I am going to be in Chicago next weekend. South loop area. Looking for suggestions for breweries or beer bars close by. Walking distance best, but short ride not a problem. Who has must try/must visit recs? Looking at Friday night late or Saturday. Your experienced recs are most appreciated:)
South Loop has been undergoing gentrification, but no breweries or good bars that I know of. There may be some now, but you will have to ask a local.
Downtown there is Jake Melnicks, an OK beer bar.
Haymarket is a favorite. You can get close with the green line, it is on Randolph west of the expressway.
The blue line can get you up to near Peace and the MapRoom, the later is tops for me in Chicago.
The red line can get you to Goose Island, Sheffields and Hopleaf, though that last one is a long way north.
It is a big city with decent transportation, so with some planing you can find your way to a few.
My favorite place closest to the South Loop is Miller’s Pub. It’s a classic old school place with a surprisingly good beer list. Wabash & Adams
Clark Street Ale House is very close to the Red Line and is my favorite bar downtown. No food, but good selection. Clark & Chicago
Monk’s Pub is a funky place, but their hours may not match yours. Lake & Wells
And there’s always the Binny’s taproom. Giant bottle shop with taps. It’s not the greatest walk, depending on which side of the river you’re on
http://www.binnys.com/location/chicago+-+south+loop
Thanks to both of you. Will let you know what I find and try out. Have a great week
Looking for kid friendly now. Just found out SWMBO kids will be with us( not our week, caught me by surprise) so any new thoughts? Brewpubs that serve kids will work, but no bars
There is a Rock Bottom on the red line at the Grand stop.
BrewingRover might have more, as he is local.
I’ll be in that area Friday visiting Haymarket and maybe a couple of other places before going up to Half Acre and then out to Aurora to judge.
Rock Bottom is okay, but it’s the only brewpub downtown. Miller’s Pub is more restaurant than bar and is kid friendly.
Goose Island’s Clybourn brewpub is kid friendly and reachable from the El. The Brown Line to Armitage is a ride that your kids might enjoy. The walk from there is a lot more interesting than the walk from the Red Line.
Thanks BrewingRover! Anything besides a Rock Bottom( we have one nearby in Cincy) sounds great. The kid friendly recs are also very helpful. The 10 year old will also certainly like the ride as well!
Just checked Miller’s beer menu out online. Very impressive! Hoping we can make it there
I love the Monk’s recommendation. Used to go there when I worked at City Hall and had my farewell party there. Floor full of peanut shells. Dim lighting. Old school.
Miller’s is another old school recommendation. S’posed to have good ribs but I don’t recall if I’ve ever had them. I probably have.
With kids in tow, I’d check out the Goose Island Clybourn location. They usually have several somethings on tap you can’t get elsewhere. The food is decent, too.
Even though Jeff thinks the Hopleaf is so far north, it’s in my neck of the way (or nape of the woods, if you prefer). Kids are not welcome there, but that stretch of Clark Street has a lot of good bars and restaurants and boutique shopping. Half Acre and Metropolitan Brewing are close by (walking distance) as is Koval Distillery in the event you would have time for a tour. Hamburger Mary’s brews their own beer, though I’ve found it to be hit or miss. They usually have a few on tap and it is actually brewed right there.
If you get up that way, I’d hit Lady Gregory’s (good beer list, specatacular whiskey selection) and Jerry’s, for sure. Big Jones is a New Orleans style restaurant and has a solid bar as well.
With the kids, you could hit George’s for ice cream or Taste of Heaven (though they don’t really like kids there).
Unfortunately, there’s not that much downtown. You really need to get out into the funkier neighborhoods to find the gems.
How have I missed Monk’s after all the time staying in the Loop?
Joe, it does seem like a long ride on the Red line. If it is your daily commute, it may seem quick. It all depends on what 69franx defines as short.
With children, well then, Local Option might be out.
It IS a long ride on the Red line, but any trip on our lovely public transit system seems long to me.
I’m lucky that my office is close to home and I’ve not taken public transit on a daily basis for almost 15 years.
When I did take the Red line downtown, it was 45 minutes door to door. Cabs are quicker, but would be close to $30 with tip.
Thanks all. We walked to Miller’s pub from S Clark street. Great ambiance, awesome beer selection. Getting ready to order some food. Out local host agrees they have great food, so I can’t wait. Thanks again!
Had the French dip, great stuff. Had a zombie dust draft and a bottle of The Sixth Glass, both just great. Wishing my head cold would go away so I could have another brew
Many thanks to Katie Werbil and Dawn for watching the kids while we took the birthday girl out on the town!
My son insists on going to Chicago for his 4th birthday, so I can’t let him down 
I haven’t been in a while, and it’s a favorite city of my wife and I, so it didn’t take much convincing on his part.
We’re going to be in town for 3 days in the middle of June. I’m trying to find something family friendly that has a decent beer selection. We’re staying in the middle of the Magnificent Mile, so I’m thinking that area or something near the other touristy stuff we’ll be doing (Navy Pier, Shedd/Adler/Field museums, Millennium Park, etc.). My wife and son aren’t the most adventurous eaters, so things like bar & grill/steakhouse/pizza/italian are good bets for me. In particular, I’d like to get my hands on some stuff that I can’t get at home (Deschutes, Bell’s, Jolly Pumpkin, 3 Floyds).
Any suggestions? Does the craft beer selection tend to be decent downtown? I’m pretty sure we’ll end up at Uno/Due and the Weber Grill restaurant at some point. Need to get an italian beef while I’m in the area, too.
Your best recommendations for downtown are earlier in this thread. Not much that’s kid friendly that I can think I with a good selection.
Jake Melinicks will work. Or Rock bottom.
For bottle shops there is a Binny’s on grand. It is a chain but good selection.
Revolution brewery would have been a good choice. They make some really nice beers.
You can search by zip code and view beer menus at beermenus.com.