Chicago Trip May 30-June 2

Hey man I'm going to be in Chicago those dates too with a couple buddies of mine. I've used these two threads, and talking with some BA members, to get a solid itinerary:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/ill-be-in-chicago-next-week.247525/#post-3173696
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/downtown-chicago.287925/

IIRC, Pipeworks does not have a tasting room. Revo, Half Acre are must-do's. When down at 3F, drive a bit east to hit up 18th St Brewing. If you want my itinerary PM me and I can send it to ya.

 

If you want to take part in a BA Pub Crawl on 5/30

http://www.beeradvocate.com/events/info/73770/

it goes right past Half Acre and we usually stop for 1 or 3....

 

This looks awesome. But we are planning on hitting these Friday night and doing the touristy shit on Saturday.

 

Don't count out Goose Island! The Clybourn location has a ton of beers you won't find anywhere else, plus its across the street from the largest craft beer store (Binnys Lincoln park) in town.

 

I'm glad your taking the L with all the road construction around the airport. The project will be ongoing for two more years. Elk Grove Village is one of the largest industrial parks in the US. There is a Binnys in Arlington Park, north of EGV.

 

Yeah, that binnys will have pipeworks. I'm sure you will be able to grab some fresh ninja vs unicorn, cherry truffle abduction, and quite a few others. Though the recent more sought after pw beers will be gone, sure bet and killer queen for example. Binnys has a ridiculous selection of beer, limit release stuff will be gone but there's plenty of other local stuff you get. Grab some half acre, Revolution, and spiteful pales/IPAs/iipas, you won't be disappointed.

 

It's a shame to not do the pub crawl on Saturday. I have a buddy who is flying up from Texas just so that he can do the pub crawl and hit Maifest. Come along! I'm representing Wisco as usual......!!!!!

 

Looks like most of your questions have been answered.

WRT the L, yes it does run 24-7 from O'Hare to downtown ("the loop"). This is the blue line.

For more information, see:
http://www.transitchicago.com/blueline/

 

Instead of posting a new thread I thought I'd hijack it and ask for a good sports beer bar to watch the NY Rangers Game 7 in the area I'm going to be at with my friends. We're arriving Friday and will want to go out near the place we're staying which is North Lincoln Square and just west of Andersonville or Ravenswood. We were also looking at hitting up Bad Apple, Half Acre, Hopleaf, Begyle Brewing, so anything in this area (northern North Cetner) is cool. Any help would be appreciated.

If Chi/Anaheim goes to 7 (hopefully!) we'll be just west of downtown hitting up Haymarket Brewery/Lone Wolf and will want to watch that game as well if there any good sports beer bars in that area too.

 

Hey, I'm right by Elk Grove. I would recommend hitting up Foremost Liquors on Algonquin Road in Arlington Heights. It's in the vicinity and has a wide array of any local beers you are looking for, including Pipeworks. The Schaumburg and Des Plaines Binnys may be in your area as well (depending on where in Elk Grove you are). They both carry Pipeworks, but I would highly recommend Foremost over those two. As for bars, the craft scene in the northwest suburbs lacks what the city offers. Shoeless Joes in Rosemont and Bigby's in Rolling Meadows are your best bet for quality craft offerings - most other bars will have your basic offerings with Chicago flares (Daisy Cutter, Anti-Hero), but those two have great tap lists. Here's a couple links with the places I mentioned.

https://www.beermenus.com/places/1839-shoeless-joe-s-ale-house-grille-o-hare
https://www.beermenus.com/places/15145-bigby-s-pour-house-rolling-meadows
https://www.beermenus.com/places/4271-foremost-liquors-arlington-heights

Enjoy. Cheers!

 

Uber is nice to use around the suburbs if you don't have a car. I have a code for free ride up to $20, let me know if you want to try it. Certainly try to go to fischmans. You can walk from the Jefferson Park stop and they have an incredible selection of beers and a bar attached. They should have pipeworks on tap. A trip to west lakeview liquors would be a good one too if you have time in the city. Fountainhead is a bar that's somewhat close to North Park that is known for their craft beers too.

I know for sure Half Acre sells their beer at the brewpub. Rev bombers can be found at almost all liquor stores with a solid craft selection in Chicago. Their mainstays, like Anti Hero, can be found anywhere that has a liquor license - from liq stores to gas stations.

 

Moretti's is good food but if you are where I think you are (Busse and Algonquin) go to Lou Malnatis. There is one less than a mile from there and they have to best Deep Dish pizza in Chicago.

 

If you're in the Lakeview area on Sunday for lunch, grab a burger and beer at Kuma's Too on Diversey. Kuma's was mentioned in another Chicago visit thread, and I have to say it's my favorite burger anywhere. Plus, they have great beer. I haven't been to the one on Diversey, but assume it's pretty much the same stuff as the original on Belmont.

 

If you're looking for a bar, hit up the bourbon stout house. I was there last month and also two weeks ago. Pretty good selection of tap beer, but the selection of babes was like nothing I've ever seen before. Especially if it's during a Hawks game.

Edit: That's the only bar I've been to in Chicago, and so far it hasn't failed me