Beer Towns » Chicago
DRAFT Beer Town: Chicago
By Heather Shouse
Chi-town is more than hotdogs and da Bears; there’s also a surprising array of top-notch brews, drool-worthy eats, and exploreable neighborhoods.
Appeared in: January February 2008 Issue
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Bars
Michael and Louise’s Hopleaf Bar5148 N. Clark St.
Chicago IL
If your last Belgian trip has you dreaming of St. Bernardus fresh from the taps, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better stand-in than this beer-obsessed pub. The high-backed benches are highly coveted, but don’t fret if you fail to grab one; a bar stool is actually the best spot to talk shop with the knowledgeable bartenders. www.hopleaf.com.
The Map Room
1949 N. Hoyne
Chicago IL
When the local microbrewers get together to tap a new keg, they choose this corner bar for the christening. Don’t get a stiff neck gazing up at the never-ending row of bottles that line the wall—just ask one of the mellow fellows behind the bar what’s new and you’ll get an earful of options. www.maproom.com.
Handlebar Bar & Grill
2311 W North Ave
Chicago IL
This hipster hangout is packed with hardcore bike messengers and year-round cyclists with a preference for craft beer and meat substitutes. The microbrews and seitan set flood the low-key back patio in warmer months, ogling each other’s Bianchis and plotting for the next take-the-city-by-bike event. www.handlebarchicago.com.
Old Town Ale House
219 W North Ave
Chicago IL
Here, seasoned bartenders who look like they burned their bras years ago sling stiff cocktails under the gaze of crude paintings some might call porn. The jukebox stocks one of the best blues collections in town, and this is the place to go to disappear into conversation with someone you shouldn’t necessarily be with. Beyond the manly stock of Jim, Jack and Johnnie, you’ll find the occasional microbrew and heavy winter warmer. 312.944.7020.
Kuma’s Corner
2900 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago IL
It’s no shocker that a place owned and operated by the pierced, tattooed and black-haired or bald serves shots in “metal-bots” (little robots that hold shot glasses) and has a menu of 16 burgers named after bands like Judas Priest and Mastodon. Kuma’s draws regulars into its deserted ’hood with remarkable grub, a great beer list and an anything-goes, open-door policy. www.kumas-corner.com.
Brewpubs
Goose Island Beer Company1800 North Clybourn
Chicago IL
With 19 years of beer-making under its belt, the Goose is the O.G. of Chicago breweries. A recent distribution deal with Anheuser-Busch put hits like Honkers Ale into fridges across America, but die-hards head to the Clybourn brewpub to see what’s new on the taps. Take a tour on Sundays, and be sure to try the Matilda strong ale and the Belgian-style dubbel Pere Jacques. www.gooseisland.com.
Piece
1927 W. North Ave.
Chicago IL
This microbrewery is serious about two things: New Haven-style thin crust pizza and making damn fine beers. Brewmaster Jonathan Cutler is a World Beer Cup champion, and while you can’t actually watch him in action (no tours are given), just reading the whacked-out names he bestows on his beers (i.e., Dysfunctionale and Gentrification) gives you an idea of what this place is about. www.piecechicago.com.
Three Floyds Brewing Company
9750 Indiana Parkway
Munster IN
Known for its annual release of Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout and an owner and brewmaster who sport more ink than a Bic factory, this rebel brewery is technically in Indiana, but Chicagoans claim Three Floyds with hometown pride. Sample a rotating roster of drafts including Gumballhead wheat and the killer Alpha Kong, a Belgian-style sextuple with a whopping 16% ABV. www.threefloyds.com.
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery
1 West Grand Avenue
Chicago IL
True, this national chain claims locations in 15 states, but none of those can claim Pete Crowley as their brewmaster. You’ll always find six signatures at the downtown brewpub, but dig deeper and dive into Crowley’s seasonals and specialties like barrel-aged stouts and barleywine. If the weather’s cooperating, head up to the rooftop beer garden for suds under the stars. www.rockbottom.com.
