Chicago beers

If you are going out to FFF, hit up Windmill Brewing and 18th Street as well.

Pipeworks is just a bottle shop.

Half Acre and Revolution are both worth checking taplists for (they each have two locations so make sure you go to the one which has the best stuff on).

If you like NEIPAs Corridor is 1A or 1B in Chicago. Forbidden Root occupies the other spot, but has a much bigger breadth of beer and they are all fantastic.

 

Dovetail has GREAT beer. But their beers are mostly traditional Czech/German styles, which aren't in your list of preferred styles. Literally one block away is Begyle. They make some great beers. About 1.5 miles north is Empirical Brewery, who makes a nice variety of beers. Less than 1/2 mile east of Empirical is Hop Leaf. They've got great food and one of the best selections of Belgian beers.

Une Annee is in the northwest suburbs. You didn't say where you're staying, but if it's downtown, the most direct way is on I-90, aka The Kennedy Expressway. Which can be hideous during rush hour. Just a head's up.

 

Half Acre has a small but neat sour program. May just want to check to confirm they have some available.

Whiner has interesting sours and saisons, but maybe not life-changing... May just be worth finding on tap somewhere. Hopewell is a nice space, and I enjoy most of their stuff.

Band of Bohemia is great if you want to drop a bunch of money on the beer tasting menu, although I wouldn’t seek out their beer by itself.

As mentioned - Une Annee is great (it’s the same place as Hubbard’s Cave for your stout fix); the drive is rough depending on where you are.

If you go to Goose’s Fulton and Wood, On Tour is right next door.

Good luck and have fun!

 

I'd say based on what you listed as being interested in you should definitely hit up Off Color's Mouse Trap: http://www.offcolorbrewing.com/taproom/

I'd then say, as Marz is opening their taproom this Saturday, and that would also be a good spot based on your interests.

NE IPAs definitely hit up Forbidden Root, they also have a great dry hopped Saison on right now, not sure if it will still be on when you hit the city.

As you aren't really into regular IPAs I'd probably skip Half Acre unless you want to get one of their sour bottles.

Enjoy Chicago!

 

I'd put in a vote for Corridor as #1 to get your NEIPA fix (I prefer the beer and food there), but if you have time, visit both them and Forbidden Root to see which you prefer.

There are plenty of great options that people suggested - it may be good to check their tap list the day or two before going to see what most aligns with your preferred styles.

 

Windmill is about a 10 minute drive from FFF and they do some good NE IPAs. If you are going from FFF to Une Anne, you will probably take 294 and not be too far from Mikerphone in Elk Grove, they are also known for their NE IPAs and adjunct stouts. Might be hard to drive back at the end of the day though

 

I wouldn't say it's crucial. Probably fun to stop at them and their proximity allows hitting a few spots at once, but there will still be plenty of beer to drink at other places.

I should note that I haven't been to Windmill (and don't think I've had any of their beers), and haven't been to 18th Street in well over a year, so maybe I'm the one missing out...

 

If you’re looking to do 3 Floyd’s and Une Anee in the same day, you’re looking at a minimum of 2.5 hours in just travel time, and if you plan it wrong with traffic, you can be at 4+. They’re not close at all.

Une Anne is a good place, but honestly, they’re not doing anything mind blowing. They’re fine, and definitely not in the top 10 places I would recommend someone visit from out of town.

 

My personal top choices would be:

- Corridor (Hazy IPA's)
- Forbidden Root (Hazy IPA's + variety of other solid beers)
- Marz (taproom opening Saturday)
- Dovetail (excellent German style beers)
- Half Acre (all around)

Can hit Corridor, Half Acre, Dovetail, Begyle, Spiteful in one day very easily.

Also, if you're looking for a good variety, check out Beer Temple in Avondale. Excellent selection and always has harder to find beers on tap. Right down the street is Metropolitan Brewing which has one of the coolest taprooms in the city.

 

skip FFF and just go to windmill. then bend west and hit noon whistle, more and swing north through mikerphone and then back into the city. next day spend the entire day going to forbidden root and corridor. that should do it. oh and go to off color for your sours/saisons.

 

Thanks for the kind words... yes come on in to FR! You’ll love it!

 

Dovetail is great but I don't know why everyone always tells out of towners to do Begyle and Empirical as well. I know they are all close but they are not top quality for Chicago.

 

Sounds like a budding bromance!

To stay on topic, if you are going to 3 Floyds, then I would definitely recommend going to 18th Street. It's only a couple miles North and easy to find. I wouldn't say they have anything mind-blowing, but their stuff lately has been good to really good and worth a stop, in my opinion. And decent food there too.

The only issue with Windmill is they are closed Sunday (if that's the day you're thinking of going to Indiana) and M-F they don't open until 3pm (open at 11am on Saturday). I know that hasn't jived with my schedule and has prevented me from stopping in.

 

More votes here for you to go to Une Annee and Off Color for sours and farmhouses. Penrose also, but that's a bit further. Go to Beer Temple and pick up bottles from Transient, White Rooster, and Scratch, if any are currently in.

If you go to Une Annee, More and Mikerphone are good add one for Neipas and stouts. 18th st, as mentioned by others, should get tacked on, for stouts especially, if you go out by FFF. Marz can be added on the way back from Indiana too.

 

Don't skip FFF, really great food & beer. Plus it is a destination brewery for many people.

People who say skip FFF are those who have been there multiple times already and just don't like the fact that it gets busy or the hostess was rude to them one time.