Chicago beer scene

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by mcjlm, Jul 14, 2022.

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  1. mcjlm

    mcjlm Aspirant (209) Jan 20, 2019 Massachusetts

    Hey all - gonna be in Chicago for 3-4 days and would love to get a small list of beers to try. I'm particularly interested in IPA and lagers/pilsners.

    I've had and really liked Phase Three and Half Acre. Not a huge fan of Off Color. Grew up in Indiana on Three Floyds so that's very familiar as well.

    We're staying by Wicker Park / Humboldt / UV. Interested in breweries / beer bars nearby but also willing to travel for good vibes (as long as dogs are cool)

    Thanks!
     
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  2. GuyFawkes

    GuyFawkes Grand Pooh-Bah (5,630) Apr 7, 2011 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Beer Temple is my constant answer. Great taplist, close to where you are staying, and the bonus of a bottle shop for to-go options.
     
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  3. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Lagers? You should hit up Dovetail and Metropolitan - not too far from where you'll be staying.
     
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  4. mando31

    mando31 Savant (1,132) Oct 15, 2009 Illinois
    Trader

    It's a bit of a drive from where you will be staying, but Goldfinger is brewing top notch lagers/pilsners. They also have a pet friendly patio.
     
  5. elliott1184

    elliott1184 Maven (1,320) Mar 31, 2011 Minnesota
    Trader

    in addition to the above check beer temple, Beermiscuous, or bottles and cans for Goldfinger cans - fantastic lagers. Taproom is fun too but is kind of a ways out. Cans to go should be available near where you'll be staying
     
  6. gudbrande

    gudbrande Pundit (962) Jul 10, 2009 Minnesota
    Society Trader

    One of my favorites from my last trip to Chicago was Maplewood. Looks like their taproom isn't too far from the area where you are staying.

    2717 N Maplewood Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
     
  7. emerge077

    emerge077 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,962) Apr 16, 2005 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just to add, both breweries have dog-friendly patios. Half Acre, Ørkenoy, Middle Brow, Solemn Oath, and Pilot Project all do too. Beer Temple is indoors, not sure of their current dog policy.

    Around where you're staying, check out Liquor Park, Garfield's, or Puerto Rico Food & Liquor for shops with a nice selection. Not sure that any carry Goldfinger, but they all have lots of local stuff.
     
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  8. RickBelgique

    RickBelgique Crusader (447) Jul 16, 2014 Illinois

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  9. Max_Powers

    Max_Powers Crusader (466) Jul 3, 2022 Illinois
    Trader

    2 Recommendations,

    Middle Brow Bungalow in Logan Square. Very hip atmosphere, great food and they brew some solid beer. 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago.

    Piece Pizza in Wicker Park. Killer pizzeria/brewpub which won several awards. Owned by Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick fame. 1927 W North Ave, Chicago.
     
  10. BobCobb

    BobCobb Savant (1,026) Jul 10, 2012 Illinois
    Trader

    If you do Middle Brow, cross the street for a burger at Gretel.
     
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  11. JohnMpls21

    JohnMpls21 Initiate (106) Jan 10, 2021 Minnesota

    Revolution Brewpub has great beer and food. I miss Chicago so much, I might have to get back there this fall finally.
     
  12. BeerPrince22

    BeerPrince22 Pundit (805) Feb 21, 2016 Illinois
    Trader

    I would make sure to hit Bangers & Lace in Wicker Park. Always have a great taplist and its an awesome bar in general. Tuman's in UV always has a diverse superb list as well. Typically a few different Phase 3. Forbidden Root is also in the area and has been crushing their lagers.
     
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  13. ColdOne

    ColdOne Maven (1,346) Jan 19, 2013 New York
    Trader

    Hey, I'm going to bump this bad boy and hope to get some recs for my trip to Chicago next week. I'll be with my wife, who likes to sip some brew but doesn't want to go to breweries all day and night (so I'll have to be discerning about which ones we choose).

    I'd love some help ranking the breweries that I've found around our place in Logan Square. I'm into most beer styles (especially IPA, stouts and sours) but I'm currently on a pilsner kick. Bonus points for really good food with vegetarian possibilities.

    Here are the ones that seemed interesting, in order of closest to farther from the AirBNB:

    Revolution
    Solemn Oath
    Middle Brow
    Marz Comm. Club
    Hopewell
    Orkenoy
    Maplewood
    Metropolitan

    I'm also tempted to hit up Half Acre, not sure if folks think it's worth the extra time spent getting up there and back

    Thanks in advance everyone.
     
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  14. GuyFawkes

    GuyFawkes Grand Pooh-Bah (5,630) Apr 7, 2011 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    As always, and based on your location, I'd go with the Beer Temple. You'll get beers from about 10 local Chicago breweries, some deep cuts from around the globe and if you like something on draft, you can probably buy it in their bottle shop & pack it in your suitcase. They have food there too now!

    For short trips, beer bar > brewery ever time, in my opinion.

    https://www.craftbeertemple.com/taproom
     
  15. nuplastikk

    nuplastikk Crusader (474) Aug 28, 2008 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Most of the exciting stuff is happening in the suburbs these days. Art History, Goldfinger, Roaring Table, Afterthought are all really nice destinations. More brewing is a nice stop as well typically. Off Color is an amazing brewery, definitely worth a stop over any of the breweries you have listed. Duneyrr is a cool stop. Lo rez is nice. Dryhop and Corridor used to be really solid stops, and are still OK, but not as great as they were 5 years back. Forbidden Root is worthy. Hop Butcher is right there as well, but I haven't been there yet...always thought their IPA was quite overrated around these parts.
     
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  16. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Interesting take. The top stuff in the city may not be as exciting but is still beer for beer higher quality stuff.


    Lo Rez closes for good on Sep. 3 I believe so may not want to check that out.
     
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  17. BeerPrince22

    BeerPrince22 Pundit (805) Feb 21, 2016 Illinois
    Trader

    His close by list seems pretty legit. Do you live in the suburbs? I would for sure stop at Revolution and Solemn Oath. They have a bunch of good beer on across many styles. Metropolitan has great lagers and an amazing outdoor/indoor space.

    Maplewood has their new ba stout on tap along with their ba collab with old irving and a bunch of lagers.
     
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  18. GuyFawkes

    GuyFawkes Grand Pooh-Bah (5,630) Apr 7, 2011 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Did you mean to quote me? I was just offering the OP my personal suggestion, not looking for any myself.
     
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  19. BeerPrince22

    BeerPrince22 Pundit (805) Feb 21, 2016 Illinois
    Trader

    No my mistake!! I meant to quote nuplastikk.
     
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  20. nuplastikk

    nuplastikk Crusader (474) Aug 28, 2008 Wisconsin
    Trader

    I don't really see better quality stuff in the city vs. the suburbs. Besides Off Color, there isn't really a brewery in the city that I am excited to go to. Used to love Dryhop and Corridor but that ship sailed awhile back. I live in WI so they are all far away for me.
     
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