Chicago IL "to-go" recommendations?

What styles are you looking for?
Is there a budget?
Are you looking for a one stop shop?
How far are you willing to drive?

 

We'll need a little more help, in terms of what styles you like, will you have a car, and if you're willing to take public transportation. The Chicago area has a ton of breweries. And a ton of rush-hour traffic, which was semi-recently called "rush-day traffic".

Here's some exiting threads that would be worth perusing. Be aware that some of the breweries mentioned are quite a drive from downtown. Use Google Maps before embarking on any trips, to see how far a place is, and estimated driving time at the time of day you'll be planning to go.

The threads are:
Downtown Chicago - https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/downtown-chicago.668649/
Barrel-aged beers in Chicago? - https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/barrel-aged-beers-in-chicago.668099/ (This thread tot a bit OT quickly, but it's still a good source of Chicago-area breweries.)
Chicago beer scene - https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/chicago-beer-scene.667947/
Two Nights in Chicago - https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/two-nights-in-chicago.666588/
Visiting Chicago Area Resource Thread (2021) - https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-chicago-area-resource-thread-2021.653101/ (A bit dated, but still an excellent resource.)

One brewery that tends to get overlooked is the downtown Chicago Haymarket https://www.haymarketbeer.com/brewpub-index

 

Then Binny's is the answer. Most limited releases (stout, bw, etc) will be at their respective brewery locations, but Binny's will have almost all distro releases. My two other favorite bottle shops are Capone's and Bottles & Cans, but they require either a drive/Uber or public transportation.

 

Seems it'd be more appropriate to continue this discussion in the latest active Chicago thread...

 

Beer temple will have an amazing collection of Belgian beer. Highly recommend talking shop with the staff. They’ll surely have suggestions

 

I might take some heat for this, but I like the downtown Chicago Rock Bottom. Since it is so close to your hotel, you should go there and go up to the second floor patio for a quick beer or two. Especially if the early October weather cooperates.

 

Favorite beer/place from the trip?

 

Haymarket is a great, underlooked place to visit - I don't buy their packaged offerings but do try and find my way to the taproom a few times a year.

They used to offer a pretty nice little tour, as far as tours ago, but not sure if they still do post-COVID. It was more informative than most with some interesting insights into how they operated with a relatively small brewing space.

 

Haymarket is one of a few significantly under appreciated breweries in Chicago. They refuse to make trendy hazy ipa, but what they do brew is always well executed and delicious. Their barrel program is especially under appreciated