1 night in Chicago?

Stocks and Blonds is nearby, decent beer selection. Good local stuff (link attached below). Also Monks is close, usually have 1 or 2 good local beers on tap (link).
http://www.stocksandblondesbar.com/menu/
http://www.monkspubchicago.com/beer-menu-2/

 

As someone who works right around there, Stocks and Monks are good suggestions for nearby bars.

If you're looking to have dinner, I suggest going into the West Loop (a few blocks away) and hitting up Au Cheval or Haymarket (or another restaurant; those just happen to be very beer nerd-friendly). If you want to try some Three Floyds beers, Lone Wolf is right around there as well.

 

Randolph Street a few blocks over has everything you need and want....Haymarket, Cruz Blanca, Lone Wolf, Kaiser Tiger(they have outdoor curling...) and more haute cuisine than you could eat in a year. Go nuts....

 

Pretty much what everyone else said. I would also throw in the new-ish Jackson Tavern and Franklin Tap as good beer options in the Loop, but you'll best be served getting out of the Loop. In terms of being able to hit up a big number of places, the West Loop is a close-by option with a good number of offerings.

You could also head to Lincoln Square/Northcenter and do Bad Apple + Half Acre and even add in Fountainhead if you're feeling ambitious.

Piece and the Map Room in Bucktown/Wicker would also be a pretty solid night.

Or just say screw it, head to Uptown, and sit at Hopleaf for 5 hours, and maybe grab a nightcap at the Green Mill.

 

All good suggestions, especially the last one. I'd also add that biting the bullet and either taking an uber or public transportation will be worth the trip/cost.

To add one more dining/drinking option, I love visiting the Revolution brewpub in Logan Square because the food is fantastic and they'll surely have nice heavy stuff on tap this time of year to complement their good lighter stuff. Probably about 20 Rev beers on tap in total at that location. If variety of good/local beers is your main goal, somewhere like Hopleaf/Bad Apple would be my personal choices. Have fun!

 

Weather, whats wrong with the weather?

 

So as not to start a new thread, I am in Chicago similarly for the first time in a long time next week, for one night. Would anyone have suggestions on some beers to buy/lookout for to bring back that I may not get in NYC, particularly IPA or up and coming brewers that would be fun to try? Many of the great fresh ones where I am from never make it out of the area, hoping to pick up a few similar ones if not impossible. Thanks in advance!

 

Where in Chicago will you be?

 

900 block North Michigan hotel; dinner is near Haymarket Bar

 

Go to Binny's on Grand Ave. on your way back to the hotel from haymarket. They should have all the locals. If you want to try some three floyd's and other locals, go to lone wolf across the street from haymarket.

 

Thank you for that; other than Revolution and maybe Pipeworks, any IPAs or midwestern Brewers that you would steer me to?

 

So I have a cousin I visit yearly in New York and typically he asks me for Pipeworks and Marz beers so I am guessing you guys don't get those.

Half Acre is great as well but if I recall correctly, you guys may have just started getting distribution on those. Off Color brewing has some nice stuff.

 

We are lucky here in NYC; we get a lot as of late... some Half Acre, the tallboys. Pipeworks started a year ago and we seem to get most of their releases, the fish-IPAs in bombers are amazing, and Lizard King is a great Mosaic. Marz I will check out for sure. Thanks very much.

 

You may also want to check out the stout of NE IPA thread, depending on your beer taste (to see what just hit). Your best bet to actually buy said beer is Binny's on Grand.

If you can take growlers home (I forget what the regulations are for air travel), I'd grab something from Haymarket, since they make good stuff.