Chicago breweries that don’t need their own thread (2024)

I honestly like a fair amount of the stuff I've had from Burnt City and Casa Humilde, Twisted Hippo wasn't there when I used to go. I get the sentiment though, even if I'm sort of the opposite philosophically; this is the only circumstance I'd be trying a lot of these beers (I don't go out for beers much anymore, so when I do it's usually for a specific beer or brewery), so I don't mind paying a little extra to try a bunch of shit, mediocre or not.

 

Forrest Park, I thought they were taking over Exit Strategy, but I'm not sure now....

EDIT: yes, they are, hopefully they turn it around and open soon

 

Totally agree on Casa Humilde, I've been pleasantly surprised by their stuff more than once. Also, I remember liking their BBQ, but that was pre-Lillie's Q, so I can't speak for their current stuff (although I'm sure it's good).

 

this has now made several bottle shops. It sold out on Oznr.

 

They have done that with every BA release of theirs. A portion for Oznr and then a portion for distro.

 

Even 2-3 Binny's shops are showing Skosh as in stock (ymmv; call first).

 

It just hit my local bottle shop out here in the middle of fucking nowhere.

 

For those out in the western ‘burbs- Art History has a nice Scottish ale (60 Shilling) on cask. Gravitace and Bauhaus were tasting good as always.

 

New owners for Open Outcry. https://www.beverlyreview.net/news/community_news/article_0fe8a926-120d-11ef-b804-8bf4faa3d867.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

The food was great and the beer was good. I hope John isn’t getting out of the game. He was always incredibly nice every time I met him.

 

Drove past the old Exit Strategy site in Forest Park today. There's still paper in the windows and there's a banner from Casa Humilde hanging outside the building. Hopefully we'll hear something soon.

 

I really hope the new owners have more than two or three of their own beers on tap. We live about 5 min away from there and every time we went, there was nothing new or they only had one or two of their own beers on tap. I think it fell apart once Will left. We've seen more families with kids running around. I have nothing against kids but I feel like this has kept most away from this place. Their food, cocktails and rooftop are great and I hope they stay the same.

 

Seeing some rumors that Lagunitas employees were told that 8/1 is the Chicago brewery’s last day.

 

Ah crap. This is my fault, I always meant to get down there and never did.

 

Same

 

This is what I get for not venturing outside of the Great Lakes forum.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/heineken-to-close-lagunitas-chicago-brewery.677323/

 

Hop Butcher has the chance to do the funniest thing ever.

 

Kings & Convicts for the win.

 

Anecdotally, it does seem they've pulled back from this market over the past year or so. It feels like I used to see a wider variety of stuff in grocery stores all the time (which I'd buy occasionally on impulse) but all I've seen lately is not particularly fresh IPA and Sumpin Sumpin. I didn't see widespread distro of Waldo's this year, which I missed entirely. I probably could have worked harder to seek it out but seems like something that should have been easy.

 

My two cents is craft beer is like a rock band. When the brewery founder sells you’ve essentially replaced the lead singer. Sure it may work occasionally, but the vast majority of times it becomes something different and worse.