Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by SeanBond, Aug 29, 2016.

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  1. Gambyt20

    Gambyt20 Pooh-Bah (2,028) Jan 14, 2016 Illinois
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    Have been experiencing the same thing with Galaxy Bowl & Reply Hazy, they fall off so fast compared to when they are fresh. Completely different beer. Galaxy started turning darker and Reply Hazy got clear and neither tasted as awesome as they were fresh.
     
    #1781 Gambyt20, Jan 17, 2017
  2. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Aye! I get to go to Chicago with a team I'm mentoring. I'll be staying downtown near Naval Pier. Any good breweries or stores to pick up some solid NE IPAs right around there? I'll probably only be able to bring back a couple of cans or 12oz bottles, unfortunately.

    It'll be my first trip to Chicago, so I'm pretty stoked!
     
    #1782 Harrison8, Jan 17, 2017
  3. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Binny's on Grand is probably one of your best bets in terms of shops near Navy Pier, especially since they share the aforementioned street. In terms of NE stuff, it depends on when you'll be here. It seems like Hailstorm is dropping their cloud series right now, so that's probably a pretty likely one, and Hop Butcher has two more IPAs coming soon, although I don't think they've noted whether these are hazy. When are you in town?
     
    #1783 SeanBond, Jan 17, 2017
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  4. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
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    Ahh, good point. I should've mentioned dates. I'll be in town March 29th through April 1st. I'll probably have about an hour to browse a shop, but not much more. Unfortunately, no bar hopping, brewery tours, or waiting for any releases while I'm in town since I'll have a pretty packed schedule.
     
    #1784 Harrison8, Jan 17, 2017
  5. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
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    Hard to say what'll be around then, but I'd keep an eye on this thread, since I'm sure we'll all be posting about it. :wink:

    If you only have an hour or so to check out a shop, I'd definitely go with Binny's, since it'll offer you the largest selection (and be close by, if you're going to the one on Grand) under one roof.
     
    #1785 SeanBond, Jan 17, 2017
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  6. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
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    Navy Pier to Binny's and back in an hour with time to browse is not doable...
     
    #1786 HouseofWortship, Jan 17, 2017
  7. ratwheels

    ratwheels Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2011 Illinois

    It's a 10-15 minute cab/uber/lyft ride. Seems like he'd have at least 15-20 minutes to browse.
     
    #1787 ratwheels, Jan 17, 2017
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  8. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
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    I'll concede, but it feels like it takes 15 minutes just to get out of Navy Pier with the traffic there.
     
    #1788 HouseofWortship, Jan 17, 2017
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  9. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    @THSdrummer said they'd be staying near Navy Pier, so hopefully it'll be a little easier to get to Binny's from wherever the hotel/lodgings are. Once you make it to Binny's, you just have to have a gameplan for what you're looking for (i.e. you ignore the shelves filled with stuff you can pick up, elsewhere, like Stone's beers, or whatever)!
     
    #1789 SeanBond, Jan 17, 2017
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  10. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The Binny's on Grand is 1 mile from my hotel. I'd have to cross the river. Since they're open until 9 PM, that browsing window might be shorter. Based on our ititorny, it looks like we'll be getting back to the hotel around 8 or 9 each night. There may be a window Saturday morning depending on how things go.

    I'll be browsing for Stouts and IPAs :slight_smile:
     
    #1790 Harrison8, Jan 17, 2017
  11. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
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    If you're crossing the river, I assume you're staying near/in the Loop? If so, you can also check out Warehouse Liquors or Printer's Row Wine; I prefer Warehouse myself, but they're both pretty solid beer shops (Warehouse also has a fantastic whiskey selection).
     
    #1791 SeanBond, Jan 17, 2017
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  12. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I am staying in the loop.

    Either one carry more local offerings? I get one shot, haha. I do love whiskey, but I'm not at the point where I'll buy things out of my distribution. I'll save my extra bag room for beer :slight_smile:

    EDIT: Both of those shops you mentioned are about a mile and a quarter away.
     
