Sip Niche Beers at Chicago's Top 10 Craft Breweries

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 both an art and a science, blending traditional brewing methods with innovative and playful flavors. Pretzels and cheese flights are available for the peckish, but Dovetail is also BYOF (bring your own food), so assemble a spread of chips and dips or order a pizza for your group. Stop by on a Saturday to take a tour of the brewery and enjoy three glasses of beer included with the cost of the ticket.

Begyle bills itself as a community-supported brewing company thanks to its popular subscription service that sends members a new growler or two every six months to a year. The space is dog- and family-friendly, and there are a couple of Skee-Ball machines in the back room for tipsy competitors to enjoy. Try the Sunny Afternoon, a citra-hopped pale ale with tropical fruit notes (perfect for summer sipping), or opt for the Imperial Pajamas Coffee Stout, a rich beer with notes of cherry and chocolate, which includes beans from Passion House Coffee Roasters. And if you like yoga, stop by on Sundays at 11am for a Vinyasa class followed by a refreshing beer.

The Moody Tongue philosophy is all about culinary brewing: applying a chef’s mindset, with the most creative flavors and highest quality ingredients, to creating beer. (Brewmaster Jared Rouben has a background in Michelin-star dining.) Visit the tasting room, housed inside a former glass factory, and you’ll get an elevated brewery experience in every regard, from the impeccable service to the flavorful beers and a small, thoughtfully curated food menu including oysters flown in daily, baguettes and sausages, and a 12-layer German chocolate cake.

Sip and dine right alongside huge metallic fermentation tanks at Corridor Brewery and Provisions. Director of brewing operations Brant Dubovick ensures there’s an ever-evolving list of drafts, from hop-heavy IPAs to sparkling saisons and fruity sours. Corridor is also a full-fledged restaurant, so whether you’re in the mood for a “beer bite” like doughy pretzels, or something more substantial – say an artisanal pizza topped with BBQ pork or leek and goat cheese – it’s worth putting your name down for a table (the brewery doesn’t take reservations).

The beers at DryHop are, as the name suggests, heavy on the hops. Try the Vegan Zombie, a crisp citrus-y brew with a hint of bitterness, or the Sour Patch Kits, a collaboration with Lincoln Park Zoo, with notes of blueberry and a lip-smacking tartness. The food menu here was conceived with beer in mind, so expect dishes that pair well with your pint, including honey sriracha wings, cranberry bratwurst and a pappardelle pasta in a garlic cream sauce with sugar snap peas and sun-dried tomatoes. Finish with a skillet cookie and a growler to go.

Frank Lassandrello, the head brewer of Motor Row, learned the tricks of his trade while at college in Vermont, creating home brews with his roommate. It wasn’t until 2007 that Lassandrello partnered with his son and purchased a space in Chicago’s historic Motor Row neighborhood to start his own legitimate brewery. Try the company’s four flagship beers – an IPA, a lager, a Belgian blonde and a schwarzbier – or dabble in the seasonal brews, including the award-winning Crimson Vienna – a caramel, hoppy lager with a crisp finish.

With walls covered in blonde wood and decor accented in forest green, Hopewell Brewing’s taproom is lighter, airier and less industrial-feeling than most craft breweries. Long tables fit for communal sipping fill up quickly with large groups of friends and family (kids and dogs are welcome), so get there early. On tap, you’ll always find Hopewell’s Swift IPA (a citrus-y ale) and the crisp, refreshing First Lager. The brewery also offers seven rotating seasonal beers and specialty brews in bottles, including the Stonethrow – a wild ale aged in oak barrels and flavored with sweet Michigan-grown peaches.