Chicago Itinerary

Ding, ding, ding. Rossi's was really good the last time I wound up there. [I didn't fit the dress code for Untitled, even on burlesque night. ] It is difficult to tell; but it just might have something intriguing on tap when you go there. Maybe it will have actually swapped out a handle for another bridge beer.
Old Town Alehouse is absolutely superb. But - you might encounter a few more hipsters here than in the past since it was shown on Esquire Network's "Best Bars in America" show. Give it the shot anyhow.
You want a 4 AM bar? Even though it ground me out, I will still recommend Exit @ 1315 W North Ave. There's a 24-hour bus route back from there even if you close it down. The beers on the 1st floor are better than the ones on the 2nd. If you go, seek out Donna or Frenchie (bartenders ~ you deviates ).

 

Try to find Vallejo (Half Acre) and 1Z Enuff (Revolution) either in cans or on tap and see if Half Acre has any Beer Hates Astronauts, likely only on tap while you're in town. Pipeworks Crimson Snapper is also around and comes highly recommended, but it might be harder to find.

Happy hunting...

 

All should be readily available anywhere that doesn't look like they'd sell 40s, and some of those places should have'em too. Snapper might be a bit more difficult.

 

Usually you can find those beers from smaller out of the way places. Most people won't even say where they get them otherwise the competition will be too much. I bought Pipeworks Killer Queen and Half Acre Galactic Double Daisy Cutter long after it was sold out at most places by knowing where to go. I got lucky when 1Z Enuff came out and bought most of what my local liqour store got from their distributor because they were putting prices on it when i was there and I figured out it was going to comparable to Unsessionable because the way it was labeled. Now I just need to figure out where to find Crimson Snapper...

 

Check beermenus. I'm out in the 'burbs so it's a bit of a different game, but Vallejo and 1Z Enuff have been really easy to find. The other two are far more limited and will be more difficult to find, but I wanted to plant a bug in your ear case you're out and happen to see either one.

 

Check out Madison Vine Wines near Viaggio, it's literally a couple doors down.

Primarily a wine shop, but they have a small but respectable selection of beer, I've found some good FFF bombers and limited Founders stuff there before. (Haven't been there in almost a year so hopefully this is still the case).

 

I found plenty of killer queen last week at bottles n cans, near half acre