Brewery Hopping Road Trip - Advice Needed

You can scratch New Glarus and Surly from your trip as their tap rooms are closed until further notice.

 

What kind of beers do you like? And do you want local only?
When will you be traveling through?
Do you have a budget of what you want to spend?
Chicagoland has an abundance of breweries/bottle shops that you can hit on your way through.
Also Whitefish is the best. My parents live there and I'm jealous daily

 

Appears that your route through the Cleveland area is on interstate 80 (turnpike). You can exit at I-71 and go a few exits north to Fat Heads main brewery. A few good bottle shops in the area as well, still close to the re-entry to the turnpike East. Circle-A is probably the closest, about 10 minutes away.

 

If you are stopping at tapistry, make sure to cross the street and hit Transient also. Both have outdoor space, although I cannot attest to dog friendly.

 

I see Tapistry Brewing on the list in SW Michigan. Right across the street is Transient Artisan Ales. Tapistry's beers are good, but Transient can have some WOW! beers on tap.

If you are detouring into Michigan for Tapistry, consider a bit longer detour to Bell's which is just 2-3 miles off I-94 in Kalamazoo.

 

1. I drove 94 from MI to Chicago 8-10 times a year and never felt the need to stop at Tapistry. Transient might be worth it, but if you simply want to grab a few 4-packs, you can do so without having to detour into MI (see below).

2. Metal Monkey and Oswego Brewing are both pretty far off your route, but I can't comment on whether it's worth it because I've never had an Oswego beer and my only experience with MM has been at a few festivals.

I assume you mean I-294 rather than I-290. If you're stopping at 3 Floyds, you'll be closer to 94, and bypassing the city on 294 will probably be a more pleasant experience than dealing with traffic. Honestly, if you're not having a beer and just grabbing some to-go beers, you might be better off placing a curbside order with The Open Bottle in Tinley Park. It's like 10-15 minutes down I-80, so you can easily pop back onto 294. They have a really good selection, including a lot of Transient's beers, along with Hazy IPAs from Hop Butcher, MoRE, Phase Three, Riverlands, etc.

If you want to maximize variety, Beer on the Wall in Park Ridge isn't too far from 294 and all the beers in their online store are priced by the can/bottle. Their selection is more limited than Open Bottle, but you're also able to try more individual beers without having to commit to 64-72oz sight unseen. It's a nice mix of Chicagoland staples and some of the more in-demand breweries.

 

I see you're going through Akron and you have 2 of the younger breweries on there. If you don't want to stop at the older Hoppin Frog (you can order curbside pickup from them), or Thirsty Dog, I'd recommend Magic City, R Shea or Missing Mountain instead. They're also some of the younger ones, but better quality beers than the 2 you have listed IMO. All 3 do quality hazy IPAs. Magic City won't have cans but does crowlers, and is the cooler place to hang out indoors, although R Shea's Canal Place is inside the remains of a BF Goodrich plant and is pretty cool to visit also (and very large too). However Missing Mountain has a really nice patio overlooking the river.

 

Is 3 Floyds open now? Or is it just the kiosk for beer sales?

 

When I've driven that way, I try to stop in Pittsburgh, go to Dancing Gnome and Brew Gentlemen. Out east, I'd definitely make it point to go through Hudson Valley in Beacon and Saurez in Hudson (if you can go up the river a bit), then maybe OEC in CT.

 

Just curbside, orders must be placed online, do not exit your vehicle, if you do they'll have to burn the whole place to the ground (again)*.


*long-running "joke"...perhaps a bit too long but the curbside/online part is true.

 

Bell's is one of my favorite breweries to visit, something to consider if you have time for a detour, or on a future trip. https://www.bellsbeer.com/eccentric-cafe

In Chicago, there are two central spots you should consider:

Far North Side - Half Acre / Spiteful Brewing / Dovetail: Half Acre and Spiteful are located next to each other, both have outdoor seating and beer to go. Dovetail offers the same, a few miles SE. You would take Lake Shore Drive to Foster and go a few miles West. Not hard to get back on the Kennedy (just after Central on Foster).

Belmont Exit on the Kennedy (90/94) - Revolution Brewery, The Beer Temple, Kuma's Corner All three are all near the Belmont Kennedy exit. The Brewery is closed, but open for to go online orders. Beer Temple has great beers across all styles. Kuma's has great burgers and beer, you can place an order for pick up as well. Street parking not bad (Beer Temple has a lot in the back).

Indiana - Three Floyds and 18th Street worth a stop for pick up only. Madison WI has some good options as well, may want to search for the thread in the Great Lakes forum.

 

I see you have a brewery near Fargo on there and not sure if it's Junkyard Brewing or not, but if it isn't, it should be. I've driven through and it was a great stop, not too far off the highway and great beer. No clue if they're open or not with COVID but definitely stop if they are.

 

Central Waters will be a bit out of your way. If you’re going the week of the 19th (Weekend after black gold sale) they’ll probably have the left over black golds for sale. Otherwise if you’re not looking to drink there most of their beers can be had at any beer shop or grocery store in Wisconsin. They do have spaced out door seating occasionally will have a food truck there, usually on the weekends but other wise no kitchen or anything.

 

OP, if you end up planning a stop at Bell's check out their website or social media for their hours. They are limited because of COVID and outdoor only for now. The General Store has longer hours than the Café but check them too.

 

I live in the Chicago 'burbs and travel to WI, IA, and MN frequently. Based on your route, here are my MUST stops if you have time - in order of coming back from MN:
-Twin Cities have SO many great breweries - see the Midwest Forum and the threads there for the latest & greatest on tap.
-Twin Cities has a chain of great stores called Total Wine - HUGE selection - can always find something there you will want
-Historic Casanova Liquor in Hudson, WI near the WI/MN border - very close to the highway... there are beers on draft and growler fills too in the 'Nova, the restaurant on the other side of the store.
-Brewing Projekt brewery in Eau Claire, WI - 11min off highway... many great beers, but you can get their cans in stores in WI and MN
-Showboat Saloon in Wisconsin Dells, WI - <10min off highway... 24 beers on draft and always big winners - HALF PRICE Taps Monday through Friday until 6pm, and $3 all day Sunday
-Octopi Brewing north of Madison, WI... great selection of beers on draft and To Go, especially of Untitled Art beers which are brewed there.
-Madison, WI stores would be Steve's on University and any Woodman's Grocery. Great selection of the top beers, and don't forget some great beers from Nashville are now distributed to WI from Bearded Iris Brewing and Southern Grist Brewing.
-Best chain liquor store in Chicago area is Binny's - stop in at any one close to wherever you decide to get off the highway
-In the Chicago area there are some great stores that have many beers on draft as well, just like The Open Bottle that was mentioned. In Chicago there is the Beer Temple, with many great breweries around the area, and other bottle shops, which is the way I would go.
GOOD LUCK!