Chicago breweries that don’t need their own thread (2025)

Boathouse Reserve? Hell yes, they got some medals at FOBAB a few years ago, good stuff!

 

Y’all try Riverlands Fresh Hopped Dean street?

 

I stopped by the Lunar Saturday. Besides a killer guest beer list, they have at least 8 house beers on tap. Highlights were a double Moon Dance IPA, and old favorites Raspberry Cream and Total Eclipse Stout.

 

And it’s definitely time for me to visit Lunar again as the holidays near! Agree with everything said including on the Eclipse stout, imo one of the best Stouts in Chicagoland…

 

Definitely worth noting. Came across this reddit post which says they are relocating to Montreal Student visa issues were cited as a factor.

 

Seems like they should have focused more during the diacetyl section of the course(s) then.

 

If you're on Facebook, go to Dovetail's post about it and read the Hopleaf's Michael Roper's response. He certainly thinks it's worth noting.

 

Our loss is Montreal’s gain

 

Correction, those are the two base beers on the series. The variation is “This year's variant will blend our delicious rye barrel aged Imperial Stout (aged for two years) with maple syrup, cinnamon and a touch of vanilla”. Pretty dang good

 

Picked up a 4 pack of Blind Corner brewing's Booter Hazy IPA from Binny's. Don't know much about Blind Corner except they're new, in Naperville, and they're affliliated with Go Brewing somehow.

Anyway the hazy was pretty nice. Not overly sweet with notes of tropical fruit with a bit of dank to it. Overall, not bad. They also had a lager and a westy IPA that I want to try.

 

Can anyone list the beers that came as a part of the More Bairal membership in 2025? Thinking of tossing my hat it via Oznr but wanted to know what they gave as bottles. Thank you!

 

I think this is the complete list, going through my OZNR history.
Double Barrel Mehndi 2025
Double Origin 2025
Roaming Elephant Special Reserve
BA Henna Affogato
Milaana Blend No. 4
MBS Pick 2025
2x Roaming Elephant 2025
BA Nettipattam Brambleberry
2x Mehndi 2025
BA Henna Coconut Swirl 2025

 

thank you for compiling that, I really appreciate it.

 

I'm not really into memberships any more, but that is a solid AF list of beers.

 

Don't really know where else to put this, but this feels like pertinent information to share. Binny's slingin' SN Celebration 12ers for $12.99

 

100%. I've been to FOBAB a number of years, and More seem to always go under the radar for me, but I'm always impressed by their beers. '25 Mehndi is killer and the BA Henna was a banger too. I haven't tried Roaming Elephant, but it was awesome in 2024.