Revolution Brewing... Which location?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by invertalon, Apr 30, 2015.

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  1. invertalon

    invertalon Pooh-Bah (2,249) Jan 27, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hello everyone!

    Next weekend we will be in Chicago and plan to stop at Three Floyd's (on the way) and Revolution while in Chicago, for sure... Perhaps one more if we can fit it in, but if not, we will be back a few times this year for others when we have more time.

    My question is, it looks like Revolution has two locations... The brewpub and the brewery/taphouse.

    Which location is preferred? What does one offer the other does not?

    Any other info I should know about?
     
  2. Dontcounttoday

    Dontcounttoday Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2010 Illinois

    You can check out their separate tap lists via their website, though I find that the brewery is often out of date. The biggest difference is that the pub serves food. It is a popular location and there is a wait for a table at most times. The brewery is more laid back, they do tours, have a beautiful shuffleboard table, and more of their one offs and BA beers on tap than the pub for the most part. You can bring your own food in. I am a fan of picking up some Kumas to go and bringing it over to Rev brewery. Highly recommended.
     
  3. invertalon

    invertalon Pooh-Bah (2,249) Jan 27, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Excellent, thank you! The brewery sounds far more my cup of tea (beer).
     
  4. hardysf

    hardysf Pundit (990) Mar 17, 2015 Michigan
    Trader

    I was just in Chicago two weekends ago. We went to both. They have different tap lists at each place. The brewery is much more laid back and has bottles for sale. The restaurant sells food and had some unique stuff on tap like a cognac barley wine. Both places had great service. We didn't eat, but the food looked really good, and there were many more bat seats than the brewery.
     
  5. THANAT0PSIS

    THANAT0PSIS Pooh-Bah (2,275) Aug 3, 2010 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    The pub is cool, but as above if beer is more your thing, hit up the brewery proper.

    If you have time for one more brewery, make it Half Acre or Haymarket. Pipeworks doesn't have a taproom, so that's why I didn't mention them. Also, on your way is 18th Street in Gary. Could be worth the stop as well.
     
  6. KeithE

    KeithE Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2013 Illinois

    It's interesting that several people recomended the Revolution's brewery but not the brew pub. The brew pub on Milwaukee is in my opinion one of the best places to go in Chicago. You can buy beer flights, growlers, and anything else you want. They have a big menu and their food is very good. The only problem is they get really busy at times so you need to plan ahead.
     
    Redrover likes this.
  7. BrownAleMale

    BrownAleMale Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2011 Wisconsin

    I'm a brewery guy. Way laid back, better selection and to go bottles.
     
  8. invertalon

    invertalon Pooh-Bah (2,249) Jan 27, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Appreciate it everyone! I for sure want to hit up the brewery/taproom over the pub.

    Half Acre was one of the ones on our list to possibly do as well as Lagunitas... It just depends how pressed we are for time. We are hitting Three Floyds on the drive out to Chicago (so late Friday night) and then mid-day Saturday will be Revolution and maybe one other one. Sunday we plan to stop at one more (Lagunitas, Half Acre, etc...) and head back home... Again, maybe hitting up Three Floyds depending on our experience on Friday.

    But like I said, we will be back probably twice more this summer... So we hope to hit the ones we missed on our next trips and have more time!
     
    BrownAleMale likes this.
  9. Sparty93

    Sparty93 Devotee (399) Aug 29, 2013 Michigan

    Well, if your plan is to hit Three Floyds on a Friday night, you may want to have a backup destination - they're sticklers on capacity/seating, so there could very well be a pretty long line if you actually want to go into the pub (could still get bottles at the to-go kiosk though). Maybe 18th Street?
     
    THANAT0PSIS and KSOZE like this.
  10. croush

    croush Pooh-Bah (2,407) Mar 20, 2015 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'd agree that you should stop by 18th Street either on the way in or out of Chicago. And FFF will be quite busy on Friday night, unless you just want to go to the kiosk to pick up beer to go (although when I was last there, the selection was no different than what I get at stores here in the city).
     
  11. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you do end up going to Half Acre, keep in mind that it's BYOF, so if you plan on eating while you drink, check out the options around there. There's a Jewel if you want grocery store fare, and Bad Apple is across the street (good burgers and taplist). Half Acre itself is a cool little place, but it is little, so sometimes it's tough to find much room.
     
  12. steebo777

    steebo777 Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2009 Michigan

    Bad Apple is legit. Great before/after stop around Half Acre.
     
  13. Summer78

    Summer78 Zealot (592) Jan 18, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    Agreed. One of the best local, regional, and national taplists in chicago.
     
    steebo777 likes this.
  14. ravot

    ravot Initiate (0) Mar 20, 2012 Illinois

    The brewery has special hours.
    Our Kedzie Ave. brewery is open to the public
    Wed-Thurs: 2-10pm
    Fri: 2-11pm
    Sat: noon-11pm
    Sun: noon-8pm


    I believe Rev Taproom is also BYOF, right?
     
    invertalon likes this.
  15. invertalon

    invertalon Pooh-Bah (2,249) Jan 27, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Would hitting Three Floyd's on Sunday on the way home be a better option? Crowd wise? If anything, it would be relatively early, too... Maybe 12-3pm I would guesstimate we would be there.

    On Friday night, we wouldn't probably get the FFF until around 11pm or so, if that matters. Coming from Cleveland after work.
     
  16. jlsims04

    jlsims04 Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2013 Illinois

    The biggest reason to hit the brewery proper if you are just looking to kick back and enjoy some beers in a laid back environment. The Pub is always very busy.
     
  17. hardysf

    hardysf Pundit (990) Mar 17, 2015 Michigan
    Trader

    We tried to go to FFF on Sunday two weeks ago (weekend before DL Day) after a weekend in Chicago. Showed up ten minutes after it opened. Line was long and out the door. We waited for 15 minutes without the line moving before we left.
     
  18. JakeT469

    JakeT469 Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2012 Colorado

    You'd be better off going to FFF at 11pm on Friday than 12-3 on a Sunday.
     
  19. BrownAleMale

    BrownAleMale Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2011 Wisconsin

    Hmm been to Half Acre many times and Never stopped at Bad Apple...will have to next time. I periodically drive south and hit up Half Acre and Revs brewery. Will add Bad Apple to the list now.
     
  20. Brianw508

    Brianw508 Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2013 Michigan

    my wife and i are headed to chicago from detroit in june. we plan on stopping at 18th street and fff, just for 1-2 grab beers and some bottles. i've never been to either before. i've heard so many great things about 18th street, so i feel it's a must stop over fff personally. not saying it's a better brewery before some people get upset with me, lol.
     
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