About Tangled Roots Brewing Co. – The Lone Buffalo
The Lone Buffalo on La Salle Street in downtown Ottawa is where Tangled Roots Brewing Co. got its start. It was the company's first restaurant and still houses its original brewery, built around a pair of large copper brewing kettles imported from Bavaria. The brewery calls its approach farm to foam, using barley from its own small farm, and the kitchen buys from local growers and farmers.
The beer list is long and changes through the year. Regulars include Sunkissed, a blonde ale that won a bronze medal at the Great American Beer Festival, along with Intercontinental Pilsner, Vermilion River Weiss and the Matthiessen English Mild on nitro. Seasonal releases such as Oktoberfest and Winter Porter rotate in, and a sour series and imperial stouts cover the bolder end.
It is a full restaurant, so you can make a meal of it: the menu runs to burgers, sandwiches such as a pulled pork grilled cheese, and brewpub nachos, with a happy-hour menu as well. Trivia night is every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the tap room. The restaurant takes reservations online, caters, hosts private events and offers brewery tours that can be arranged through its website.
Nettle Creek Lavender Farm, west of Morris, is about 25 minutes east along Interstate 80. In bloom season you can visit the lavender in the morning and come back to Ottawa for a late lunch here.
What to do
- See the twin copper brewing kettles from Bavaria
- Try Sunkissed, the bronze-medal blonde ale
- Order a meal from a kitchen that sources from local farmers
- Play Wednesday trivia at 7 p.m. in the tap room
- Ask about a brewery tour
- Pick up seasonal releases such as Oktoberfest in the fall
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round, seven days a week
- Hours
- Posted on their website (checked October 2026): Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri–Sun 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Walk-in; reservations taken on their website
Tips for your visit
- Reserve a table on their website for weekend evenings
- Check the events page for brewery tours and private event options
- Plan a designated driver before you head out
Pair it with a lavender farm
Nettle Creek Lavender Farm · about 25 minutes away
Nettle Creek Lavender Farm is about 25 minutes east on I-80, so a bloom-season morning in the lavender fits well before lunch here.
Getting there
Questions
Is beer brewed at the Ottawa location?
Yes. The Lone Buffalo is home to Tangled Roots' original brewery.
Does it serve food?
Yes. It is a full restaurant with lunch, dinner and happy-hour menus.
Can I make a reservation?
Yes, reservations are taken online through their website.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Morris, Illinois, Along the I&M Canal
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
