Ballast Point Chicago - Fulton Market

This Serviceberry IPA, picked fresh from the 606 Trail, tastes even more delicious from the rooftop.

 

I'll be visiting. Say what you will about their adjuncts, VaS is one of the best beers ever brewed.

 

I visited one of the locations a couple years ago. One of the best brewpubs I've ever been to. I early await this.

Hate on the (admittedly) awful fruited pales, but Sculpin, Grapefruit Sculpin, and Grunion are are world class, while Victory at Sea is one of the best beers on the market.

I'm in for Victory variants alone.

 

I am actually excited about this. I will certainly make time to visit if my friends still live in Chicago when it opens.

 

From what I've read and heard, BP is not interested in getting into the price war with Founders and everyone else.

Seems like they just want to have a presence in Chicago where they can have a cool space to experiment.

I'm cool with that. I don't buy a lot of BP stuff because at the price point they use, their stuff just never seems to be that fresh.

But if I'm in the city, I'll probably swing by for a drink or two to see what they're doing

 

Be interested to see what they do. They're in a fairly open territory over there with a lot of stuff near by in an area that is exploding. That place is going to print money.

 

Pretty sure I don't really care about this. I can't remember one BP 6 pack that I ever wanted to buy again. Nothing they do has ever "wowed" me. Sculpin is a fine beer, but there are a lot of other choices I'd rather get, fresher, for much cheaper, that are better. VaS is good, maybe even very good at the pricepoint. I do have to say that Coconut VaS is one of the worst beers I've had in recent memory. Something was off there.

Lastly, I hate corporate double speak, i.e., "This is really about engaging with the people of Chicago and having them experience our beer and creativity," Marty Birkel, president of Ballast Point, said Thursday.' Translation - we need to make a bunch of money and engage with your wallet. Okay, I'm done ranting.

 

Don't think anything wrong w another brew pub around. West Loop area is really nice, lots of cool places. I'll definitely check it out. If you don't like BP for whatever reason nobody is twisting your arm.

 

I have fun checking them out in San Diego I am sure the Chicago version will be nice as well.