We’re coming to visit the US sometime soon. Anybody have recommendations for beer-related things to do in Arkansas? Anybody wanna meet up for a beer or something in Arkansas, Chicago or the NY Metro area?
FWIW I’m going to try to go to Brooklyn Brewery and Sixpoint in NY and Goose Island and Half Acre for brewery visits. Not sure where else to go.
How long has it been since you’ve been back to the States?
If you listen to the podcast, get in touch with the guys from Basic Brewing Radio. They’re in Arkansas and are really nice. If they can’t meet you out, they should at least be able to recommend some places.
A little over a year
Yup, James already owes me a beer.
One of my favorite bars in NYC is the Blind Tiger in the West Village. I’d rather go there than the Brooklyn Brewery. Mug’s Ale House is around the corner from Brooklyn Brewery if you’re in the neighborhood.
Hmm, blind tiger is not far from Spotted Pig IIRC. How’s their draft selection?
Revolution Brewing in Chicago. http://revbrew.com/ I got to finally check them out a couple weeks ago. Great beer and food. If you want to travel out to the burbs of Chicago, check out Two Brothers Brewing. http://www.twobrothersbrewing.com/ I might be able to meet up with you for a couple beers when you’re in town, just let me know when.
How is Blind Tiger’s draught selection? My wife had cask gueuze there last week. Best in NY.
Chicago does the food and beer thing very well. Publican (very good food, not a bar, go for dinner and go hungry), Hopleaf and Owen & Engine are good spots. Map Room if you want the old school beer bar vibe, though you’ll get that at Blind Tiger in NYC.
Any tentative dates yet?
If you’re coming into Little Rock we only have one Micro; Diamond Bear Brewery. IMO it’s really good beer, just not great…yet, that is. They recently have made plans to move and upgrade the brewery. Soon they will have a restaurant attached on the North Little Rock side of the Arkansas River. They have free tours on the weekend and during the week they are always looking for help on the bottling line if you want to get your hands “beery”. For the help, they pay in beer not $$.
We also have a couple of decent Brewpubs. Vino’s has OK house beers but their seasonals are usually fantastic. Plus they have awesome pizza to boot. There is also a Bosco’s here and of course a Flying Saucer which is gonna be the best place in LR to get a good variety of beers. 80…ish? on tap and probably another hundred in bottles.
-J.K.L.
I remember Flying Saucer from a long time ago when they first redid the river walk. good to see it’s still there.
Does the hotel that used to be the Peabody still have the ducks? Figured the kid would get a kick out of that.
Ah yeah I forgot about those guys! How is Piece these days? When I went there a few times back when I lived in Chicago I loved it.
They ducks on the roof? Yeah, they’re still there. If it has been that long since you’ve been here, you’ll be surprised how much it’s grown. Well, it’s no Chi-town or NYC…yet, but the Rivermarket district has some really great bars and restaurants now. It’s still real laid back here, though. I hope you have a good time.
-J.K.L.
-J.K.L.
Haven’t been to Piece in a while, but I’m sure they’re still cranking out great beers and pizza. You should make your way there as well.
I skip Piece and go to Revolution. It’s only a couple more stops on the Blue Line and I love the place. Also a lower hipster quotient than Piece, which makes me feel old when I walk in. You must have the bacon popcorn at Revolution.
live west of chicago about 35 miles. if you are going to be in the naperville area let me know. the two brothers brewery is relatively close buy
Both Metropolitan Brewing and Half Acre (small local breweries) are near the Hop Leaf in Andersonville.
I’ve not been out to Revolution so I can’t speak to that, but the Hop Leaf has awesome food and great beer. I think you could do a tour of Metropolitan and walk right over to the Hop Leaf. Michael really knows his Belgian beers and they make some mussels in beer that are out of this world.
There’s also a boutique distillery in the same building as Metropolitan. I’m going there for a bourbon tasting in a couple weeks, which I’m looking forward to.
If you get up this way, let me know. Third kid is coming any day now, so my availability is always in question, though the wife also loves going to the Hop Leaf.
EDIT: Of course, this is all in Chicago.
In Little Rock my vote is Vino’s. Boscos was good as was Flying Saucer, but I enjoyed Vino’s brews quite a bit. Bill is heavy handed with the hops.
In NYC I’ve not had time to do much beer, but I would suggest The Gingerman on E 36th.
Last time we were in Chicago we went to the Map Room (a favorite), Revolution Brewing (very good), and Haymarket ( this one had some excellent beers and food, but what is up with all of the big screens?).
Hopleaf is good, but pretty far north. My wife does not vote for Piece, as the pizza is not that good and the best beers are always out when we are there.
Owen and Engine has gotten some good write ups.
We enjoyed Publican for a lunch, and it is along the Gastropub lines, but more Gastro than Pub.