To be recognized as a craft brewery, a beer manufacturer must produce less than six million barrels a year, its ownership must be at least 75% independent (aka, not a major alcohol industry member) and there’s got to be some innovation at play when it comes to flavor or production. Between 2011 and 2016, the number of craft breweries in Illinois more than doubled. There are roughly 200 craft breweries in the state today, and beer lovers can find seven of the best in Chicago.
Dovetail Brewery in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood emulates the cozy, family-owned brew pubs of continental Europe. The owners, two certified master brewers who met in Munich and discovered a mutual love of Bavarian ales, approach beer making as an equal mix of art and science. The space is dog-friendly and patrons are invited to bring their own food, as only small bags of pretzels and sausage are available for purchase. Tours are given on Saturdays, with three delicious beers included in the price. With ten unique craft beers to choose from, it’s impossible to go wrong. We suggest the Hefeweizen, a fruity wheat beer, during the summertime, and the X01, a funky new concoction and Dovetail’s first bottled beer, to spice up winter months.
You’ll be surprised at how many unique brews Begyle Brewing Company offers once you step inside. The quaint brewery is located just a block away from Dovetail, with a smattering of tables in an airy industrial space. The pub is modeled after Community Supported Agriculture groups (CSAs). As a Community Supported Brewery (CSB), Begyle offers members a certain amount of craft beer every month at a discounted price. This drive to build a strong sense of community around the brewery is evident in the venue’s laid-back, friendly vibe. Patrons are invited to bring their dogs and families along (there’s a Skee-Ball machine with $1 games in a small back room, which can keep people of all ages occupied for an afternoon). Try the Can’t Find a Bitter Man, an English-style Pale Ale, or the Imperial Pajamas Coffee Stout, a rich beer with notes of cherry and chocolate.
With one location in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood and another in West Edgewater that just opened in September 2017, Half Acre Beer Company is on a roll. It’s the brainchild of founder Gabriel Magliaro, who set up the company in 2006. Initially producuced from a brewery in Wisconsin, Half Acre established its current brew house in 2009. In 2010, it became the first craft brewery in Chicago to can its beer. The taproom in West Edgewater also features a garden and Sunday brunch menu. There are seven beers Half Acre commits to having on hand year-round (Daisy Cutter is a popular choice among Chicagoans). Otherwise, if you’re visiting between April and August, order a Vallejo India Pale Ale. And, for anyone looking for a sweet, delicious Double IPA, try the Navaja, available between January and June.
If a culinary combination of craft ales and fine cuisine is what you’re looking for, look no further. DryHop Brewers in Lakeview is a lively spot for both unique beers and artisanal dishes. There’s a long bar for those looking just to sip, and a large dining area for patrons to enjoy some of the delicious menu items DryHop offers. Most of the beers brewed here celebrate hops and are sold exclusively in Chicago. With a list of 272 different beers (yes, 272!) brewed in-house, you’ve got to trust this venue knows what it’s doing. Brant Dubovick, the master brewer at DryHop, doesn’t shy away from unconventional flavors when he brews his beer. Try the Shark Meets Hipster, an American Pale Ale with notes of hibiscus, or the Milkstachio, a dark, bitter Milk Stout that’ll be gone before you know it.
Hopewell Brewing is a delightfully bright and cheery brewery in Logan Square, with a vibe that could almost be described as modern kitsch. There’s communal seating throughout the airy space and large windows look out onto Milwaukee Avenue. Kids and dogs are welcome, along with outside food as the brew pub doesn’t serve its own. Tours are offered every weekend, but be sure to get there early to secure a spot. You can always find Hopewell’s Swift IPA, a citrusy ale, the Family Saison, reminiscent of champagne, and the crisp First Lager on tap. The venue also offers seven rotating seasonal brews and recently starting selling specialty brews in bottles. Our bottle recommendation: The Take Care, a honey saison beer brewed with local honey from Heritage Prairie Farms.
This popular brewpub located in Chicago’s hip, bustling Logan Square neighborhood is the state’s largest independently-owned brew pub. Owner Josh Deth’s first foray into the world of craft brewing came in the mid-1990s with stints working at local breweries, and after spying the perfect location on Chicago’s Milwaukee Avenue and spending a long three years raising funds and dealing with red tape, he set up Revolution Brewing in 2010. A production brewery and taproom was added in 2012, and today the venue produces around 50 different beers annually including Great American Beer Festival Award winners Cross of Gold and A Little Crazy. Plus, the menu is out of this world. Try the bacon fat popcorn or the mussels made with a seasonal Revolution brew.
Named after the Haymarket Affair in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, a worker’s uprising that led to the stipulation that work days should only last eight hours, Haymarket Pub & Brewery serves all types of hard workers. Pete Crowley is the head brewer and has earned 75 awards for his work in craft brewing during his career. Specializing in classic Belgian and contemporary American brews, Crowley opened this brew pub in Chicago in late 2010 and it has since scooped two gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival. The venue offers ten of its own house-brewed beers (including Crowley’s American Irish Stout and the chocolate malt and coffee-flavored Cuppa Joe Hill Coffee Porter) alongside a selection of craft beers and ciders from other brewers and regularly takes part in local events such as Chicago Craft Beer Week. There’s something for everyone at Haymarket.
