Chicagoland NE IPAs (2018)

Isn't Maproom kinda near Piece as well?

 

10 minute walk. Head north on damen and hang a left on Armitage and then over a 1/2 block. Links taproom is really close to Piece. For an out of towner I'd certainly recommend making the walk to the map room. Don't go expecting NE juice though.

 

Hmmm, I've never noticed a significant difference in price there vs. other bars in the city. $5 for 16 ounces of All Day IPA seems on par with anywhere else.

They have Radio Swan and Bent River's Strawberry Milkshake on right now. I'd highly recommend a stop after Piece.

 

Standard beers usually seem reasonably priced. There's just a pretty big markup on specialty beers.

 

Drinking an Interboro, The Next Episode right now, and it's really solid. On par with a lot of FR stuff but not quite as good as Snoochies for me. What's the deal with these guys being in Chicago? Is this just temporary due to the pipeworks collab or are they here for good?

 

If Radio Swan is on at Links I'd definitely recommend making a stop. For my money one of the best examples of a NEIPA in the city. And if you're unable to make it to Forbidden Root you can at least say you've tried one of their outstanding beers.

 

Sadly just temporary. Think of Interboro like Forbidden Root or someone. They don't make enough beer to even satisfy their home base so distro isn't possible

 

Does Dryhop do crowlers?

 

You mean you don't have this thread bookmarked yet?

 

I do not! But after a quick search:

• Do you sell crowlers? Yes!

Thanks @Jaycase !!

 

Hailstorm all day, mang

 

Yes, we have Crowlers and growlers.

 

Weird. They've sent a large quantitiy of kegs to Chicago. I've seen them on tap at 5+ places, and I don't really go out much.

 

Their prices really aren't anything crazier than what Bangers and Lace, Local Option, Hopleaf or Fountainhead would charge.

I would have suggested Map Room but finding $5 Allagash White pints and Rodenbach pours isn't that unique, and I say that as someone who loved what Map Room was but not the largely forgettable array of offerings they have these days

 

This is a good point, but I'm ok with the higher price points since those establishments are more restaurant focused (aside from local option which I also think is overpriced). Links is a beer bar that happens to have food. Those other places are more restaurants that also have really good beer.

Maybe it's just me, but when I go out to eat, if I get beer, it's usually 1-2 and I'm fine with small pours. If I'm going out to just drink, I usually want more and try to avoid the higher priced "restaurants". I'd love to make Links my go-to watering hole, but don't solely based on price. It would be nice to see their prices more in line with other "bars". Obviously they seem to be doing just fine with their current pricing though...

 

Piece was great - didn't venture to Links and Maproom since I've been to those already (recently) - the weight was good, not sure it's zombie-dust in its quality, and I actually (shockingly) liked Easy Beat more. @4.5%, it was easy drinking, a little turbid (!!!), and actually tasted like something interesting unlike most other session weight beers I have these days... strong parallels to the HA Tuna but with a little more opaqueness.
On pizza, it was Doug's Atomic, for the win - that shit is righteous. Comes in around a tie or close second to Coalfire for my favorite pizza in the city. Thanks guys...

 

I would say Piece is under rated, but then again I can never get a table without a wait when I go....

 

Shocking - that pizza is dope - but I see why people might react differently, given the parmesan and crust combo gives it a toothiness that might put some people off. We loved it.
And for a Friday @5 pm - it was dead, easy to get a table for 4. Who knows why... ? Cheers!

 

Folks. Get to Half Acre. 3 turbids ready to sample. Half awake....animal law....LA looks. Interesting.

 

No reaction? Ok, proof from Half Acre.
Half awake, lactose pale ale (4.4% - easy drinking!)

Animal Law IPA (around 7+ %)
I enjoyed both... hope y'all do too!