So I'll be in Chicago the week of Thanksgiving (from Monday the week of till the 1st of december)...Any recommendations on places to check out and events going on? Trying to score some BCBS and variants while I'm there....So far the only things I have planned is checking out FFF and Pipeworks while I'm there. Also, any other beers I should be on the lookout for during the week?
Drink enough Anti Hero that you either sheisse your pants, hate yourself or never wanna come back to Chicago again... that'd be #1 on my list.
Pipeworks does not exist as a destination. It only exists at the local party stores. Here's a list 18th Street / Sour Note Gary Indiana. Trust. This will be the highlight. Half Acre, no food but plenty near by. Temperance, Evanston They just picked up a silver medal for the Gatecrasher (british) ipa and have food trucks visit them on the weekends. Solid offerings. Revolution, Taproom or Brewpub. Brewpub has food but will be a lot busier. Taproom has food nearby. Kumas Corner. If you like meat with your beer and all metal all the time. Then, do it. Original location only.
Definitely agree with all of the above. Jerry's Sandwiches is pretty cool based on their volume of quality beer, whiskey, and sandwiches. Similarly, I like Delilah's but there they have swapped out the sandwiches for punk music. If you go to Half Acre I'd recommend checking out Fountainhead, maybe for brunch.
Breweries: Revolution, Half Acre, Lagunitas Places to pick up some local beer bottles: Binny's, Beer Temple, Bottles & Cans (you can find PW at Binny's & Beer Temple) Beer Bars: Banger's & Lace, Twisted Spoke, Hopleaf, Sheffield's Pizza: Pequod's, Coalfire Steak: Kinzie Chop House Burger: Kumas
I can't recommend Coalfire enough for delicious pizza. Pequod's will get you the traditional Chicago-style; Coalfire will get you just simply amazing pies. It's also kitty-corner to Twisted Spoke for some beer fun afterwards.
For BCBS, go to a Binnys location (Lincoln Park or South Loop) early on Black Friday and wait in line, you will be able to score several variants. Unfortunately you can't visit Pipeworks, they are a production only facility. But their beers are easy to find in liquor stores. I would recommend checking out Half-Acre & Revolution though. Hopleaf is an great bar, def worth checking out. Local Option, Map Room, Quenchers, Northdown, Twisted Spoke, Maria's are some other good beer bars worth checking out.
The above locations for beer and food are great. You may want to try Portillo's for their Italian beef and their hotdogs. You are close to the "cheddar curtain" and may want to visit New Glarus brewery or stop at the Woodman's Grocery store in Kenosha, WI.
Awesome. Thank you guys for all the tips. Definitely looking forward to this trip. I'm also open to do some in person trades if anyone is interested. I'm applying to Chicago Fire Department as well so I'll be back out a few times during the process. Can't wait to check out the city's food and beer.
I am staying at hotel in near north side today, contemplating a trip up to Half Acre. How crowded will it be? Never been there before. Thanks!
I was there a few weekends ago and going back next weekend. The Lagunitas tap room was in the middle of nowhere but definitely worth checking out. It's like wonkas factory when you first go in, i'll just leave it as that I went to the goose island on north and clybourn and had a great experience. There tour wasn't that impressive but the guide was cool and there was a tasting at the end that came with a pint glass. I'm looking into where else to go next weekend? Really want to see if I can snag some zombie dust
Hitting Chicago next weekend and staying in Wrigleyville- not a ton of beer time sans kids. Need a great bottle shop and a brewery that I can buy growlers near me- Roscoe Ave Also- is Illinois more lax on their growler fill laws? If I bring a MN growler can I get it filled in Chicago?
Yeah, I agree..."this thread" - why ask for guidance and assistance from an on-line "community". Ugh...makes zero sense. Appreciate the local viewpoint.
BCS and variants - Come back in the day after Thanksgiving and wait in lines. Half Acre is great. So is the Revolution brewery. The brewpub is down the block, but I wouldn't bother with it. Goose Island is a must visit. Theyre legands for a reason. In terms of growlers, it's case by case. A lot of placed will only fill their own. Some fill anybody. I know half acre used to fill anybodys. I haven't gotten a fill from them in at least a year, do I'm not sure if they still do. Roscoe Village bottle shops - West Lakeview Liquors. Far and away your best option. It's neck and neck between them and Beet Temple for best beer store in the city/state/region.
Guidance is one thing, laziness is another. It doesn't take much effort to find that there are 3-4 posts on every page of this forum with the same exact information.
