I'm running the Chicago Marathon in a little less than two weeks. Looking for some advice on places to visit while I'm in town. I've never been to Chicago before, I know they are a lot of highly rated local breweries, and a different distro than we get in MA. I'm staying on the Magnificent Mile. I was thinking of trying to hit Pipeworks. I'd love to find somewhere with a great draft list of local stuff, so I can try them a lot with out having to bounce around too much. Also looking for a good bottle shop, so I can bring some home. And I feel like I gotta have a deep dish pizza while I'm in Chicago, so I'd appreciate any advice there.
Pipeworks doesn't have a taproom. Best bottle shops are Binny's Lincoln Park, The Beer Temple and West Lakeview Liquors. Deep dish...why not just ask about politics?! I love Lou Malnati's personally, but there are plenty of good options. If you search the GL forum, or just scroll through 2-3 pages of threads, you'll find plenty more advice.
Quoted because this would've been my abbreviated answer, almost verbatim. Lou's is probably my favorite deep dish, although there are a lot of great options. Gino's is also really good (I hate sausage on my pizza, but they've got pretty phenomenal sausage), but really, there are places all over the city with great options (D'Agostino's near Wrigley, Pequod's closer to DePaul, etc.). OP, if you're staying on Michigan Ave., you're going to be closer to Binny's on Grand. It's one of the smaller Binny's (although that's not saying much). There's also Warehouse Liquors and Printer's Row Wine in the Loop. If you can get out of that area, though, I'd still recommend going with the original 3 options (LP Binny's, WLV, Beer Temple). Also of note (I mention this all the time, as do others)--If you go to LP Binny's, they've not only got a great tap room (you can drink while shopping, which is a bonus), but right across from them is GI Clybourn, which is also worth a stop.
Thanks guys. I'm gonna have to try LP Binny's. The idea of drinking while shopping sounds amazing, we don't have places like that in MA.
having just stopped in from another outsiders perspective - I'd say definitely hit up Local Option, a quick easy walk from the train. Another spot I hit, that's not quite as easy to get to, but absolutely worth it in my opinion is Jerry's in Andersonville. Great vibe, EXCELLENT tap list, small well-curated bottle selection. I didn't have food, but it looked amazing.
