Chicago Brew tour -suggestions?

No need to apologize! Eat (and drink!) what you like!

But did you Revolution's pizza menu? Fair enough, you don't see duck confit with ginger maple syrup too often -- but I don't think they would stop you if you just wanted sausage or pepperoni (though, their Smokestack is amazing). And like Monsone said, a lot of their sandwiches are solid (I prefer the corned beef reuben to the workingman burger). Goose's menu reads a little more ambitious but I don't think they execute as well as Revolution. And for thin crust in Chicago, few places do it better than Piece (I make sure to order the pizzas 'extra crispy'/well done, though, but that's just my preference). Also, for Haymarket -- I was an early, and frequent, critic of their food but I stopped in last weekend and it was much improved. I stuck to buffalo chicken legs (a great idea) and a pretzel but the whole menu looked a lot better than in the past.

As for prices... don't forget, too, that in Illinois, we have this thing known as "sales tax" -- you folks from Indiana just wouldn't understand!

 

At the Revolution Brewery, how many samples do you get?

 

Hello. I love Piece, and will only sit at the bar, however long we have to wait. And keep in mind they do serve smaller pours- just ask. Thanks.

 

I think only one ~5oz. pour at the start of the tour (tour guide's choice, best I can tell). The handful of times I've been there when a tour concludes... no, I don't recall seeing them get another sample.

 

Can u buy beer there or anything or do you have to go to the brewpub? Thanks for the info

 

The brewery has a ton of taps for on-site consumption in a spacious, comfortable bar area (no guest taps; no casks; no food) as well as six-packs/bombers/cases/kegs of whatever they still have stock of at the time -- case prices for bombers are pretty sweet (bottle price x10 -- you get 2 free bottles!). Prices tend to be $1-2 cheaper than the MSRP.

 

at the rev taproom (don't think you can get cans/bottles to go at the pub) the 6 packs are $9 which is better than pretty much any store in chicago.

 

Piece Pizza is stellar, and The Weight is on par with Zombie Dust...also Revolution's food is top notch, Hay Market's is so-so. Or, if you are really into Pizza, head over to Revolution, get some brews, then walk around the corner to the Boiler Room and get a slice and they usually have some really nice beers on tap (Founders Backwoods Bastard last time I was there).

 

Grab a Pipeworks while in town. No tap room yet, but their beers will compete with all of these....and plenty of options

 

Kinda curious as to how your all-day all-brewery/brewpub tour went. We don't often get people attempting something quite so ambitious! Well, not that we hear about on the boards here, at any rate.

 

Looks like everything was covered. A friend of mine and I did the same thing last year and hit all the places. It was a great trip. Not sure if it is on your agenda but, if you can, go have a beer or three at the Map Room. Not a brewery but a beer bar. Great list, great atmosphere and great beer selection.