General Chicago Beer Question

Honestly I would go to the Binny's in Lincoln park, which is not far off the highway and on the way north to Milwaukee from downtown. Literally any Binny's will do though, there are also locations in Skokie and Lincolnwood that aren't to far off 94, but Lincoln Park is sort of the flagship store.

The Beer Temple is also not too far off the highway and also on the way, the Revolution taproom is right around the corner from there as well.

Old Iriving is a good suggestion for a brewery right off the highway as well, great food & beer.

 

I was going to say the same about the Gurnee Binny's proximity to the tollway, but I'd bet good money the Lincoln Park store has a better selection -- and you may spy some "celebrities."

Plus you can lunch at Goose Island.

 

In short-
museum: Shedd Aquarium
beer run: Binny’s Lincoln Park [and/or brewery stops]
meal: Old Irving Brewing [or Rev Brewpub; or Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder; or Luke’s]
drafts/to-go cans: Phase Three

Travel blog/choose your own adventure version of my suggestions:
Locals tend to avoid the crowds & anything ‘touristy’ this time of year, but sounds like you already have the proper mindset/expectation going in (obviously, you deal w the same in NYC). Chicago is very festive during the holidays, you’ll have a great time!

Been years since I went to those museums, but seems Shedd Aquarium might be more ideal for 2 & 5 yo’s as it’s more of a visual experience (vs informational). Although, I’m sure you can’t go wrong w either one.

Phase Three
Phase Three has become a bit of a destination brewery, and I’d say it’s the hottest brewery in Chicagoland right now. Not sure I understand the notion that it’s too far out of the way... It would prob add ~10mi & ~30min to your trip. People drive ~40mi & ~45-60min to get there from the city, and that’s one-way! Since March, I’ve had them up with Hop Butcher as best haze in Chicago. They also have top-notch stouts, and a variety of other well-done styles to boot. In addition, they put out some pretty fun seasonals throughout the year (#BringBackSeasonals!). Look out for Warmest Wishes oatmeal stout & its peppermint variant, as well as Just Use Your Wings ‘festive’ ipa (SN Celebration shoutout). Non-beer drinkers attending your Christmas gathering? Grab Lulz R&R smoothie seltzer (guava, coconut, pineapple, orange), pick up Myers’s dark rum to add a rum runner to it, & you’re on vacation! Could make P3 your only beer stop & you’d be covered for the weekend.

If looking to avoid the city holiday crowds, could head straight to Phase Three after museum, and grab food outside the city on the way- either dine-in somewhere or get takeout to eat at taproom (byo food). Personally, I’d opt to dine-in somewhere on the way, then grab pint or two at P3 before heading on to Milwaukee.

Meal - Suburbs (en route P3)
Tore & Luke’s (Palatine) - italian beef [add hot peppers!], hot dog, burger, pizza slices
Kosta’s (Palatine) - burgers, pitas, gyros, hot dogs, italian beefs, etc
Portillo’s (Arlington Hts) - italian beef [add hot peppers!], hot dog, burgers; Schaumburg location has a Barnelli’s (pasta options) if you want side of mostoccioli pasta (get baked) w your italian beef
Lou Malnati’s (dine-in Buffalo Grove OR Lake Zurich to-go only) - deep dish pizza; request Buttercrust, highly recommend Malnati Chicago Classic sausage
Dipiero’s (Lake Zurich) - pizza + Italian; tavern-style thin crust pizza is thing of its own in Chicago (esp burbs); Italian dishes great as well
Giordano’s (Lake Zurich) - deep dish pizza; tavern-style thin crust good as well
Tacos El Norte (Lake Zurich) - mexican food

I would suggest Luke’s over Portillo’s bc it’s not a chain & just as good (some say better), but Portillo’s is bucket list for some, and for good reasons. Also, kids will like pizza slices at Luke’s. Kids might prefer Giordano’s deep dish over Lou’s bc it’s sauce is more standard/‘saucy,’ whereas Lou’s sauce is more of a ‘tomatoey’ substance. That’s how I felt as a kid at least! Now, I love both, but give edge to Lou’s (it’s the buttercrust!).

Meal - City
In terms of quality food + beer, Revolution & Old Irving have the best brewpubs in the city, with Old Irving prob being most underrated brewery in the city (great haze, stouts, etc). With kids, I’d prob opt for Old Irving bc feels less hectic inside, but both would work. Jake Melnick’s craft bar & restaurant (known for wings) is another option. All three of these places have solid wings. Fatpour (2 locations) is another good craft/food spot; I’ve only been to original Wicker Park location (many times), but newer McCormick location is close to Shedd Aquarium. Kuma’s Corner (2 locations) for burgers & mac n cheese w great taplist (West Loop location is newer, nicer, & prob better for kids, but both locations play metal music, so maybe not ideal).

