Getting to 3 Floyds from Chicago

For someone who claims to visit the brewpub "every few weeks," these statements couldn't be more untrue. Out of the 16 beers on tap in the brewpub right now (not including guest taps), only 4 of them are above 9%. Regarding ZD to go, there's no rhyme or reason as to when it's available but you can almost bet it will be available at least 1-2 times a week. I don't know where you came up with "a few times a year."

 

People actually eat the food at 3 Floyds?

 

Their list of on tap beers is always changing - when I checked last night it was the first time I haven't seen ZD on tap. Of the 3 times I've been this year, and 10 or so last year, I've only seen ZD avail for carry out once. I know there is no rhyme or reason. So yes, it being available for carry-out "a few times a year" is an accurate statement.

 

Because a it's usually released the middle of the week and sells out in a day or two. And how does this info fit into you mentioning everything but ZD is over 9%?? OP, pay no attention to this guys information.

Btw, ZD was on cask last night.

 

Dude are you serious??? So, based on your "logic," or lack thereof, they only sell ZD a few times a year because out of the approximate 13 times you've been there in the last 15 months, it's been for sale at the to-go counter only once? How about the other 400+ days you didn't go to the pub? I look at their to-go list just about everyday and ZD is way more readily available than you're making it out to be.

To the OP: don't listen to any of the false info @SMH_NWI is putting out there. Clearly doesn't know what he/she is talking about.

 

Zombie Dust on the To Go list right now.

 

It's released on a weekday. Almost every week. (Id say 9 out of 10). And it's usually gone in anywhere from 6 hours to a day and a half, depending on weather, and how many college kids are on break.

If you go there every weekend, then no you will never see it, it's never released on a saturday or sunday, part of the reason is that they run a lighter shift on the weekend, so don't usually bottle, also they know the place is packed on the weekends, so releasing it on the weekday brings in more business.

 

Zombie Dust is available usually every week and if not every week guarantee it in two weeks. I was monitoring the days for the last six months, and there is no rhyme or reason to the days. for a while it was wednesdays then went to tuesdays, then mondays for a couple weeks in a roll. Two fridays in the last month it was released. Like DrunkAl said right now it has been every week. There was a week in the beginning of december it was release M, W, and F. Lines for Zombie Dust at the kiosk are not long unless it is the day before a holiday, especially the day before Thanksgiving. I have been there for days where the line went to the street, stood in line for an hour at 4 pm and got six cases, then sat in the brewpub right next to the kiosk til 830 pm and they just kept bringing out stacks and stacks of zombie dust (even though the line by this time was gone, selling to 1 or 2 ppl every 20 or so mins). They produce more Zombie Dust than people realize

 

It's almost like they put it out as fast as they can brew/bottle it or something... shocker.

Edit: Not being snarky at your info, which is great. Being snarky at people who keep saying they should "just brew more" or something. They could go full Alchemist, brew nothing but ZD, and still sell out.

 

I think it is worth visiting Three Floyds, I mean you want to go there right? While there are plenty of great breweries in Chicago why go someplace else, you will still be left wanting to visit Three Floyds. Most of the people who say it isn't worth it have already visited there multiple times. Well of course if you have been there before and know great places that are closer to home you are going to say that.

 

Exactly mdomask. it would easily sell out if that's all they brewed. In fact, i like how they have ZD available weekly, but consistently have other styles available as well. I am the same way about the "just brew more ZD" comment smh. ZD is a great beer, but so are many of their other offerings and ppl have different tastes

 

I rode my bike to 3 Floyds once. It sucked

 

Ya. That's called wisdom from experience. I dont get your point.

Just trying to impact some informed opinions. As are the rest of a you.

We can agree, OP is gonna be fine. He will find good beer.

 

Once you've gone though. You don't have that nagging feeling of "I would like to check out Three Floyds someday"

Point is, if you never go and just take peoples word for it, that desire to go to Three Floyds will never really go way. You just have to go for yourself. It's easy to say it's not worth going if you have already been there.

 

You might get some solid to good beer at 18th street, but your wife/gf will hate it if she's not into beer. I went with my gf who likes beer and she will never go back. Its dirty, smells of stale beer, gross kitchen, not in a great neighborhood. For their "premium" beer they charge $6 for a small snifter, and by small I mean like 3 oz max. If you're going, run in and get beer and leave.

Food is good at FFF, but not worth your time and money if either are limited. Lots of great places in Chicago and Milwaukee to visit.

 

Whether you ultimately decide the FFF pub is worth multiple return trips or not, the OP is from out of state, so I'd say the visit will be worth it. I don't know if "iconic" is the right word, but I'll use it anyway. Why not make the effort to visit the probably the most iconic brewery in the area? At worst, he'll enjoy a great tap list and have a solid meal. Since the expansion, the pub has lost some of the uniqueness it once had, but with the death metal and funky Japanese monster movies it still has a ton more personality than 90% of the other places out there that look like they were all designed by the same person. Just try to plan the trip for early on a weekday to avoid the worst of the crowds.

 

This would be my suggestion. Carve out 4 hours or so and plan to get down there a bit before opening, or a bit before the 9-5 crowd gets out of work and hit up the pub and the to-go kiosk. Try a couple of things, enjoy a good meal, and pick up some treats to go. Worth the effort if you're a big FFF fan and not from the area.

 

Possibly something else about your FFF trip for you to take into consideration: the brewery has a strict seating limit, so you have to stand in line outside if they are full. (The to-go line also frequently stretches outside.) It's been a while since anybody has posted in these threads about the unpleasant wait in cold or rainy weather, so maybe it's no longer an issue with some sort of work-around, but you might want to be prepared. Or if it's a crappy day when you want to go, have a Plan B for some Chicago breweries and try FFF at a future date.