2019 Visiting Chicagoland Resource Thread

Great thread!

Coming from Iowa this weekend-can take 80 or 88 doesn't matter to me. What are the best options for stopping along one of those routes to grab beers to go? Hazy IPAs/Porters/Stouts. Are there breweries or bottle shops you would suggest that would be close and convienent? I'll have the wife and kids and I want to maximize my stops! TIA and Cheers!

 

Binny’s in Naperville is close to 88 and has a really good selection.

 

Off of 80, Crafted 1979 in Mokena and the Open Bottle in Tinley Park are both fantastic bottle shops right off of the interstate.

 

Yeah, open bottle is literally right there. Good point. and a better option if he wants singles of anything.

 

Dark matter has a variety all the time. Passion house, metropolis, metric all sell cans or bottles too.

 

Stopped in The Open Bottle, thank you all a ton for the suggestions! Nice bottle shop and they had everything local that I was looking for. Cheers!

 

Dark Matter recently opened Chocolate City Bodega at 2015 W Grand. You can get cold brew to go in cans, bombers or on tap. They always have a few different varieties available.

 

Noted! Thank you. This is perfect.

 

Other Recommended Breweries & Brewpubs – Suburbs & Northwest Indiana
-350 Brewing
Highly Recommended Bottle Shops – Suburbs & Northwest Indiana
-Crafted 1979

Fair enough to add these I think, yes?

 

This is a great resource! I am visiting Chicago this Friday through Monday. Going to attend Wicker Park Fest on Saturday night and deciding whether or not to catch Jawbox at the Metro or Superchunk at Wicker Park Fest on Sunday.

I also saw there is a Friday Night Flights on, can you believe it, Friday night. Some participating breweries have been recommended here, but is it worth it? Has anyone been to one of these? Should I skip this and hit up Malt Row on another day/night?

Also any thoughts on Wicker Park Fest? Cheap to get in but is it a mess? Any thoughts on where to get a beer in Wicker Park?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

I went to FNF last year and thought it was definitely worth it. If nothing else, it'll give you an idea of whether or not to dive into any of the breweries a little deeper on Saturday or Sunday.

 

I vote to ban the term Malt Row....what a stupid marketing gimmick. If it continues I'm going to rebrand the collective area of Munster, IN, Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI as Malt City....

 

If the weather is good, WPF is a lot of fun. Great people-watching, good music, may be a bit crowded. I might try to see Superchunk, too.

Links taproom, bangers and lace, Map Room are all good for a beer around there. Goose Clybourn is across the river. Goose Fulton is an easy bus ride down Damen or Ashland. Middlebrow is easy to get to.

Enjoy!

 

Thanks for the feedback! I think it sounds like a great event, I just didn’t want to get there and it end up being too overcrowded and breweries running out of beer early. I think we will give it a go.

 

Ha! Noted. I will make sure to only use that term if I wish to annoy someone.

 

WPF has a great lineup. Didn’t even realize it was happening before I bought plane tickets. Just lucked into it and Superchunk is one of my favorite bands. I’m also excited for Durand Jones and the Indications and Open Mike Eagle.

Thanks for the advice on the best spots in the WP area! This will absolutely come in handy. I’m sure the beers in the Fest will be pricey so drinking beforehand is a must.

 

For those spying/monitoring this thread, have there been any notable "shifts" in the must-visits?
I'll be back in Chicago in mid-August for Big North (HA) and plan on the usual stops:
HA (both)
Spiteful
Corridor
Dovetail
maybe Forbidden Root
... then my awareness of what's worth visiting declines severely. Off Color seems like a logical addition, but any of the others worth doing? I'll be limited to public transport and some occasional Lyfts.
Marz?
Lagunitas?
Around the Bend?
just trying to make a solid plan...

 

I mean, must visit is completely subjective. But based on your list, I don’t think much has changed. I would add Metropolitan, maybe they’ll have their riverside patio built out by then?

 

Hi all, really appreciate the awesome info in the thread. I'll be in town this weekend for a bachelor party, staying near Forbidden Root. Is there a good bottle shop/grocery store around where I can stock up on some cans? Pipeworks doesn't seem too far, but we won't have a car.