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Chicago Brewery, Distillery, and Winery Tours

Taking tasting tours to a whole new level, from our family to yours, we’re here to serve as your all-in-one destination for every occasion.

The Barrel Run was crafted to deliver an unparalleled touring experience. Our team, with extensive backgrounds in engineering and service, brings you an exceptional journey in a truly unique vehicle. Leveraging our deep knowledge of Chicago’s vibrant breweries, distilleries, wineries, and rich gangster history, we offer an insider’s view that’s a cut above the rest.

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Experience the diverse flavors of Chicago on our exciting public tour of breweries and wineries.

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Elevate your corporate events with our exclusive brewery, winery, and charter tour experience!

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The Barrel Run® operates two Barrel Buses® / Barrel Trolleys® with capacities of 22 and 36 passengers. The wood staves, steel hoops, and curved shapes resonate with the feeling of a real barrel. The copper and brass handrails, lights, and accessories mimic the classic equipment used in the brewing and fermenting process. The vertically opening door was engineered to envision hidden cellars of the 1920’s prohibition era. The configuration of the Barrel Bus® / Barrel Trolley® is registered [as a service mark] in [the] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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What Our Clients Think of The Barrel Run

This was a great experience. As a recent college grad, I thought this would give us a nice buzz for the morning. We got a lot more than that. We had David as our driver. He made the ride…

I have to say The Barrel Run was amazing my entire group had a blast and could not be happier with our experience. I highly recommend everybody to check this out and I Guarantee, you guys will not be…

Amazing experience. We had a terrific tour guide in Ted. The Barrel Run Bus is a great way to see Chicago while partaking in some great brewery tours. Highly recommended!

Fun experience. Wish the breweries gave a little more information about their beers, 2 of the locations just gave use samples and that was it, no explanation or background. Also would be nice if we could pick beers we…

Had a great experience touring on Barrel Run with the wifey. Learned alot about the amount of brewing factories in Illinois. Also our tour guide/driver Ted made it fun and we enjoyed his narration.

Danielle and the Barrel Run team were excellent to work with. Throughout the entire planning phase, Danielle was very responsive and open to working with us on all our ideas for the day of. The Barrel Bus showed up…

We had the great luck of being able to book The Barrel Run for transportation around the city on the day of our wedding. David was an absolute pleasure to work with and made things simple and carefree for…

The tour was a great time, even for a Chicago local. We got this as a gift for the holidays, and it was a super fun time! We got lots of delicious beer samples and even got to try…

I had an incredible time! I run a brewery tour in Oklahoma City, and it was really nice to be on the other side of the tour, enjoying beer and good times. I highly recommend it and would do…

Ted was a rockstar, and we had a FANTASTIC six-month dating anniversary. We're already planning when we can hit the wine tour!

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Craft Brewery Tours and More in Chicagoland, Illinois

Designated driver discounted tickets available.

Chicago has a legendary history of brewing great beer. For nearly two centuries, brewers have been producing beer for sale in the windy city…and well beyond.

These days, over 200 craft brewers continue the tradition by creating a large number of classic and modern beers in downtown Chicago and the suburbs.

Let Chicagoland Brews Cruise show you why Chicago has become an incredible beer destination by introducing you to the amazing craft beverages being made in Chicago and the surrounding area.

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Chicagoland brews cruise vintage cap, private and corporate tours.

Take your group on board the Chicagoland Brews Cruise and let our local experts show you around. 

Your specialized tour could visit local sites for everyone to participate in fun activities. It could incorporate a round of golf, a visit to a historical site, live music, and many more options.

With these private tours, we can be flexible on start times and pick-up and drop-off locations.

Let us know about any specific places that your group would like to visit. We will do our best to accommodate them on your private tour. We love trying to make the impossible possible! Learn more…

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Chicagoland Private Tour

Perfect for groups of all sizes. Check out our customizable private and corporate tours!

PUBLIC TOURS - Offered mid-March through December 23rd

• Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Best of the West Brewery Excursion – Our Most Popular Tour!

Hop on our Brews Cruise bus for a trip through some of the hottest brewery destinations in the Western ‘burbs.

• Clock 3 Hours
• Beer, Wine, and Spirits

Sunday Afternoon Countryside Cruise – starts at Geneva Metra Station

This tour has something for everyone, winery, distillery and brewery!

• Clock 4 Hours

ABOUT CHICAGOLAND BREWS CRUISE

My name is Kirk. I am a craft beer enthusiast from Batavia, IL who is passionate about the talented brewers and the success of the growing brewing industry in the Chicagoland area and across the Midwest. 

After years spent in the corporate world, I have decided to leave that behind and partner with the Brews Cruise group to pursue my passion. 

My vision is to help establish the Chicagoland area as a recognized destination for great craft beer. 

Tour Partners

What do people think about Chicagoland Brews Cruise?

We booked for a birthday party event. Kirk was easy to work with scheduling and accommodating us non beer drinkers! Got to experience Auqaviva, whiskey acres and obscurity. The ride to each venue was fun! Full of facts and trivia. My whole group thoroughly enjoyed Kirk and his wife Kathy. I will definitely book again with them 😊 thanks again!!

Thank you so much, Kirk, for making this very special trip -- The Best of the West -- happen while we were in Chicago for a conference. It was a real highlight for us, everyone was so accommodating, and that neon green hazy NEIPA is definitely something we will never forget!

We went on the best of the west tour. We had a great time! We went to AfterThought for our first stop since Noon Whistle had their Oktoberfest going on. It was a great smaller brewery with delicious saisons. After that we went to Alter in Downers Grove and got a tour of their facility. After that, we finished at Whiskey Hill. It was a great way to taste two breweries I have not been to and didn’t have to worry about driving. I’ll be taking more tours!

Had a great time on the Best of the West tour! Each brewery gave generous samples and a personalized experience discussing their brewing process and beers. Even got a behind the scenes tour! Kirk made the ride to each stop entertaining with some beer history and trivia. Perfect outing idea if you have some friends that want to get together and enjoy some great beer.

We received a Groupon for this event so we picked the Sunday Countryside. Very easy to meet up, hop on the bus, and get seated. The guides were so nice and accommodating, kind and knowledgeable! They even did a little trivia on the bus ride to make the ride more smooth. A bonus they had water and pretzels for the in between rides, and our ticket included tips at the locations too. We will be back to experience the other routes!

I booked Brews Cruise for a private outing and everyone had a great time! Kirk led the tour and he was extremely knowledgeable, interactive, and helpful to answer random beer/brewery questions. They take care of everything and coordinate with each brewery ahead of time so we were immediately seated at our own table with flights ready to be served. The Wrigleyville tour is a great way to experience Chicago and Chicago beer. Thanks Brews Cruise!

We booked it for a bachelorette party and we all had a blast! Krik was such a great guide, making the trip very enjoyable. He was able to accommodate the whole party and I could not recommend this tour more! The breweries were wonderful and they were all set up and ready for us. Will deficiently be booking again with him!

I booked the "Best of the West" tour in the western suburbs for a bachelor party and can say it was a blast! Kirk and his wife were great, accommodating, and set up a very nice experience and ride. Would recommend!

A more than fun afternoon! We scheduled and went on the Best of the West Brewery Excursion - Lombard. We met up with Kirk, our guide and an amazing craft beer enthusiast, at Noon Whistle Brewing where we had our first flight of the tour! Kirk is not only knowledgeable, he is fun, engaging and insightful. Our last stop on the tour was Whiskey Hill Brewery where Head Brewer, Eric Flores, hand picked and served us a 4 beer flight and then joined us to share about the beers and the brewery! We look forward to our next tour with Kirk and Chicagoland Brews Cruise! Cheers!

Chicago Brewery Tours: Complete Guide to Tickets, Prices, Inclusions, and Timings

Chicago is a vibrant city with a rich history, beautiful architecture, and a diverse culture, located on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Known for its craft beer culture, Chicago offers a fantastic food and beverage experience.

A brewery tour is one of the best ways to explore this scene. These tours let you taste the city’s best brews and learn about its brewing heritage.

Whether you’re a beer lover or just looking for a fun way to discover Chicago, a brewery tour is a great opportunity to enjoy top-notch beers and learn about the city’s brewing history.

This article provides everything you need to know before buying your Chicago brewery tour tickets.

Table of contents

What to expect on the brewery tour.

Brewery tours in Chicago take participants through the city’s most celebrated breweries, offering an insightful journey into the world of craft beer.

Led by knowledgeable guides, these tours cover the details of beer production, the brewing process, and the art of beer tasting.

You’ll explore iconic breweries that have significantly influenced the city’s craft beer revolution, with highlights including opportunities to meet and interact with brewmasters.

Each venue offers unique charm, from trendy modern taprooms to historic brewpubs, enhancing the overall experience.

