Downtown Chicago

Came here to mention Beer Temple, would throw in Maria's Packaged Goods if anything else takes you to the near south side (near White Sox field). Maria's usually has a good taplist of 20-25 taps, and it's the same family/owners as Marz, so there's typically 3-6 Marz beers on the list. Maria's doesn't technically have food, but they also own Kimski (Korean/Polish) and Pizza Fried Chicken & Ice Cream, they are in the same stretch of the block.

 

Must-hit breweries:
Phase Three (haze/pastry stouts)
Revolution (ba program)
Dovetail (lagers)
Off Color (funk/stout)
Half Acre (ipa's)
Maplewood (haze/pastry stouts)

Seek out:
Hop Butcher (haze/pastry stouts) - draft/cans; taproom still forthcoming

Suggested craft bars:
Beer Temple (Avondale)
Village Tap (Roscoe Village) - has patio
Local Option (Lincoln Park)
Fatpour (2 locations; Wicker Park & South Loop)
Kaiser Tiger (West Loop) - great beer garden
Franklin Tap (Loop)
First Draft (Loop)

-all of these craft bars carry breweries from your list
-check out taplists on Untappd (www.beermenus.com for Kaiser Tiger & Fatpour; although Fatpour’s website might be more up-to-date)
-be sure to check can lists (ie Franklin Tap has bunch of Hop Butcher & P3, plus Dovetail)
-both Fatpour locations have BCS variant drafts & bottles; Franklin Tap has bottles; might compare prices to GI Taproom if wanting particular variant (sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive)
-if on tap somewhere, might consider trying Eagle Park Brewing (out of Milwaukee)

 

Solid list. I would def add Off Color; also Old Irving worth a stop; as is Goldfinger (since you’re already going West burbs); and consider giving less priority to (or nixing for time) Corridor, Marz, Metropolitan, Mikerphone.

Regarding your list:
-Rev, GI, More, Marz, Forbidden Root each have 2 locations
-Rev Taproom is more chill & typically has more draft/to-go options, while Rev Brewpub has great pub fare; however Rev Brewpub currently has 4 Deep Wood beers on tap (3 latest & SJ), while Rev Taproom has 2 of the latest (no coconut); plus Rev Brewpub only has one less Deep Wood to-go right now (no vanilla); therefore, I’d opt for Rev Brewpub atm
-GI Taproom is superior to GI Brewhouse location (latter feels franchise-y), but BCS draft options vary at both locations, so check/call ahead
-Corridor has same ownership as DryHop Brewers & Crushed by Giants Brewing

Corridor & Forbidden Root have really fallen off the craft scene as they both have more of a restaurant focus. They're basically modern versions of the old-school microbrewery restaurant concept. Back in 2017, both breweries put themselves on the map as one of the first to figure out consistent haze in Chicago; however, the specific brewers involved have since moved on from these breweries. Forbidden Root brewer, BJ, left the industry later on in 2017; Corridor brewer, Roger, who was actually at Forbidden Root under BJ, figuring out haze, before being hired back to Corridor sometime ~2017, this time as head brewer, left for Maplewood in 2018; and his replacement, Eric, left for More in 2019 (then joined Open Outcry earlier this year). [It's like following the transaction history of the modern pro-athlete LOL]. Anyhow, both breweries are kind of an afterthought these days, but I’m sure either restaurant (& their respective spin-offs) would still be an enjoyable experience, especially if looking for a quality meal.

 

First Draft & Franklin Tap are craft bars in your vicinity, both have solid taplists. Binny’s (South Loop) has great selection for to-go needs. There’s a Lou Malnati’s (South Loop) deep dish pizza right by you- highly suggest Malnati Chicago Classic (sausage), but The Lou (veggie) is great as well; if creating your own, be sure to request Buttercrust! fyi- another Lou Malnati’s (West Loop) is near Kaiser Tiger.

