Weekend in Milwaukee and Chicago

Where in Chicago are you staying?

And if I may throw out a wrinkle, consider taking the Hiawatha Express Amtrak up to Milwaukee. It drops you off right downtown and you can enjoy a beer or two on the way up/back.

 

Palm and Sugar Maple are both in the neighborhood of Bay View. They are owned by the same dude and are great places. I would suggest Burnhearts over both of them though, in the same neighborhood. In my opinion a superior beer bar to both.

I'd also suggest taking the Milwaukee Brewing Company tour. Great beer, tours are $10 with all you can drink samples of the 12-13 beers they have on tap. More than worth it.

Bay View is south of Downtown and Milwaukee Brewing is in between downtown and Bay View. Comet is great but if you want to stay in the same area, Bay View and Walkers point have endless fabulous restaurants.

 

Personally, I would skip MKE Brewing...fun tour but might ruin the rest of the night. If you want to do The Comet, I would also do Stubby's and Hotel Foster. If you want to do Bayview (the route I would go), you should do Sugar Maple, Burnheart's, and Roman's (if it's a smaller group, he's a dick to any bigger groups). Then stop at Palomino or Honey Pie for food, these places are owned by same peeps as The Comet.

 

If you want to get shitfaced, then MKE Brewing will easily make that happen. They basically hand you a pint glass and let you go to town. Needless to say, I don't remember leaving that brewery most of the times I've been there. But if you do have restraint, it's a great brewery.

Lakefront is rated the 3rd best brewery tour in the country, so I'd highly recommend doing that one. You could technically walk there from downtown (1 mile) and then walk to Comet Cafe from there (another mile).

Downtown, Rumpus Room has awesome taps and awesome food. The Old German Beer Hall is a neat place. They have Hammerschlagen in the back. Water Street and 3rd Street are covered with bars and restaurants. If you want to pick up some skanks, Buckhead Saloon will have plenty. The Milwaukee Market has a good place to buy local bottles (don't pass up Black Husky) and lots of awesome places for food. And if you have an open mind and like Mexican food, Conejito's Place is not too far from MKE Brewing. A filling meal will cost $5 and the margaritas are the bomb. I do stress that it is more towards the "authentic" side, which might give some people the wrong idea.

 

I'm not saying you couldn't do these walks, but it would be brutal. In March. Whilst drinking.

 

I guess. Though it might be the same beast in Chicago unless they plan on hopping around in a cab. I usually put on 5-10 miles on foot in Chicago on a good weekend, and that's even using the subway. Temps were below freezing in March last year, so I guess it could very well be rough again this year.

 

I would bar hop on division if you're in a bachelor party. Hit up Bangers, Fat Pour, etc. I'd suggest going to Lagunitas a well...

 

No doubt that it would be the same in Chicago, but I would definitely be cabbing in Chicago in March.

 

I would stay in Bayview for everything if you are only in Milwaukee for 1 night. You can even stay at the Iron Horse Hotel which is right by the Harley Museum and a short cab ride.

Food:
Café Lule
Guanajuato (GTO) - great Mexican!
Honey Pie
Palomino
Café Central
Good Kind (Fantastic new restaurant owned by same people who own Burnhearts)
Odd Duck (great tapas plate)

Bars:
Burnhearts
Palm Tavern
Sugar Maple
Roman's
a lot of other good dive bars like Club Garibaldi (great great wings!)

 

breweries to seek out in MKE: Central waters, black husky, tyranena (brewer's gone wild series esp.), karben4

 

Friday afternoon, hit up the Lakefront Brewery for their tour. One of the best and more importantly funniest tour you will do with plenty of samples. Follow that up with the Sugar Maple, Palm Tavern and Roman's. Call it a night and then get ready for all the great breweries and bars in Chicago!

Had my bachelor party in Chicago and was glad I did!

 

Chicago tip--not brewery related.

If you are looking for a few hours away from the breweries but something fun to do with a bunch of guys (don't worry, you can still drink, but you may have to settle for Ranger IPA...), consider renting out a "Whirlyball "court. I did this as a stop between Half Acre and Metropolitan for my brother's bachelor party. Good manly ( and slightly drunk) competition in motorized vehicles on an electrified court whipping balls to each other and trying to score... But seriously, it was fun!

 

If you're doing the :::cough, cough::: strip club thing, I'd stick to Chicago(land area) lol

 

I actually would suggest going outside of Chicago for this due to local "restrictions" at many places. Just be sure to check a few reviews first and you'll understand what I mean...If this is indeed part of the agenda.

Also, I forgot to throw in a food suggestion. I would definitely keep it more casual...hit up a pizza place (naturally.) I would suggest Coalfire or Pequod's...if you go to Pequod's, expect to wait though as it's usually pretty crowded.

 

If you go on the Lakefront brewrey tour in Milwaukee, which I'd recommend, Stubby's has a great selection and is walking distance.

In Chicago, I think that Piece is a great stop. It might be a short cab ride out of the way, but brews pretty good beer and has great pizza. Also, if you end up in the Lincoln Park area, you should hit up The Weiners Circle afterward for a ... memorable experience.

 

Here is my basic recommendations list for the typical "Where to go in Chicago" beeradvocate post.