Great Central Brewing Company

Latest Visit 9/22/23 (Chicago, Illinois): This is a venue near brewery row and the United Center. Great Central is a contract brewer which brews for multiple breweries including Maplewood and Cruz Blanca, malt beverage companies, and also offers several beers under their own label.

Vibe: This brewery taproom is a large building with a very nice wood interior including awesome bar. Most here are in their 20s-30s either in the area to tour breweries or those pre gaming for a United Center event. It’s a relaxing space, even when busy, and a place I like to go when in the area. Music is modern and upbeat, but not too loud so you can enjoy a conversation or just a peaceful visit. 4.0

Quality: This is a very good brewer, whether it’s their lager focused house offerings or the beers they offer on behalf of the breweries under contract. I enjoy all their house beers I tried, and many of their contract brews. Served in proper glassware except for special events, properly poured by knowledgeable bartenders. 4.25

Service: Prompt, efficient, friendly service by knowledgeable bartenders. They manage large crowds well, and run a solid bar. 4.5

Selection: They have a dozen plus taps across several styles for their clients, and several more lagers under various styles, that run from good to great. Always leave enjoying the beers I’ve tried and a few more I look forward to during my next visit.

Overall: This is a great spot to explore and enjoy various lagers, plus solid contract brews by several local breweries. Highly recommend for folks in the area.

 

 

It was one of my planned days off, so I jetted on down to the Loop, took a westward bent, and headed for Great Central via the Green Line. Situated amongst a plethora of similar slight-industrial buildings and the like, GC stands as a beer hall-style space: big, open, lots o' wood, the whole spiel. Hitting the bar, I perused the massive chalkboard on the wall listing the offerings and sizes (always love multiple serving sizes, what with my wool-dyed ticker-ism and whatnot) and got myself a dunkel. Like the décor, the range is focused on German styles and echoes thereof, with a couple IPAs and others along that line tossed to apparently keep the contemporary craft market satisfied. The staff are genial and seem to know what they're talking about (though my voir dire was rather lacking, so take from that what you will). Not sure about the food situation, just that I didn't have any at all, so... Regardless, the overall impression left by Great Central was rather positive, and once I find myself in the neighborhood again, I'm gonna be sure to stop by again.

 

 

Visited at 2 on a Saturday. Place was jammed and hectic, partially due to two birthday parties, but it was loud. Not exactly a chill out spot. 24 beers on tap, good mix of styles, with a few of theirs and the rest the places they contract brew for. I’d come back for the variety of beer offerings, but the vibe is not my style.

 

 

Big open warehouse with a gameroom vibe, ping pong and shuffleboard tables, lots of communal seating.

The bartender was MIA when we arrived, and it took 15 minutes to eventually get served. Once he showed up, he stuck to the end of the bar and served everyone that arrived after us first. Seemed to be understaffed on a weekend afternoon, yet they had a bouncer at the door...

Selection is unique in that it’s a handful of house beers and mostly client offerings on draft. Begyle and Maplewood were the majority, with Kinslahger, Funk Brewing, and Warpigs rounding things out.

Close to Goose Fulton and On Tour, but nothing very compelling on it’s own, still a worthy brewery crawl stop since they have some quality beers.

Large and tall brick warehouse just remodeled. Large bench tables, roomy, friendly staff, large selection of beers that include beers they contract with. Their own beers were spot on for German-styles.