Flossmoor Station
1035 Sterling Avenue
Flossmoor IL
Visit this mom-and-pop brewery that’s heavy on the charm and light on pretension. A midlife crisis prompted the owners to ditch their law practice and rebuild the century-old Flossmoor Train Station where they now pour a half-dozen standards plus rotating seasonals. www.flossmoorstation.com.
Dine
Avec615 W. Randolph
Chicago IL
When a restaurant’s packed with chefs on their night off, you know it’s good. The casual sibling to Paul Kahan’s adjacent Blackbird, Avec is the small plates hotspot where area foodies go to sip Mediterranean wines and taste what can be done with locally grown beets and acorn-fed suckling pig. With a no-reservation policy, a small wood-lined room resembling a cigar box, and long communal tables, expect to get friendly with your neighbors; just keep your fork on your own plate. www.avecrestaurant.com.
Coal Fire
1321 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago IL
Not all Chicago pizza is of the deep-dish dimension: The best around owes its structure more to the East Coast and Naples than some Chicagoan named Gino or Giordano. Coal Fire’s brick oven is fueled with fat lumps of tar-black coal, jacking the heat high enough to poof the crust’s chewy edges and melt fresh mozzarella into snowy white puddles. www.coalfirechicago.com
TAC Quick Thai Kitchen
3930 N. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago IL
Until recently, only Chicago’s large Thai population could access authentic eats. But an intrepid internet “chowhound” translated the Thai-language menus at a handful of eateries; TAC Quick was one of them, and it’s arguably the best. Ask for the “secret menu,” and order specialties like fermented rice-and-pork sausage, wild boar in fiery curry and ground chicken with crispy basil and preserved eggs. 773.327.5253.
Lula Café
2537 North Kedzie Blvd.
Chicago IL
Chef-owners Jason Hammel and Amalea Tshilds turned a little no-name coffee shop into one with enough buzz to draw visits from the New York Times and Gourmet. Regulars line up to munch on local greens and line-caught trout and view the rotating art collection. www.lulacafe.com.
Frontera Grill
445 North Clark Street
Chicago IL
Chicago claims the American king of Mexican cooking in Rick Bayless, who started his far-reaching empire at Frontera. He knows his way around moles, which are drizzled over seemingly simple tacos, enchiladas and roasted pork tenderloin. The feel is festive, the room’s always crowded and the ’ritas are always potent. www.fronterakitchens.com.
Do
Millennium Park55 N Michigan Ave
Chicago IL
Yeah, it was a couple years behind schedule and cost the city a gajillion dollars, but this massive park is pretty impressive. Explore it on a nice day, when you’ll see the Crown Fountain (two 50-foot towers that project Chicagoans’ faces that ‘spit’ water)in action. Visit Cloud Gate—aka The Bean—for photo ops; stand under the reflective sculpture and suddenly six of you stare back. Then, catch a concert in the futuristic Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion. www.millenniumpark.org.
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago IL
Not many museums host a farmers market, bingo/tango nights, “Stitch ‘n’ Bitch” knitting circles, and a rock-and-roll art exhibit dubbed “Sympathy For the Devil.” But the MCA does, and it also becomes a singles hotspot every first Friday of the month, when the bar is slammed, local DJs set the tone, and a digital dating bar helps hipsters connect. www.mcachicago.org.
Pilsen
1821 S Halsted
Chicago IL
Pioneering artists have carved their mark in the heart of one of Chicago’s largest Hispanic communities, where every second Friday of the month, the art gallery doors open and wine flows freely. Mexican restaurants nearby provide ideal spots to discuss the future value of your new painting over lime-spiked beers. www.chicagoartsdistrict.org.
Chicago Antique Market
Randolph Street
Chicago IL
Towering totem poles, mid-century modern credenzas, ’20s-era radios, weathered barn doors—if it’s old, odd or otherwise unique, you’ll find it at this seasonal market. Scrounge through dozens of dealers every last weekend of the month from May through October. Just bring cash and an appetite for the arcane. www.chicagoantiquemarket.com.
