4 Chicago Breweries You Must Visit

Photo via Flickr/Anne Petersen

So you need a brew with that deep dish pizza? No worries. Chi-town pours out enough craft beers to soak up the thickest crusts. The city hosts dozens of breweries, many with tap rooms and tours to showcase the brewing process. In fact, Chicago practically overflows with brewpubs, beer stores and beer bars that focus on locally produced beers, ales and lagers. This list highlights the more iconic breweries that boast either a long history or an association with a historic location.

Goose Island Brewery

The grandaddy of all the trendy brewpubs that have recently popped up, Goose Island started as a single brewpub in 1988 and for decades, asking for a Chicago craft beer was the same as asking for Goose Island. Today, Goose Island has expanded into an empire that includes  a brewery that pumps out scores of small batch beers as wells as several brew pubs. Popular picks include the Bourbon County Stout Barleywine, Goose IPA  and Green Line Pale Ale.

Revolution Brewing

Illinois’ largest independent brewery, Revolution Brewing  is a Chicago institution that anchors the bustling Logan Square neighborhood. Founder Josh Deth worked as a brewpub brewer at Goose Island before opening Revolution in 2010. Today, the brewery includes a brewer’s lounge, tap room and production brewery where they produce 50 different types of beer. Favorites include Workingman Mild and Anti-Hero IPA.

Gino’s Brewing Company

Yes. The legendary Gino’s East  deep dish pizza has added a brewery to wash down the hefty pies. Located on the first floor of Gino’s River North location, Gino’s Brewing Company features an impressive rotation of house brewed beers on tap as well as an intriguing beer pairing menu. Besides the expected pizza pairings, there’s also fish & chips to go with the La Salle St. Lager and a bacon marinara meatball sandwich to sip with Hold Onto Your Bagpipes Scottish ale.

Haymarket Pub & Brewery

Located near the spot where the tragic Haymarket Affair took place, Haymarket Brewery is located in a 100-year-old, historic building that honors the tragic events that placed Chicago in the center of the labor movement. The brewery features 10 house brewed varieties that reference the Haymarket events including Speakerswagon Pilsner, Mother Jones Belgian Abbey Dubbel and Lizzie’s Simcoe Double I.P.A. The brewery also hosts the Local 737 Beer Drinkers Union  customer loyalty program. And during non-Saturday home games for the Blackhawks, the brewery sponsors two free shuttles to and from the game.

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