Ravinia Brewing Company | Flight of the Rooster

Have you ever had a beer that changed your mind about that entire style of beer? I’ll admit, I’m a fan of a huge variety of beer styles and I’m usually try something new. That said, Saisons have never done it for me. I’d go as far as to say I despise them but that feels a tad dramatic.

This opinion quickly changed at the recent Square Roots Festival in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Like most summer street festivals, this one had no shortage of food and drink options. To really show off, Square Roots Festival had a “Brew Lounge” for attendees to try more “exotic” options, which happened to be mostly local to the Ravenswood neighborhood (how exotic). It was there that I tried Flight of the Rooster by Ravina Brewing Company.

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Pipeworks Brewing | Jones Dog Sundae: A Stout for Summer

Jones Dog Sundae from Chicago’s Pipeworks Brewing Company is a stout made for summer drinking. This sweet milk stout with natural flavors comprised of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry was brewed to be the boozy, liquid version of Neapolitan ice cream — the perfect warm weather treat!

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Chicago Quick Sips | December 11

Quick Sips is our way of highlighting beer events, tap takeovers and other notable beer news around the city of Chicago. If you’d like to submit something to be included in the next Quick Sips, please email us at [email protected].

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The Curious Case of Nisei Lounge, the Oldest Bar in Wrigleyville

Nisei Lounge is one of the most unique dive bars on the Northside, and it’s also one of the best spots to grab a beer near Wrigley Field. Opened back in 1951, Nisei Lounge was around long before craft beer took hold of the bar scene and smack dab in the middle of the Cubs’ 108 years of mediocrity. Enter the present: Nisei Lounge still has the same toilets it had when it opened over 60 years earlier but has also added some new elements like five new flatscreen TVs and a new affinity for local craft brews that makes the local joint more than appealing for a loyal Cubs fan or everyday Chicago craft beer lover. Read More

Revolution Brewing’s Deep Wood Series is Coming to Cans

It has been a busy week for Chicago’s largest independently owned brewery. After announcing the exciting news that they will officially begin distribution to Michigan starting August 21^st, Revolution Brewing recently announced even better news for craft beer lovers: the expansion of their Deep Wood barrel-aged brew series into cans.

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Ultimate 6er | Best Beers for a Cubs Game

Attending a Chicago Cubs game is an experience. From the bars to the fans to the field, Wrigley Field overwhelms the senses. One thing that has not been traditionally overwhelming near the stadium: the craft beer selection – until now. Thanks to the newly built Lucky Dorr, neighbor GreenStar Brewing and a concerted effort from Clark Street bar owners to stock more craft beer options, it is now easy to sip on some local craft beers before cheering on the 2016 World Champions.

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Event Preview | Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival

Chicago’s Northside has become a hot bed for quality craft beer which means there are a lot of good options to choose from and not enough time to try everything.  But fear not beer lovers, Halsted’s Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival is here to help by offering an impressive lineup of beer from 21 different breweries, all in one event.

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Event Recap | Square Roots Festival 2016

Chicago in the summer is well-renowned for its weekly street fests, so to survive and prosper, a festival has to provide a unique experience. After attending this year’s Square Roots Festival, on Sunday, July 10th, my girlfriend Yajaira and I understood just why this festival was worth its stature among the litany of successful events.

Located across the street from Welles Park, on Lincoln Ave between Montrose and Wilson, Square Roots Festival is an event hosted by the Old Town School of Music and the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. Known for its array of music and craft beer this fest did not disappoint.

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Event Preview | 4th Annual Tribes Beer Fest

It’s no surprise that Tribes Alehouse and Beer Company was founded by a former chef – Niall Freyne. A good chef is a master visionary, able to transform individual ingredients into a well-composed dish. In that spirit, Niall is particular about every single beer served at Tribes – and there are tons of them. He said, “If I haven’t met with someone I won’t sell it. I want people to care about their client.” Each beer fits his vision for Tribes as a craft beer haven, and it’s a vision that has people coming back again, and again… and again. Read More

Brewery Showcase | Great Central Brewing Company

Breweries have been accumulating in Chicago faster than snow during a vortex style blizzard. Many of those up and coming new breweries exist in buildings that offer limited potential for physical growth. But, brewing success leads to a greater demand, so what happens when the demand exceeds supply? Or, for brewers that haven’t yet found their own space, where can they brew? That’s where Great Central Brewing Company (GCBC) comes to the rescue (opening in fall, 2016).

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Event Recap | 2016 Chicago Beer Classic

Those in attendance at Saturday’s 2016 Chicago Beer Classic should have a greater appreciation for Chicago Bears’ kicker Robbie Gould. The swirling winds created some unique challenges for the festival held at Soldier Field. The breweries struggling to keep their signs from falling down and SWAG from blowing all over the field, could only imagine what it’s like to kick a 50-yard field goal in those same conditions.

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Chicago’s Atlas Brewing is now Burnt City Brewing

Macrobreweries are buying craft breweries. Breweries are fighting over names and labels. All this “business talk”  may shock, annoy, and upset craft-beer aficionados, but let us not forget, that beer … Read More

Inside the Tank: Half Acre Beer Company’s Matt Young

Half Acre Beer Company is a mainstay for any Chicago craft beer enthusiast. A consistent array of year-round, seasonal and special-release beers make one of the oldest craft breweries in … Read More

Inside the Tank | Pipeworks’ Gerrit Lewis

If you’ve walked into any beer store in Chicago, and now Colorado or New York, you’ve probably seen a Pipeworks beer. Known for their unique artwork and clever names, their beers have become well-known in the city and are sought after by craft beer fans in other states. From big IPAs to a barrel-aged program that is gaining notoriety quickly, Pipeworks Brewing Company is one of the best-known breweries in Chicago. They just moved into a massive new facility recently, so I went out there to talk with Co-Founder and Brewer Gerrit Lewis.

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Editor’s Picks | My Favorite Chicago Beers from 2015

As 2015 comes to an end I wanted to look back at all the great beers I drank that came out of Chicago this year. The Windy City has become a booming craft beer city up there with Denver and Portland. With so many craft breweries popping up, there is no shortage of fantastic beer to try here.

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