BreweryLagers, pilsners$$Mon-Thu 13:00-21:00; Fri 13:00-23:00; Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-19:00Mon-Sun 15:00-23:00
Hopewell Brewing in Chicago is the Logan Square brewery on Milwaukee Avenue, with a lager-and-pilsner focus and a tap room full of natural-wood communal.
Tip: First Lager is the pilsner that put the brewery on the map; order a pint and a $5 hot pretzel for the back patio.
BreweryHistorical beer styles, gose, kottbusser$$Mon-Thu 12:00-22:00, Fri-Sat 12:00-00:00, Sun 12:00-22:00Wed-Sun 16:00-23:00
Off Color Brewing in Chicago runs the Mousetrap taproom on Kingsbury Street, with revival historical styles (gose, kottbusser, kvass) and mixed-fermentation.
Tip: The Mousetrap sour-blend release schedule is monthly; check the website Monday for the Friday drop list of mixed-fermentation bottles.
BreweryBourbon County stout, lagers$$Wed 12:00-20:00; Thu 12:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 12:00-22:00; Sun 12:00-20:00; Mon-Tue closedWed-Sun 14:00-22:00
Goose Island Beer Co. in Chicago is the 1988 John Hall brewery, with the Fulton Brewery taproom on West Fulton serving Bourbon County Stout from the source.
Tip: The Bourbon County Stout Day in late November is the calendar event; otherwise the regular taproom has the year-round drafts the cans don't.
BreweryLagers, IPA, whiskey$$Mon-Wed 15:00-22:00; Thu-Fri 11:00-00:00; Sat 10:00-00:00; Sun 10:00-22:00Mon-Sun 16:00-23:00
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in Chicago is the Logan Square brewery-distillery on Maplewood, with IPAs, lagers and the Crooked Belgian-style ale under one.
Tip: The distilled whiskey series is what separates this taproom from the others; the rye is the buy.
BreweryHop-forward ales, barrel-aged$$Wed-Thu 14:00-21:00; Fri 14:00-22:00; Sat 12:00-22:00; Sun 12:00-18:00; Mon-Tue closedMon-Sun 11:00-23:00
Revolution Brewing in Chicago is Illinois' largest independent brewer, with Anti-Hero IPA at the Avondale taproom on Kedzie after the Logan Square brewpub.
Tip: Sit at the production taproom on Kedzie for the full draft list. The Bourbon County-style barrel-aged stout releases are the calendar event.
BreweryPale ales, milk stouts$$Mon-Thu 12:00-21:00; Fri 12:00-22:00; Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 12:00-20:00Wed-Sun 16:00-22:00
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.
Tip: Begyle keeps a small taproom with eight rotating taps; the milk stout on nitro is the cold-weather order.