Chicago’s rich brewing history, dating back to the 19th century, is also featured on these tours. You’ll learn about the city’s beer culture and its impact on Chicago’s social fabric.

Bikes, Bites, and Brews: Chicago’s Signature Dishes Bike Tour

Experience the best of Chicago’s food and neighborhoods on a half-day bike tour covering about 13 miles (21 km).

A knowledgeable guide will lead you comfortably through Wrigleyville, Old Town, Lincoln Park, and Gold Coast.

Whether you choose the day or night tour, you’ll visit popular spots like a bakery, pizza shop, hot dog stand, and two breweries to sample local flavors.

On this tour, you’ll taste the city’s famous deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, cupcakes, and craft beer while learning about the history and culture of each area. Your guide will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

The price includes samples at one bakery, hot dog stand, pizza shop, and breweries.

Timings and duration: The tour will commence at 11.30 am and 5.30 pm and last around 4 hours.

Ticket Price (16+ years): US$90

Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour

Experience Chicago’s vibrant brewpub scene on a guided brewery tour. You’ll visit unique breweries, sample a variety of craft beers, and get a detailed tour of a brewing production facility.

Learn about the brewing process with step-by-step explanations while savoring an array of beer samples throughout the tour. Transportation is provided in a Prohibition-era-styled barrel bus, adding a fun historical touch to your journey.

Join this guided tour of Chicago-area breweries to enjoy numerous beer samples and gain an in-depth understanding of the brewing process.

Timings and duration: The tour will commence at 11 am and 3 pm and last around 4 hours.

Ticket Price : US$100

BYOB Spray Paint ‘n’ Sip at Studio W.I.P. Chicago

Experience a unique and creative urban art workshop that offers an in-depth education on graffiti and street art.

Choose from multiple class times and attend the Chicago studio, where skilled instructors and guest artists will teach you various styles and techniques, including stenciling and spray painting.

By the end of the class, you’ll have the opportunity to create your artwork on canvas to take home.

This one-of-a-kind class welcomes individuals of all skill levels and experience. You can also bring your beverages to enjoy while practicing and painting.

Timings and duration: The tour will commence at 1 pm and last around 2 hours.

Ticket Prices

Adult (13+ years): US$45 Child (10 to 12 years): US$40 Infant (up to 10 years): Free

Private Speakeasy Pub Crawl in Chicago with Local Historian

Step back into the 1920s with a guided tour of Chicago’s historic speakeasies.

A local historian dressed in period attire will lead you through secret entrances once used by notorious figures like Al Capone.

You’ll visit famous speakeasies still in operation today, enjoy prohibition-era cocktails (at an additional cost), and hear captivating tales of bootlegging and racketeering.

Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off are included, and participants are encouraged to wear period attire to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

Timings and duration: The tour will commence at 11 am and last around 4 hours.

Ticket Price : US$880

Popular tours in Chicago

# Food tours # Pizza tours # Brewery tours # Dinner cruise # Cooking classes

Tips for making the most of your brewery tour

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your brewery tours in Chicago:

• Before the tour, familiarize yourself with the breweries you’ll visit and learn about their specialties, brewing philosophies, and unique features.
• Arrive on time to maximize each brewery visit and ensure you don’t miss out on exclusive experiences.
• Drink responsibly during the tour. Pace yourself, consider opting for smaller sample sizes, and remember you can purchase your favorite beers to enjoy later.
• Be open to trying different beer styles. Brewery tours offer a diverse range of beers, providing an excellent opportunity to expand your palate and discover new favorites.
• Capture moments with photographs. This will help you remember the breweries you visited and the beers you enjoyed.

FAQs about brewery tours in Chicago

Here are some general frequently asked questions about Brewery Tours in Chicago.

What is a brewery tour in Chicago?

It is an organized and guided excursion that takes participants to various breweries in the city. During the tour, attendees get the opportunity to learn about the brewing process, sample a variety of craft beers, and gain insights into Chicago’s rich brewing history and culture.

What can I expect on a brewery tour in Chicago?

On this tour, you can expect to visit multiple breweries, where you’ll meet brew masters, learn about the ingredients and brewing techniques used, and taste a diverse selection of craft beers. The tour also includes behind-the-scenes glimpses into the brewing process and opportunities to ask questions to enhance your understanding of craft beer.

Are brewery tours in Chicago suitable for everyone?

These tours are generally suitable for adults of legal drinking age who are interested in craft beer and the brewing process. While some tours may allow participants under 21 to join without drinking, checking with the tour operator beforehand for any age restrictions is essential.

How long do brewery tours in Chicago typically last?

The duration of these tours can vary depending on the tour package and the number of breweries visited. Generally, tours can last anywhere from two to four hours; some may even span an entire day for more extensive experiences.

Do I need to be a craft beer expert to enjoy a brewery tour?

Brewery tours cater to a wide range of participants, from beginners to seasoned beer enthusiasts. The guides and brew masters are usually eager to share their knowledge and make the experience enjoyable.

Can I purchase beer during the tour?

Many brewery tours in Chicago offer the opportunity to purchase beers directly from the breweries visited. This allows participants to take home their favorite brews and support local breweries.

Are brewery tours in Chicago wheelchair-accessible?

Most tours strive to be inclusive and accessible to all. However, checking with the tour operator in advance is advisable to ensure that the locations visited are wheelchair-friendly.

Is transportation provided during the brewery tour?

The provision of transportation can vary. Some tours include transportation between breweries, while others require participants to arrange transportation. It’s essential to review the tour details to know what is included.

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Check out all the things to do in Chicago

This article was researched & written by

Jamshed V Rajan

He is a two-faced traveler, who enjoys both the hustle-bustle of an urban holiday and the serenity of a break from the rest of the World. During some of his vacations, he is a resort hopper, and on others, he barely spends time in his hotel. He loves to try mouth-watering local cuisines, especially non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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Chicago Reader

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The ultimate guide to Chicago brewery tours

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The craft beer boom of the past several years has gifted Chicago with much more than some really fine suds. A dizzying number of new breweries have become the creative homes of brewers who’re taking a kind of auteurist approach to making inspired, sometimes unconventional beers using recipes that seem limited only by their creators’ imaginations. Nearly two dozen of those breweries in and around the city offer regular tours, giving the public the chance to drink in the distinctive culture around each brewery—and an excuse to drink lots of freshly made beer.

In addition to this guide, the Reader is also offering an opportunity for you to come with us on a crawl of brewery tours (to On Tour Brewing Company, Greenstar Brewery, Dovetail Brewery, and Begyle Brewery) on Saturday, April 8 .

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Temperance Beer Company

Best for: joining the new temperance movement

The name of this congenial taproom and brewery in a onetime Montgomery Ward distribution center is an homage to Evanston’s status as a formerly dry city and home to the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. Founder Josh Gilbert, who led the one-hour, three-beer tour when I took it, says the city still doesn’t issue straight tavern licenses, so food service is a necessity, though the snacks are so limited you’re free to BYO or order in. We imbibed a stout redolent of s’mores, an IPA, and a licorice-and-chicory-flavored porter from the taps while Gilbert showed off the big, shiny cylinders and contraptions with which 80 barrels of water, hops, malt, and yeast are boiled, fermented, chilled, and (in some cases) canned, every week. —Deanna Isaacs

2000 Dempster St., Evanston, 847-864-1000, temperancebeer.com . Second Saturdays, 1 PM. 60 minutes. $10, includes about 18 ounces of beer; book tickets online. Taproom on site. Limited food menu served.

Sketchbook Brewing Co.

Best for: a DIY feel

“Where do hops come from?” asked a woman on my tour of Sketchbook in Evanston. “I mean, they don’t just grow in the ground.” In fact, that’s exactly what they do, which brewer and co-owner Cesar Marron patiently explained without missing a beat. He also informed us that while most hops are grown on the east or west coast, Sketchbook uses Wisconsin-grown hops, along with grain malted in Michigan. The nanobrewery was best known for its alleyway entrance when it first opened three years ago, but as of last April, there’s a cozy taproom in an actual storefront on Chicago Avenue where you can sit down for a pint after the tour (in fact, it’s included in the price). —Julia Thiel

821 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-859-9051, sketchbookbrewing.com/tours . Second Saturdays, 3 PM. 60 minutes. $10, includes 24 ounces of beer during the tour and afterward a 16-ounce pour in the tasting room and a Belgian glass; sign up on location. Taproom on site.

Tasting notes: There are nine trillion yeast cells in a typical batch of Sketchbook beer.

