Chicago's far west burbs - good bars?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by mjohnson17, Jun 21, 2012.

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  1. mjohnson17

    mjohnson17 Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2012 Illinois

    This might be a stretch but I figured I'd ask anyways. I'll be staying out in the far western burbs for the next week. I was wondering if any local BA's could provide suggestions for good craft bars and/or current tap lists. I'd specifically be interested in rare/sour/barrel aged pours. I know kegs of BCBS, KBS, etc have been leaking out throughout the greater Chicago area and I'm hoping one will be in this area. I've already checked beermenus.com.

    I'm staying in Sycamore (next to DeKalb). I've already hit some local joints like PJ's, Cabana Charlies and Fatties before and found their craft beer selection a little lacking (keep in mind I'm used to Chicago bars). I'm willing to drive, but I'm hoping not too far. I know Naperville has some options, or Bavarian Lodge, but I'm hoping for something closer.

    So does anyone know of bars? Or if anything special is on tap in the general vicinity?
     
    #1 mjohnson17, Jun 21, 2012
  2. pschul4

    pschul4 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Illinois

    Ballydoyles in Aurora usually has some decent stuff on tap including bramble this past week. Not sure if thats out of your range though
     
    #2 pschul4, Jun 21, 2012
  3. Nachos4two

    Nachos4two Pooh-Bah (1,944) Nov 26, 2011 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Prairie rock, the public house in Elgin are decent taps.

    Definitely bigby's pour house in Addison.o

    Geneva's ale house as well is great brew and food
     
    #3 Nachos4two, Jun 22, 2012
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  4. Spamsammich

    Spamsammich Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2010 Illinois

    You can hit the Gammon Coach House on Wilson St. in Batavia. Easier to get to then Ballydoyles and the downtown Aurora parking nightmare that area can have. Also in Batavia is a new place called the Wilson Street Tavern (formally the dive bar called the Stop Lite Inn) which has craft on tap. Not much is known about that place at this point due to it being so new. It's a short walk across town from the Gammon.

    In Geneva you have the Geneva Ale House on Rt. 38, downtown Geneva. It's the old movie theater. Also across the street from the Ale House is Stockholm's Brew Pub.

    Aurora also has the Two Brother's Roundhouse on Rt 25 in Aurora (much easier parking there and truthfully you could walk to Ballydoyle's from there.) They usually have everything in the Two Brother's line up on tap, excluding Outlaw (I don't think that's draft yet, I could be wrong). They have pretty decent food with entertainment on the weekends.
     
    #4 Spamsammich, Jun 22, 2012
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  5. SlapMaster

    SlapMaster Aspirant (227) Oct 28, 2011 Illinois

    They had Bramble on tap???? Damn, i work across river. They still have it?
     
    #5 SlapMaster, Jun 22, 2012
  6. kawilliams81

    kawilliams81 Pooh-Bah (1,972) Feb 27, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Since when is Sycamore oe Dekalb a suburb of Chicago?
     
    #6 kawilliams81, Jun 22, 2012
  7. mjohnson17

    mjohnson17 Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2012 Illinois

    Yeah, I know it's technically not a suburb, but my thread title stretched the boundaries a bit. :slight_smile: I assumed there wouldn't be may places around Sycamore & Dekalb so I wanted to include the Aurora/st.charles/batavia/etc towns to widen my chances of find some options.
     
    #7 mjohnson17, Jun 22, 2012
  8. pschul4

    pschul4 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Illinois

    I was there Tuesday night and got a snifter of Bramble. I'd give them a call to find out forsure. Hopefully they still do, it was heavenly :slight_smile:
     
    #8 pschul4, Jun 22, 2012
  9. SlapMaster

    SlapMaster Aspirant (227) Oct 28, 2011 Illinois

    I'll stop in tomorrow, maybe for my lunch break:slight_smile:
     
    #9 SlapMaster, Jun 22, 2012
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  10. jpsy422

    jpsy422 Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2009 Illinois

    +1 for the Geneva Ale house. They are a really big FFF account, so they almost always have something cool on tap.

    In a year, I've had the following at GAH:
    KBS (Tap)
    KBS (bottle)
    CBS
    Sucaba
    Parabola
    FFF Dreadnaught
    FFF Jinx Proof
    FFF Tiger Jelly
    FFF Behemoth

    and probably about 15 others. I Love that place.
     
    #10 jpsy422, Jun 22, 2012
  11. nicnut45

    nicnut45 Zealot (671) Jan 6, 2007 Illinois

    Dukes ale house in Crystal lake is a good option too. 21 beers on tap, 157 bottles, 9 cans. I just checked their draft menu and they have zombie dust on tap. Food is pretty good too.
     
    #11 nicnut45, Jun 22, 2012
  12. jegross2

    jegross2 Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2010 Illinois

    How far west of chicago? I hear Russian River's a pretty good place to visit. #BeMoreSpecificPlz
     
    #12 jegross2, Jun 22, 2012
  13. mjohnson17

    mjohnson17 Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2012 Illinois


    Check out my first post :wink:
    but to your point, it almost feels like I'm far enough west to hit up Russian River :slight_smile:
     
    #13 mjohnson17, Jun 22, 2012
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  14. mjohnson17

    mjohnson17 Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2012 Illinois

    Thanks for the suggestions, I'll hit up a few.

    If you have more keep em coming, i'll be in the area all week.
     
    #14 mjohnson17, Jun 23, 2012
  15. DMBHopHead773

    DMBHopHead773 Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012

    Tap House and Mojo's in Plainfield
     
    #15 DMBHopHead773, Jun 23, 2012
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