Full menu

The following pubs serve a full menu.


18th Street Brewery  David Honorable Mention Full menu WiFi available Children friendly Brewpub. New entry in the Guide in 2020 Dog friendly Bottle shop

Just a short ride outside of Chicago in NW Indiana is 18th Street Brewery. Super talented brewers with a kitchen to match. Close to 50 breweries in Chicago proper but if you choose just outside the number almost triples. Next door is their distillery. I believe Sour Note Brewing, also in Hammond Indiana is related to 18 St. Make the trip, you'll not be disappointed. Can also combine with a stop at Three Floyds in Munster, Indiana. Fairly close by.


All Rise Brewing  Full menu Closed Monday Open 11am or earlier Brewpub. Bring your own food Growler fills available

Attached to the Cobra Lounge. Lots of events including Bikes and Burlesque in the warmers months. Sponsor a three day motorcycle oriented fest each summer. In an area that includes several other breweries. Haven't tried the food but I have seen people eating it and they looked happy! Nice pub food menu.


Alulu Brewery and Pub  David Honorable Mention Full menu WiFi available Brewpub. Dog friendly Bottle shop Growler fills available On the To Do List

One of the best breweries to visit during the pandemic(and summer). They have engineered outdoor drinking and eating to adapt to Chicago winters. Enormous, expansive outdoor seating area, reasonable safe protocol, and a large menu of beer and food. As they share the area with a sushi restaurant, the food choices double. Make the trip, it's well worth it. Small two storied brewpub in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. They make their beer onsite on the second floor and for a small operation they make some great lagers, saisons, IPAs and others. Food is very good with daily specials. As with many breweries, time has made Alulu a great brewery as they have gotten beer brewing down to an art.


The Bad Apple  David Honorable Mention Full menu WiFi available Children friendly Has an unusual or regional beer on tap.

Excellent sandwiches, burgers, salads with tasty vegan and veggie options. 25 taps which change with good consistency.


Now Cultivate which is an offshoot of Forbidden Root Michelin Starred Restaurant and unusual but excellent brewery


BiXi Beer  Full menu WiFi available Children friendly Open 11am or earlier Brewpub. Has an unusual or regional beer on tap. Growler fills available

Large rooftop deck makes this an option in these times. I have read that a brewer from Three Floyds has taken over the responsibilities. Will report back. Have not tried the food but on a recent bicycle ride stopped in and they were nice enough to let me sample many of their beers. In wine and beer reviews you see ingredients and flavors that we never taste. Bixi's beers showcased each and every flavor and ingredient they advertised in the beer. If they said cardamom, you tasted it. I will make it a point to go back and do some serious tasting!


No longer with bowling but back open in the new District Brew Yards brewpub.



Brewpub from celebrity chef (Rick Bayless). great beer, great food


Few places where you can sit steps from the beach and get some food and a good drink. Not the best beer selection but you will find something you want to drink and the food is edible. Super nice staff. Open in the spring summer and fall meaning it it closed most of the year. Let's call it May thru September. Lots of times music in the evenings.


DryHop Brewers  Full menu Open 11am or earlier Brewpub. Growler fills available

Nice space with food and beer, affiliated with Corridor


Women owned beer and cider pub. Interesting mix of cider and beer cocktails. People rave about the food and the cider is in many of the breweries I visit.


Loads of taps with an ever changing menu. Food is edible but beer list is great. Lots of local beers with a good smattering of harder to find not so local ones. Lots of sports on teevees. Walking distance from downtown chicago. If you are in town for a convention or just want to go one place to check out Chicago's beer scene this could be a choice.


Botanical Brewery with eclectic food. Seem to do a lot of collaborations especially with Collective Arts. Really good beer and in a neighborhood loaded with restaurants, shops and other places to get a drink. Across the street from Alcala's one of the best western shops you will find that is not in the west. Want boots and beer.?


NOW CLOSED. Neighborhood pub/restaurant with great selection of beers and Scotch whiskies. Great rooftop deck.


Goose Island Brewery  Full menu WiFi available Children friendly Open 11am or earlier Brewpub. Growler fills available

1st brewpub in Chicago now big beer but still good.


Organic brewery inside a high end coffeeshop/restaurant called Uncommon Ground. Nearest brewpub to Wrigley Field.