Empirical Brewery

Best for: beer geeks who’re also cat lovers

Empirical’s impressive 30-barrel brewing system was made in Wisconsin. I remember this fact in particular because my tour happened to also be attended by a pack of bachelor-party bros from Milwaukee who loudly cheered and chugged their beers at every mention of their home state. A friend and I made a similar ruckus at another stop: the cat tower, located in a storage area that, with a dart board and a couch, doubles as the brewers’ break room. Empirical is home to three feral cats (Egon, Ray, and Venkman) who help keep rodents out of the grains. Don’t worry: the cats have no interest in the ingredients. In fact, they spend most of their time sleeping in an attempt to ignore the loud beer guzzlers who invade their home on Saturdays. The brewery’s motto is “exploring the science of beer.” On a pair of whiteboards, brewers map out the chemistry behind their beer and experimental formulas to come. At least one new beer is served in the taproom every week. —Brianna Wellen

1801 W. Foster, 773-654-3104, empiricalbrewery.com/tours . Saturdays 12:30 and 2 PM. 45 minutes. $10, includes 16 ounces of beer and a pub glass; sign-up for 20 spots begins in taproom at noon. Taproom on site.

Metropolitan Brewing

Metropolitan Brewing’s public tours (which have always been sporadic) are currently on hold while the brewery moves into a much larger space in Avondale. Plans for the new location, expected to open later this year, include a taproom and tours.

metrobrewing.com

Lake Effect Brewing Company

Best for: home brewers with a dream

Lake Effect Brewing is a home-brewing operation that grew a little too large and got kicked out of the house into an industrial space next to a costume shop near the Kennedy Expressway. The tour has the same sort of homemade feel. While brewer Clint Bautz goes about his business making beer, Ken Leja (billed on the company website as “master fixer and all-around handyman”) shows off various tanks and tubs and barrels and outlines the brewing process. Despite the low-key setup, Lake Effect offers a broad and sophisticated range of stouts and ales, and you can sample as much as you like. (Our favorite was the Arbor Oak Amber, made with oats from the Morton Arboretum.) For a more formal tasting from real glasses, the brewery suggests heading over to Sidekicks half a mile east on Montrose. —Aimee Levitt

4727 W. Montrose, 312-523-5141, lakeeffectbrewing.com . Saturdays at 2, 3:30, and 5 PM. 30 minutes. Free; reserve online in advance up to an hour before tour.

Tasting notes: If you stop by often enough and Lake Effect’s staff take a liking to you, you may be invited to join in the semiregular bottling parties, wherein they bottle the beer and stick on the labels all by hand. (They agree this is work a child would enjoy, but labor laws prevent that.)

Half Acre Beer Company

Best for: making a day of it

Half Acre’s newer, larger Balmoral facility (where the Daisy Cutter gets made) is not yet open to the public, but the original North Center brewery has transitioned into an experimental facility focusing on new and unusual methods, everything from decoction mashing to wild fermentation to barrel aging, as well as collaborations with other breweries and classic micro styles. The three-hour tour covers brewery history, method, and the future. Afterward you can suck on a Vallejo while shopping for hoodies and money clips in the retail shop, or chase one of chef Nick Lacasse’s burritos with an Akari Shogun American wheat ale. —Mike Sula

4257 N. Lincoln, 773-248-4038, halfacrebeer.com/lincoln-tours . Saturdays 11 AM. 180 minutes. $10, includes 48 ounces of beer and a pint glass; arrive by 10:15 AM to wait in line. Taproom on site. Food served.

Tasting notes: Every few days a dairy farmer from Indiana named Ed picks up tens of thousands of pounds of Half Acre’s spent grain to use as supplemental feed for his cows.

Dovetail Brewery

Best for: experts who think they’ve seen it all

Dovetail’s German-style beers are particularly appealing to beer nerds, but plenty approachable for the layperson. The same can be said of its brewery tour: one of the owners—either Hagen Dost or Bill Wesselink—details what sets Dovetail apart from other breweries, like its coolship and open fermentation vessels. But even if those terms mean nothing to you, other parts of the tour are interactive and easy to understand. A water tasting lets you compare Chicago tap water with versions that have been filtered through charcoal or treated with a reverse-osmosis system; there are also opportunities to smell hops pellets and taste different varieties of malted barley. You can see the lambic-style beers bubbling out the tops of their barrels. And the beer samples—three ten-ounce pours—come fast enough that we often ended up double fisting. The only people likely to be disappointed are those who have their heart set on drinking IPA (which the brewery doesn’t make). —Julia Thiel

1800 W. Belle Plaine, 773-683-1414, dovetailbrewery.com/events . Saturdays at 11 AM and 1 PM. 60 minutes. $15, includes 30 ounces of beer; sign up on location. Taproom on site. Food served.

Tasting notes: Dovetail has a 110-year-old copper kettle from Munich that was originally part of the pilot system for Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world.

Begyle Brewing Company

Best for: dad jokes

Begyle’s tour of its converted factory north of the Irving Park stop of the Brown Line is a blast because it includes three beers and the guides—Tony Thompson and Ethan Link—are a couple of jokesters. Sample quip: “If you’re a micro biologist, does that mean you only know a little bit about science?” You’d be surprised how funny things like that sound after three beers at one o’clock in the afternoon! I’m no beer expert, but I took my home-brewer pal Tim, who favored an American pale ale called Free Bird. Susan, who was also on my tour, swears by the Neighborly Stout, a smooth-drinking dry stout. Conveniently, the Timber Lanes bowling alley is around the corner on Irving Park, so you can bowl off a few calories after the tour. —Ben Joravsky

1800 W. Cuyler, 1E, 773-661-6963, begylebrewing.com . 90 minutes. $10, includes 24 ounces of beer and a glass; book in advance on eventbrite.com . Taproom on site.

Greenstar Brewing

Best for: locavores scared of GMOs

As the first certified organic brewery in Illinois (and one of only two in the state today), Greenstar serves up some of the most unadulterated beer in Chicago. Alas, there are only two ways to get a taste of Greenstar beer: on a tour of the brewery or while on a visit to its sister restaurants, Uncommon Ground, all of which are owned by Michael and Helen Cameron. The beer is brewed near Uncommon Ground’s Wrigleyville location with locally sourced ingredients and piped directly to that restaurant’s taps. (It gets to the Edgewater location in kegs.) While the tour of the production facility—seven steel tanks in a 1,200-square-foot storefront—is rather brief, it’s led by Greenstar brewmaster Martin Coad with an air of both authority and levity. Between detailing the sobering realities and dark secrets of macrobreweries, Coad also instructed tour attendees to take a swig every time he said the word “beer.” We obliged. —Maya Dukmasova

3800 N. Clark, 773-929-3680, uncommonground.com/greenstar-brewing . Saturdays at 1 PM. 20 minutes. $10, includes a pint of IPA and a glass; check in at Uncommon Ground.

Revolution Brewing Kedzie production facility

Best for: chilling out

Before the start of the tour of Revolution Brewing’s 90,000-square-foot Kedzie Avenue production facility—a mile and a half north of its Logan Square brewpub—Janet Jackson was blasting on the stereo, Speed was playing on a pair of TVs, and all of the tourgoers received a can of the Belgian-style pale ale A Little Crazy. We even briefly met the man pictured on the can, Matt, one of the company’s brewers. Revolution may come across as loose and fun, but the tour makes clear it’s also serious about sustainability. It relies partly on solar-panel energy, most of its hops are sourced from Wisconsin and Michigan, and it sends spent grain to farmers who use it for animal feed and soil. It’s refreshing to see that kind of commitment to the environment from a beer company. —Danielle A. Scruggs

3340 N. Kedzie, 773-588-2267, revbrew.com . Wednesday-Friday 6 and 7 PM, Saturday 3, 4, 5, and 6 PM, Sunday 2, 3, and 4 PM. 40 minutes. Free, includes 12 ounces of beer; show up early and sign in with a bartender in the taproom. Taproom on site.

Tasting notes: Revolution’s canning system was once used by RC Cola; it produces 300 cans per minute.

Hopewell Brewing Company

Best for: keeping things short and sweet

It doesn’t take long to see Hopewell’s brewery: all the brewing equipment is contained in one room, visible from the tasting area through a large window. After handing out cups of Swift, Hopewell’s flagship IPA, our chipper, engaging tour guide led us around the 20-barrel brewhouse, noting that when the tanks arrived they turned out to be just a bit too tall to fit into the room (a problem solved by cutting the feet off the tanks). In addition to a brief overview of the year-old company, which employs a grand total of seven people, she offered one of the most concise explanations of brewing I’ve ever heard: starch releases sugar, and sugar plus yeast spits out alcohol. After covering the essentials, she finished up with a couple of stories illustrating how supportive the craft brewing community is, concluding: “Beer people are happy people. Who’s ready for more beer?” —Julia Thiel

2760 N. Milwaukee, 773-698-6178, hopewellbrewing.com/tours-2 . Saturdays at 5 PM, Sundays at 3 PM. 30 minutes. $10, includes 28 ounces of beer; sign up at the bar in the tasting room. Taproom on site.

