Welcome to the visiting Chicago / Chicago Region discussion thread. Discussions of beer, beer centric, dining locations and other tourist places throughout the region are welcome here. Prior year threads are linked below if you would like to refer to the highly recommended beer places. Prior Threads: 2018 Spring 2018 Fall & Winter 2019 2020 2021 2024 2025 City breweries and a few widely acclaimed Chicago beer shops & beer bars are the extent I have time to group locations by neighborhood for the kickoff post. That said, there are many beer bars and other locations worthy of equal or greater consideration in terms of quality, breadth of offerings, special events, etc. within the city and beyond. Please feel free to discuss any aspect of visiting Chicago area in these threads, including your recommendations to help others visiting the city, suburbs, or into Wisconsin / Indiana border areas. Link to Guys Drinking Beer regularly updated google map. Chicago Breweries Avondale Northwest Maplewood Brewery and Distillery 2717 North Maplewood Avenue Revolution Brewing Taproom 3340 North Kedzie Avenue Back of the Yards / Bronzeville South Somos Monos Cerveceria 1400 West 46th Street Back of the Yards Turner Haus Brewery 78 East 47th Street - Bronzeville (Temprorarily Closed for the Winter) Whiner Beer Company 1400 West 46th Street - Back of the Yards Beverly / Morgan Park Far South Horse Thief Hollow 10426 South Western Avenue - Beverly Open Outcry Brewing Company 10934 South Western Avenue - Morgan Park Bowmanville Far North Half Acre Beer Company 2050 West Balmoral Avenue is/was Brewing 5121 North Revenswood Avenue Spiteful Brewing 2024 West Balmoral Avenue Bridgeport South Marz Community Brewing Company 3630 South Iron Street Off Hours (Other Half @ Ramova Theatre) 3520 South Halsted Downtown Central Adams Street Brewery 17 West Adams Street Crushed By Giants 600 North Michigan Avenue Gino's East Brewing Company 162 East Superior Street & 521 South Dearborn Street Industrial Ales 230 South Wabash Avenue Jefferson Park / Norwood Park Far Northwest Illuminated Brew Works 6186 North Northwest Highway - Norwood Park Printers Row Brewing 4801 North Austin Avenue - Jefferson Park Lake View North Corridor Brewery and Provisions 3446 North Southport Avenue DryHop Brewers 3155 North Broadway Street Good Times Brewery 3827 North Broadway Avenue Greenstar Brewing 3800 North Clark Street Pilot Project (Several Breweries) 3473 North Clark Street Lincoln Park Near North Goose Island Salt Shed Brewpub 1221 West Blackhawk Street Off Color Brewing 1460 North Kingsbury Street Logan Square Northwest BiXi Beer 2515 North Milwaukee Avenue Bungalow by Middlebrow Brewing 2840 West Armitage Avenue Hopewell Brewing 2760 North Milwaukee Avenue Lake Effect Brewing Company 3074-3076 N. Milwaukee Avenue Life on Marz Community Club 1950 North Western Avenue Pilot Project (Several Breweries) 2140 North Milwaukee Avenue Solemn Oath Still Life 2919 West Armitage Avenue Near West Side Near West District Brew Yards (Around the Bend, Burnt City, Casa Humilde, Twisted Hippo) 417 North Ashland Avenue In the process of being sold, so check first before going. Forbidden Root 1746 West Chicago Avenue Goose Island Beer Company 1800 West Fulton Street Great Central Brewing Company 221 North Wood Street Midwest Coast Brewing Company 2137 West Walnut Street Suncatcher Brewing 2849 West Chicago Avenue North Center / Ravenswood North Begyle Brewing 1800 West Cuyler Avenue Burning Bush Brewery 4014 North Rockwell Street Cultivate by Forbidden Root Brewery 4710 North Ravenswood Avenue Demo Brewing Company 1763 West Berteau Avenue Dovetail Brewing 1800 West Belle Plaine Avenue Hop Butcher For The World 4257 North Lincoln Avenue Old Irving Park / Sauganash Northwest Alarmist Brewing 4055 West Peterson Avenue - Sauganash Crust Tap Room 3000 West Irving Park Road - Old Irving Park Eris Brewery and Cider House 4240 West Irving Park Road - Old Irving Park Old Irving Brewing Company 4419 West Montrose Avenue - Old Irving Park Pilsen / South Loop Near South Side Alulu 2011 South Laflin Street - Pilsen Duneyrr Fermenta Winery and Brewery 2337 South Michigan Avenue - South Loop Monochrome Brewing 2101 South Carpenter Street - Pilsen Moody Tongue Brewing Company 2515 South Wabash Avenue - South Loop West Loop Near West Cruz Blanca 904 West Randolph Street Guinness Open Gate Brewery 901 West Kinzie Street Haymarket Brewing 737 West Randolph Street Wicker Park Near West The Perch Kitchen and Tap (Finch) 1932 West Division Street Piece Brewing 1927 West North Avenue
