6 of the Best Breweries in Chicago: A Guide for Craft Beer Lovers

Located in Bowmanville (North Side), this brewery is a stone’s throw away from Chicago’s famous Oakwood Beach and features a wide range of beers at any given time. They are known for their nitro coffee milk stout that has been voted best of its style by RateBeer three years running. Some other favorites include Angeleno IPA (their flagship), Blueberry Blonde Ale, Fisticuffs Red Sour Ale, Skully Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Coconut & Cherries, and Stone Fruit Sour – which is made using peaches grown in nearby Michigan. The average price for a pint hovers around $7, but there are plenty of options above and below. They also offer happy hour specials.

This brewery is also located on “Malt Row”, in Ravenswood, and offers a dog-friendly patio and beer garden that’s perfect for a pit stop on an evening stroll with your pet. They focus on brewing traditional German, Czech, and Belgian style ale, including Dark Day Double Oatmeal Stout with Coconut & Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans, and their house special, Dovetail Pale Ale brewed with Centennial hops. If you have a chance, try their homemade German pretzels—a perfect compliment to a tasty tankard.

Originally located in the Naperville suburb, this brewery recently opened a new location in Logan Square. Dive décor and wood paneling a north woods Wisconsin vibe. Their taproom features 20 different beers including some very unique barrel aged options like Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Brown Sour or Imperial Stout. They also are known for beers like Sanguine Blood Orange IPA and Behemoth Barleywine Ale, aged in Kentucky Bourbon barrels. This ultra-casual destination is already making waves, so give it a try if you’re in the area.