Chicago Area's Under The Radar Breweries & Beers

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

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  1. Jordy777

    Jordy777 Pundit (966) Apr 19, 2013 Illinois
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    Vice district brewing Pleasure Trip is a favorite of mine for under the radar.
     
    #61 Jordy777, Jun 14, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2015
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  2. nickMB

    nickMB Savant (1,130) Nov 17, 2009 Illinois
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    wow, two nods for middle brow, thanks gents. under the radar....marz, imperial oak, noon whistle, one trick pony, aquanaut, rude hippo & werk force.
     
    #62 nickMB, Jun 14, 2015
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  3. gcg49

    gcg49 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2014 Texas

    Lots of good mentions in this topic. My top 3 Chicago breweries that aren't already huge are probably Pipeworks, Off Color, and Spiteful. Pipeworks is expanding as we speak and has national recognition so I'll take them off the table as "under the radar". Off Color is just starting to see some name recognition (Dino Smores, JK colab) and sees fairly widespread release in the Chicago area (even in grocery stores) so my vote goes to Spiteful. These guys are making really solid stouts/porters and IPAs.
     
    #63 gcg49, Jun 14, 2015
  4. edmaher

    edmaher Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2008 Illinois

    Spiteful all the way. Their IPA is my favorite in chicago.
     
    #64 edmaher, Jun 15, 2015
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  5. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
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    Hate to spoil it for all the Chicago area folks...but Spiteful actually IS known outside the region. Maybe my radar is just high fidelity. ;-)
     
    #65 Kurmaraja, Jun 15, 2015
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  6. makisupapolice14

    makisupapolice14 Pundit (799) Jun 5, 2005 New York

    Which of these actually have tasting rooms you can visit? Heading to Chicago for a week starting July 1 and staying in Logan sq near the blue line. Would love to visit a few
     
    #66 makisupapolice14, Jun 25, 2015
  7. Purp1eOne

    Purp1eOne Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2010 Illinois

    Piece Brewery and Pizzeria and Solemn Oath
     
    #67 Purp1eOne, Jun 27, 2015
  8. ditka311

    ditka311 Crusader (442) Aug 22, 2009 Illinois

    Just had a The Machine. I agree with this. Really good and will be seeking out more.
     
    #68 ditka311, Jun 27, 2015
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  9. highlifeman1

    highlifeman1 Initiate (0) Oct 26, 2014 Illinois

    ale syndicate 51stWard,buckledown,hailstorm,solemn oath,5 rabbit
     
    #69 highlifeman1, Jun 27, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2015
  10. ditka311

    ditka311 Crusader (442) Aug 22, 2009 Illinois

    Hailstorm is my local favorite at the moment. Partially because growler fills are about 10 min away.
     
    #70 ditka311, Jun 27, 2015
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  11. KrajDoesBeer

    KrajDoesBeer Savant (1,228) Aug 2, 2014 Illinois
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    Spiteful IPAs and some Stouts, Porters- problem is they do some crazy stuff you may waste money on. Off Color has some nice Farmhouse Ale style stuff, 5 rabbits is solid, Destihl for sure with their sour/Gose line. Brickstone seems to be blowing up but I havent been able to try it myself. I dont think many of the smaller brewries have hit home runs with IPAs. thats my opinion and i would love to be proven wrong.
     
    #71 KrajDoesBeer, Jun 29, 2015
  12. sefus12

    sefus12 Pundit (938) Sep 7, 2006 Wisconsin
    Trader

    After another weekend trip to Chicago, I'm back to officially say that Pollyanna is absolutely worth the 30 mile trip out of downtown. The brewpub is beautiful, the staff/owners are nice as can be, and the beer is delicious. Their IPA (Lexical gap) and the Nitro Porter were both top-notch and the summer beers they had on (two berliners, two hefes, and a raspberry wheat) are perfect accompaniments for some afternoon-patio sitting on their deck. Highly, highly recommended.

    I also second the person that noted Piece. The best pizza I've had in town (their thin-crust is more my style) and solid beer as well.
     
    #72 sefus12, Jun 29, 2015
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  13. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
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    I haven't had a really good beer from Ale Syndicate; decent, but not good or great. Ditto on 51st Ward. Recommendations?

    Hailstorm struck me as sometimes trying too hard and needing to polish up some beers. Many were overly sweet or had some sort of obvious flaw (based on my fisit at their 1st anniversary). They had promise, but they're nothing more than a good local brewery at this point IMHO.

    5 Rabbit seems to make a lot of really competent, well-brewed beers. But none really strike me as "wow" beers. Perhaps they're not going for that and prefer to make stuff that's more mellow, easy drinking, that goes great with food. Again, if I'm missing something, happy to hear recommendations.
     
    #73 Kurmaraja, Jun 30, 2015
  14. KeithE

    KeithE Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Illinois

    #74 KeithE, Jun 30, 2015
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  15. darkwing1

    darkwing1 Zealot (586) May 13, 2013 Illinois
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    Spiteful, although not completely under the radar.
     
    #75 darkwing1, Jun 30, 2015
  16. twb0392

    twb0392 Initiate (0) Aug 1, 2014 Wisconsin

    Emmet's victory pale ale is really solid (I've had it mostly in West Dundee).
     
    #76 twb0392, Jun 30, 2015
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  17. KeithE

    KeithE Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Illinois

    #77 KeithE, Jul 1, 2015
  18. robgutie

    robgutie Initiate (0) May 2, 2014 Illinois

    #78 robgutie, Jul 5, 2015
  19. Kurmaraja

    Kurmaraja Initiate (0) May 21, 2013 California
    Trader

    This weekend I visited Imperial Oak. Unfortunately, no BA beers on tap - seems they have a pretty decent barrel program - but I was impressed with their stuff. Did tasters of 4 beers and all were solid: a gose with kaffir lime leaf that had a pretty great floral element to it; an imperial porter, Double Dee's, that was roasty, thick; an IPA with Mandarina Bavaria hops which I'm really digging (also used in Surly's Bitter Brewer this year); and a hoppy saison.

    They do crowlers of all beer. Definitely recommend visiting.
     
    #79 Kurmaraja, Jul 6, 2015
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