Heading to Chicago this weekend- Need Advice

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by BeerLawyer85, Jul 7, 2014.

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  1. BeerLawyer85

    BeerLawyer85 Zealot (501) Dec 30, 2012 New York
    Trader

    Hey everyone. Heading to Chicago for the first time for a buddy's bachelor party. Staying on W. Fulton Market near the Publican. Any suggestions besides the publican for some food and great craft beer? Also, will be renting a car on Sunday morning July 13th. Thinking about heading to Three Floyds brewery either that day or Monday. Also thinking about going to Woodman's in Kenosha Wisconsin to pick up some New Glarus beers for the fiancee and friends back in NYC. Do you think it would be better to do Three Floyd's on that Sunday or Monday (for both the tap-list and bottles to go). Also, any suggestions on great beer bars and bottle shops would be much appreciated. Looking to find offerings from Pipeworks, Three Floyd's (Apoclaype Cow, Backmasking, Man o' Awe, Blakkr, etc), and Revolution beers.
     
  2. JakeT469

    JakeT469 Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2012 Colorado

    Use the search function. There's a TON of threads about Chicago.

    /Thread
     
  3. kodt

    kodt Pooh-Bah (2,286) Mar 6, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Haymarket & Au Cheval are super close to where you are staying. You should go to both. Lone Wolf next to Au Cheval usually has Zombie Dust on tap as well (go while you are waiting for a table at Au Cheval)

    Use beermenus.com to find specific beers on tap.

    Monday is probably less busy at Three Floyds. It's usually a good idea to get there 30min before they open if you want to get in for lunch without too much of a wait. Weekdays are probably better.
     
  4. bowzer4birdie

    bowzer4birdie Grand Pooh-Bah (3,796) Aug 16, 2012 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    take the time to search on Chicago and you'll find the info you need and then some. There are probably 17,432 posts about this general topic regarding many major cities.
     
  5. BeerLawyer85

    BeerLawyer85 Zealot (501) Dec 30, 2012 New York
    Trader


    Thanks
     
  6. Farnswurth

    Farnswurth Pundit (986) Sep 9, 2012 Illinois
    Trader

    This is my usual response to these threads. Hope this helps:

    Here is a list of my favorite places in Chicago. I listed them in terms of my preference although everything I listed is fantastic.

    Not sure if you are staying the night but a frequent tour of mine with friends is - Half acre -> Bad apple/Fountainhead -> Goose island -> Binnys LP -> Piece -> Revolution -> Bed
    Far from an optimized tour, but really fun and gets us through the city.


    Beer stores:

    • Binnys Lincoln Park - Biggest selection in Chicago and has an sweet tap room (thats never full for some reason)
    • West Lakeview Liquors - fantastic selection of imports and locals
    • South loop Binnys - not as big as LP, but fatastic selection also has a good taproom, list is just as good but space is not as nice as LP binnys
    • Beer Temple - Everything here is super fresh and it has a great all around selection, I just find it out of the way
    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.
    • Begyle - Has a new taproom with pretty good beer and is a few blocks from half Acre
    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.
    • 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 I have yet to go to but have a great reputation
    • Publican
    • Kumas corner
    • Map room
    • Local Option
    • Haymarket
    • Dryhop
     
  7. Nuks

    Nuks Initiate (0) Jun 18, 2014 Illinois

    Some good combination places to add to the list above me:

    Kuma's Corner (burgers) and The Beer Temple are about 2 blocks apart, and kuma's has a small but solid draft list
    Half Acre and Bad Apple (food/bar) are also right across the street from each from each other.

    In regards to 3 floyds, i'd personally go on Monday. Their carry list tends to get depleted by Sunday, not that Monday is usually anything too special. (zombie dust tends to be on Thursdays if you were looking for that in particular bottled, but it's always on tap at the pub)
     
  8. JRBecks

    JRBecks Initiate (0) Apr 3, 2012 Illinois

    I would recommend visiting FFF on Monday as it becomes VERY busy on the weekends!
     
  9. BeerMeBro720

    BeerMeBro720 Initiate (0) May 2, 2013 Ohio

    You should add Half Acre and Off Color to your list of offerings.

    Happy Hunting!
     
  10. robear

    robear Initiate (0) May 24, 2014 Wisconsin

    I would recommend skipping FFF altogether. Chances are you'll find plenty on tap around Chicago, and it will give you a chance to visit more of the Chicago breweries listed earlier in this thread.

    Don't miss Hopleaf. Andersonville Liquor is nearby and does a decent job, and Revolution and Half Acre are close by too.
     
  11. wallybrau

    wallybrau Initiate (0) May 3, 2006 Illinois

    Be aware that Woodman's is Cash or PIN Debit only, they do not accept Credit Cards... The kenosha location continues to expand their selection. They also have a very large single bottle selection where you can mix and match between a least 200 different beers..
     
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