Guide to the Best Beers in Chicago

Chicago is a great place to visit new brewpubs and try the microbrews that they create, which are as varied as the neighborhoods of Chicago. Unfortunately, there are several new beers that come and go every year, so while it pays to try as much as you can to find the best, it is sometimes easier when you know where to start.

There are the best beers in Chicago and the brewpubs where they can be found.

Goose Island, Wrigleyville
3535 North Clark Street, Chicago
Goose Island is perhaps one of the most recognized beer labels in Chicago and because of its location it literally is the neighborhood. Located in the heart of Wrigleyville, Goose Island is a microbrew bar that has grown and continues to grow adding locations in other parts of the city and expanding the beers that it keeps on tap. Goose Island has become more than a bar or a place to grab a bite to eat and the locals are always very inviting with the crowds that fill the place during the Cub's season.

Among the brews available are Urban, Classic, Heavyweight, Belgian and Seasonal beers. Each week a different brew is put on a special tap and occasionally there are new brew tastings and then put on tap. My favorite from Goose Island would definitely be Juliet, a Belgian Style brew with blackberries.

Two Brothers Brewing Company
Two Brothers has a nice little following and is one of the more exciting brewing companies that is just starting to grow. Two Brothers was started in 1997, but it really has just started to make a name for itself and break into the market. There is a tight line of all year beers, some really nice seasonals and then a couple interesting artisan beers, which have quickly become favorites in Chicago. The Red Eye Porter is an Imperial Baltic mixed with dark roast coffee beans. You can find Two Brothers beers in Chicago at most brewpubs and many places Windy City Distribution delivers.

Flatlander's Restaurant and Brewery
Flatlander's has a menu filled with crafted beers that Chicagoan's are comfortable with and have come to know well. Best known for the American ales that are brewed and sold in house, Flatlander's usually have anywhere from five to ten different beers on the menu. More than the beer, Flatlander's is a gathering place with live music and entertainment. The Lincolnshire Lager is a favorite, a smooth American lager that goes well with just about everything.

Capital Brewery
Capital Brewery in Wisconsin produces over ten annual beers, seasonal brews and limited release beers that are sold all over Chicago. Tours of the brewery are offered year round and special tapping events take place in brewpubs city wide. Even though this brewery is not in Chicago, there are several beers that have become very specific to Chicago including Capital Pilsner, which is a Chicago favorite.

Emmett's Brewing Company
128 West Main Street, West Dundee
Emmett's is a suburban Chicago institution, with three different locations and a traditional brewery. Handcrafted beers, such as the Victory Pale Ale are a good example of the best that Emmett's has to offer. If you ever get outside the city and into the suburbs, a trip to Emmett's Brewery and Restaurants is worth the trip.