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Chicago craft beer guide

From small local brewers to liquor stores with great craft beer selections, the Chicago craft beer scene is hopping

By Amy Cavanaugh Posted: Monday December 21 2015

The selection of radlers at The Radler.
Photograph: Martha WilliamsThe selection of radlers at The Radler.

Sometime in the past few years, the Chicago craft beer scene took off. No longer content to drink macrobrews from other midwest cities, Chicago brewers started churning out beers in a variety of styles, from IPAs to sours to radlers. Whether you want to take a brewery tour, learn about which local beers to drink, or just find a great beer bar, we've got you covered.

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Sit down for a drink, then grab a six-pack to bring home

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Chicago brewery tours
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Which are worth your time?

14 breweries for growlers
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14 breweries for growlers

Fill up a growler with local beer at these area breweries

Best beer bars
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Beer bars for every kind of beer-lover

Midwest radlers
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Local breweries are making their own versions of the easy-drinking beer

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Time to grow up, breweries
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Enough with the controversial names and labels

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Brewmasters carve out their own styles
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These brewers stand out from the crowd

Mom-and-pop liquor stores stock great beer
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Mom-and-pop liquor stores stock great beer

Our favorite liquor stores with notable craft selections

Sofie pairs well with (almost) every food
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The local saison paired with asparagus, Roquefort and more

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Brown & Stirred
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Brown & Stirred

Pipeworks and Longman & Eagle team up for a Manhattan beer

Une Annee’s Enkel
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Une Annee’s Enkel

Une Annee’s tart new beer is available in a 500ml bottle, a rarity in the Midwest

Only Child Brewing’s Eat Your Damn Vegetables
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Only Child Brewing’s Eat Your Damn Vegetables

The former beer director for the Grafton now runs one of the city's smallest breweries

Two Brothers’ Domaine DuPage
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Domaine DuPage is a classic, and there's a reason why

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Off Color Brewing's Dino S'mores
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Off Color Brewing's Dino S'mores

All that's missing is the campfire

Eataly’s Fl!p
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Eataly’s Fl!p

Eataly's new beers include this cardamom-laced brew

Penrose Brewing
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Penrose Brewing

Former Goose Island employees open a brewery in Geneva

Spiteful Brewing’s Imperial GFY Stout
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Spiteful Brewing’s Imperial GFY Stout

A new beer from the Ravenswood brewery packs a very bitter punch

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