Beer Snob: The Best Beer in the 'Hood

If you haven’t been to Wicker Park and Bucktown, you’ve barley (yeah, bad puns have started) scratched the surface. We have the most complete set of beer oases in Chicago. There are taps galore and even two places with certified Cicerones. They are sommeliers for beer, and thus the best experts on beer in the city with the paper to back it up. So, for everyone from the lightest lager fan to the hoppiest hop-heads and maltish falcons, there is a tap with your name on it in our neighborhood.

1. Map Room
    1949 N Hoyne Ave
    P: (773) 252-7636
    www.maproom.com

If you really want to get started early on your journey (keeping in mind that the Map Room is a good place to end, too) head in to the Map Room for some morning coffee, and they will start you on a beer at 11 am. They have an excellent selection of Belgian and American beers on their 26 taps as well as a Firkin tap, and an extensive bottle list. There are even a couple gluten-free options. The manager is also one of the neighborhood Cicerones.

2. Handlebar
    2311 W North Ave
    P: (773) 384-9546
    handlebarchicago.com

Next, walk or bike south and weave your way around Milwaukee to get down to Handlebar. If you are looking for some brunch, they start serving notably good vegetarian/pescetarian versions of pub grub at 10 am. They also have a well-put-together set of taps, and nice daily drink specials.

 

3. bar bar blacksheep
   1415 N Milwaukee Ave
    P: (773) 951-4635
    www.barbarblacksheepchicago.com

Speaking of well-made bar food, head east to Milwaukee and head down to bar bar blacksheep for some excellent takes on bar bites and sandwiches as well as 10 diverse taps (a rare place that has Kolsch on tap somewhat regularly). The small plates are good for noshing while discussing the finer points of beer and food pairings.

 

4. Bangers and Lace
    1670 W Division
    P: (773) 252-6499
    bangersandlacechicago.com

By this point in your travels through the WPB craft brew wonderland, it’s probably time to get a little meat in tube form and a couple beers you won’t find anywhere else to get ready for the Division Gauntlet. B&L is an excellent choice for this, as it is home to all kinds of sausages and terrific sides as well as 32 (!) taps. I have, shall we say, quite a bit of experience with beer and this is the only place that always has something I’ve never heard of or drank before. This is yet another beer program that is overseen by a certified Cicerone.

5. Moonshine Restaurant & Brewery
    1824 W Division
    P: (773) 862-8686
    www.moonshinechicago.com

Head west on Division and be treated to Moonshine, the local brewpub. House-made brews of various styles are produced here (by a former Goose Island beer man), and they keep a healthy tap selection of other beers, too. With 25 taps to choose from a very diverse menu, and good specials you are likely to find something for everyone at Moonshine.

6. Jerry's
    1938 W Division
    P: (773) 235-1006
    jerryssandwiches.com

Jerry’s tagline is “cosmic sandwiches and drink”, but “patriotic sandwiches and drink” would be suitable, too. I mean, really, what’s more American than any kind of sandwich you could think of (with classic comfort food sides) and a beer and liquor selection that consists of solely American brewers and distillers? Jerry’s excellent selection of taps is pretty compelling evidence that the U.S. is the center of craft beer culture in the world.

 

7. Small Bar
    2049 W Division
    P: (773) 772-2727
    www.thesmallbar.com/division

As your day of hopping around for hops and comparing chocolate malts comes to an end, the Small Bar is a good place to settle in. The beer menu tends to be more hop-heavy, and the dining experience has become more like a gastro-pub with small plates and upscale sandwiches. Make sure to check it out during important soccer matches to see some real fandom in action.

 

Wicker Park and Bucktown probably has the highest concentration of really top-level beer spots in Chicago and that puts us in the running for best in the world. If you love beer, and the food that goes with it, this is definitely the place to be.

Copyright 2012. Written by Mark Dollard, Realtor, Homebrewer and Neighborhood Blogger at dollardnsense.com.