2019 Visiting Chicagoland Resource Thread

While you’re at a bottle shop, you may want to try a hazy from Hop Butcher or Saint Errant if you see one on the shelf.

Also - this is below my pay grade - can someone spend their coffee break putting all these locations in to a google map, and then share the link here? There are lots of good “clusters” for folks to consider: e.g. bad Apple / half acre / bottles & cans / begyle / dovetail is a walkable afternoon:

https://goo.gl/maps/WjtgdPPkaWU2

 

Let me add a new taproom bottle shop that opened in Downers Grove a few weeks ago called Orange & Brews. Right in downtown DG just southwest of the train tracks.

 

Strange sorcery!

 

This list looks awesome! Just a couple suggestions:

Perhaps move Une Annee to "highly recommended"? With their success this last year, GABF presence, the expansion facility coming on line 2019 and just generally making amazing beer Id say they qualify for this higher tier.

Consider adding Evanston's Beer on Central to "highly recommended suburban bottle shops"? This place aspires to be a beer temple level place, the staff is amazing, weekly tastings and brewer visits; their selection is suberb. Eight taps and a small bar, just a great hangout and source of craft beer in Evanston.

 

For those visiting and looking for a meal and a beer you're still fine at many of the "Must-Hit" locations:

Highly Recommended "Must-Hit" Breweries & Brewpubs – Chicago city limits

Possess a Kitchen
Corridor Brewery & Provisions* - Thin Crust Artisanal Pizza, Sandwich/Burgers, Salads
Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery* - Upscale Pub Food (note - menu rotates)
Half Acre Brewing – Lincoln St. Brewery – Creative Burritos/Wraps, Nachos
Half Acre Brewing – Balmoral Ave. Brewery – Upscale Pub Food (note - menu rotates)
Revolution Brewing – Milwaukee Ave Brewpub – Classic Pub Food - Pizza/Burger/Entrees

Bring/Order Your Own Food, Visiting Food Trucks
Dovetail Brewery – serve German snacks (pretzel, beef sticks)
Goose Island Fulton St. taproom
Off Color Brewing Taproom - The Mousetrap
Revolution Brewing – Kedzie Ave Taproom
Spiteful Brewing

 

Yeah, turned to a gray block for me.

 

(Phrasing)

 

Wow - @lloydboss - thanks for that updated, great list. Such a handy resource for people who don't know the Chicago scene well.
I'll be curious to see if any of the new-ish places make it to the list eventually (On Tour, Around the Bend, Twisted Hippo, etc.) - still jealous. Wish I could live there. Although Chicago is rarely on any kind of "best city to retire in," it's on OUR list for later on in life.

 

Suggestions for two additions and one change:

1. Add Old Irving Brewing (Chicago) - Great beer and great food. It's one of those places where you should try a dish you normally won't eat, simply because the kitchen always knocks it out of the park. As well as the brewery.

2. Add Short Fuse Brewing (Schiller Park) - Really good beer and really good food. It's pretty much impossible to go wrong here. A great place to stop to/from O'Hare.

3. Change Hop Leaf to mention that it also has a great restaurant. Also might be worth noting that nobody under 21 is allowed in, even to the restaurant.

 

I’m coming to Chicago the weekend of February 17. We will be in town Saturday night and Sunday night. Sunday we’re going to the 2:00 Hamilton show. My wife has permitted me 2 brewery stops. We are most likely staying in the central loop area. Cool taprooms are a plus but awesome beer outweighs it. Also of great importance is that we like good food and proximity to that is vital. I like ipas and stouts the most but I also like a good variety as it is better for building flights. We will have our own car but could do ride sharing.

My original plan was to go to half acre and Pipeworks. I need some feedback. I want to plan a good weekend for me but also score some wife points with the cool taproom and good food.

 

FYI, Pipeworks does not have a taproom. Definitely recommend stopping there if you can as they do sell beer to go but not as a spot to have a flight.

 

I think Half Acre and Revolution are the two best options for breadth of offerings and food, not to mention they’re both cool spots. You could also do options like Goose Island Brewhouse, Corridor, Forbidden Root, Cruz Blanca, Old Irving, or Haymarket, amongst others.

 

My plan would be to do Half Acre one night. The other night I'd start at either Forbidden Root or Goose Island Fulton (depending on what's on tap), then take an 8 min Uber to Leña Brava for dinner. It's like sneaking in a 3rd brewery since it's connected to Cruz Blanca, plus I'm a fan of Rick Bayless. Pipeworks always has good stuff available to go, but it really isn't near anything you'd be going to.

 

If you want to drink/eat near downtown, I would recommend Cruz Blanca and/or Au Cheval for the meal, Haymarket or Goose Island Fulton for the non food stop. Girl and the Goat nearby as well.

Forbidden Root or Revolution Brewpub are good options as well (for beer and food), but further away.

Below are additional breweries closest to downtown:

All Rise Brewery 235 N. Ashland Ave.
Burnt City Brewery 417 N. Ashland Ave.
Cruz Blanca 904 W. Randolph
Forbidden Root 1746 W. Chicago Ave.
Goose Island Beer Company 1800 W. Fulton St.
Great Central Brewing Company 221 N. Wood St.
Haymarket Brewing 737 W. Randolph St.
On Tour Brewing Company 1725 W. Hubbard St.