You might also consider these classic Chicago places:
Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co- pizza-pot-pies; kids will enjoy
make res: https://chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/
Pequods - deep dish pizza
make res: https://pequodspizza.com/chicago/
Pizzeria Uno & Pizzeria Due - original locations; invented deep dish pizza; diff than the crappy Uno’s franchises; try Four Cheese Pesto
Lou Malnati’s (multiple locations) - deep dish pizza, request Buttercrust; highly recommend Malnati Chicago Classic sausage
Gino’s East (South Loop; River North) - deep dish pizza
Portillo’s (South Loop; River North) - italian beef [add hot peppers!], hot dog, burgers; S Loop location has free parking lot; R North has a Barnelli’s (pasta options) if you want side of mostoccioli pasta (get baked) w your italian beef

Note: Lou’s & Portillo’s have locations in Milwaukee (kind of lame imo)

City Beer Run
Binny’s (Lincoln Park flagship):
haze- Hop Butcher, Phase Three, Saint Errant, Old Irving, Riverlands, More Brewing
Rev Deep Wood Series ba stout/bw & Fistmas ‘festive’ red ale
Off Color Dino S'mores imp stout w graham/choc/vanilla/marshmallow
Phase Three Pressed imp porter (drinks like stout)
Dovetail lagers

Both South Loop & Grand Ave Binny’s will have decent selection, but the Lincoln Park flagship will prob have the most options. Hop Butcher & P3 weekly haze drops could potentially sell out faster at LP, so might want to call in advance if wanting specific beers. Note, P3 taproom will have larger to-go selection than beers avail in distro (at Binny’s, etc.). The week of a holiday, drops can be a day or two early, but typically HB distro is Thurs (city/northwest burbs) & Fri (north burbs), and P3 releases new beers at taproom on Fri, distro following Tues/Wed.

Shops selling single bottles/cans:
Bottles & Cans (‘North Center’ Chicago & ‘Edgebrook’ Chicago) - shop only
Beermiscuous (‘Lakeview’ Chicago & Highwood) - café-style taproom & shop
Beer on the Wall (Park Ridge & Arlington Heights) - taproom & shop

Both Beer on the Wall locations would be on the way to P3. If you aren’t going to P3, Highwood Beermiscuous is on way to Milwaukee. Can order online at Beer on the Wall & Beermiscuous, but Bottles & Cans doesn’t offer online purchasing.

Other good bottle shops:
Beer Temple - taproom & shop
Bitter Pops - taproom & shop

Brewery Stops
Order online to secure in advance & save time when picking up:

Off Color - funk & Dino S’mores
Maplewood - haze & Cuppa stout series
Rev Taproom (Kedzie)* - Deep Wood Series & Fistmas
Dovetail - lagers & funk
[Begyle - if going Dovetail, stop next door for stouts ba Imperial Pajamas & ba Snooze Button]

*fyi Rev Brewpub location has less to-go options than Kedzie Taproom, which currently has all the most recent DWS releases, with 3 more releasing Tues Dec 7th; note most variants are more expensive in distro;
DWS lineup- https://revbrew.com/a-warming-winter-in-the-deep-wood

Liquid Love (Buffalo Grove) - newer brewery specializing in hype haze/stouts/sours; conveniently located on way to P3, but if you’re skipping P3, still on way to Milwaukee; see my take on LL here:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/liquid-love-brewing-2021.655399
update- had Button Pusher (collab Windmill) hazy ipa over the summer & really enjoyed it

Overall
Be sure to map out all your stops & do what’s best for you, cheers!

 

Agreed! I was very puzzled when people were saying it is a big detour and completely out of the way.

 

@Tallerboy Heads up those aforementioned Phase Three seasonals went on sale today via both their webstore & Oznr. Last year, Peppermint sold out in minutes & fairly certain Wings did not last until Christmas... They may have produced more this year, but if you’re planning to hit P3 & those beers interest you, I suggest securing in advance. Pickup window via Oznr aligns with your trip, but if looking to purchase via webstore (ie avoid Oznr fees), you should reach out to them before submitting purchase as they typically ask for pickup within 5 days.

A new smoothie seltzer variant was released as well for you to add Myers’s rum to lol- Lulz Cactus Crush (prickly pear, strawberry, banana). Have yet to try the rum runner idea (trust me, I plan to!), but can attest that Lulz R&R is delicious.

You’ll have to report back on how your trip goes!