Chicago Area's Under The Radar Breweries & Beers

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by Kurmaraja, Jun 4, 2015.

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  1. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
    Trader

    I recently relocated from the pacific northwest. That forum recently had a great thread about under the radar breweries in the pacific region. I'd love to get a conversation like that rolling here.

    I knew Half Acre, Revolution, Pipeworks, 3 Floyds, 18th Street, even Transient. But I've been surpised by how many breweries there were that I'd never heard of. In retrospect, I shouldn't have been, it's sort of the nature of the exploding beer universe. And while few have consistently blown me away, there have been quite a few that have surprised me at least once: Marz, Begyle, Une Anee, DryHop, Imperial Oak, Pollyanna, One Trick Pony, Slapshot, Hailstorm, 350, Burn'em (if you call that Chicago area), etc.

    So, which breweries are doing good work and not getting the attention?

    And, since it's impossible to drink everything, what are the great beers popping up by breweries that are either otherwise forgetable or not known for killer beer?
     
    #1 Kurmaraja, Jun 4, 2015
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  2. makisupapolice14

    makisupapolice14 Pundit (799) Jun 5, 2005 New York

    I'm also curious. Headed there for a trip in July and staying in Logan sq. What are the must do lesser known smaller breweries ? Looking for some spots with easy access to the train. I've done piece, revolution, Haymarket, and half acre.
     
    #2 makisupapolice14, Jun 5, 2015
  3. bosoroni

    bosoroni Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2007 Illinois

    SlapShot & Mikerphone brewing. Showing up in 24oz big ass cans
     
    #3 bosoroni, Jun 5, 2015
  4. Spinaltapped

    Spinaltapped Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2013 Illinois

    I had Pander Bear by Motor Row at Sunday Funday and was VERY pleasantly surprised.

    I'm a bit biased, but I think Haymarket is the next brewery in the area that is about to blow up. I had a lot of their barrel aged beers during mini-FOBAB and was extremely impressed. I also think that Mathias is one of the best IPAs in Chicago and their recent experiments into new styles (for them) (their red pale ale Jananna Dance and hefeweizen Banana Hammock are great).
     
    #4 Spinaltapped, Jun 5, 2015
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  5. mush

    mush Pundit (959) Dec 25, 2013 Illinois

    Ctrl+f Destihl
    Not found?!
     
    #5 mush, Jun 5, 2015
  6. Kevin-1989

    Kevin-1989 Crusader (418) Oct 4, 2014 Illinois

    Middlebrow - who's that girl?

    I thought it was better than a lot of BA sours that get international attention. Happy to be part of their distro.
     
    #6 Kevin-1989, Jun 5, 2015
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  7. Jaywalsh20

    Jaywalsh20 Pooh-Bah (2,212) Apr 21, 2014 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hailstorm outside of the barel age stuff has been kind of mediocre. One Trick Pony is really good. I would also add Spiteful to the list, doing good work with their IPA's, BuckleDown as well.
     
    #7 Jaywalsh20, Jun 5, 2015
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  8. CNRowland

    CNRowland Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2015 Illinois

    Anyone else made it to Breakroom Brewery yet? Been couple times now and really digging it.
     
    #8 CNRowland, Jun 5, 2015
  9. cetherid

    cetherid Savant (1,105) Aug 23, 2010 Indiana

    Four Fathers in Valpo is pretty underrated. Their Barrel Aged Wheelhouse was pretty comparable to KBS and their first batch RadioAction (before the recipe was tweaked and put into bottles) was honestly one of the greatest DIPAs I've ever hard from a Chicagoland brewery. The beer tasted like it came out of a Hill Farmstead growler.
     
    #9 cetherid, Jun 5, 2015
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  10. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    I'll never tell!!!
     
    #10 mychalg9, Jun 5, 2015
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  11. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
    Trader

    The trick seems to be finding ones with taprooms - I was really surprised how few breweries have tap rooms. My experience so far is limited but places I know have tap rooms that seem worth the visit (assuming you're staying in Chicago and can't get to the burbs where a lot of the new brewery action seems to be happening):

    DryHop (does a lot of collaboration beers)
    Breakroom
    Begyle
    Atlas (sort of meh)

    Not sure of others. I know Maria's Packaged Goods usually has some Marz beers on tap.
     
    #11 Kurmaraja, Jun 5, 2015
  12. wyckyd_sceptre

    wyckyd_sceptre Initiate (0) Oct 26, 2013 Pennsylvania

    I've had a few beers from Marz and I've been pleasantly surprised. The Double Jungle Boogie is awesome and the Duchess de Bridgeport was a nice (kinda) Flemish Red.
     
    #12 wyckyd_sceptre, Jun 5, 2015
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  13. MNPikey

    MNPikey Pooh-Bah (1,693) Feb 27, 2011 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Marz
    Buckle Down
    Slapshot
    Piece
    Dryhop
     
    #13 MNPikey, Jun 5, 2015
  14. Bearshawks85

    Bearshawks85 Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2014 Illinois

    51st Ward Beer Company
     
    #14 Bearshawks85, Jun 5, 2015
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  15. aussiebeer

    aussiebeer Savant (1,209) Oct 23, 2013 Illinois

    Alarmist
    Pipeworks
    Buckledown
    Imperial Oak
    Exit Strategy
    Solemn Oath
    Noon Whistle
     
    #15 aussiebeer, Jun 5, 2015
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  16. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Metropolitan turns out some nice lagers.

    Never been but got a friend that swears by Horse Thief Hollow.
     
    #16 spicoli00, Jun 5, 2015
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  17. beergurujr

    beergurujr Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2003 Illinois

    Say it, bro! Scorched Earth- all the stuff coming out of that unique open fermenter!

    Also Crystal Lake's game is up; got a growler of their Maibock last night. 8% abv of lagered Germanic happiness.
     
    #17 beergurujr, Jun 5, 2015
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  18. rabbitguy

    rabbitguy Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2009 Illinois

    Slap Shot and Imperial Oak and many other Illinois breweries will be at the 2nd Annual Morton Arboretum Craft Beer Festival on Saturday June 6th, 2015.
     
    #18 rabbitguy, Jun 5, 2015
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  19. jsrose16

    jsrose16 Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2014 Illinois

    Penrose, Solemn Oath, Marz - Although the cat is out of the bag on some of these.
     
    #19 jsrose16, Jun 5, 2015
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  20. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    I'll have to try to hit CL sometime soon.
     
    #20 mychalg9, Jun 5, 2015
    beergurujr likes this.
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