Tasting notes: Instead of filtering the beer, Hopewell has a centrifuge (as the tour guide called it, a “fancy-ass piece of equipment”), which is really unusual for a brewery of its size.

Off Color Brewing

Best for: appreciators of smart-assery

Taking a brewery tour at an operation like Off Color—a utilitarian workspace, with no accommodations for the public beyond a tiny bottle shop near the front door—is a little like watching backstage footage of a great band. Because you already love the music (or in this case, the beer), the mundane, behind-the-scenes business of the people who make it becomes compelling—it’s fun to pick up on their quirks and feel like you understand why they approach their work in the way they do. The Off Color folks don’t allow their professionalism to get in the way of their self-effacing, smart-assed wit or their big goofy hearts: on this tour, you can find a tacked-up holiday card of the crew in animal onesies (they’re especially fond of dinosaurs) and walk among beer tanks named after dearly departed pets (including Pixel, Bubba, and Waffles). —Philip Montoro

3925 W. Dickens, 773-687-8245, offcolorbrewing.com/tours . Saturdays at 1 and 3 PM. 60 minutes. $10, includes 18 ounces of beer; buy online in advance up to an hour before tour.

Tasting notes: One dollar from the sale of every bottle of Off Color’s Class War, a new large-format Gotlandsdricka that was released on inauguration day, will be donated to the ACLU. It’s available for $10 in the brewery’s bottle shop.

Goose Island Beer Company

Best for: experiencing awe

If you want to feel small, go to Goose Island’s production brewery and crane your neck up until the tops of the shiny stainless steel fermenters soaring above are visible. Then wait for your tour guide to tell you that those aren’t even the big ones: the largest fermenters, each of which hold 460 barrels of beer (nearly 12,000 gallons), don’t fit inside the brewery—they extend past the ceiling to the open air above. The tour includes plenty of other impressive facts, along with a history of Goose Island that starts with the company’s founding in 1988 and highlights its pioneering use of bourbon barrels to age beer back in 1992, but skips right over its 2011 sale to Anheuser-Busch InBev, the largest brewing company in the world. Many of the taproom offerings, though, are decidedly noncorporate: there are several wild sour ales, a Belgian-style saison brewed with peppercorns, and a cask of Belgian-style quad. The company’s Clybourn brewpub is currently undergoing renovations but will also offer tours when it reopens this summer. —Julia Thiel

1800 W. Fulton, 800-466-7363, gooseisland.com/fulton-wood . Thursdays 3, 4, 5, and 6 PM; Fridays 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 PM; Saturdays 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 PM; Sundays 1, 2, 3, and 4 PM. 60 minutes. $12, includes 12 ounces of beer and a pint glass; book online in advance. Taproom on site.

Tasting notes: Goose Island’s 143,000-square-foot barrel warehouse currently holds 120,000 barrels of beer and is the largest barrel-aging system in the world.

On Tour Brewing Company

Best for: Phish heads

In the wake of Chicago’s brewery gold rush of the last five to seven years, what’s so refreshing now ain’t the added hops. Nope—it’s a lack of pretension. As some breweries attempt to outdo one another with sours infused with guava and dark chocolate and triple IPAs brewed with moon rocks, On Tour, as founder Mark Legenza will tell you, just wants to make good, solid beer devoid of gaudy flair. The On Tour tour, much like the industrial West Town building in which it’s conducted, is low-key and laid-back. As we snaked around the brewery’s five tanks, Legenza broke down the history of the building—for about a quarter century, it housed the Hudson Boiler and Tank Co.—and passed around cups of grains to gnaw on and hops to huff. The tour began and ended with mini lectures in the brewery’s open but cozy boardroom, with attendees asking questions between sipping on complimentary beers. —Kevin Warwick

1725 W. Hubbard, 312-796-3119, ontourbrewing.com . First and third Saturdays, 1 PM. 45 minutes. $10, includes about 16 ounces of beer; book in advance on eventbrite.com .

Tasting notes: The brewery’s name comes from the fact that founder Mark Legenza and his friends have been known to travel around the country following Phish and other bands on tour.

Cruz Blanca Cerveceria

Best for: post-tour taco access

As with each of his culinary endeavors, Rick Bayless logged years of research in Mexico before opening Cruz Blanca, his cerveceria and Oaxaca-inspired taqueria, last May. The chef’s studied approach to food, beer, and the pairing of the two was skillfully communicated on a recent tour of the gleaming Randolph Row building’s relatively modest production facilities. The brewery’s namesake, it turns out, was founded in Mexico City in 1869 by Alsatian immigrant Emil Dercher, who was renowned for using local ingredients and botanicals in his bottle-conditioned beers. Filling our tasting glasses along the way, the guide offered a sweeping history of Mexico—conquest, invasion, European influence—in order to explain how the beer styles head brewer Jacob Sembrano is focused on, from bières de garde to Vienna lagers, ended up in the country. It was enough to make even the common act of drinking a beer suddenly seem miraculous. —Jake Malooley

904 W. Randolph, 312-733-1975, app.anyguide.com/tours/cruz-blanca-brewery-tour-chicago . Saturdays at 1, 2:30, and 4 PM. 60 minutes. $10, includes about 18 ounces of beer; book online in advance. Taproom on site. Food served.

Haymarket Pub & Brewery

Best for: bros who appreciate a good belgian IPA

My tour experience at Haymarket was remarkably disorganized. Though I’d made a reservation in advance, there was no record of it—which turned out not to be a problem, since there was only one other person on the tour. Our guide looked terrified, stammering his way through an explanation of the tiny 15-barrel system on which all of the brewery’s beer is made. He did take plenty of time to sit with us for the beer tasting that followed—but somehow we never got the full pints that are supposed to be included in the tour price. The silver lining is that Haymarket makes excellent beer, some of which, we learned, will soon be available outside the brewpub at retail for the first time ever: a second location opening in Michigan means that before long Haymarket will have the capacity to package and distribute several of its creations in Chicago. —Julia Thiel

737 W. Randolph, 312-638-0700, haymarketbrewing.com/events . 90 minutes. $15, includes 28 ounces of beer; call for reservations. Taproom on site. Food served.

Tasting notes: Haymarket brewmaster Pete Crowley is part of a group of former Rock Bottom brewers who’ve dubbed themselves the Order of the Black Phoenix. Other notable breweries headed up by members of the order include Gigantic, Solemn Oath, Sun King, Surly, and Three Floyds.

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Best for: hedge-fund hippies

An ongoing debate among beer enthusiasts concerns whether or not the ever-expanding Lagunitas empire has a legitimate claim to being a craft beer company—especially since Heineken acquired a 50 percent stake in Lagunitas in 2015 that expanded the California-based brewery’s operations into Europe. But take the free tasting tour at the local outpost in Lawndale and it’s clear founder Tony Magee and his minions still perceive themselves as a 420-friendly, gives-no-fucks kind of outfit. The first half of the tasting tour—not to be confused with the more frequent tasting-free tours—consists of sipping on four samples of hop-forward brews in an area the employees have dubbed the Purple Party Palace that looks like a cross between a college rec room and a San Francisco head shop. Then you grab a beer to drink while an enthusiastic guide takes you around a catwalk two stories above the buzzing brewery floor and gives a quick rundown of what makes the massive 300,000-square-foot facility tick—and the off-the-wall stories behind beers such as Undercover Investigation Shut-Down. —Ryan Smith

2607 W. 17th, 773-522-2097, lagunitas.com/taprooms/chicago . Tasting tours Monday-Thursday 1 and 3 PM, Friday 1 PM. 60 minutes. Free, includes 44 ounces of beer. Taproom on site. Food served.

Tasting notes: Many of the facility’s beer tanks are named after employees’ dead dogs or are Cheech and Chong references.

Moody Tongue

Best for: culinarians

Head brewer Brian Musinski identified himself at the tour’s outset as a “sous chef.” The designation came into focus as he described the so-called “culinary brewing philosophy” of Jared Rouben, the brewmaster who brings his education from the Culinary Institute of America to bear on beer: concocting recipes, sourcing and incorporating ingredients, and balancing the flavors of his brews as if he were a chef creating a dish. Tourgoers shuffled along with a complimentary Moody Tongue-branded glass in hand and blue disposable shoe covers to keep unwanted germs out of the production areas. A swing through the barrel aging room allowed the group to try one of the limited-availability beers, the bourbon-barrel-aged chocolate barleywine. It had enough vanilla and cocoa notes to serve as dessert, and still I couldn’t leave without first trying Rouben’s lauded 12-layer German chocolate cake, which alongside the oysters is one of only two food items served in the taproom. —Sue Kwong

2136 S. Peoria, 312-600-5111, moodytongue.com . Saturdays and Sundays 1:30, 3, and 4:30 PM; private tours also available. 50 minutes. $20, includes 15.5 ounces of beer and a beer glass; make reservations in tasting room. Tap room on site. Limited food menu served.

