Categories: Nightlife
Bars for Beer Lovers
Author: Constance Cooper
For the best beer bars in America, Chicago is your town. A variety of brews from all over the world can be found in the Windy City.
Thirsty? Beer aficionados, you have come to the right place. Chicago boasts some of the best tap houses on the planet. In fact, the only problem a “beer geek” will face in the Windy City is figuring out just where to begin. So we’ve done the figuring out for you and put together a tour of the best beer bars in the city, starting with the bar closest to downtown and working our way north and west from there.
First off, you’ll need a taxi. Chicago’s best beer bars are, alas, not concentrated in any one area and are not easily accessible by public transit. But cabs are plentiful in Chicago, and many cabbies won’t even need an address. The bars are that well-known.
Our first stop is in Chicago's River North neighborhood at Clark Street Ale House. With 25 taps and 50 bottle selections, Clark Street’s well-thought-out, Midwest-centric beer list is nothing to sneeze at. Clark Street is unique in that a heady, hoppy cask-conditioned brew such as Two Brothers Heavy Handed IPA or Three Floyds Alpha King is always available on the hand pump. The biggest draw, however, is the location – just a five-minute cab ride from the heart of downtown. Come early in the evening, on a full belly. The bar gets crowded and does not serve food. Neither does our next stop…
It’s a bit of hike to this “Traveler’s Tavern,” as the Map Room is billed, and a bit out of our way. But one of Beer Advocate’s “Top 10 Beer Bars in the Country” is well worth the trip. Part beer hall, part coffee house, The Map Room serves 27 beers on tap and a dizzying collection of over 200 bottles, as well as coffee, espresso and lattes brewed with fair-trade beans roasted by Chicago’s famed Intelligentsia Coffee Company. Decorated with oversized maps, old books and globes galore, the Map Room stays true to its travel theme. Situated at the intersection of a number of arsty neighborhoods, local hipsters flock to the Map Room and accentuate the eclectic décor. Chicago’s famed “Mr. Tamales” may stop in, as he often does, selling four of his warm, homemade, corn-wrapped treats for $5. If your will is strong and your hunger pangs not too great, buy them. They’re delicious. But save them for later. No one can eat just one tamale (trust us), and dinner is at our next stop.
Onward and upward to the pinnacle of your Chicago beer experience. The Hopleaf has arguably the best Belgian beer selection in all of North America. But it’s hard to say who the star of the show at The Hopleaf is - the beer or the food. A popular hangout among the upscale restaurant industry crowd, the city’s most celebrated chefs often spend their after-hours at The Hopleaf.
Often called “Chicago’s original gastropub," although owner Mike Roper eschews the title, the Hopleaf’s endlessly-creative, no-fuss-all-flavor approach to contemporary cuisine will change the way you define haute dining and the environment in which “great” meals are served. For the true Hopleaf experience, try pairing Belgian ale-steamed mussels with Kwak, a full-bodied beer with a distinctive glass that resembles a Medieval scientific apparatus. Kwak is one of the Hopleaf’s most popular beers, and you’ll find these glasses littering the tables of the always-busy bar.
It’s getting late, and it’s time to wind down and head back downtown – but not before we curl up for a nightcap in the funky, freaky and utterly inviting dark little cave that is Delilah’s . With 16 draft lines, 250 bottled beers, and 400(!) whiskeys, Delilah’s is the ripe little cherry on our beer tour sundae. You never know quite what you’ll find at Delilah’s – a rare bourbon tasting, an indie film screening, the frenetic beats of a psychobilly DJ. And not knowing is half the fun. But you’ll always find an endless selection of rare and wonderful liquid delights. Delilah’s cadre of coiffed and tattooed bartenders is eager to help you navigate the winding maze of the extensive beverage menu, and remarkably adept at doing so. Or, if your palate is worn out and your pocket running low, Delilah’s offers nightly bar specials (think $1 cans of PBR) to suit even the most exhausted taste buds and budgets.
At last, it’s time to head back to the hotel. Be sure to call your cab at least 20 minutes in advance of closing time, as most bars in the city close at the same hour and taxis can get scarce. Sitting in a cab’s backseat, all lazy and satiated, you’ll watch the city lights fly by as you slide into downtown - knowing that you’ve seen a side of the “real Chicago” that most tourists don’t even know exists. Back in your hotel room, you can lay down your weary head - and, with visions of hop leaves dancing in your head, dream of your next visit to the great epicurean playground that is Chicago.
Check out places of interest near Bars for Beer Lovers:
Cans Bar and Canteen
1640 N. Damen Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60647
Bucktown favorite Cans Bar and Canteen serves 34 different canned beers as well as premium liquor, wine, and various bottled beer. The locals crowd mixes with high-end tourists looking to get a taste of one of Chicago's coolest neighborhoods.
Elephant & Castle
160 E. Huron St.,
Chicago, IL 60611
At this English pub in Chicago, expect a mix of traditional English pub fare and American menu items are served here; English-style breakfast is also a draw.
Elephant & Castle
111 W. Adams St.,
Chicago, IL 60603
At this English pub in Chicago, expect a mix of traditional English pub fare and American menu items are served here; English-style breakfast is also a draw
Granite City Food & Brewery
14035 S. La Grange Rd.,
Orland Park, IL 60462
Serving up Chicago brewpub fare in the western suburb of Orland Park, Granite City gets the job done with burgers and flatbread pizza appetizers--along with a number of high-quality brews.
10pin Bowling
330 N. State St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
This hip, nightlife-centered Chicago lounge features 24 bowling lanes and an extensive martini list. Edible fare here is served from a small plates menu, perfect for sharing.
Alumni Club
871 E. Algonquin Rd.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Bamboo Room
616 E. Golf Rd.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
South Pacific-inspired lounge, with nightly DJs.
Big Chicks
5024 N. Sheridan Rd.,
Chicago, IL 60640
The colorful Uptown bar caters to a mostly lesbian and gay clientele but is very straight-friendly.
Blue Chicago
536 N. Clark St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
Sample the sounds of the sultry saxophone, the bold bass, the thundering trumpet and the daring drum beats at Blue Chicago, one of Chicago's best blues clubs. Open seven nights a week, Blue Chicago features some of the best names in blues and jazz.
Cans Bar and Canteen
1640 N. Damen Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60647
Bucktown favorite Cans Bar and Canteen serves 34 different canned beers as well as premium liquor, wine, and various bottled beer. The locals crowd mixes with high-end tourists looking to get a taste of one of Chicago's coolest neighborhoods.
Granite City Food & Brewery
14035 S. La Grange Rd.,
Orland Park, IL 60462
Serving up Chicago brewpub fare in the western suburb of Orland Park, Granite City gets the job done with burgers and flatbread pizza appetizers--along with a number of high-quality brews.
Mad River Bar and Grille
2909 N. Sheffield Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60657
Mad River Bar and Grille offers an assortment of beers, cocktails, specialty drinks and more.
10pin Bowling
330 N. State St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
This hip, nightlife-centered Chicago lounge features 24 bowling lanes and an extensive martini list. Edible fare here is served from a small plates menu, perfect for sharing.
