One brewery in Chicago

Haymarket forsure. Beer and food are amazing

 

In this context and the fact you indicated you're doing a general interest travel story, I still say Clybourne and Revolution. Haymarket has good beers, but it also has a corporate feel to it and, IMO, reasonably priced 4 ounce pours is hardly a selling point. On the plus side it is within walking distance of the loop (and most of the major hotels) and while the food at Haymarket itself is nothing impressive, Randolph has a shitload of excellent restaurants on it.

Clybourne is within walking distance of Frank n Dawgs, which may or may not be beneficial to your story.

Revolution is located in a part of town that most tourists don't see (but should). If I'm not mistaken it's easily accessible off the Blue Line, but I'm admittedly a suburbanite and not the person to be giving el directions.

And while it is not a brewpub, Longman & Eagle is certainly "quirky/unique/interesting." This place is a Michelin starred bar/restaurant/hotel. If you're looking for a place with character, L&E has lots of it.

 

not a better time for spending money...

 

Haymarket has a "corporate" feel to it? I'm not sure what you mean by that. There's nothing corporate about Haymarket. It's just as much of an independent craft brewery as Revolution, Half Acre, etc. Pete Crowley, the brewmaster, is also president of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild.

 

I'm not criticizing either the beer or the brewer and the qualifications of the brewmaster has nothing to do with my commentary. However, in comparison to GI or Revolution, Haymarket is much more mainstream. Some people have said it feels like a sports bar. I don't disagree with them. Does the place resemble TGIF or Ram? No. But it's not quirky, unique, or overly interesting either. And it's certainly not the one brewery I would send people to to represent all of Chicago. Furthermore, as someone who doesn't live in the city and has to drive into it to visit any of these places, I can say that I go to Clybourne, Revolution, and Piece (more for the pizza than the beer) on a fairly regular basis whereas I only go to Haymarket when I happen to be in the Loop. Sorry, but there's nothing about Haymarket that makes it worth my effort to drive into the city. If I lived around the corner, it might be different, but I don't and neither do the people that are the OP's audience.

 

One thing I will say for Goose Wrigleyville is that the beer garden is really nice when the weather is good, and it has a (somewhat nice?) view of Wrigley. Could make for a fun spring/summer afternoon.

 

That better clarifies what you meant. The Haymarket does have some pretty cool events including Local 737 Beer Drinkers' Union Meetings, Drinking and Writing Theater, Brewer's Dinners, and others that aren't your "mainstream" fare. Plus the back bar is generally more relaxed. Having said that, the Haymarket does have some elements of a more mainstream "sports bar" as well including a ton of televisions and a shuttle to the Bulls and Hawks games due to their proximity to the United Center. I guess I just see this as a strength and adds to the diversity among the craft brewpubs in Chicago. I'm up for Revolution, Clybourn, or Piece anytime, but if I want to watch the Sox, Bulls, Hawks, Bears, etc., eat, and drink some great beer the only craft brewpub to go to would be Haymarket. You'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else in Chicago that is craft beer focused that has successfully combined so many different elements into one place. That's exactly what makes Haymarket unique and interesting.

 

It seems rather odd to dismiss the benefits of 4oz. Haymarket starts out with per oz. prices notably lower than Goose Island and most other brewpubs, then they allow you the choice of four sizes of any beer (4, 12, 16, 20oz) for the exact same price. So you have lower cost beer (even accounting for gravity, abv, etc.) and much more choice in sample size, including 4oz which allow you to try many more beers which is great if you are a tourist only visiting once. BTW, these options apply not only to their 10-15 house beers, but also to all of there ever rotating 10-15 guest beers. This would seem like a selling point for anyone with any regard for cost, options, drunk driving, or the ability to try a variety of beers.
Other places have their own strengths, but Haymarket's varied and per ounce priced sizes would be of interest to many beer tourists (and locals like me who try a couple new beers via 4oz samples every week I am there).
I can't think of a brewpub or bar anywhere that wouldn't be made better by adopting Haymarket's approach on sizing.

 

We can dream....

 

The brewpubs are still owned by the brothers are are totally separate from the brewery now.

 

Does the brewery have to have published "open" tours? Depending on for whom (and how) you are writing the story you may be able to score a tour of Goose Island's Fulton St production brewery. It is by far the most interesting of the breweries in town. Laffler's barrel warehouse has been featured a couple of times in articles.

As far as cool back story, I would say Pipeworks would be a good one. They just recently opened and are tiny ( but I don't think are doing tours). With the whole studying with De Struise in Belgium and starting the brewery with Kickstarter, their story is a pretty cool one (cool guys too). Map Room (traveler tavern) being nearby doesn't hurt either.

If it has to be a brewery/brewpub that has published tours that a casual traveler could also go on, then I would probably echo the Clybourn/Revolution/Haymarket suggestions.

 

Definitely some awesome beers, had the BA mad cow last week and it was one of the better BA stouts I have had recently, smooth and well blended. Their Anti hero is in my top 3 tropical citrus ipas as well.
Atmosphere is kind of lame though, I try to be tolerant but am off put by hipsters. Service is very friendly and the place is well kept.
Can't go wrong with GI Clybourn, which is a close second. They tend to have really good wild and belgian style beers that are always rotating. I find them to be a tad on the expensive side, however.

 

As a long loyal fan of GI Cly that's my pick but ifI have to say something else I would say Haymarket or Piece. Sorry but Revolution is just okay IMO.

as to the big hitters on Tap at GI like others have said most of it is in bottles or brought out in kegs at special occasions. Some of the beers Jared is brewing at GI Cly are just as good and unique. as for food Sweet Breads BLT is one of my favorites.

 

This is such a minor qualm that I almost feel dumb mentioning, but one thing that drives me nuts about Haymarket is that their sizes don't have names. I feel like I'm at McDonald's or something ordering a Mountain Dew. How about "sample, snifter, pint, imperial pint"?

 

I think he is just saying that to your average tourists reading the article and looking for a place to explore in Chicago will not be swept away by the ability to purchase small portions of craft beers. I love the idea, and wish every bar could adopt this, because I like the ability to try different beers sometimes, especially if they are sipper type examples. However it doesn't seem like a cover line for a travel brochure.

 

Actually, the 4 oz. pours have been mentioned as one of the biggest pluses from some of my friends and family who tend to be casual craft beer drinkers and much like the "average tourist." They aren't as well-versed in some beer styles and which styles they might like. As more inexperienced beer drinkers the availability of 4 oz. pours that don't include an upcharge has allowed them to try several different brews; sometimes a good majority of the beer menu. In other cases, it has allowed them to try a few 4 oz. pours until they find one they really like, so they can be assured that they'll enjoy the 12 oz. pour or 16 oz. pour they order.

 

Revolution... awesome staff, great beers, fun food.
Remember to go upstairs as well... the upstairs is just as nice.
The pub is a conversation piece. It'll tell a great visual story.