so i have lived in indiana for 4 years now and have yet to do a hardcore beer run through chicago...i would love some feedback from the locals or non locals that found particular places to be better than others..besides The Beer Temple which i plan on hitting i need 2 maybe 3 more shops to hit..like for instance which Binnys is the best as far as overall selection, etc. thanks and cheers
Here is a list of my favorite places in Chicago. I listed them in terms of my preference although everything I listed is fantastic. Not sure if you are staying the night but a frequent tour of mine with friends is - Half acre -> Bad apple/Fountainhead -> Goose island -> Binnys LP -> Piece -> Revolution -> Bed Far from an optimized tour, but really fun and gets us through the city. Beer stores: Binnys Lincoln Park - Biggest selection in Chicago and has an sweet tap room (thats never full for some reason) West Lakeview Liquors - fantastic selection of imports and locals South loop Binnys - not as big as LP, but fatastic selection also has a good taproom, list is just as good but space is not as nice as LP binnys Beer Temple - Everything here is super fresh and it has a great all around selection, I just find it out of the way Breweries/Brewpubs: Half Acre - Just taproom and store but my favorite taproom. Usually pretty chill even when crowded. Piece Brewing - Brewpub with AMAZING pizza and great beer. Love this place. Revolution - Taproom and Brewpub (Great food) Solemn Oath - In napperville, but if you can get there its a cool place with good beer. Goose Island Clybourn- Brewpub (Right next to Binnys LP) Has good food and a large taplist of GI beers. Begyle - Has a new taproom with pretty good beer and is a few blocks from half Acre Bars/Restaurants: Hopleaf - Easily my favorite place in Chicago. Fantastic beer list, both tap and bottle, and great food, especially the muscles and fries. Piece Brewing - Brewpub with AMAZING pizza Maria's Packaged goods - on the south side, but has a great bar and decent bottle shop. Doesn't have food, but immediately next door is a great pot pie place (Pleasant House Bakery) that you can order into the bar. Bad apple - Pretty good tap list with fantastic burgers. Jerry's Sandwiches - Huge taplist AND sandwich list. Close to hopleaf. Foutainhead - Close to half acre. Good tap list and good food although I am never blown away. Other places I have yet to go to but have a great reputation Publican Kumas corner Map room Local Option Haymarket Dryhop
Agree, but think HopLeaf is terribly overrated. Bad service, no music, pompous attitude. A couple of bad experiences there, will not be back. Plenty of other places that are awesome (like the others listed above). I am a HUGE fan of Fountainhead and Revo tap room as listed above! The Half Acre tour is dangerous if you aren't careful, you may not remember what else you do that day
thanks guys i really appreciate it! im probably going to do revolution and half acre( i can buy cans at both places right?) and then binny's LP and the Beer Temple..The Beer Temple is just a bucket list thing..this is really about all i have time for
