Recommendations - Gurnee Area

ZumBier is cloest in Gurnee.

Bosaki's and Tightheads are in Mundelein.

Phase Three and Roaring Table are in Lake Zurich which is probably closer to 30 minutes, but I would say worth it to go hit both of those.

 

Tighthead Brewery in Mundelein is about 20 minutes away, and has solid beer including a cask handle. Also co-sign @kodt 's recommendation of Roaring Table. about 20 minutes further to/from Lake Zurich. I saw children at Roaring Table. Tighthead and RT have snacks and also allow BYOB. Phase Three is a solid brewery. I've enjoyed several of their beers, but haven't visited their taproom yet.

 

For beer bars, Timothy O'Toole's in Gurnee and Libertyville. The Firkin in Libertyville. Beer Bazaar and First Draft in Grayslake.

Brew-pubs would be the aforementioned Zum Bier in Waukegan. Black Lung in Round Lake. Mickey Finn's in Libertyville. Also previously mentioned Tighthead in Mundelein. And Light the Lamp in Grayslake.

Beer to go would be Binny's Gurnee -- they keep a great beer section of local breweries. Beer Bazaar also keeps a great to-go selection.

All to keep you close to home base without a long excursion.

Sorry Wort, wasn't meant as a rebuke to a snobby, elitist response, but there's a lot more going on up here if you take the chance to venture out.

 

Firkin in Libertyville also has an Oktoberfest food/beer menu currently fwiw.

Not beer so you may not have any interest but would be remiss if did not at least mention Pips Meadery, which is in Gurnee.

 

I was trying to remember this one, never been there -- have you? If so, how is it?

 

Is this the outfit that took over the Only Child location?

 

Yes, it is.

 

Gurnee: Make Great America Again

 

'Cause... that's all there is up here.

Thanks for proving my point.

 

This place has a TON of top tier drafts. The food is also incredible. Pricing is pretty standard for most places you go. I really like this place a lot. I went there last year for a Revolution preview party. I go here as often as possible. Owner of First Draft is also a stand up guy.

 

Great Wolf Lodge. I'm sure there are plenty of other fun things to do there. I just don't trust a town where your two most popular attractions have to put the word "Great" in them as a selling point.

 

Make America Taint Again

 

As was mentioned, First Draft has decent pub food. O'Toole's and Finn's have standard, okay pub faire. The Firkin takes a little fancier step up -- a little pricey, but very good.

Only had food at Light the Lamp once -- was a touch fancier than pub faire, but just okay.

All of the rest I mentioned don't really have full menus.

 

@Stl705 I've been up in that area a number of times over the years to take the family to Great Wolf Lodge. IIRC, at least pre-COVID, Timothy O'Tooles had a kids eat free night at some point during the week. The draft list has been solid every time we've gone there too. We were actually supposed to be there a few weeks ago but life got sidetracked by COVID in our house. Then we were rescheduled to go next weekend and that had to be canceled again due to my wife needing surgery all the sudden. When we do finally get to go again, Pips is at the top of my list. I like mead, and they're considered one of the best. I've been waiting for them to open a public taproom and it's finally happened.

 

I have been to the Firkn as well & honestly I like First Drafts menu better. Firkn menu is also very good but the edge goes to First Draft for me.

 

I haven't eaten at FD, but from what I've seen of the menu it leans more to pub faire than the Firkin's sort of, what? Gourmet take on pub food.

Which is not to pick one over the other, just to let consumers know the difference.

I have plans to meet a friend for dinner at FD in the next couple months and will report back.