Best for: art gazing

Baderbräu’s South Loop taproom greets visitors with exposed brick, wooden beams, and a colorful mural by local street artist Brain Killer. The bartender serving beer before the tour began—alas, no complimentary drinks here—would be our guide. Although he was familiar with the brewing process and the building’s history, he admitted that he was new and not the usual docent. His inexperience showed in the rushed pacing as we cruised by the brewing tanks and through the refrigerator room, and he skated over more substantive information about what makes Baderbräu’s approach to beer distinctive. The showstopper award goes to the immense canning machine—tourgoers pleaded with the guide to power up the beast but to no avail. The tour ends in the gallery, across from the taproom, which turns over its art exhibit every three months. —Sue Kwong

2515 S. Wabash, 312-890-2728, baderbrau.com . Saturdays 1, 3, and 5 PM. 20 minutes. Free; arrive before the tour begins. Taproom on site.

5 Rabbit Cerveceria

Best for: those looking to spice things up

The tour of the production facility, located in a remote industrial park, started off awkwardly in the taproom. A ticket entitles you to a beer, but only the 5 Rabbit brews you see in supermarkets, not the more interesting taproom-only offerings. Hurried into ordering a full pint, I saw people getting flights after it was too late for me to take advantage of that more interesting option. Once the tour got going, we learned a lot about 5 Rabbit’s devotion to making beers with flavorings of Central and South America, and how problematic those ingredients can be. The brewer giving our tour talked about the quirks of working with everything ranging from chiles to chapulines (grasshoppers), and having to cook 5,000 pounds of plantains on a small kitchen stove for one brew. —Michael Gebert

6398 W. 74th, Bedford Park, 312-895-9591, 5rabbitbrewery.com . Saturdays at 3 PM. 35 minutes. $10, includes 16 ounces of beer and a pint glass. Taproom on site.

Tasting notes: Using specialty ingredients to make Latin-flavored beer has presented 5 Rabbit’s brewers with difficulties. For instance, in a beer modeled on arroz con leche, getting rice (which has no hull and gets gummy) to go through the pipes turned a one-hour transfer process into seven-hour slog.

Argus Brewery

Best for: a taste of Chicago drinking history

As brewery tours go, the very friendly and informative one offered by Argus drips history: the building was a stable for horse-drawn Schlitz carts circa 1910 and was part of “Schlitz Row,” which offered laborers in dry Pullman every form of vice the working man could want. (At one point a law was passed outlawing drinking on the sidewalk, so a worker would carry a pail of fresh Schlitz to his house.) From the historical overview it’s straight to the tasting room, where there are seven or eight choices on tap, often including formulas Argus is playing around with, like barrel-aged ales. Taste as much as you like and be sure to offer your feedback, as that helps determine what goes into production. —Michael Gebert

11314 S. Front, 773-941-4050, argusbrewery.com . Most Saturdays 12:30, 2, and 3:30 PM. 90 minutes. $15, includes a generous variety of pours and a pint glass; purchase tickets online.

Two Brothers

Best for: gluten-intolerant cyclists

The Prairie Path is the bikeable gravel trail that leads 40 or so miles west from suburban Forest Park almost directly to Two Brothers Tap House in Warrenville, Illinois. Prairie Path is also the name of what is arguably the best (only?) locally made gluten-free beer. Two Brothers bills Prairie Path as “crafted to remove gluten,” a process further explained on a tour of the brewery: After fermentation, brewers add an enzyme to clarify beer turned cloudy by yeast. According to the guide, brewers discovered that this unnamed enzyme also ate away gluten, producing a golden ale with undetectable levels of the wheat, barley, and rye-derived protein. Three free samples are served after the tour; if you’re gluten sensitive, you’ll have to stick to the Prairie Path. Still, while celiac sufferers are a niche market within a niche market, bike-riding beer lovers with a gluten sensitivity have much to celebrate here. —Robin Amer

30W315 Calumet Ave. W., Warrenville, 630-393-4800, twobrothersbrewing.com . Saturdays 1, 2, and 3 PM; Sundays 1:30 PM. 45 minutes. Free, includes 12 ounces of beer. Taproom on site. Food served.

Tasting notes: The enzyme Two Brothers uses to make Prairie Path gluten free is also an ingredient in several of its other beers, which means they also likely have a reduced gluten content. But the brewery hasn’t paid to have those brews certified and tested, so it can’t advertise them as being suitable for people with a gluten sensitivity.

Three Floyds Brewing Company

Best for: finding a reason to visit northwest Indiana

Beer geeks remain so devoted to Three Floyds’ curious combination of comic art, heavy metal, and hop-forward brews that the wait for a table at the brewpub in the middle of an unassuming industrial park in a small Indiana town on a Saturday afternoon can stretch in excess of 90 minutes. The primary utility of a tour of the sizable production facility next door is to ease the boredom of hanging around in the drab parking lot until the host texts you. The 30-minute behind-the-scenes jaunt is somewhat lacking in frills (no beer samples) and rather casual in tone—the equivalent of shooting the shit with Three Floyds’ hard-core hop heads about the secrets of their beloved craft beer while you work up your appetite for the boozy main event. —Ryan Smith

9750 Indiana Pkwy., Munster, Indiana, 219-922-4425, 3floyds.com . Saturdays at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 PM. 30 minutes. Free; sign up on first-come-first-served basis in the brewpub. Taproom on site. Food served.

Tasting notes: When Three Floyds started selling its flagship beer, Alpha King, in 1996, Indiana residents were so used to the watered-down lagers of domestic macrobreweries that they couldn’t take the hoppiness of what is now considered a mildly hoppy beer, so many tried to return it.

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Secret Beer Tasting Tours Chicago

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As we wind through one of The Windy City's most lovely residential areas you'll drink numerous seasonal beers and learn about: how Chicago politics shaped the beer industry; Chicago's gritty rivalry with Milwaukee; the German beer riot, and its long-lasting effects on political partisanship in Chicago city elections; a deadly Chicago theme park; and many more fascinating snippets of our history. We'll dive into the cultural dealings of the area, history before the Chicago fire, prohibition, and beyond!

A thoughtfully curated Upgraded Food Package is available.

• We'll begin with the dynamic ales from a recent startup that has seen great success in its short beginnings.
• We'll then move on to engage with a crowd that helped build the brewing trend in Chicago, and paved the way for the lager-style beer being made worldwide.
• Our midpoint is a quirky bar and restaurant, serving delicious local brews and equally delicious bites (included in the upgraded food package).
• Next we'll stop in on an establishment with a penchant for DIY brewing.
• Finally, we'll end at a rooftop bar with the character of old-world pubs, as we dine on our Secret Dish that pushes culinary excellence to a new level.
• A unique burger with a tangy spread, topped with a fig reduction
• An Asian-inspired take on bone-in wings

* Identification is required and will be checked. We reserve the right to substitute the alcohol for a nonalcoholic drink if the guest becomes inebriated.

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Due to the nature of creating a well balanced and thoughtful gastronomy experience, many of our tours are unable to accommodate certain dietary restrictions. Please contact us prior to booking your tour to see if we are able to accommodate your dietary needs.

Our city goes by many names: The City of Big Shoulders, The Windy City, or The Second City; and its clear Irving Park is another iconic part of the city. The architecture lives in Irving Park, from Victorian mansions to turn-of-the-century bungalows — some buildings even predate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Packed full of great places to drink and craft breweries, this is far more than a beer tour, this is a great way to get first hand experience of the wonders Chicago has to offer.

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You can find the meeting spot here and if it's not clear you can always contact us.

We will be meeting at the north end of the Irving Park Brown Line Station. This will be a walking tour that ends near the Montrose Brown Line Station, one stop north from where we begin. You will be met by your guide carrying a bright orange umbrella, so you can't miss them. »»CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS««

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All guests must arrive on time but if you inform us before the tour starts about being late we can try to assist you by telling you where the guide is. Please call the number on the contact us page. We will try our best, yet we cannot promise that the guide can come back for you. Also, please note that unfortunately we cannot issue refunds.

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The craft beer tour will visit five venues and try eight different beers. The total amount that this would accumulate to throughout the tour would be just under five regular glasses of beer. We highly recommend having a substantial meal before the tour as only one small snack along the route is included.

As the emphasis on this tour is on alcoholic beverages, this tour is not suitable for families with children under 21. However our food tour is child and family friendly and a great option for children over 6.

As this tours emphasis is on alcoholic beverages, this tour would not be suitable for anyone that does not drink alcohol.

