Touring and sampling local, craft breweries are a fabulous way to spend a weekend with friends. Chicago has an above-average selection of fabulous, creative breweries, likely thanks to the Siebel Institute of Technology’s robust beer brewing course held locally. Gather your beer-slinging pals and embark on a tour of Chicago’s hottest breweries with our picks for the 13 best breweries to visit in Chicago.
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3446 N Southport Avenue / Website
Head to West Lakeview to indulge in industry veteran Brant Dubovick’s robust beer program and chef Jeff Parkin’s tasty, locally-sourced cuisine. The brewery’s menus are designed to complement one another. To drink, find stouts, lagers, and a variety of IPAs. To eat, enjoy a menu of snacks, salads, sandwiches, pizza, and weekend brunch.
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1800 W Belle Plaine Avenue / Website
From two certified Master Brewers, Dovetail prides itself on creating the highest quality craft beer it possibly can with a strong focus on balancing flavors to perfection. Though subject to change, the brewery offers tours every third Saturday of the month. In the taproom and beer garden, find an array of beers on tap, including lagers, porters, and a huge variety of European-style brews, inspired by Czech, German and Belgian beers. To eat, find a few snacks from local purveyors available within Dovetail, or, bring your own food to enjoy with your beers.
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4240 W Irving Park Road / Website
Check out this women-owned brewery and cider house for a fabulous al fresco experience or to chill in its intimate taproom. Explore nine unique craft ciders made in-house, house beers and the occasional guest beers on tap. For a brew that really packs a punch, try the Eris ‘Espresso Stout’ which has flavors of caramel, dark chocolate and coffee with a 7.6% ABV. Boozier yet, try the ‘Dippa Sippa’ double IPA for a smooth finish and an 8.4% ABV. This spot definitely has an above-average food menu with sharable appetizers, quality chef specials, creative salads, sandwiches and weekend brunch.
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Multiple Locations / Website
This inventive brewery prides itself on being the first botanic brewery in Chicago and brews its beers with nature as inspiration. The beer is still made with the ingredients, but with the flavorful addition of unique botanicals and wild ingredients. The brewery first opened in West Town in 2016 and has since grown to two other outposts, with the other Chicago location in Ravenswood. To eat, find a lengthy menu of cheeses, bar snacks, veggie-focused dishes, and impressive proteins.
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2050 W Balmoral Avenue / Website
Founded in 2007, this longstanding brewery is a local favorite, featuring a taproom and beer garden at its production facility. On tap, find IPAs, pale ales, lagers, and pilsners as well as barrel-aged brews and rotating seasonal pours. To eat, find an array of hearty sandwiches and shareable appetizers. Explore all the brewery’s processes with a brewery tour, held on Saturdays at 11 a.m. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required when taking the tour.
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Multiple Locations / Website
Check out one of this fun community-focused brewery’s two locations to indulge in experimental beers and connect with like-minded beer lovers. The brewery was first founded in 2013 and has greatly expanded its beer production and facilities since. There’s a strong focus on community, music, and the arts at Marz, and they frequently host pop-up events and other culinary collabs. Rather unique to this brewery, they also brew kombucha, sparkling waters, sparkling botanical tea with CBD, and numerous beers made with uncommon ingredients. Fans of inventive beers with unique flavors must try this brewery.
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2515 S Wabash Avenue / Website
Head to this two-Michelin-starred brewery and restaurant for a taste of “culinary brewing”. With a strong focus on pairing beers with food, this innovative brewery was founded by a trained chef and now brewmaster Jared Rouben and features cuisine from 11-time Michelin-starred chef Jared Wentworth. The space includes an upscale, fancier dining room and a laid-back bar area. In The Dining Room, enjoy a seasonal, exquisite tasting menu paired perfectly with house-made beers. In The Bar, choose from a selection of 16 draft beers, as well as specialty bottles, as you select dishes from its highly desirable a la carte bar menu. For those who appreciate the finer things in life, even when it comes to their beers, this one’s for you.
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1460 N Kingsbury Street / Website
Check out Off Color Brewing’s taproom, Mousetrap, for a chill atmosphere and 16 draft beers, in addition to a full bar and a huge variety of cans. Founded by two brewers trained at the Siebel Institute’s popular beer school, this fun spot features numerous beers with playfully self-explanatory names like, ‘Beer For Bowling’, ‘Beer For Burgers’, and ‘Beer for Lounging’, among others. The Mousetrap does not sell food but does allow guests to bring their own in to enjoy with their beers. Keep up with Off Color Brewing’s Instagram to find out about new brews and events.
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1725 W Hubbard Street / Website
Lovers of live music, classic rock and craft beer must check out On Tour Brewing. The brewery regularly hosts live bands, open mic nights, and engaging pop-up events. Tours are offered the first Sunday of every month in 2023, with tours running from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Advanced tickets are required and priced at just $15. On tap, explore six housemade beers, including the ‘Thalia Hall Pilsner’, brewed for the famed concert venue and crafted in a Bohemian Style Pilsner with 5% ABV.
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1757 N Kimball Avenue Floor 1 / Website
Located within Chicago’s Kimball Arts Center, this brewery is known for its creative, artful brews, utilizing uncommon ingredients. On tap, find a seasonally-rotating lineup of lagers, ales, pilsners, sours and ciders, among others. The ‘Oyster Stout’ utilizes oysters as an ingredient in three distinct ways, evoking a flavor of a dry stout with hints of the ocean. Learn about the beers at the brewery’s guided beer tastings. For those looking for something other than beer, the cocktail menu is loaded with unique craft creations you won’t find anywhere else. To eat, find an impressive menu featuring crab beignets, caraway buns and roasted oysters. Stop by on Wednesdays for $1 raw oysters and $4 roasted oysters.
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2140 N Milwaukee Avenue / Website
Head to Logan Square to explore this brewery incubator and try beers from a variety of up-and-coming brewers. The incubator works to provide a space for aspiring brewers to hone their craft while receiving mentor-like assistance from brewing professionals. Established in 2019, the tasting room has built up a massive collection of beers and beer variations brewed in its facilities. On tap, find hard kombucha, lagers, numerous IPAs, and a handful of stouts, among others. There’s an innovative beer and kombucha mix on the menu certainly worth trying and zero-proof options as well.
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3340 N Kedzie Avenue / Website
This popular brewery prides itself on having one of the largest breweries in Chicago, measuring in at 90,000 square feet and serving as the Chicago brand’s only brewery facility. Tours of the massive space are available on Saturdays, and tickets are required. On draft, find a variety of sours, ales, stouts, pilsners and IPAs. For a draft that’s sure to pack a punch, try the ‘Deth By Currants’ stout with an ABV of 14.1%. Looking for something even stronger? Snag a can of the ‘Thundertaker’ stout with a 16.2% ABV. To eat, find a small menu of snacks and cheese boards.
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1400 W 46th Street / Website
Visit The Plant to experience the unique flavors of the Whiner Beer Company. The brewery prides itself on championing sustainable food practices. Both co-founders studied at the popular Siebel Institute to perfect their beer brewing techniques and now focus on creating barrel-aged brews. The brewery crafts hard kombucha and a variety of ales, saisons, and IPAS, among others, all of which have adorable and colorful cans. To eat, find pizza served from Thursday to Sunday.
Looking for more luxe stops in the city? Check out our picks for The 11 Best Oyster Restaurants In Chicago.
Photography by: Winzent / Getty Images
