The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
  • Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

  • Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • A day at the museum: Exploring the iconic Field Museum in Chicago

General Features
Home›featured-blogs›General Features›Craft beer favorites: We snagged local opinions on where to satisfy your cravings for good brew

Craft beer favorites: We snagged local opinions on where to satisfy your cravings for good brew

By TheRealChicagoOnline
November 20, 2017
1157
0
Share:

Links Taproom photo by Leigh Loftus

If you’re a craft beer enthusiast, the award-winning Links Taproom (1559 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is must visit. You’re guaranteed to pick up a few new favorites every time you go. They offer a huge variety and steady rotation of about 75 beers on tap, cask and bottled. The venue itself has a cozy, tavern vibe with TV monitors throughout displaying the current beer menu, serving size available, style of glass the beer is served in and how much is left in the keg. They also have one of the best sausage menus in Chicago to wash down with your new favorite beer.

— Mark Schwalenberg

I’ve always loved the Map Room (1949 N. Hoyne) in the Bucktown neighborhood. Here you will find an impressive list of more than 200 beers from all over the world, along with travel books and National Geographic magazines for you to peruse at your leisure. I’ve always enjoyed traveling and learning about different countries, and this place would definitely appeal to you if you do too. In the morning, it is open for coffee (they serve Intelligentsia coffee) and pastries. The Map Room has a very relaxed and cozy feel to it.  The staff, including bartenders and bouncers, has always been very kind and inviting. Make sure to visit the ATM beforehand, though, as it is cash only.

— Etienne Padin, Viceroy hotel

Small Bar in Logan Square (2956 N. Albany) has been one of my favorite craft beer bars for years. It is a small place — although it becomes much larger with the outdoor patio in the summer — tucked away on a residential street. There is nothing pretentious about the space, and they were providing craft beers before the whole movement took off. They always have a rotating draft list with local and national brews you can’t typically find at other bars. If you are into Goose Island’s Bourbon County stouts, they have the different varieties on the menu fairly often. They also have a unique list of bottles and cans, which is great when you want to find something rare to try. The food is something worth checking out too. I can’t seem to ever leave there without ordering their tater tots.

— Meredith Franczyk

Clark Street Ale House (742 N. Clark) is a great place for craft beers and, especially my favorite, the pale ales. It’s a great place to hang out because it has a neighborhood feel downtown that keeps you coming back. My friends and I hang there because it doesn’t scream “tourist.”

— Tim Anderson, Dana Hotel and Spa

I highly recommend the Half Acre Brewery tour (4257 N. Lincoln Ave.). Half Acre is a Chicago craft brewery that brews one of my favorite beers, the Daisy Cutter. The brewery at does a highly popular tour every Saturday. The cost is $10 per person and includes a Half Acre glass, and three “samples” that turn out to be full-sized pours of beer. It is an incredible value, and you can hop right over to the taproom next door afterwards to get a bite to eat. Cho Sun OK is right down the street for Korean BBQ as well, if you fancy that.

— Alex Yu, Viceroy hotel

Bad Apple (4300 N. Lincoln Ave.) in North Center is an outstanding local find for a great craft beer selection and tasty burgers. With a constantly rotating 25 tap handles and more than 200 bottles and cans from across the world (to Half Acre across the street), you’ll be sure to find the beer you’re looking for. The staff is super knowledgeable about the beer and would love to help if you want to get out of your comfort zone and taste a smoked or lambic beer you’ve never tried before. Great for families, friends or late-night drinks, Bad Apple is always a go-to spot.

— David Nickell

Maria’s Packaged Goods (960 W. 31st St.) in Bridgeport excels above the rest with a modern, trendy beer hall and sweet patio that focuses on Chicago and Midwest breweries on tap, while also carrying special Marz brews, since it’s owned by the Marz brewing family. There is a cool history there with that family, and that neighborhood, too, that comes to life in the bar. Maria’s also sells packaged beer, and the attached restaurant (Kimski) serves a fusion of Polish and Korean food, a tribute to the owners’ parents.

— Dan Ochwat

The Green Lady (3328 N. Lincoln Ave.) always has a great draft list and friendly bartenders. It’s a comfortable setting, never overly crowded, and dog friendly. Trivia nights and free darts too.

— Adam Taylor

TagsBad AppleBridgeportBucktownChicago craft beerClark Street Ale HouseDaisy CutterHalf Acre BreweryLincoln SquareLinks TaproomLogan SquareMap RoomMaria's Packaged GoodsSmall BarThe Green LadyThe Real ChicagoWicker Park
Previous Article

Shop Around the Corner: Personalized to perfection, ...

Next Article

Chicago’s Inside Scoop: Christmas and holiday events ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • We Ask, They Answer

    We Ask, They Answer: Q&A with Sapori Trattoria owner/chef Tony Barbanente

    March 11, 2017
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • The Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: When playing host in Chicago, how much can you pack into one weekend?

    October 14, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: Second City’s “Legendary Laughs” uses imaginative audience participation to create a hilarious night out

    March 23, 2017
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General Features

    Chicago’s best burgers: Food blogger Kit Graham’s favorite spots for a fantastic burger in the city

    December 4, 2018
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: The Goodman’s “Support Group for Men” is comedic therapy for navigating through what it means to be ...

    July 7, 2018
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Chicago Insider

    The Chicago Insider: Jennifer Gillette

    January 16, 2012
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    An ode to good beer: The welcome influx of Chicago craft breweries

  • Around TownGeneral FeaturesOther Recent Articles

    Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • Around TownOldThe Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
© Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.