Local Option

Local OptionLocal Option
Local OptionLocal Option
Brewery, Bar, Eatery

1102 W Webster Ave
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-7020
United States

(773) 348-2008 | map
localoptionbier.com

Bar:
Sunday - Friday: 12:00pm - 2:00am
Saturday: 12:00pm - 3:00am

Kitchen:
Tuesday - Thursday 4pm-10pm
Friday & Saturday 12pm-11pm
Sunday 12pm - 9pm

Beers are brewed at / by another brewery.
BEER STATS
Average:
3.84
Beers:
16
Ratings:
1,699
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.38
Reviews:
94
Ratings:
224
pDev:
10.73%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by replacementpart:
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Rated by replacementpart from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3%

Mar 11, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.03 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.09 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

May 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4.35 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Apr 15, 2019
 
Rated: 4.48 by JuanAlberto from Texas

Jul 05, 2018
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.32/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75
this is a weird one, usually i only review places that are breweries, but this sort of skirts the line. see, it is a brewery, as in the have a whole range of house beers that are under the local option label, but they arent brewed in house. not sure if someone from here oversees brewing operations and its just made off site or what, but this is their taproom, a really no frills beer bar, kind of punk rock dive vibe to it, chalkboard beer menu, and a killer bottle list. its smaller than expected in here, as much a hallway as a bar, which i like. mellow energy here, kind of dated, not full of beer nerds carrying on about this or that, but with a list to satisfy literally the most adventurous and discerning of tastes. they have a cool range of their own beers, brewed somewhere else but i dont know where, very little information available it seems, but the ones they make are great, and i have been enjoying them for years. some cool collaborations too, looks like they have spread their wings pretty well. the bottle list blew me away, fairly priced lambics and wilds and beers of all persuasions. attentive low key service, a diverse food menu but i didnt eat, and just chill vibes all around. a neat place to drink some next level beers when you are in chicago. id like to know more about their brewery side, sounds like a sort of gypsy brewery set up, however its arranged, the beer is awesome.
Jun 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.34 by AngEo from Texas

May 27, 2018
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Reviewed by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

4.07/5  rDev -7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
I love this place. It can be off putting if you don't like metal and the dive bar feeling this place puts off. They have a few house brews and several from others, most of which I'd never seen or would even be able to get my hands on. They dropped a case of Canadian breakfast stout right in my face, then poured me a glass. The bartenders were awesome and engaging. Told us about a great pizza place right down the street. Maybe not the best place to take the family, but a great place to hang with your dudes.
May 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.3 by REVZEB from Illinois

Dec 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.38 by dannycohen62 from Illinois

Oct 16, 2017
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Reviewed by chicagobeerguy from Illinois

4.06/5  rDev -7.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
Local option is a decent place to try great craft beers. Good music and good vibe. Definitely on the pricier side though. What you see is what you get here. Don't know if I'd go regularly but if you're in Lincoln Park and need a break from all the BIG 10 douchebag bars this is a good spot.
Jul 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by Jonnydrinker from Illinois

Jul 04, 2017
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Reviewed by cincysig from Connecticut

5/5  rDev +14.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I loved this place and wondered why I went anywhere else in Chicago. Great selection of outstanding brews. Super knowledgeable and friendly staff. If you can hang with bearded dudes and doom metal, this is your spot. (Did not eat food there.)
Apr 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.95 by brights from Illinois

Mar 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.49 by StoutSnob40 from California

Feb 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4.51 by bigred89 from Maryland

Jan 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.51 by zimm421 from Ohio

Dec 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.62 by SDRedDevil from California

Oct 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by mig100 from Texas

Sep 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.98 by SSGCujo from Wisconsin

Sep 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.32 by cryptichead from Illinois

Aug 28, 2016
Photo of AlanFollett
Reviewed by AlanFollett from California

4.63/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 2 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
I find the dark, goth-y ambience offputting, but their beer selection is magnificent. One of the three or four best multi-taps in Chicago, in my opinion.
Aug 21, 2016
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -7.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 5
Were it not for the attitude-laden folks behind this place, this would be one of my favorite beer jawns of all time. It is a metal bar with premium beer near a Catholic university. How cool is that?

Listen to black metal while sipping on rare brews from Three Floyds, Surly, Half Acre and, of course and most of all, Local Option. Of the 19 taps, 8 are Local Option and 4 are FFF. The chalkboard has no descriptions or prices, and the unfriendly bartenders have no patience or will to explain and guide you through the menu. So do your homework and check BeerAdvocate before ordering.

8 bucks per snifter of Total Option brews is a lil' high but worth trying.

The cool (but very expensive) bottle menu has 3 Fonteinen, Jolly Pumpkin, BFM, Boon, Hoppin Frog and much more.
Aug 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4.57 by coz from Illinois

Aug 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.57 by Eman17 from Illinois

Jul 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.35 by dataylor21 from Kentucky

Jun 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.13 by Gambyt20 from Illinois

Jun 29, 2016
Photo of MikeSchieve
Reviewed by MikeSchieve from Illinois

4.11/5  rDev -6.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Good quality beer bar with a limited but very delicious food menu. They always have their contract brewed beers on tap which are good. Plus you can also count on some of the better local Chicago beers on tap, with a meticulously curated bottle selection. I would frequent this place more often if I only lived closer.
Mar 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4.48 by RajaSTL from Missouri

Mar 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by BRami127 from Illinois

Feb 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.48 by orangesol from Pennsylvania

Dec 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.81 by Soloveitchik from New York

Nov 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.91 by dexterk1 from Illinois

Nov 29, 2015
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Reviewed by j_nees from Washington

5/5  rDev +14.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
I love that there is an awesome beer and death metal bar tucked away in Lincoln Park where clearly a Lululemon For Pets was supposed to be. Really great beer menu featuring their house beers and a ton of guest beers, including a healthy dose of FFF and a few sours. Looked like about 25 or so draft lines. Servers know their beer. Kitchen was also on point. I had a crab quesadilla and a bacon wrapped scallop roll. Definitely recommend for beer and food.
Nov 22, 2015
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Reviewed by 98green from Michigan

3.63/5  rDev -17.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Stopped by at 7 on a Friday. Surprisingly light crowd for the timing, easy to grab a seat at the bar. As advertised, the bartender was a bit of a dick, but no big deal to me. Don't let the "heavy metal bar" moniker intimidate, it was actually a mellow place. I won't go out of my way to go back, but if I'm in the area it is solid
Oct 31, 2015
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Reviewed by JNForsyth from Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +2.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
Monday night visit so barely anyone there. Bartender was knowledgable and helpful, excellent beers from a recent funk/sour fest still on. Loud, but good heavy metal/rock music, would go here all the time to hang out if I was from the area.
Oct 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.45 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

Oct 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.15 by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

Oct 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.95 by Keene from Washington

Oct 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by jophish17 from Georgia

Sep 21, 2015
Local Option in Chicago, IL
Brewery rating: 3.84 out of 5 with 1699 ratings