Chicago Area Beer Trip

I would recommend you check out the threads in the Great Lakes forums. I know it's been asked many times. I did when I went up there this past Spring.

 

Hopefully this gets moved to the Great Lakes forum and/or merged with an existing thread there.

I think you're missing out on Greenbush, which is in Sawyer, MI, right on your way to Grand Rapids. Also possible are Odd Side, Perrin, and Vivant, all three of which are also in Grand Rapids. You could also hit Lagunitas taproom in Chicago.

Bottle shops you should hit in Chicago include Beer Temple, West Lakeview, Puerto Rico, and, of course, Binny's Lincoln Park.

Good places to eat with good taplists include Bad Apple (right next to Half Acre), Kuma's Corner, and Longman and Eagle.

 

Oddside is located in Grand Haven along with the recently opened Grand Armoury brewery. Might as well hit the Livery and New Holland as well if going to the lakeshore

 

Eh, I figured it was close enough. Since he's from Texas, it would seem he doesn't get up here much and would wanna maximize his visits.

I would avoid New Holland if I were OP because I think they're mediocre at best (there's a mediocre brewery for you for the other thread!), but you're right, it is worthy of mentioning that OP could go there if he decided to head out that way.

I haven't heard of Livery or Grand Armoury, so I'm gonna put them on my list to check out. Thanks!

 

lol...that's crazy! I was just about go back to the 'mediocre' thread and nominate new holland. I really enjoy some of their brews but they don't get a lot of love on BA or even Michigan for that matter.

 

If yer driving on I-80.....get of at Harlem and find yer way over to Hailstorm.

 

I think with the very limited time you have the breweries that you've listed are more than enough for a 24 hour trip. Considering the drive from Chicago to GR is about 3 hours without traffic, I'd say you have your work cut out for you as it is (especially if plan on having multiple beers at each location). Also, plan on a wait at FFF which will also cut into your time.

 

Binny's is always an obvious choice, but I'd gotta throw Craft Beer Temple into the plan. Excellent choices and THE best staff!

 

If you've only got 24 hours the choices you've made in your first post should serve you well enough. Enjoy!

 

Lagunitas and Goose Island. GI really impressed me with the quality of their taproom only beers

 

Bottles & Cans is a great bottleshop just down the street from Half Acre.

Westlakeview Liquors and The Beer Temple are two great stores which are more or less in between Half Acre and Revolution, so I would hit one or both of those. That should cover it for bottleshops unless you want to hit Binny's, the best one is in Lincoln Park on Marcey St right next to the Goose Island Brewpub.

There are more places along the way in Michican, but it sounds like you have plenty of places to go already. The Livery in Benton Harbor has a big event going on this weekend with bottles releases, so if you want something special opt for that instead of Greenbush. Greenbush is the most convenient though, it is right off the highway. But I would not stop there if it means missing out on Bell's or Founders.

If you find you have more time in Grand Rapids after Founders I would check out Hop Cat and/or Brewery Vivant.

 

My wife and I waited 30-45 minutes at FFF on a Wednesday night about 5:30. Just sayin'