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

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.

5 under the radar breweries
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5 under the radar breweries

These five Chicago breweries may not be household names yet, but they deserve more attention

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15 best pumpkin beers
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15 best pumpkin beers

Love it or hate it, it’s hard to escape the rush of pumpkin beer

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Which Bourbon County Brand Stout to drink
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Which Bourbon County Brand Stout to drink

The cult beer is back

10 Midwestern fall beers to drink
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10 Midwestern fall beers to drink

Among the many fall brews, clear winners rise to the top

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Session beer taste test
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Session beer taste test

2015 is most assuredly the Summer of the Session Beer

The best beer gardens in Chicago
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The best beer gardens in Chicago

There's no better place to spend Chicago summer than a beer garden

Unexpected spots for great craft beer
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Unexpected spots for great craft beer

These are some of the most surprising places you’ll stumble across a great beer

9 bars with liquor stores
Bars

9 bars with liquor stores

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

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Chicago brewery tours
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Chicago brewery tours

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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Best beer bars

Beer bars for every kind of beer-lover

Midwest radlers
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Midwest radlers

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

Time to grow up, breweries
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Time to grow up, breweries

Enough with the controversial names and labels

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Beers to drink on Thanksgiving
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Beers to drink on Thanksgiving

We asked beverage directors and bartenders to help

Brewmasters carve out their own styles
Bars

Brewmasters carve out their own styles

These brewers stand out from the crowd

Mom-and-pop liquor stores stock great beer
Bars

Mom-and-pop liquor stores stock great beer

Our favorite liquor stores with notable craft selections

Sofie pairs well with (almost) every food
Bars

Sofie pairs well with (almost) every food

The local saison paired with asparagus, Roquefort and more

Drink this now: Midwest beer reviews

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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Two Brothers’ Domaine DuPage

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

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
Bars

Penrose Brewing

Former Goose Island employees open a brewery in Geneva

Spiteful Brewing’s Imperial GFY Stout
Bars

Spiteful Brewing’s Imperial GFY Stout

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

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Comments

1 comments
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Jordan J Spammer

Hey. I just left a religion in which I wasn't allowed to have any alcoholic beverages. I think I've learned a lot about craft beers from your guide. Thanks so much! I'm hoping that my first experience with beer will be fantastic!  

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