    #1792 Harrison8, Jan 17, 2017
  13. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
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    I think Printer's Row may have more beer total, but in terms of stuff you're actively looking for, it's pretty equal. My only issue with PR is that I've been there multiple times where I've been forced to buy another beer when trying to purchase the beer I really want (had to grab a random Spiteful bomber when I came in for a BA stout, a FFF bomber when I came in for Permanent Funeral, etc.).

    Binny's is still your best bet, especially if neither of those is closer to you. If you're really strapped for time you could see if there's a Jewel, Whole Foods or Mariano's that's significantly closer, but none will have even close to the variety of the three places I mentioned before.
     
    #1793 SeanBond, Jan 17, 2017
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  14. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    @SeanBond Right on. I appreciate the help. How is traffic around the north end of the loop and around Binny's on Grand around 9 AM and 8 PM on Thursday/Friday? I'm trying to figure out if I could walk faster then an Uber could get me there. I certainly don't mind walking, as it would be nice to stretch my legs after my drive there, and before my long run the next day.
     
    #1794 Harrison8, Jan 17, 2017
  15. ratwheels

    ratwheels Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2011 Illinois

    I haven't really seen it mentioned, but Hops on Hops was fire. I thought it was even better than Morning Fog. The Motueka and Simcoe were great balancing hops. (I believe Monkish uses Simcoe the way Trillium uses Columbus) Shaun really is killing it. I wish he'd can Hops on Hops.
     
    #1795 ratwheels, Jan 17, 2017
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  16. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
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    9am traffic will be kind of shitty, although you'll still probably get there faster via Uber, I'd think.

    I'm not in the Loop after 5 or 6pm very often, but I would assume traffic at 8pm would be relatively light for the area. Another option is taking the Brown Line El (if you're near it); the Merchandise Mart stop is only a few blocks from Binny's, so that could cut your time down well too, if you timed it right.
    It's funny, I was just checking out the commute from the Loop to Ram to see how realistic it is (via the CTA). Seems like it's probably a better idea to just convince the gf to drive up there...

    It'd be cool if Shaun pulled a Lebron, and "took his talents" southward (aka to Chicago proper) so we could have easier access to what sounds like great beer.
     
    #1796 SeanBond, Jan 17, 2017
  17. prior2two

    prior2two Maven (1,490) Oct 18, 2013 Illinois
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    Binnys in Grand is definitely your best bet.

    In all honesty though, i wouldn't make NE IPA's your target. Chicago breweries are getting better, but they're nothing I would go out of my way for during travel.

    I would definitely pick up some Navaja by Half Acre and Ninja vs Unicorn by Pipeworks though.

    Those beers are world class, and because they're so readily available, they sometimes get forgotten about.

    8pm traffic should be no problem. The loop itself is a ghost town after 6.30. 9am will kinda suck.
     
    #1797 prior2two, Jan 17, 2017
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  18. Harrison8

    Harrison8 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,285) Dec 6, 2015 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I plan on running before 6 AM, and then I'll be at events until ~8 or 9 PM. Is traffic usually pretty packed around 5 in the morning?

    I will be looking for all sorts of beers. Your suggestions have been noted :slight_smile: I was thinking about making my own thread for visiting Chicago, but when I saw this, I figured this would be a good place to start. At the end of the day, I just want to come back with a few beers I can't get in Kansas City! I thought about bringing a snifter and enjoying one or two in the hotel, so I don't have to transport them ~8 hours with kids potentially crushing my bag. haha.
     
    #1798 Harrison8, Jan 17, 2017
  19. prior2two

    prior2two Maven (1,490) Oct 18, 2013 Illinois
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    5am should be super light. Traffic usually picks up around 6.30ish
     
    #1799 prior2two, Jan 17, 2017
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  20. Jangoon24

    Jangoon24 Savant (1,210) Jul 25, 2015 Illinois
    Trader

    Stopped into Noon Whistle today and Funny Gummy is still on. One of (if not, the) brewers said that Funny Gummy should be on for another week or two, and the peach version will be back on this Thursday. He was saying that it was too expensive to make as much of it as Funny Gummy, since it required 110 pounds of peaches. Just an FYI for anybody who wasn't able to make it over there this weekend.
     
    #1800 Jangoon24, Jan 17, 2017
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