must hit brewery in chicago area

If you go out to Three Floyd's, then also hit up 18th Street. It's very close.

In the city of Chicago, be sure to hit Revolution (I like the brew pub because the food is amazing). Also try and hit Half Acre if you can.

 

Three Floyds will be very approachable on a Tuesday, and I definitely second the 18th Street suggestion.

 

May I be the first to say RTFF. Respectfully, but come on.

 

If you are willing to venture to the suburbs, both Penrose and Solemn Oath have awesome stuff and great tap rooms. In the city, Half Acre is a must.

 

Imperial Oak Brewing is pretty awesome. Lots of weird stuff that's hit or miss but their saisons and grapefruit/normal double ipa are amazing.

 

Pass on Solemn Oath

 

Second that. I don't dig that place at all. Last time I was there (was with a group of 4 people and I was not driving), they only allowed 3 beers per person and then cut you off. Said it was some law in Naperville. I wasn't driving, and had 3 beers. Just a pissy attitude there. Chick working the bar had a "F this place" kind of attitude. I'll spend it other places and the beer is just eh.

 

Revolution is my favorite. The tap room always has interesting stuff that isn't bottled/canned, and there is plenty of space. It's a (little) bit off of the beaten path and feels like a hidden gem. The brewpub has good food as well, but can get very crowded.

 

This question comes up often enough that it should just be a sticky.

There are probably double or thrice the number of hidden gems as there are expected visits.


Expected visits: i.e. the largest capacity, their hype precedes them, or have just been around the longest, etc.
Revolution, Half Acre, Two Brothers, 3fff, GI, Lagunitas

Hidden Gems: Just getting started, small, local, etc.
Haymarket, Atlas, Piece, 18th Street, Flossmoor, Local Option, Breakroom, Temperance, Buckledown, Pollyanna, Blue Island, Dry Hop, One Trick Pony, Vice District.
(for starters)

People seem to not like Solemn Oath, but perhaps they should realize there are some backwards laws still in the books in a lot of the suburbs, and it makes things very hard for breweries operating in them.

 

Lots of places have those laws. A new brewery approved for Romeoville will have the same restriction, and a new brewery in Dyer Indiana also has that restriction.

To OP I would suggest Half Acre, and then go across the street to Bad Apple for food. Or Revolution Brewpub for food + beer. Or Revolution Brewry & Taproom, then Kuma's for food.

FFF is also a great choice and should not be to bad during the week.

 

Anytime I go to Chicago I try to go somewhere new but I always go to Revolution. Great food and beer. I get wanting to go to Three Floyds if you have never been but get there early to minimize the wait or early enough that you don't have to wait. I've been there enough that I just go to 18th Street.

 

I'm a big proponent of Half Acre as others have said. I'd also personally drop by Goose Island Clybourn (I'm a big GI homer), as they have a bunch of good beers that you don't get from the national Goose Island presence (GI beer gets a bad rap as a result, in my opinion). Plus you're right next to Binny's in Lincoln Park, which is always a good thing.

I second the Revolution tap room, also. It doesn't have food (but like Half Acre, you can have a pizza delivered, or whatever), but they have a bunch of good beers, and their tap-only stuff is pretty nice. It's a cool space as well.