Chicago Help Needed

joeyknuckles · Dec 21, 2017

Get the burger at loyalist in Fulton market. Dare I say better than au cheval? Me thinks so

jlsims04 · Dec 21, 2017

ravens_wood said: ↑

Good choice on the location as a resident of the neighborhood you're staying in.

You are very near Chicago's "Malt Row". It's a recent gimmicky rebranding of a 2-3 mile stretch from Montrose to Balmoral where you have a cluster of 6-7 breweries/taprooms: Half Acre x2, Empirical, Begyle, Dovetail, Band of Bohemia, Spiteful and a distillery (Koval).

None of these breweries specialize/excel in hazy or sour beers. Empirical and Begyle beers are OK but the taprooms are enjoyable. Standard no frills set up with BYOF. Dovetail is your call if you're hankering for German style beers. Spiteful just opened their taproom and it's right next door to Half Acre-Balmoral. You can two birds one stone. Half Acre has an excellent hazy-ish West Coast DIPA on tap called Sailor's Kush. It's awesome. The food at Half Acre is weird. Band of Bohemia is a Michelin-starred brewpub. If you're looking for a celebratory meal this could be an option. The food is moreso the star than the beer.

As mentioned by posters Corridor is the closest for hazy NEIPAs. Good food too. Forbidden Root is a hike if you have time to dick around. Plenty of tasty NEIPAs on the taplist. Good food as well.

For sours you'll have better luck in bars: Fountainhead, Green Lady (very close to Corridor), Little Bad Wolf and Hopleaf (supposedly great food but I haven't really enjoyed it during my visits). All are within a 3 mile radius of where you're staying.

There are plenty of cheap good eats nearby your're AirBnB if your beer consumption is denting the trip budget

Carmela’s Taqueria
Chuki's Tacos (my favorite - al pastor burrito ~$7)
Pokiology (Poke in a Chipotle format ~$15 a meal)
Ba Le Sandwich (vietnamese)
Hot G Dog (successor to Hot Doug's - unique hot dogs)

Somewhat near Green Lady/Corridor is a grease joint Red Hot Ranch - Ashland. A few people have mentioned Au Cheval or Kuma's Corner for great burgers. Go here instead for a burger 95% as good as Au Cheval but without the hipster wait and hassle. Cheap too. It's somewhat similar to an In 'n Out Burger if you're a fan.
Click to expand...

Ummm Half Acre is brewing the best sours in the city currently and have one for onsite! FYI.

jlsims04 · Dec 21, 2017

ravens_wood said: ↑

Good choice on the location as a resident of the neighborhood you're staying in.

You are very near Chicago's "Malt Row". It's a recent gimmicky rebranding of a 2-3 mile stretch from Montrose to Balmoral where you have a cluster of 6-7 breweries/taprooms: Half Acre x2, Empirical, Begyle, Dovetail, Band of Bohemia, Spiteful and a distillery (Koval).

None of these breweries specialize/excel in hazy or sour beers. Empirical and Begyle beers are OK but the taprooms are enjoyable. Standard no frills set up with BYOF. Dovetail is your call if you're hankering for German style beers. Spiteful just opened their taproom and it's right next door to Half Acre-Balmoral. You can two birds one stone. Half Acre has an excellent hazy-ish West Coast DIPA on tap called Sailor's Kush. It's awesome. The food at Half Acre is weird. Band of Bohemia is a Michelin-starred brewpub. If you're looking for a celebratory meal this could be an option. The food is moreso the star than the beer.

As mentioned by posters Corridor is the closest for hazy NEIPAs. Good food too. Forbidden Root is a hike if you have time to dick around. Plenty of tasty NEIPAs on the taplist. Good food as well.

For sours you'll have better luck in bars: Fountainhead, Green Lady (very close to Corridor), Little Bad Wolf and Hopleaf (supposedly great food but I haven't really enjoyed it during my visits). All are within a 3 mile radius of where you're staying.

There are plenty of cheap good eats nearby your're AirBnB if your beer consumption is denting the trip budget

Carmela’s Taqueria
Chuki's Tacos (my favorite - al pastor burrito ~$7)
Pokiology (Poke in a Chipotle format ~$15 a meal)
Ba Le Sandwich (vietnamese)
Hot G Dog (successor to Hot Doug's - unique hot dogs)

Somewhat near Green Lady/Corridor is a grease joint Red Hot Ranch - Ashland. A few people have mentioned Au Cheval or Kuma's Corner for great burgers. Go here instead for a burger 95% as good as Au Cheval but without the hipster wait and hassle. Cheap too. It's somewhat similar to an In 'n Out Burger if you're a fan.
Click to expand...

Green Lady is a fantastic rec though.

ravens_wood · Dec 21, 2017

jlsims04 said: ↑

Ummm Half Acre is brewing the best sours in the city currently and have one for onsite! FYI.
Click to expand...

Ah, gotcha. I went to Balmoral on Sunday and the list was mostly APA, IPA, DIPA, and Big Hugs+Variants.

Had no idea Half Acre is doing well in the sour game.

jlsims04 · Dec 21, 2017

ravens_wood said: ↑

Ah, gotcha. I went to Balmoral on Sunday and the list was mostly APA, IPA, DIPA, and Big Hugs+Variants.

Had no idea Half Acre is doing well in the sour game.
Click to expand...

They released 2 earlier this year and then the newst one on site only. All have been fantastic.

NCbeer · Dec 26, 2017

These recommendations look incredible. Thank you very much.

eppCOS · Dec 27, 2017

Gawd, it's been a week back in CO and I already miss these places...
Loyalist, eh? +1 to the next-Chi-visit list.

NCbeer · Dec 29, 2017

Corridor was incredible for beers and lunch.

Chicago Help Needed

joeyknuckles Zealot (529) Apr 27, 2014 Illinois
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jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

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ravens_wood Crusader (406) Dec 21, 2017 Illinois

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eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado
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Chicago Help Needed

joeyknuckles Zealot (529) Apr 27, 2014 Illinois Trader

jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

ravens_wood Crusader (406) Dec 21, 2017 Illinois

jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

NCbeer Devotee (381) Sep 6, 2012 North Carolina

eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

NCbeer Devotee (381) Sep 6, 2012 North Carolina

joeyknuckles Zealot (529) Apr 27, 2014 Illinois
Trader

eppCOS Grand Pooh-Bah (4,570) Jun 27, 2015 Colorado
BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah