The best brewery tours in Chicago

You'll get to taste three of Dovetail's beers during this lengthy (and super-informative) tour, but the most interesting moment comes when participants are asked to sample three different types of water. Dovetail uses reverse osmosis to try to replicate the water of Pilsen, the Bohemian city where the pilsner beer was born—the resulting liquid is noticeably different from what comes out of the average Chicago tap. The European-style touches don't end there; you'll also see a giant steel tub that is used to expose wild beers to natural bacteria in the air and a copper kettle that's more than 100 years old. When the tour is over, continue pretending that you're in Germany with a radler and a pretzel in Dovetail's taproom.

Booze included: Three .3L pours selected by the tour guide and a complimentary .3L Dovetail glass.

Tours: The third Saturday of every month at noon. First come, first served. $30.

This isn't where Goose Island got its start (that'd be the original Clybourn brewhouse) but plenty of beer has been brewed here since the facility opened up in 1995. After meeting in the adjoining taproom, you'll make your way through a tour of the brew deck, fermentation cellar, packaging line, innovation brewery and barrel-aging program. Beer is being made 24/7, so you're nearly guaranteed to spot some brewers hard at work.

Booze included: You'll sample a variety of beers during the tour. Afterwards, you'll take home a free pint glass.

Tours: Every Friday through Sunday at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. Reserve a spot here. $15.

Founded by a Deadhead homebrewer who used to follow Phish on tour (hence the name), this West Town brewery has been a critical darling since taking home two medals at the Great American Beer Festival in 2017. Tour participants will learn about the old warehouse they're standing in (which once housed a boiler manufacturer), taste the raw grains that go into On Tour's beer and reminisce about Trey Anastasio guitar solos over a few post-tour samples.

Booze included: Three five-ounce pours and a glass to take home.

Tours: The first Sunday of every month at 1pm. Reserve a spot here. $15.

It takes about 45 minutes to hear all about this Logan Square brewery and get a closer look at its brewing facility, most of which is visible through the windows in its taproom. Still, it's interesting to see how an operation as small as Hopewell manages to keep its tap lines full in addition to bottling and canning some of its beers. If you want to learn a lot about brewing without walking very far, this is the tour for you (just don't forget to wear closed-toe shoes—they're required).

Booze included: Three sample pours.

Tours: Every Saturday at 4pm. First come, first served. Book a spot here. $15.

Don’t have a ton of time? Fundamentally against paying money for a walk through an industrial factory? Don’t need any more glassware or a ton of beer thrown at you during a tour? The Revolution tour at the Kedzie facility is for you. It goes backward, beginning in the 40-degree cold room where packaged beer stays chilled before going to a distributor. From there, you see a wall lined with pallets of empty cans, touch on the grain milling process, then walk through the brewhouse where you’ll see the brewing system. It may sound cursory and quick—and it is—but not every tour needs to be an encyclopedia of beer knowledge.

Booze included A can of "walking beer" to sip during the tour and a sample at the Innovation Station. You'll also get a free keepsake glass at the end.

Tours: Every Saturday at 1:45pm, 2:45pm and 3:45pm. Reserve a spot here. $15.

Established in 1988, the Goose Island Brewhouse is an elder statesman of the city’s (heck, the country’s) craft beer scene. Such credentials translate to a 45-minute tour that's packed with history and culture, and tastings of some well-known beers, not to mention a sweet take-home (a logo pint glass!). If you're looking for a more comprehensive look at Goose Island's brewing process, check out the tour of its Fulton Street Brewery.

Booze included: Several beer samplings and a commemorative glass.

Tours: Every Friday through Sunday at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. Reserve a spot here. $15.

Evanston ended its status as a dry town in the ‘70s, but it wasn’t until Temperance Beer Co. came along in 2013 that the northern suburb gained its first craft brewery. Today, it remains a pillar of the local beer scene, providing folks with an inviting place to pick up a growler or hang out for a few hours. In the warmer months, you’ll want to stick around after the tour to take advantage of the patio and food trucks that swing by. 

Booze included: Three beer samples and one souvenir Belgium glass to take home.

Tours: The third Saturday of every month at 3pm. Book a spot here. $10.

About an hour west of the city is where you’ll find this brewery that specializes in Belgian-style beers. Started by ex-Goose Island employees, Penrose offers award-winning pours like Goofy Boots—a hazy IPA with intense hoppy flavors and notes of candied lime, ripe peach and dried mango—alongside wild beers and experimental small batch releases such as an imperial pastry stout (Neapolitan) and a kettle sour (Session Sour). During the 45-minute tour, you’ll walk through the brewhouse, fermentation cellar and packaging area to see how it’s all produced.

Booze included: One pint of beer, and you get to keep the glass.

Tours: Every Saturday at 3pm. Reserve your spot here. $10.

Even if you’re just grabbing a beer at the bar, Miskatonic Brewing’s taproom offers a close-up view of the tanks and action. The Darien brewery doesn’t limit itself to one style so you can expect everything from a kettle sour with plum (Plum Long Tongue Liar) to a cinnamon mocha imperial stout (Dungeon Master: Gelatinous Cube). The tours are private—requiring a six-person minimum—and include a guided tasting.

Booze included: Four five-ounce samples and your choice of a 12-ounce pour.

Tours: Contact Miskatonic to schedule a date and time for a private tour. A two-to-three-week notice is typically needed. $35 per person.