I'm going to be in Chicago with my co-workers for training after New Years. While everyone is still in the researching phase of where to take the group, can someone please recommend where I can take some friends thats well situated within the city for great beer. Perhaps a bottle shop within the city so I can bring some stuff home. In addition: what should I be looking for in Chicago? I'm sure Prop is well well well gone. Is there anywhere I can find the BC Variants on tap? Any tips on how to beer explore the city is welcome with limited time.
There are a ton of threads on Chicago recs. Here are some recent ones: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/weekend-in-chicago-april-2015.230678/ http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/union-station-chicago-whats-close.225247/ http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/in-chicago-for-a-week.216930/ http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-chicago-for-the-first-time.202945/ Below are some other suggestions made by others. Credit to the original posters on these. Regarding BC variants on tap you should check beermenus as you get in. Breweries/Brewpubs: Half Acre - Just taproom and store but my favorite taproom. Usually pretty chill even when crowded. Piece Brewing - Brewpub with AMAZING pizza and great beer. Love this place. Revolution - Taproom and Brewpub (Great food) Solemn Oath - In napperville, but if you can get there its a cool place with good beer. Goose Island Clybourn- Brewpub (Right next to Binnys LP) Has good food and a large taplist of GI beers. Whole Foods Lincoln Park - If you're at Goose and visit Binny's , check out Whole Foods 2 bars on the inside, awesome draft list. seriously. Begyle - Has a new taproom with pretty good beer and is a few blocks from half Acre Lagunitas - Good beer, good food. Swag store. Haymarket Pub and Brewery - Good beer, good food, closest to you on Michigan Ave. (there is a binny's near haymarket with a nice bottle collection and taproom) Bars/Restaurants: Hopleaf - Easily my favorite place in Chicago. Fantastic beer list, both tap and bottle, and great food, especially the muscles and fries. Piece Brewing - Brewpub with AMAZING pizza Maria's Packaged goods - on the south side, but has a great bar and decent bottle shop. Doesn't have food, but immediately next door is a great pot pie place (Pleasant House Bakery) that you can order into the bar. Simone's - Close to Maria's. Great draft list, great food. Skylark - Great draft list. Tots! (people think the tots are over hyped, they cannot be overhyped) Down the street from Simone's. Bad apple - Pretty good tap list with fantastic burgers. Jerry's Sandwiches - Huge taplist AND sandwich list. Close to hopleaf. Foutainhead - Close to half acre. Good tap list and good food although I am never blown away. Other places which have a great reputation Publican Kumas corner Map room Local Option Haymarket Dryhop
God damn! I live here and I'm saving this list for the next time the wife and I look at each other and can't figure out where to go to dinner!
haha nice. That list was a collab between @Farnswurth & @ravot so full credit to them. But certainly no lack of places to go in our great city. We're very fortunate!
I was in Chicago a couple weeks ago. Binnys in Lincoln Park is an awesome beer store. It's a must stop. Revolution Brewing is a great spot for not only beer but also food. They also have some good beer but if your looking for fantastic food Girl and the Goat and Little Goat are Awesome. Haymarket is also on Randolph in the same area and has some really good beer. Frontera Grill has some of the best Mexican food around. The beer list is nothing much but the margs are awesome and the hot chocolate and churros next door at Xoco are second to none. Take home anything from Pipeworks and Half Acre. I found some Not Your Fathers Rootbeer at Walgreens downtown and I wish I would have brought more home. Chicago is awesome. I will be back soon.
Can I just ask: do people think the food at Hopleaf is really that good? Sure, their beer list is second to none, but the food leaves a LOT to be desired, IMHO.
I've only eaten there once to be fair but I think I tried 5-6 different things from their menu that night and I completely agree with you. My comment at the time was it felt like they were trying too hard.
as far as hopleaf, it's been some time since I've been there (tried to go recently with my daughter but they don't allow kids), but I remember their German food being pretty awesome. I think I got a sausage sampler with three or four styles of wursts and a couple different mustards. great drinking food...
