Heading there soon with teenagers in tow. Any places I can't get in with them? Any places where i should go with just me & the Mrs? Please advise...
Narrow Gauge/Cuginos is a great recommendation. I'll add that you've gotta hit up Urban Chestnut - they have a couple locations with food at both. Great German and Belgian style beers. Also, I'd recommend hitting up Civil Life - they have some simple sandwiches, and the beer is fantastic.
The must-go places are Narrow Gauge and Side Project, there are a lot of other solid choices but I would make sure you go to those 2.
I will be up there next and would like to get a bottle or two of Madagascar. They still around the local liquor stores? Looks like 4 Hands may have some for sale still.
Maybe someone more local would have a hookup, but no. It sells out almost instantly when it hits stores which was back in January.
I'll second Urban Chestnut. I went to Side Project, Narrow Gauge, Perennial, and Urban Chestnut (Grover Brewery and Bierhall). Urban Chestnut was by far the most fun (and best beer) that I had on the trip. Don't get me wrong, Side Project is great, but it gets really expensive really quickly, I found most things to be more sour/intense/imbalanced than I'd prefer, and, for your purposes, it's not kid-friendly (plus it's a little out of the way). I do think it's a must-hit still because it's friggin' Side Project and your palate will likely differ from mine, but seriously don't miss Urban Chestnut (great food there, too). Narrow Gauge is a ways out of the way (from downtown), but it's worth the trip. The beers are quite good, and it's definitely kid-friendly (food was solid). If you have time and don't mind a bit of a detour, Scratch in Ava, IL is the coolest place and has really interesting (and great) beers. Scratch is a top three brewery that I've ever been to as an experience (the other two were Logsdon's old actual farmhouse outside of Hood River, no longer visitable, and Hill Farmstead because it's Mecca). White Rooster in Sparta, IL is on the way and is great as well (props to those in the forum who recommended them).
Went to Side Project, but in hindsight was a mistake, I am no longer that interested in sours. My mistake. I will go back sometime much fertile ground around there to explore!
If you do go to Urban Chestnut's Bierhall in the Grove you should check out their Urban Research Brewery across the street. For $1 you can get a testing survey which includes three 5oz pours of some experimental beers. This round they're doing bock style beers. And I believe they do $3 pint pours of the stuff they have there. I do feel like their location in the Grove is a lot nicer than the one in Midtown. You should also get a brezen board.
Narrow Gauge & Perennial for sure. Side Project, 4 Hands, 2nd Shift. Square One & Heavy Riff. A good bottle shop is The Wine & Cheese place, they a few locations.
