Where Chicago drinks local: brewpubs, taprooms and the new wave.
Taprooms, brewpubs and the local beer scene in Chicago worth taking a tram to.
Half Acre Beer Co. in Chicago is the Bowmanville brewery on Balmoral since the 2021 consolidation, with the Daisy Cutter pale ale at its core.
Tip: Daisy Cutter cans are everywhere, but at the taproom you can order it on cask, which is the way the brewers themselves drink it.
Marz Community Brewing in Chicago is the Bridgeport brewery on Iron Street, with experimental sours, lagers and a kitchen pairing from Maria's Packaged Goods.
Tip: The Sunday afternoon brewery tour finishes with a flight; book online a week ahead. Kimski's kimchi-pierogi pairs with the Jungle Boogie pale.
Hopewell Brewing in Chicago is the Logan Square brewery on Milwaukee Avenue, with a lager-and-pilsner focus and a tap room full of natural-wood communal tables.
Tip: First Lager is the pilsner that put the brewery on the map; order a pint and a $5 hot pretzel for the back patio.
Off Color Brewing in Chicago runs the Mousetrap taproom on Kingsbury Street, with revival historical styles (gose, kottbusser, kvass) and mixed-fermentation bottles.
Tip: The Mousetrap sour-blend release schedule is monthly; check the website Monday for the Friday drop list of mixed-fermentation bottles.
Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago is the 1988 John Hall brewery, with the Fulton Brewery taproom on West Fulton serving Bourbon County Stout from the source.
Tip: The Bourbon County Stout Day in late November is the calendar event; otherwise the regular taproom has the year-round drafts the cans don't.
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in Chicago is the Logan Square brewery-distillery on Maplewood, with IPAs, lagers and the Crooked Belgian-style ale under one roof.
Tip: The distilled whiskey series is what separates this taproom from the others; the rye is the buy.
Revolution Brewing in Chicago is Illinois' largest independent brewer, with Anti-Hero IPA at the Avondale taproom on Kedzie after the Logan Square brewpub closed.
Tip: Sit at the production taproom on Kedzie for the full draft list. The Bourbon County-style barrel-aged stout releases are the calendar event.
Begyle Brewing in Chicago is the small North Center brewery on Cuyler Avenue, a 10-barrel system known for the Hophazardly IPA and the Free Bird milk stout on nitro.
Tip: Begyle keeps a small taproom with eight rotating taps; the milk stout on nitro is the cold-weather order.
Peak food season in Chicago is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Chicago rewards trust.