Our tours are often sold out very quickly. If the date you requested is not available, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected] and we can see if there is anything we can do. We cannot promise but we will try our best to sort something for you.

To join our Craft Beer Tour, you should wear comfortable shoes. There will be around one mile of walking, however the majority of time will be spent in the actual venues.

You don't have to print your voucher. Confirmation on your phone will be fine!

We take 15 people maximum. If you are more than 15 people, please do not hesitate to email us and we will try to see if we can accommodate.

All of our vouchers expire one year from the date of purchase.

Unfortunately, the weather is unpredictable in Chicago. We do not issue refunds as per our terms and conditions. We also inform you that we never cancel a booking even if we have only 2 people! However we do reserve the right to cancel the tour if we feel the weather is extreme, and we cannot run the tour due to this for more info see our Terms and Conditions: https://www.secretfoodtours.com/terms-and-conditions/

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Get ready to embark on a hop-tastic adventure through our colossal Chicago brewery! Join us as we dive into all things-Lagunitas, from our rich history to the mesmerizing brewing process. Savor the flavors of our hop-forward beers and other extraordinary brews, and get ready to have a blast every step of the way. Thankyouverymuch for joining us on this epic journey!

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Chicago's Best Brewery Tasting Rooms

Where to drink craft beer straight from the source

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Breweries offer drinkers a chance to connect with brewers and enjoy fresh draft beer. They’re good places to hang out with friends, where you can order off-premises food or bring small children. They’re also great places to “work from home.”

This list is limited to breweries within the city limits without full kitchens and food menus. Customers at these taprooms rely on delivery, carryout, or a food truck parked outside. For breweries with kitchens, also known as brewpubs, check out this map .

Mikerphone Brewing

Inside a suburban industrial park, Mikerphone is a brewery with a patio with variety on draft — stouts, sours, IPAs. There’s also hard seltzers and NA options. The husband-and-wife founders say their brewery makes “craft beer inspired by music.”

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Illuminated Brew Works

IBW in Norwood Park has adopted a cult theme: the taproom is styled as a “secret” lodge and drinking IBW beer will make customers members of an illuminati. There’s a variety of beers on tap and a 10 percent discount to customers who ride their bikes to the taproom.

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Alarmist Brewing & Taproom

This dog- and kid-friendly taproom has a 18-seat courtyard that’s open seasonally. Find a good variety of lagers, ales, and sours on draft.

Spiteful Brewing Tap Room

A few steps away from Half Acre, Spiteful is a smaller operation with a great kid-friendly space that soaks up a lot of sunlight. It’s not a massive room, but it’s good for small groups, and it offers a decent variety of delicious beers.

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Hop Butcher For The World

The name’s inspired by poet Carl Sandburg, and the brewery has taken over some hallowed ground — Half Acre Beer Co.’s original Lincoln Avenue space. Hop Butcher had the task of not changing the vibe too much, locals routinely packed the old space. But as a place to showcase their IPAs and other beers, they did want to make the space uniquely theirs. It’s small and tends to get crowded on the weekend, but it’s a nice place to play board games and hang out.

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Dovetail Brewery

Another brewery along the Malt Row corridor in Ravenswood, Dovetail specializes in modern interpretations of German-style lagers. The beer is refreshing and the space is friendly.

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Begyle Brewing

Begyle’s taproom is tidy and comfy, a good place to hang out for a point or a tasting. Brewery tours are also available. Begyle is known for its award-winning Imperial Pajamas.

Revolution Brewing

Revolution is the state’s largest independent craft brewer, and it recently purchased a new Avondale brewery with a cavernous taproom up a short flight of stairs. The space is ideal for large gatherings and the bar usually has a special draft offering — say a variant of Deth’s Tar, the brewery’s barrel-aged stout. There’s the occasional pop-up, but delivery is the best bet for food.

Hopewell Brewing Company

One of the hipper taprooms in the city, Hopewell stands along Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square. Find pale ales, lagers, sours, and board games here. While there’s no kitchen, the brewery often hosts food pop-ups.

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Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

This dimly lit Logan Square pub hidden on a residential block is a tribute to Chicago dive bars. Find a good variety of styles and boozy slushies. Maplewood also makes its own spirits.

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Pilot Project Brewing

Pilot Project is a newish concept in Logan Square, one that serves as a business incubator for several breweries, allowing them to serve their beer as they hammer out production concerns and figure if they want their own locations. The space is beautiful and airy, though it tends to get jammed on weekends. There’s also a patio space next door. For folks who don’t want booze, there’s also a full espresso bar. There are currently six breweries on tap, including Indian-influenced Azadi and Brewer’s Kitchen which takes a culinary approach to beer making.

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Solemn Oath Brewery Still Life

Solemn Oath finally opened its Chicago location with a unique design that uses a ’70s rec room aesthetic. One of the more popular bars in Logan Square in 2021, the brewery is a good place for a date.

Life on Marz Community Club

The North Side spinoff of the brewery from the owners of Maria’s Community Bar in Bridgeport, this small space in the same building as iconic ice cream parlor Margie’s Candies, has a small tap list and plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, including CBD seltzer.

Off Color Brewing Taproom The Mousetrap

This space has become a sanctuary in a quiet stretch of Lincoln Park. This taproom also has a full bar and cocktails, a rarity. The space tends to get loud as weekend nights go on, so get here early. There’s also a patio overlooking Kingsbury.

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On Tour Brewing Company

On Tour packs in crowds for crushable pilsners, weisses, and saisons as well as nitro selections and growlers to go. Food trucks and pop-ups sometimes make appearances. This is one of the more beloved taprooms among beer fans in Chicago, and makes an ideal venue for a private event.

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Goose island beer co..

It only took 20 years after Goose Island opened its Fulton and Wood facility for it to debut this gem of a tasting room that offers taproom specials as well as tours of the brewing facility. There’s also a huge depot of vintage bottles, some available for takeout. The tap list differs from the original Goose Island Clybourn brewpub in Lincoln Park. The original closed in 2023 and will move into the Salt Shed later in 2024.

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Midwest Coast Brewing Company

West Town’s Midwest Coast Brewing sports a cozy taproom that allows customers to construct custom flights with IPAs and lagers. Customers are welcome to bring in their own food or order delivery.

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Whiner Beer Company

Whiner Beer broke into the mainstream with Le Tub, which it proclaimed the first beer designed for drinking while in a bathtub. What happens in the privacy of a drinker’s own home isn’t up for discussion, but in public, Whiner is known for its barrel-age brews, and it’s not just about the stouts. Find fruit beers, sours, and more.

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Turner Haus Brewery

Chicago’s only Black-owned taproom is located in Bronzeville, sharing space with Sip & Savor, a coffee mini chain. Highlights in this small and cozy space including Lola, an IPA made with basil, jalapeno, and peanut butter. Queen’s Legacy is aged in Uncle Nearest whisky barrels, it’s a Caribbean-style stout.

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Situated in West Town on the corner of Fulton and Wood, the Goose Island Taproom serves rotating, innovative beers made in Chicago, for Chicago. The Taproom opened back in 2015 to bring the beers brewed in the building right to the neighborhood. Along with classics like Honkers Ale and 312 Wheat Ale, our brewers put experimental beers on tap regularly.

Wednesday & Sunday: 12pm-8pm

Thursday: 12pm-9pm

Friday - Saturday: 12pm-10pm

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1800 W. Fulton St

Chicago, IL 60612

312-586-7970

We don't take reservations. Live on the edge, walk on in.

Snacks are available. Pretzels, pub chips, stuff like that.

Your dog is welcome, but please don't bring them inside. We don't want dog hair in our beers. Gross.

We do host private events. Learn more on our private events page or email [email protected] to inquire.

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Best Breweries in Chicago

The craft brewing scene has grown way beyond our imagination in Chicago. In old days, thought of craft beer always popped Goose Island in our mind, but craft beer scene in Chicago started to change in 2006, when Half Acre, Metropolitan and Revolution breweries were opened. Today, there are over 60 breweries in and all around the city.

My goal is to visit Chicago breweries as many as I can, and in this Chicago breweries guide I will try to share my thoughts on all the breweries as I explore.

I plan on keep updating the Chicago breweries list regularly, so if there is any brewery that you cannot find hear then leave it in comment, I would be more than happy to try it out and share info here on GoVisitChicago.com

1 – Half Acre Beer Company

Half Acre Beer Company was founded in 2006, and as of today they have two locations, one Half Acre Beer Company on Lincoln Ave located at 4257 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, and second recently opened 60,000 sqft on Balmoral Ave located at 2050 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60625.

Initially, Daisy Cutter beer has made Half Acre Beer Company popular, followed by other three year round house beers – bedrock IPA – Bodem, Tuna and Pony Pilsner. Their new collection of beer – Wyld Beer gained popularity as well.

