline Area. While they are known for hosting wedding events and more around the beautiful grounds, featuring a pond, vintage barn, and guest houses for overnight stays, they also have a wine bar open to the public on select evenings. Guests can relax at the wine bar and enjoy live music, delicious food prepared by their knowledgeable chef, and the selection of seasonal beverages, wines, and whiskeys.
Beyond their expertise in weddings and private events, Hidden Creek Estates organizes their own public events, including popular cocktail classes. These intimate cocktail class sessions typically offer two timeslots per class, accommodating around 10 participants per session. The mixologists will give you a hands-on experience in crafting cocktails by teaching you about the various liquors used in the class and giving you techniques for how to serve and garnish drinks the Hidden Creek way! They also host special wine classes as well.
For details on upcoming classes and events, visit their website or check out their Facebook.
Shorty’s Kitchen | Photo Credit: Shorty’s Kitchen
COOKING, BAKING, & CANDY MAKING CLASSES
Shorty’s Kitchen | 14471 De La Tour, South Beloit, IL 61080
Shorty’s Kitchen is a farm-to-table restaurant offering delicious homemade dishes for lunch and dinner. The owner is not only a talented cook, but a great teacher. She offers cooking classes, and many of the homemade items featured in the restaurant are taught during the classes.
The public is welcome to register for these classes, usually held on Saturdays. Topics include cooking, baking, and candy making, covering a wide range of subjects and menu items. Keep an eye on Shorty’s Kitchen’s Facebook page for updates, as classes run from September through April.
Main Street Mini Social | Photo Credit: Main Street Mini Social
BAKING CLASSES
Main Street Mini Social | 301 E. Main Street, Suite 2, Rockton IL, 61072
Main Street Mini Social is a small, multi-use venue in Rockton, perfect for hosting a variety of occasions such as bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, and more. While the venue hosts its own events, they also partner with local businesses to offer a range of experiences.
Be sure to follow their Facebook page for updates on a variety of upcoming baking classes. In the past, they’ve offered festive Cookie Decorating Classes tied to special holidays, and Sourdough Bread-Making Classes, along with craft workshops.
STAY IN THE KNOW ABOUT UPCOMING CLASSES
Watch our events calendar for other culinary pop-up classes throughout the year, such as charcuterie board-making classes. You never know what you’ll find, like wine and ice cream pour-overs, wine pairings, and tequila tastings.
