Taking a road trip from the east coast and I’m looking for some “must stops” for IPA’s in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago areas. My only plan is 3 Floyds at the moment but I’d be appreciative for some recommendations.
Well I've got bad news for you - Three Floyds closed down their brewpub during COVID and never reopened it. They have a to-go Kiosk and brewery tours, but that's pretty much it.
My picks for Pittsburgh: Dancing Gnome Grist House Hitchhiker Try to stop in Boardman, OH at Vintage Estates if possible on your way through as it has a massive selection of cans and bottles that will rival most places I've been to. For Cleveland: Masthead Fat Heads Bookhouse
Chicago hops: Maplewood Old Irving Half Acre Marz (or Maria's Packaged Goods) Forbidden Root Alarmist Goose Island Revolution Suburbs: MoRe Phase 3 Mikerphone Une Annee/Hubbard's Cave Pipeworks and Hop Butcher don't have taprooms. HB is in the works, PW has been "coming" for close to a decade. Honorable Mention: Corridor, they were once very hyped, but fell off the scene very fast. Close enough to Wrigley Field that it's worth the walk if you go to a Cubs game.
Like Toppling Goliath, Half Acre can't seem to put out a bad IPA and is easily the best hops in Chicago, but if you are in their distro range it may offer nothing novel.
If slight detours along your travel corridor are acceptable to you, consider jumping into Michigan to visit Transient Artisan Ales in Bridgman. I think it's exit 14 off I-94, so that's the length of your detour from I-80/90. It's highly regarded for several different styles - IPAs, DIPAs, stouts, barrel-aged stouts, and sours.
If IPAs are your thing as you're running the Indiana toll road from Cleveland to Chicago I would jump of in Granger for Bare Hands Brewing. All due respect to Goose and Transient it's a much easier on/off than Transient. That said there are lots of additional options around Transient that would probably require a full day. Watermark (Stevensville), Haymarket (Bridgman) and Seedz (Union Pier) to name a few. If you're visiting the southwest burbs of Chicago I would throw in Imperial Oaks (Willow Springs) as a worthy stop.
Fat Heads for the hops and food. Beer hall is less than five minutes north of the exit from I-80. Close to a highway exit. Lots of other styles as well. Hop Juju recently released so will be available on tap and to go if visiting within the next month. Also a nice hoppy mix 12 pack available to go.
I'd skip Cleveland, but Crooked Pecker in Chagrin Falls outside of Cleveland is well worth the stop. I'd also recommend Four Points and Old Thunder on your Pittsburgh tour - probably over Grist House and Hitchhiker (though I'd still stop at Grist House - I think Hitchhiker is skippable if it's hops you're after IMO)