Portillo’s (2 locations; South Loop & River North)- I suggest getting an italian beef (add hot peppers!) with a Chicago-style hot dog, but the burgers are great too; S Loop location is newer w free parking lot; R North has a Barnelli’s (pasta options) if you want side of mostoccioli pasta (get baked) w your italian beef.

John Alexander Logan Monument-
If you're into history at all, it’s at 9th & Michigan, 3 blocks south of your hotel. Sweet statue in a nice little grassy area (part of Grant Park). Great place to share a beer w your buddy @Jwilford23 on the steps or in the surrounding park… Worth checking out! General John A. Logan was a Civil War hero, former US Senator who ‘founded’ Memorial Day, and Chicago neighborhood Logan Square’s namesake. He was vice presidential running mate to candidate James Blaine, and they lost a close 1884 presidential election to Grover Cleveland. The more you know…

For early breakfast before breweries open:
Lou Mitchel’s (West Loop) - old-school diner; longtime Chicago classic
Little Goat (West Loop) - ‘gourmet’ diner

For breweries closest to your hotel, people have mentioned places in River North, South Loop, & West Loop- in the event you find yourself in these areas, grouped them by neighborhood & included craft bars:

River North
Centennial Crafted Beer & Eatery (bar)
Clark Street Ale House (bar)
Crushed by Giants Brewing
The Northman Beer & Cider Garden (bar)*

*produce couple of their own ciders; beerlist is alright; not technically in River North, but “Chicago Riverwalk” might be fun area to check out

South Loop
Fatpour (bar; McCormick location; opens 10a; good food; has BCS)
Duneyrr Artisan Fermenta Project (funk)*
Moody Tongue Brewing (culinary focus, 2 Michelin Stars)

*Odious Cellars (funk) contract brews out of Duneyrr & typically on draft there

West Loop
Haymarket Brewery (ba stout/barleywine)
Cruz Blanca Brewery (unique ba beers)
Lone Wolf (bar; relationship with 3 Floyds)
Au Cheval ('gourmet’ diner; burgers, honey-fried chicken)
Publican (restaurant; styled after European beer hall)
Kuma’s Corner (bar; burgers & gourmet mac 'n' cheese)
Kaiser Tiger (bar; great beer garden)

West Town
GI Taproom (Fulton)
Great Central Brewing
On Tour Brewing
District Brew Yards (pour-your-own taproom shared by 4 breweries- Burnt City, Around the Bend, Casa Humilde, Twisted Hippo)
Forbidden Root Brewery

Of these 4 neighborhoods, I’d prob opt for West Loop, not only because it’s a great area, but then you can also group some of the places in with Goose Island in West Town. However, based on the size of your initial brewery list, you may not have time for ANY of these other options!

 

Solid suggestion. Typically, I prefer Rev Taproom, but in this case I’d opt for Rev Brewpub bc currently more Deep Wood options (as I mention above). Also, Metropolitan has a nice location, but their lagers don’t stand out to me- I suggest skipping for more time elsewhere. In terms of food, Rev & Old Irving have the 2 best brewpubs, so you might plan your meals around them.

Suggestion #1
Old Irving (great wings) [lunch]
Beer Temple
Maplewood
Rev Brewpub [dinner]
Logan Arcade (fun spot to end up; decent craft list- see www.beermenus.com)

note- if flying into O’hare, and have time to kill before hotel check-in, take CTA Blue Line straight to Old Irving & get head start on brewery hopping! Another lunch option is Kuma’s Corner (Belmont Ave; original location) near Beer Temple.

Suggestion #2
Half Acre [lunch]
<Spiteful>
Dovetail
<Begyle>
Village Tap - Phase 3 on tap
Pequod’s deep dish - make a res! [dinner]
Off Color

note- another lunch option is Hopleaf (og chicago craft bar) b/t HA & DT; also, depending on timing, might go Pequod’s after Off Color as Pequod’s stays open 2hrs later)

 

Solid plan. I assume you’re taking Metra UP-W line out to Afterthought? Could end the day at Goldfinger and take Metra BNSF line back to city. Might pick up a thin crust pizza (Chicago ‘tavern-style’ pizza is a thing of its own here!) to eat with your lagers at Goldfinger; I’m sure someone (or even Goldfinger) could suggest a prime pizza joint nearby.