Personally, I like Half Acre Daisy Cutter beer more compared to any other kind. Half Acre Beer Company also has brewery tours on every Saturday except holidays. For $10 you can get into brewery tour plus 3 samples and a branded pint glass souvenir. You must bring cash!

2 – Metropolitan Brewing

Metropolitan Brewing is one of the best breweries in Chicago mainly serving craft German-style lagers since 2009. Their year round craft beers are Krankshaft, Dynamo, Magnetron and Fly Wheel.

Amazing riverfront location and setup serving great selection of beers. Also, this place is dog-friendly! Metropolitan Brewing is BYOF – you can bring your own food.

Metropolitan Brewing is located at 3057 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618.

3 – Revolution Brewing

Revolution Brewpub was started in 2010 and has become very famous in Chicagoland. Revolution Brewing is one of the largest brewery serving house brewed German beer in Chicago. Their Brewery + Taproom located on Kedzie Ave is 90,000 SQFT facility, one of the largest brewery in Illinois. Revolution Brewery also houses our German beer hall-inspired taproom.

Revolution Brewpub is one of my favorite spots to grab house brews and enjoy the dinner. Whether you are looking to hang out with friends for drinks or dinner, Revolution Brewpub is one of the best choices in Logan Square neighborhood.

I recommend their Anti-Here Indian Pale Ale. I like my beer bitter! Revolution Brewery + Taproom is located at 3340 N. Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 and Revolution Brewpub is located at 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

4 – Goose Island Beer Company

Goose Island Beer Company was founded in 1988 by John Hall after his venture tour in Europe. First company started with steller beer and introduced brewery tour to consumers for helping them understand the whole brewing process. I find it amazing with the fact how and what made these companies famous from the startup.

As of today, Goose Island Brewpubs has two locations in Chicago. 312 Urban Ale and IPA – Indian Pale Ale are my favorite. I also recommend Goose Island Brewery Tour & Tasting if you are interested in knowing the brewing process at Goose Island.

Guests will receive their complementary custom glass and one complimentary pint in taproom before or after the tour.

Goose Island Beer Company has two locations in Chicago, one Fulton St Brewery & Taproom at 1800 West Fulton Street, Chicago and second Goose Island Clybourn Brewpub location is at 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

5 – Marz Community Brewing

Marz Community Brewing is in a hip warehouse setting, serving unique craft beers in Bridgeport neighborhood. Originally, Marz was founded by Maria’s Package Goods store owner and started with house brewed wheat ale, Jungle Boogie along with their Bubbly Creak sour series, today Marz has been serving unique flavors of house brewed craft beers.

Marz Community Brewing is located at 3630 South Iron Street, Chicago IL 60608

6 – Off Color Brewing

Started by former Goose Island barrel brewer, John and Dave, today Off Color Brewing is one of the best breweries in Chicago. Off Color Brewery has also opened up their taproom called Mousetrap in Lincoln Park neighborhood.

At Mouse Trap taproom you can hang out with friends or even buy beer to go! Mouse Trap taproom is BYOF – yes, taproom doesn’t have kitchen so you can bring your own food!

Off Color Brewery also offers tours on Saturday for $10. Make sure to reserve your spot early. It’s fun tour to enjoy few beer samples and learn stories about how it was originally started including stories behind bottle artwork.

Off Color Brewery is located at 3925 West Dickens Street, Chicago, IL 60647

7 – Lagunitas Brewing Company

Lagunitas Brewing Company is originally from the California, named after brewer’s hometown. Today, Lagunitas is one of the largest Chicago based breweries since 2014. Lagunitas Beers are popular in over 20 countries serving unique craft beers.

In 2017, Lagunitas was acquired by Heineken. Laugunitas Douglas Park facility is one of my favorite spots to relax and enjoy their one of the ales, especially Lagunitas IPA. You may also like their Little Sumpin’ beer. Enjoy vibrant taproom as well as tours everyday at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Douglas Park location in Chicago! Lagunitas Brewing Company in Douglas Park also has live band every Wednesdays through Sundays.

Lagunitas Brewing Company is located at 2607 W 17th St, Chicago, IL 60608

8 – Pipeworks Brewing Company

Pipeworks Brewing Company was started in 2012, today Pipeworks Brewing Company is one of the best breweries in Chicago. Pipeworks Brewery doesn’t offer any tour but you can always go to their bottle Shop to see some of the action. You cannot consume alcohol on premises. Yes, Pipeworks Brewing Company is not a bar or a taproom only a to-go gift shop for merchandise and packaged beer.

Pipeworks is located at 3912 W. McLean Ave Chicago IL 60647 The Dojo, Pipeworks Bottle Shop is located at 3912 W Mclean Ave, Chicago

9 – On Tour Brewing

On Tour Brewing is setup in warehouse offering house beers and canned beers to go. At On Tour Brewing you are assured to get diverse beer selection, which features beer names like “Typical Daydream” and “Lost My Shape”. On Tour Brewing Company features a 75-seat tasting room and separate barrel-aging room.

It’s one of the best breweries in Chicago to grab IPA or house brews on taps. Yes, you will find dozens or more on taps, flights of testers and growlers. I would say perfect place to chill in great atmosphere and friendly service.

On Tour Brewing is located at 1725 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60622

10 – Old Irving Brewing Co

Old Irving Brewing Co is one of my favorite and best breweries in Chicago. Old Irving Brewing Co is setup in funky warehouse building with unique rustic decor. OIB was opened in 2016 and has become popular among locals. Being close to my work, I end up going there more often. If you have not been to OIB then try their beer flight to taste all different brews. OIB also offers beer growler to go!

Old Irving Brewing Co is located at 4419 W Montrose, Chicago 60641

You may also want to check the list of top craft cocktail bars in Chicago !

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Raise a glass: Sip your way across the suburbs with these fall beer festivals

There’s a variety of beer events brewing around the suburbs as we get closer to Oktoberfest. From traditional festivals to tours on foot and bike, there’s something happening most weekends for beer lovers over the next couple of months.

Saturday, Sept. 7

Over two dozen breweries will participate in the annual Illinois Brews @ Bowes Creek fundraiser at Bowes Creek Country Club. General admission tickets are $55 in advance and include admission to the main event from 4-8 p.m. for the craft and home brew beer tasting, snacks and a 5-ounce tasting mug. VIP ticket ($75) holders get in an hour earlier and have access to exclusive beer, whiskey and cocktail tastings. Hosted by the Elgin Parks & Recreation Foundation, ticket sales from the event support the Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund, which provides free access to Elgin Parks programs for at-risk kids. elginparksfoundation.org/ilbrewsatbowes .

Saturday, Sept. 14

• The Annual Bourbon & Beer Festival is back for its 15th year from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 14 at The Vine , 101 Center St., Grayslake. More than 20 breweries will offer over 40 beers, and there will be about 80 types of whiskey to sample. The event also features live music, food vendors and cigars. The $50 g eneral admission tickets i nclude entry at 7 p.m. and samplings of the libations. The $80 VIP tickets offer entry at 6 p.m. and access to the VIP area with a private bathroom, seating, live music, a covered bar and special samplings. bnbfest.com/ .

• The ninth annual Elmhurst Craft Beer Fest will highlight over 50 breweries and meaderies from 2-6 p.m. on the grounds of the Elmhurst History Museum at 120 E. Park Ave. The $45 general admission tickets include a 3-ounce commemorative tasting glass and 18 drink tickets. The $55 early-entry tickets get you in at 1 p.m. Prices include live music and light snacks. The event supports the Elmhurst History Museum and Churchville One Room Schoolhouse. elmhurstcraftbeerfest.com .

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21

• Oktoberfest in Libertyville brings the sounds and tastes of Germany to the back lot at Mickey Finn’s Brewery , 345 N. Milwaukee Ave. Enjoy live music both days while sampling a selection of beers and taking part in Bavarian sports like Hammerschlagen or Masskrugstemmen. Food will be available for purchase. Hours are 5-10 p.m., with “Family Garten” hours from 2-4 p.m. Saturday. General admission tickets are $25 and include a plastic stein and one beer ticket. VIP tickets are $50 and include two beer tickets, a commemorative ceramic stein and a tour of Mickey Finn’s Brewery with the head brewmaster. Prices go up $5 on the day of the event. Additional beer tickets can be purchased by credit card only at the 21+ event. mainstreetlibertyville.org/events/libertyville-1/oktoberfest/ .

• Seventeen local breweries will bring beer, ales and ciders to the Batavia Park District’s Pints by the Pond at the Peg Bond Center, 151 Island Ave. The event, which runs from 2-5 p.m., features music and food trucks. General admission tickets are $45 and include 20 three-ounce samples and a commemorative beer glass. $60 VIP tickets include early entry at 1 p.m. bataviaparks.org/pints-by-the-pond .