Yeah! Chicago visit #1 of the year 2026 is coming in just over a week. I'm helping my son move into his apartment in Lakeview (a few blocks north of Beermiscous). Any tips on places to pick up beer, healthy food, excellent coffee or anything else notable? I would like to bring back a couple 4-packs of delicious (and fresh) west coast IPAs plus the main event: a healthy array of local lagers. Is Beermiscous decent as far as pricing on singles, or should I go with my usual plan of grabbing a bunch of 4-packs of Goldfinger and Art History at Binny's? It's going to be a huge, sad bummer if my son wants to spend Saturday with his roommates. I guess I'd have to take the brown line up to Dovetail and then hit up Hop Butcher and Is/Was. I know I've got Half Acre and Spiteful up a bit further... anything else really excellent that should be on my radar? Thanks Chicago! Sincerely, A Friend
Beermiscuous is one of the best places for singles in Chicago. If you get your mixed packs to go, the prices are very reasonable. If you consume onsite they add like $4 per can. Their selection of local stuff is stellar. Their Untapped menus are up to date. This might be your one stop to get everything you need. (If you can't tell, I'm a big fan of that place.)
For a slightly different bottle shop experience, check out Konbini and Konpai (Belmont and Southport). This is a specialty bottle shop leaning towards a curated selection of Asian beers plus local stuff. They sell everything in singles. Corridor Brewing isn't far as well. Pretty good stuff with a cool vibe. You probably already know the rest of the scene.
Thanks so much. This is all great. Corridor looks good, but boy am I torn in several directions. Revolution will have it all on the line that night… so dangerous.
The weather definitely affected my plans. No way was I going to do my usual plan of walking and training around town in sub-zero temps—and I had to get out a day early to avoid the storm. All day Friday I looked at the various Revolution events and decided with my limited time I’d be better off hanging with my son and getting him stocked for the semester. But I enjoyed using my 15% off coupon at Binny’s and hit up Corridor, which had great food and beer that was better than I expected. The Wizard Riot was great and I really liked Patio Padre. I used to think that breweries only called them Mexican lagers when they were just shitty Pilsner experiments that didn’t work out. But a good brewery will make it something special. The universe owes me another Chicago visit, and now that I’ve got a couch to crash on, that’s even more appealing. I’ll be back.
We need to rename this the "support Coldone" thread. I've got next Sunday in Chicago, bringing a friend along so I can share the wisdom I've acquired re: North Center/Ravenswood. Here's what I'm planning. Please feel free to chime in with any alcohol or food ideas along the way (however, the only carbs I'll be consuming will be in the beer). Hop Butcher (probably skipping Begyle--unless there's something here folks think we shouldn't miss) Dovetail Korval Is/Was Half Acre Spiteful Then bus/train to sleep it off in Lincoln Park. The only other thoughts are Goose Island the day before on our way in (handing my son the keys at that point), and maybe Corridor for dinner. Then it's my traditional stop at Fat Heads in Cleveland that's exactly halfway home. Thanks all for all the loving care over the years. I've got this visit, then my kid's graduation in May, and then no built in reason to visit Chicago.
You got an excellent itinerary. Here is a couple more suggestions that are nearby if you're interested (and you probably already know about these but just in case) - Hopleaf - world famous and renowned - maybe one of the best taplists in Chicago plus great food - Cultivate by Forbidden Root - Forbidden Root brews their own beer which is decent to very good (depending on what you get) and they have good food as well - Resi's Bierstube - a German dive and restaurant - Bottles and Cans - maybe the best selection of singles in Chicago These are all in the general area where you'll be so won't be a detour
Lemme pop in too to add Green Lady and Bitter Pops recs, in the same vicinity and walking between on a beautiful day is a great time. I'll also say that pints at Hop Butcher are $5 on Sundays, one of the best deals in town.