I realize this most likely would be too much to fit into your plans, but Orange & Brew bottle shop/taproom and Whiskey Hill Brewing (Westmont location) are worthy stops close to Goldfinger.

Since you’re already doing a day in the burbs, I totally respect the decision to skip Phase Three. You can find P3 haze on draft at many of the craft bars listed above, in my first post. In addition, First Draft (bar near your hotel) appears to have P3 Pressed Maple coffee imp porter on right now, which pretty much drinks like a stout. However, if you’re looking to try their actual stouts, you’ll most likely have to go straight to the source... and they do have some good ones on right now- Curvature #11 imp stout ‘french toast’ w maple, cinnamon, vanilla, walnut; Eunoia #9 ba imp stout w peanut butter & banana; plus the latest Pressed Stroopwafel coffee imp porter. Also, their Oktoberfest celebration is this wknd- Sat (tom) & Sun.

For others coming across this post, the best way to get out to Phase Three is the Metra UP-NW line to Barrington or Palatine, then catch a 15 min uber rest of the way. At the Barrington station, Yankee Doodle Inn has good craft options (P3, Riverlands, Dovetail, etc), while Palatine station has an entire bar scene built around it, and is better option if trying to catch a meal before/after P3. Durty Nellie’s has pretty impressive list of drafts/cans from P3, Hop Butcher, etc (listed on Untappd as “Nellie’s Gastropub” w/o the ‘Durty’ for whatever reason; see website taplist for pricing). Schnell’s Brauhaus has great selection of German brews (ie my go-to Radeberger Pils) along w some standard craft options, and their homemade cheese curds melt in your mouth…

Note- drinking alcohol on the Metra is allowed (& highly recommended!)

Roaring Table Brewing is also in the area (<10 min uber from P3); making some great lagers.

For those w access to a car, see the part of my previous post from last year regarding Phase Three & nearby food options-
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/general-chicago-beer-question.663121/#post-7402713

 

@PA-Michigander screenshot these posts for airplane reading, you won’t need that new book you just purchased for your flight! LOL

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/chicago-il-to-go-recommendations.668756/

@MistaRyte

I would add:
Pipeworks (ipa/stouts)
Saint Errant (haze/pastry stouts)
Goldfinger (lagers)
Roaring Table (lagers)
Art History (lagers)

Check out socials for all latest releases. The Binny's (Downtown; Grand Ave) you reference gets everything distributed in Chicago, I highly recommend it.

I'm not sure what Binny's' selection of stouts & barleywines will be Oct 1st, as it won't quite be stout season yet... Personally, based on styles you're seeking, I would consider going straight to the source: Revolution Taproom for ba stouts & barleywines, Off Color for stouts & funk, Maplewood for stouts. However, Binny's may still have some Revolution Deep Wood beers (note, they are cheaper at taproom, if avail).

Could add Hopsmith in the Gold Coast, same ownership as Fatpour, but Centennial will have most exciting taplist of these places.

Kaiser Tiger (West Loop) - great beer garden & solid taplist; may be having their Oktoberfest celebration Oct 1st, would be worth checking out.

 

I'd add Dryhop and the adjacent Roebuck to the list, as they are close and relevant to Corridor.

 

You did a real good job thanking everyone with a recap of your trip up until you decided to bring politics into this.

 

I knew that would rattle cages.

 

(pssst... not everyone here likes burnt crust on their pizza! )

 

FWIW -- I'd have sent you to Chief O'Neill's if you were looking for a good Irish pub, but when I'm in the neighborhood O'Shea's is worth dropping in for a pint.