Chinatown
Between Canal Street and Lake Shore Drive from the Stevenson Expressway north to the Santa Fe railroad yards
Chicago IL
There are two main areas of Chicago’s Chinatown: The Square is notable for its large plaza surrounded by Chinese zodiac sculptures and the Lao Sze Chuan restaurant, while the main drag, Wentworth, has enough vases, live fish, woks and fake Prada bags to keep you busy. www.chicago-chinatown.com.
Other
Sonotheque1444 W Chicago Ave
Chicago IL
Offbeat bookings (like David Cross tag-teaming with Death From Above 1979), a killer sound system and an unassuming façade are the perfect formula for luring music-savvy art students and DJ culture know-it-alls. Sassy threads and sneakers are de rigeur, as is an appreciation for the reggae-electro-bhangra club-bangers of tomorrow. www.sonotheque.net.
Metro
3730 N. Clark St.
Chicago IL
If they’re on MTV2 and touring, they’re playing at this mid-sized venue. After the show, head downstairs to the DJ-driven SmartBar, a subterranean spot known for its eclectic crowd. www.metrochicago.com.
Hideout
1354 West Wabansia
Chicago IL
Alt-country has two best friends in Chicago: Bloodshot Records and the Hideout. Local crooner Kelly Hogan (the backup gal for Neko Case) has long been a bartender at this little shack. Tucked away on an industrial strip, Hideout’s known for surprise sets from legends (Billy Corgan, for one), cans of Old Style, potent rye cocktails like the Wooden Leg, and regular diversions via readings, film screenings and jug-blowin’ hoedowns. www.hideoutchicago.com.
Buddy Guy’s Legends
754 S. Wabash
Chicago IL
Although some Chicagoans get the blues just thinking about the scene’s long-gone heyday, a few old-timers are still alive and kicking. The “Hoochie Coochie Man” himself, Buddy Guy, is one such stalwart, and his club hosts live jams nearly every night. The dim room is nicer than you’d expect and doubles as a restaurant offering respectable Southern comfort food. www.buddyguys.com.
Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave.
Chicago IL
Who’s here? Music nerds with a penchant for Pitchfork.com who look like their idea of a shower is something you throw when someone’s preggers. Still, it’s the spot for catching indie rock, metal and genre-bending bands, then returning years later to brag that you saw Interpol for $10 before everyone in the band started wearing guyliner. www.emptybottle.com.
Sleep
Hard Rock Hotel230 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago IL
You’ll feel like a star when you push past pestering groupies on your way through the lobby of this historic building. Still, even if you’re not a star, the central location, impressive architecture and slick, contemporary rooms are almost enough to convince you otherwise. www.hardrockhotelchicago.com.
W Hotel Lakeshore
644 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago IL
Sitting on the patio, looking out onto Lake Michigan while sipping a top-shelf cocktail before a stellar supper made by a seasoned chef with a global whim, you might just convince yourself this is the good life. Like the rooms, the onsite Bliss spa will cost you a pretty penny, but the cool, zen vibe measures beyond credit card bills. www.whotels.com.
Hotel Sax Chicago
333 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago IL
The recently remodeled House of Blues Hotel still has a strong draw—it’s steps from the House of Blues music venue, where big-name bands draw hordes each weekend and inspire room packages based on celebrities’ riders. New touches include modernized rooms and the Crimson Lounge, a velvet-rope affair with national names behind the turntables, pricey drinks and a crowd that looks like it appreciates both. www.hotelsaxchicago.com.
The Peninsula
108 East Superior Street
Chicago IL
You know the idea you had of fancy hotels when you were a kid? This is that. There’s a lot of ornate furniture, brass sconces, heavy drapes, formal rooms and an agreeable, whispering staff eager to please. The main draw for those not flashing an AARP card is chef Graham Elliot Bowles, who’s shaking things up at the on-site restaurant, Avenues. chicago.peninsula.com.
China Doll Guest House
738 West Schubert Avenue
Chicago IL
If you’re a Bohemian-style traveler who prefers to be immersed in an actual neighborhood rather than sequestered in a touristy island, this B-and-B-style apartment rental might be the way to go. Choose from three different homes, each comfortable, spacious and tastefully decorated to resemble what your college anthropology professor’s house might look like. www.chinadollguesthouse.com.
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