Half Acre Beer Co - Balmoral  David Honorable Mention Full menu WiFi available Children friendly Closed Monday Brewpub. Dog friendly Bottle shop Growler fills available On the To Do List

Larger facility than Lincoln Avenue with extensive menu and great beer. Address is for the front of the building but entrance is around the back. Big outdoor garden for the summer months (dog friendly)and comfy child friendly inside for all year round(not dog friendly). Right around the corner from Spiteful. A favorite brewery of mine.


Sadly the original home of Half Acre Brewery has closed down after 13 years and all the operations have be moved to the Balmoral facility a few miles north. The good news is that Hop Butcher Brewery will be taking over the space and opening their first brick and mortar facility.


Older brewery, always a crowd, food, poetry, beer and more. Try the beer go elsewhere to eat because in that neighborhood you have some of the best food in Chicago all within walking distance. The Haymarket refers to the area but more specifically the Haymarket Riots which were a large part of the birth of the labor movement. Look it up and learn!


Hopleaf Bar  David Honorable Mention Full menu WiFi available Has an unusual or regional beer on tap. Specializes in Belgian Beers Specializes in Czech/Slovak Beers Specializes in German Beer Specializes in Italian Beers

Before you could get a selection at most places Hopleaf was the place to go. Started off as one the best beer centric bars in Chicago way before the craft beer thing. Specializing in Belgian beer they then opened a Belgian restaurant which ultimately expanded to another open storefront. Good food, great beers. Belgian beers rule here. Do not bring the kids because they do not not allow them at anytime. Still as good as ever,,,,


Brewpub off the beaten path but worth the ride


Jerry's   Full menu WiFi available Children friendly

Now closed. Was a Grateful Dead themed sandwich shop with a great collection of beers. shawarma!


Jerry's  Full menu WiFi available Children friendly Open 11am or earlier Has an unusual or regional beer on tap.

Grateful Dead themed sandwich shop with a great collection of beers. Located in Lincoln Square, right on the square. Very child friendly. Great Food!


Local Option Bierwerker  Full menu WiFi available Brewpub. Has an unusual or regional beer on tap. Specializes in Belgian Beers Specializes in Czech/Slovak Beers Specializes in German Beer Growler fills available

Neighborhood bar/brewpub in a space where you not expect it. Specialize in German style beers but their guest list is well thought out with good variety. Kitchen closed on Monday. Menu looks great!


Brewpub in a nice green industrial space. Lots of ipa variety and others.


Marz Community Brewing A David top pick  David Honorable Mention Full menu WiFi available Closed Monday Brewpub. Bottle shop Growler fills available

Brewpub with creative brews and a great space well worth the extra effort to visit. Lots and lots of creative beers with an emphasis on combining interesting ingredients. In the vicinity of White Sox Park in the Bridgeport neighborhood. Good light menu as well. In the process of opening a Bucktown location.


Large space that brews in house with good food and pretty good beer. Kid friendly, sports on TV, and friendly staff. Went back a second time and was impressed with the variety of the beer list.


Brewpub by Horse Thief on far south side of Chicago with good collection of beer and foods.


Pizza and Beer Brewpub and does well at both. (started by a member of Cheap Trick)


Brewpub with great food and one of Chicago's favorite spots. The also have a spot at 3340 N Kedzie Ave. which is a large comfy beer hall with indoor bike parking and a full saelection of their beers!


Very good beer selection / OK food. Lots of youth in a large space. Good for before and after a cubs game as it is right down the street.


Neighborhood pub with good food and small but well thought out beer list. Good food, great beers


NOW CLOSED. Think meat and beer. Small but great beer menu and great food. Burger with brisket on top and other great things to eat


Une Année / Hubbards Cave  David Honorable Mention Full menu WiFi available Children friendly Closed Tuesday Brewpub. New entry in the Guide in 2020 Has an unusual or regional beer on tap. Specializes in Belgian Beers Bottle shop On the To Do List

Great Brewery, actually two in one. Une Année captures the essence of what Belgium beer is as good or better than anywhere I have been. Hubbard's Cave includes IPA's and Stouts to name but a couple. Always worth the journey and the journey from Chicago is about to get a bit shorter as the move to a new facility is imminent. This is the first brewery/taptroom included in this Chicago guide because it is worth the effort. In addition to the taproom there will now be barbecue centric food. Huge list of beers to go. Make the effort. You will be glad you did.


Village Tap  Full menu WiFi available Has an unusual or regional beer on tap.

Bar and Restaurant with great beer selection and good food. Nice comfortable place to drink and eat well. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Plenty of parking. Local sports on TV


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