September 20, 2009
If you can get there when they’re open (and the hours on the door often lie, twice in two days they opened 30mins "late") then it is worth the effort to find the CSAH. Quality selection of 15 or so taps, with a large focus on Midwest beers, yet also having a few select goodies from both coasts. Chicago is great for having access to many Pacific coast beers yet also having Victory on tap. Wow! Atmosphere is a classic and relaxed pub feel on the inside. Good bar itself, with nice display of tap handles. Tap menu was mostly accurate. No food other than complimentary pretzels but hey, I’m here for the ale anyway. Did I mention they have a hand pump as well?!

August 3, 2009
Finally hit this place up Sunday afternoon. Location has it’s up and down, parking is a big problem, somewhat near downtown shopping area but still a bit of a walk away. The place looks like a normal downtown bar, kinda dark, average size, has an out door patio (grey and gloomy). Selection is just ok nothing out of the ordinary, everything here can be found at maproom, hopleaf, sheffields with less of a bottle selection. The place was dead with just one bartender and 7-8 people there, I had a furious, tasted a bit off but probably cause its not so fresh. Would I say its one of the best in chicago, probably not, I’d say 10th or so.

July 5, 2009
Good selection of drafts and bottles. Local and hard to find stuff. Three Floyds, Goose Island, Two Brothers. Selection was very season, so fresh, but if you’re looking for local dark beers in the summer, you won’t find much. Alpha King hand pump=best Pale I ever had. Prices were on par, maybe even a tad low for Chicago, which would be high for 75% of the rest of the country. Wood laden building. Looked like a descent seating area outside out back, which for some reason was closed? Golden Tee, but nothing much else to do here. Service was good and helpful. Seemed like they could have used another bartender when they got busy, but there wasn’t much room behind the bar either. No food served, so it keeps the tourists out pretty much, except for someone who wants to be there for the beer. Was able to drink beers I have no shot at getting in NC all night, without having to travel far out of downtown, so I was very pleased. Felt way more comfortable sitting here all night than at the Hop Leaf, about the same as the Long Room.

May 23, 2009
You must obey the sign to ’Stop and Drink’, which is how we found this place about 10 years ago. Nice selection from something like 20 taps. Bartenders I’ve talked to are always helpful and know their beer. Selection is always a nice grouping of local brews and hard to get brews. Doesn’t use proper glassware and everything is served at the same (colder) temperature so some stuff needs to be warmed by hand.

April 3, 2009
Decent selection. About 2 dozen taps, plus one cask pour all the time. Bottle selection is just OK. Really lacking on the import draft and bottle selection. Not nearly as crowded in the evening as the Hopleaf or Maproom... but don’t come here expecting anything close to either of their selections. Bar staff has always been rather friendly to me. Never had the food. Decent Bourbon and Single Malt selection as well. Standard Chicago beers... FFF, GI, Surly, 2 Brothers. Nothing over the top but a decent alternative to some of the other more crowded places.

March 21, 2009
Met friends here the day after Thanksgiving. The selction was great. Too great maybe as I don’t remember leaving. I also thought the prices were good.

January 27, 2009
Great place to explore American brews. Their tasting flight is a great value. No food, save for pretzel sticks - they used to but out a little happy hour table - little warmed appetizers, chips etc, but haven’t seen that for awhile. The patrons are a mix of neighborhood regulars, beer enthusiasts, both tourists and local and typical partying youngsters. A seat at the bar can sometimes be hard to get during after work hours. Being close to the train is a plus. Great bourbon/whisky selection, but who has time for that stuff when there’s 25 taps and a hand pump?

September 25, 2008
A friendly bar, easily accessible where you can find an interesting range of 25 taps where you won’t find very impressive rarities, but you’re sure to find 1 or 3 you’d really feel like drinking. Friendly enough service, pretty enough pub, but I’d prefer lower ceilings and much lower music volume. Not a priority in Chicago, but worth hitting if you spend a couple of days in the city.

September 6, 2008
Pretty good place, but we arrived thinking we were going to be able to catch a late dinner too. No food, but they’re right around the corner from a nice Brazilian Steakhouse, which will take care of your meal needs. In any event, the selection was pretty solid for both draft and bottle selections. However, Durty Nellie’s was actually more impressive (and had food). The service was weak, bartender was not overly friendly and given the small crowd on a Monday night, I thought he’d be more friendly. Prices were reasonable for a big city, but certainly not a steal. A total bar atmosphere, enough screens to watch various sports that were on. A dark place.

July 26, 2008 [ Updated September 9, 2008 ]
A nice place located within walking distance from the downtown area. A simple and relaxing place with some loud music (which I enjoyed). The beer availability was quite nice FFF Pride and Joy on cask, a bunch of local meads, Dogfish Head, about 150 or more in total. The prices were fine, and the bartenders were cool.