Was going to vote for BP as well, and GL is one of the best beer bars in the city. Also, skipping Begyle is understandable, but if the weather is nice, they have a pretty cool spot to enjoy it.
I just got home from a whirlwind Chicago visit. Thanks again for all the tips. Saturday night: just enough time for Cruz Blanca and Salt Shed (my buddy really wanted to visit Goose Island). Oh, a detour to Beermiscuous. That place is dangerous. Sunday: Hop Butcher, Laschet’s, Begyle, Dovetail, Is/Was, Half Acre and Corridor. Wow to the $5 pints at HB. I had a full glass of everything non-hazy… ESB and Bae were both really excellent and everything else really solid. Sunday hang with the locals was fun, one dude picking up a round. I freaking love Hop Butcher, even in my post-haze phase. Laschet’s: great meal for sure, great selection of German pilsners. Begyle: we visited… briefly Dovetail: great mug of their lager and we shared glasses of the Plum and Red Currant—both excellent. Is/Was: wasn’t incredibly impressed…Biere de Bouchon seemed watery, not very flavorful. Half Acre: Boo to very limited tap list. This was not remotely as fun as usual. Corridor: convenient place near my son’s apartment… Terramoto was very drinkable, and I really enjoyed the meal. Traditional stop at Fat Heads halfway to home…. Belly full of smoked wings. I’ve got one more Chicago trip and then the son graduates and waves g’bye to Chicago. Looking forward to one more swing through… got to fit Middle Brow in there one more time.
Thanks @ColdOne and everyone who contributes here. I could use some advice/suggestions for a short trip to Chicago this summer (my 2nd visit ever.) I'm planning on solo travel, flying in/out (likely OHare, but haven't booked ticket yet), using public transportation and rideshares as needed. I'll be there Tue-Wed-Thu nights, and going to a concert at the Salt Shed on Wed night. Only other vague plans are to visit Hop Butcher, Dovetail, the Green Lady, and Bitter Pops (places I enjoyed my first trip a few years ago.) I think that can all be one entire day/night, but also considering getting an airbnb in the neighborhood so I can end the nights there. I'm a hophead first and foremost, but drink everything that's good! It's probably better to save for another trip when I have more time, but the Bamboo Room at Three Dots is on my wishlist, in case that information is helpful. So three-ish questions: 1. What other beer bar/brewery -focused neighborhoods are worth considering for Airbnb home base given the above info? 2. It seems there's not easy/good public transportation directly to the Salt Shed and just looking on Google Maps isn't very helpful. Should I just plan on Uber/Lyft? I assume the Salt Shed Pub is going to be my best pre-show option, but any other places nearby? 3. Any places mentioned regularly here that are closed on Tuesdays or Wednesdays in summer that I should be aware of? I've been burned enough to double-check, but local knowledge is always better than the internet! Thanks in advance for any and all help!
I'll let others who are more adventurous answer your general questions but just as an aside: Binny's on Marcey St. is a 5 min drive from the Salt Shed (or a 20 min. walk if the weather is amenable) and is both a fantastic place to stock up on beer, but also has a nice taproom. Off Color Brewing is also nearby, and is a great brewery (they don't do IPAs though, and specialize in stuff like wild ales and saisons, so keep that in mind). Uber/Lyft is probably the best bet for Salt Shed because it's sort of in a "dead zone" in terms of public transit.
I'll do a longer answer closer to, but I'd strongly rec Bangers and Lace for pre Sal Shed show. Twentyish minute walk but it's nice and quick and they have a killer beer list.
You can get near Salt Shed / North Avenue via the Red or Blue Lines, and either bus (Route 72) or cab/uber to Salt Shed / Goose Island Salt Shed. Off Color is a great spot, but no IPAs so YMMV. Love your HB/Dovetail/GL/BP cluster. I recommend considering my favorite area Avondale (Beer Temple, Maplewood, Revolution, D Men Tap) for a different day. Revolution is the only one not open all three planned days (closed Tuesdays). I also love Spiteful IPAs, and a trip there plus Half Acre next door might be worth considering up north (and Hopleaf a mile east down Foster).