Sunday, Sept. 22

The Hoosier Grove Barn & Brew Oktoberfest is back in Streamwood with more than 30 brewers serving an assortment of biers, ciders and meads. The event from 1-5 p.m. includes live Oktoberfest music from Die Kellerknaben and food from Relish Catering and My Cocina Grill. Participating brewers include Art History Brewing, Brother Chimp Brewing, Obscurity Brewing, Tangled Roots Brewing and more. General admission tickets are $45 in advance on Eventbrite or $50 at the gate and include 15, 3-ounce samples and a souvenir glass or mug. streamwoodparks.org/oktoberfest/ .

Saturday, Sept. 28

• The Wheaton Park District is hosting the new HOPtober Fest at Memorial Park, 225 Karlskoga Ave. The 21-and-older event, which runs from 1-5 p.m., will feature beers, seltzers, ciders and live music from 7th heaven and Karla and the Phat Kats. General admission tickets are $45 in adv ance and $50 at the event. wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/9-28-hoptober-fest/ .

• The Rotary Club of Cary-Grove Craft Brew Fest , which takes place from 1-5 p.m., is part of the Cary Main Street Fest in the BMO main parking lot. More than 20 unique craft beers, seltzers and ciders will be available for tasting. Tickets are $45. carygrovechamber.com .

Sunday, Sept. 29

Blue Raptor Tap House , 304 Spruce St., South Elgin, is hosting a Brew Ride starting at 10:30 a.m. from their location that will head up to Scorched Earth Brewing Company , 203 Berg St., Algonquin, where riders can take a break with a cold beer. Participants can then bike the 16 miles back to Blue Raptor for another beer with food and music. Tickets are $25 and include two beers and food. blueraptortaphouse.com/ .

Friday through Sunday, Oct. 4-6

Buffalo Creek Brewing , 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, hosts its annual three-day Oktoberfest with authentic oompah music, Bavarian beer games, food and, of course, Oktoberfest beer. The family-friendly festival is free. buffalocreekbrewing.com/ .

Saturday, Oct. 5

• Head to St. Charles for a fun twist on a fun run with Hops for Hope , a beer 5K and BrewFest. With six beer stops along the way, the 5K starts at Mount Saint Mary Park, Route 31 at Prairie Street, St. Charles, and heads to Wheeler Park, 499 Wheeler Drive, Geneva, and then ends back at Mount Saint Mary Park for the BrewFest. The beer stops for runners include 3-ounce beer samples from local craft breweries. At the post 5K BrewFest, runners and ticket holders will get 18 samples of beer while listening to live music and enjoying food from Craft U rban. Ticket s for the 5K and BrewFest are cu rrently $75, while tickets to the BrewFest only are $60. Prices go up on Sept. 1 and again on the day of the event. Proceeds benefit Project Mobility’s mission to bring adaptive cycling opportunities to children, adults and wounded service members with disabilities. h opsforhope5k.com/.

• Sample ciders and seasonal beers amid fall colors at The Morton Arboretum’s Cider and Ale Festival from noon to 4 p.m. in Lisle. More than 30 local breweries will host tasting booths along Meadow Lake Trail, the Conifer Walk and the Frost Hill walking path. General admission tickets for the beer tasting are $75 and include 20 3-ounce pours and a souvenir glass. VIP tickets for $85 include entry at 11 a.m., a welcome beer and VIP bathrooms. mortonarb.org/explore/activities/events/cider-ale-festival .

Saturday, Oct. 19

• The seventh annual Palatine Jaycees Fall Back Brew Fest will feature more than 100 beers and ciders from over 50 breweries and microbreweries, as well as local home brewers. The event runs from 1-5 p.m. at 155 W. Wilson St., Palatine, for general admission ($40). The doors open at noon for VIP ticket holders ($50). Prices will increase on Sunday, Sept. 1. palatinejaycees.org/fall-back-brew-fest/ .

• The Kane County Cougars host their annual Witchcraft Beer Fest from 6-10 p.m. in the covered concourse at Northwestern Medicine Field, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva. Twenty-five local breweries will offer samples, including “Clutch Hitter” by 93 Octane Brewery from St. Charles. Dress for the Halloween theme and participate in the costume contest and spin a prize wheel for Cougars tickets and merch. The $45 tickets include a souvenir glass. kccougars.com/public-events/ .

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Daily Southtown | Heavy metal heads to Tinley Park with tour stop…

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Daily southtown | heavy metal heads to tinley park with tour stop headlined by megadeth.

Megadeth headlines the Destroy All Enemies U.S. tour, which stops Sept. 3 outdoors at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, with Mudvayne, which formed in Peoria, and All That Remains, which released the single “No Tomorrow” from its forthcoming new album Aug. 16.

“We have three great bands, all bands with pretty strong legacies in metal — obviously ourselves who have been around for a long time but also Mudvayne who have built their own audience,” said Verbeuren of Los Angeles.

“All That Remains are also a great band, a little bit younger. I’ve actually had a chance to tour with them in the past when I was playing drums in Soilwork. They are an amazing band, great guys.

“Everybody puts on a killer show. What’s not to love?”

Multiplatinum-selling Megadeth’s set includes classics from 1990’s “Rust in Peace” and 1992’s “Countdown to Extinction” along with material from 2022’s “The Sick, The Dying … And The Dead!” and rarely played songs such as “Liar” from 1988’s “So Far, So Good … So What!”

“We’ve been putting a lot of work in spicing it up with less-known songs or songs that haven’t been performed (much) or at all. Every night is a different set list so there will be some surprises for the fans,” the Belgium-born Verbeuren said.

“When it comes to ‘Countdown’ and ‘Rust in Peace,’ those were defining albums for Megadeth. They were both very popular at the time when they came out. It was the peak of that style of music coming out to the scene.

“That was the time when that music took over the world so those are albums that our fans have close to their hearts, and they have become staples in a way. There’s usually a lot of songs from those records. Those records raised the bar with metal and thrash metal.”

Formed in 1983 by Dave Mustaine (lead vocals; lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars) after he was fired from Metallica, Megadeth received a best metal performance Grammy Award for the title track from the 2016 album “Dystopia.”

Known for songs including “Sweating Bullets” and “Symphony of Destruction,” the band also currently includes Teemu Mäntysaari (lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars) and James LoMenzo (bass guitar).

“It’s an honor to be able to represent the music of Dave Mustaine, who is somebody who’s written the book on thrash metal,” said Verbeuren about Megadeth’s leader, who battled throat cancer in 2019.

“There’s not many people who did what he did, which is write their own page in the history of metal. To be able to play with Dave and be part of the engine that drives this band, it’s just an honor. I enjoy it every single day.”

“The Sick, the Dying … and the Dead!” marked Verbeuren’s debut recording with Megadeth. He co-wrote the singles “Life in Hell” with Mustaine and “Night Stalkers” (featuring Ice-T) with Mustaine and former Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro.

“It has cemented me feeling a part of this band,” Verbeuren said.

Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

When: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 3

Where: Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park

Tickets: $27 to $106

Information: 708-614-1616; livenation.com

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Madison Beer Says She’s ‘Entitled’ to Privacy, Too

One week after Chappell Roan set a firm boundary with fans for her own safety (and sanity), fellow pop star Madison Beer is following suit. On Wednesday, the “15 Minutes” singer posted an Instagram Story defending her right to turn down photo requests while on tour. The 25-year-old, who is currently performing across Asia and Australia as part of The Encore tour through September, seemed to be addressing inquiries from her fans “as to why I say no to photos” when approached at hotels.

“helllloooo just comin [sic] on here bc i’ve seen some people confused … while on tour hotels are essentially my temporary home and i’m entitled to some private time same as anybody else…🤍,” she wrote. “i will also usually say no to pics etc in my hotel bc it also then reveals the location to a lot of other people and unfortunately can put me in danger. hope you understand n can respect that ! love u.”

Beer’s plea comes in the midst of a whirlwind year for women in pop music. The genre’s muses — from Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, and Reneé Rapp to Charli XCX and Addison Rae — are collectively operating at the height of their powers and have never been more visible, or consumable for that matter. But with each overnight sensation comes heightened security concerns, and Roan’s appeal to her fans marks a tipping point in terms of what young female artists are willing to put up with. “I don’t care that abuse and harassment, stalking, whatever, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous or a little famous,” the 26-year-old said in a TikTok this month. “I don’t care that this crazy type of behavior comes along with the job, [or] the career field I’ve chosen. That does not make it OK. That doesn’t make it normal.” What is normal is respecting clear boundaries … even for pop stars. Whether Beer’s fans are willing to cooperate remains to be seen.

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