Chicago Area Questions

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Edit: added beeronaut link for events question

 

Answers embedded in quote

 

NG is only sold in Wisconsin.

 

Pipework's Dojo (bottle shop) will most likely have a decent amount of BA beers to choose from.

 

re: #1 - if you are headed to Chicago proper, and not the suburbs, More and Ram are nowhere near you and nowhere near to one another. Downtown -> Ram -> More -> Downtown is easily a couple hours just in travel time plus whatever time you spend there.

 

If More has cans or crowlers available, I would pick up. Doing a good job there.

 

If you get into the city, I would try to hit up Forbidden Root and Corridor for NEIPA's and Pipeworks for their BA beers. If you don't get into the city, then I'm confused. I would also recommend going to Half Acre just because it's Half Acre

I think Saturday is pretty light for any events that I've heard of, so I would recommend going somewhere like Local Option and/or Hopleaf (although I'm sure this will be really busy on a Saturday night).

 

The thing about Chicago and its suburbs is how big of an area it is. Where exactly are you going to be? Give us some specifics and not only will you get the best info, but also you'll probably find at least half a dozen people who will be able to get you some of those New Glarus fruit beers you were asking about.

 

New Glarus doesn't distribute in Illinois. If you really want some AND you're staying in the north or northwest suburbs, Woodman's, in Kenosha, https://www.woodmans-food.com/kenosha is probably your best bet. Whether or not they'll have the fruit beers in stock is unknown. Be forewarned, they don't take credit cards. Follow the link for accepted forms of payment.

 

Those places aren't near each other.

More will have crowlers. No cans for a few weeks. Ram no longer does cans or bottles, now that the head brewer moved on to start More.


If you're going into the city, Forbidden is doing some really good stuff. It's also near Goose Island's Taproom, which is always worth a stop. They have have a few Taproom exclusives and one-offs available. And who knows, sometimes they'll put on BCS variants randomly.

RIP your wallet if you're gonna be ubering from the burbs though.

 

Yes, there are several RAM locations. The Rosemont one is the one you are referring to. There's also Schaumburg and Wheeling. The Schaumburg location was the one with Shaun The Brewer. He is now at More Brewing. RAM is not producing the same quality stuff as when Shaun was around last year. I would not go to any of them if I was you.

 

Correct. That's the one most people think of.

More brewing is in Villa Park, which is in the western suburbs, and not really close to RAM at all.

 

As others have mentioned, it really depends on which suburb you'll be in. Access to the city can vary from El/Metra to better to take an uber.

And, once again, depending on where you are will make different breweries come into play. If you are near RAM (Rosemont) and More in Villa Park, then Mikerphone might also be an option. If you are closer to to More, then Noon Whistle in Lombard might be worth a shot.

 

And as long as you are going to Noon Whistle, there is nothing stopping you from heading south to Alter, and then Myths and Legends, and Miskatonic, and then head east to Imperial Oak, Blue Nose, and Buckledown; or head west to Pollyanna, Metal Monkey, and Werk Force.
If you need more protein the best place for food and beer has to be the Bavarian Lodge. Then you can head west to Solemn Oath, Nevin's, and Hopvine.

I know that this doesn't answer any of your specific questions, but rather I provide it merely to show the plethora of options available.
BA Places is a great resource if you are stuck. Just enter the Illinois city you are in, (Elk Grove Village, Roselle, or Villa Park) going to, (Lombard, Lisle, or Naperville), or want to be, (Lemont, Darien, or Downers Grove).
Alter Brewing, by the way, has an interesting release starting tomorrow.
http://www.alterbrewing.com/ Several iterations on a brown including aged and infused.
Most of all enjoy and pace yourself.
Slainte!

 

Beer Cellar in Glen Ellyn is a solid bottle shop to check out, with some good beers on tap as well. sounds like it will be about 20 min from where you are staying in teh western suburbs. if you end up heading to any of the places mentioned (More, Noon whistle, Alter, Bavarian Lodge etc) you'll be in the area. The suburbs have a lot to offer, probably as much as the city itself in my opinion so have fun! BUT, the downfall is you need to drive so just be careful and have fun.

 

1. Mikerphone Yes. Ram and More No.
2. Never.
3. Dojo for PW's BA Stuff. Most NE stuff is brewery only but you might get lucky with radio swan cans from Forbidden Root.
4. It can probably be found but not worth the $ IMO
5. Not that I can think of.
6. No tappings but plenty of great beer bars.