Chicago...what ONE brewery/brewpub?

Skip the hype bars in Chicago. If you want to go to a real BEER bar, look no further than Maria's packaged goods. Thank me later.

 

definitely hit up Goose Island on Clybourn.. it may or may not be there much longer. I'd say Three Floyds but if you're going on a Saturday your wait time could start creepin' up on 2 hrs. Revolution is another cool spot and it has good food to boot (by brewpub standards)

cheers!

edit: just realized you only asked for one

 

Map Room

 

Revolution's food is OK. Hopleaf's is actually good, and you're not limited to Revolution's beer.

 

Holy shit I'm going there.

OP, if you wanna get Cantillon and insane food, go to Publican.

If you want GREAT pale ales, go to Half Acre.

If you want really solid, brewery only DIPAS, go to Haymarket.

If you want a solid selection and incredibly overpriced but still really delicious food, go to Revolution.

If you want a fantastic overall experience, go to HopLeaf on the north side.

 

Also, go see Vav at the Binny's across the street from GI Clybourne. He has/knows almost everything.

 

delilah's

 

If it doesn't have to be a brewery, then the one place for me would be Local Option. BONUS: its stumbling distance from Goose Island Clybourn.

 

In what world is 14 dollars for a pulled pork pizza, 11 bucks for a burger with aged cheddar and fries, and 19 bucks for a steak and some amazing sides overpriced? Same price and better food then goose, and maybe 5% higher price then Haymarket but again much better food.

But for the original post, if you are stopping at one brewery/brewpub there is only one word - Revolution.

 

Toss up...Revo is a great brewery/brewpub with good brews...Hopleaf has a nice diversified selection and is very laid back. Have fun and be safe.

 

seriously, YogiBeer, you mad bro?

i too would vote revolution if you're looking specifically for a brewpub, while giving piece a slight nod too. if stopping by revolution, inquire about the day's casked selection.

 

damnit, why do I always forget Piece? And why is revolution's cask selection always a hidden mystery? They dont even write it on the board.

 

11 dollars for a burger that isnt very big (i/m assuming, based on the other portions i've had/seen) is absolutely silly. 14 dollars for a small circle of dough, 1.25 of cheese, and maybe 1 to 2 dollars of pork shoulder is also insanity... especially when you cobnsider that you're selling beer that you brew yourself, for 5-7-9 dollars a pint.

 

Not mad at all, I just know what things cost. Anti-hero is one of my absolute favorite beers. Sorry if I was honest in my assessment to the OP?

 

If you're going to single out any brewpub for high food costs it may as well be Haymarket. A burger with cheese, bacon and no side is $11.50 at Haymarket while at Revolution the same type of burger is $11.00 and includes a side. Prices for Pulled Pork are exactly the same ($10.00), but yet again you get a side at Revolution where sides are a-la-carte at Haymarket.

In my opinion, I'd say the quality of food is vastly superior at Revolution as well. My main problem with Revolution is that it can get insanely busy.

As for high prices of beer they produce themselves? It's quite common for breweries that distribute to have higher prices at the source as they do not want to undercut stores that sell their product. Haymarket doesn't have that issue though as they don't distribute.

 

I know what things cost too, but only in a big city where there's taxes, leases, chefs, specialty ingredients like delicious buns & house made mustard, etc. What does a burger cost at the other burger gems of chicago like Kumas or Bad Apple? They cost exactly the same. How about goose island or haymarket? Oh again, they both cost 11 bucks. So are they all overpriced, or is 11 bucks the norm in Chicago? Just for Sh*ts and giggles I just googled what Rock Bottom charges, guess what its 11 bucks.

Also you say that their beer is overpriced. I know they brew it but do you know what it costs to make a 10% alc. beer, pay the people to make it, the glassware to serve it in and the kegs to hold it? They probably lose some money on some beers.

Not tryin to slam ya, but they are seriously on the lower end of prices in chicago especially for the quality of beer and food. Sorry this is way off topic, apologies to the original poster.

 

LO brews its own beer anyways.

I would say Local Option, Green Lady, Small Bar, Hop Leaf, Northdown are all solid options. Most of the brewpubs are pretty solid, even Rock Bottom if you find yourself downtown, had a BA scotch ale there the other day that was solid.

 

I would assume they don't advertise it because it takes about twice as long to pour as a regular pint and it is a limited quantity.

 

Only one? Revolution.