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Chicago

Get a handy map of this brew tour!

Welcome to the City of Big Shoulders!

AustinPowers here. This is a Chicago area Tour (approximately a 15-mile radius from downtown). It lists the Top 3% of bottle shops and bars. All Chicago brewpubs are listed. If you want to see the Top 5%, here is a broader list of Top Chicago Places.

BOTTLE SHOPS:
Here is a ranked list of the best bottle shops in Chicago. Some stores let you break sixpacks.
1. Sam's Wine & Spirits - RateBeer's #52 Best U.S. Beer Store for 2006. The largest selection and lowest prices. No splitting sixpacks.
2. Foremost Liquors
3. Binny's Beverage Depot (Downtown)
4. Evanston First Liquors

AREA BREWPUBS (AND BREWERIES WITH TAPROOMS):
These are listed in approximate order of best to worst (criteria: how serious they are about the beer):
1. Three Floyds Brewing Co & Brewpub - RateBeer's #2 Best Brewer in the World
2. Goose Island Beer Company (Clybourn) - RateBeer's #17 Best U.S. Brewpub for 2006
3. Flossmoor Station - RateBeer's #57 Best U.S. Brewpub for 2006
4. Piece Brewery & Pizzeria
5. Rock Bottom Chicago
6. Goose Island Beer Company (Wrigleyville)

BARS:
Newspaper, magazine and expert reviews have been combined to produce the following ranked list of Chicago's very best beer bars:
1. The Maproom - RateBeer's #24 Best U.S. Beer Bar for 2006
2. Hop Leaf - RateBeer's #26 Best U.S. Beer Bar for 2006
3. Clark Street Ale House - RateBeer's #57 Best U.S. Beer Bar for 2006
4. Resi's Bierstube
5. Delilah's

CHICAGO MASS TRANSIT - THE 'L':
Get around easily by checking out the Chicago 'L' Map.

Enjoy your Windy City beer adventure!

Legend:

essential, ♥ excellent

♥ Evanston First Liquors 1019 Davis St, Evanston (847) 328-9651 Large selection with particular strength in Belgian brews. First stop for beer if you’re on the North Shore, and worth the trip even if you make it to Sam’s to grab a pair (all the loose bottles are taped ...

Foremost Liquors 15211 Cicero Avenue, Oak Forest (708) 687-3937 Tucked in a suburban stripmall, this store never ceases to amaze me with a great selection of beers, sometimes even things that Sam’s has neglected to pick up. Even has a selection of homebrewing ...

Rock Bottom Chicago 1 W. Grand Avenue, Chicago (312) 755-9339

West Lakeview Liquors 2156 W Addison St, Chicago (773) 525-1916

Best Local Beers

Local Brewpubs (ordered by alpha)
Best Local Beers

	Beer	Score	Ratings
1	Goose Island Bourbon County Stout	4.2	1188
2	Flossmoor Station Imperial Eclipse Stout	4.04	55
3	Flossmoor Station Wooden Hell	4.02	112
4	Goose Island Imperial IPA	4	586
5	Goose Island Night Stalker	3.99	92
6	Goose Island Batch 2000 Barleywine	3.97	48
7	Flossmoor Station Imperial Mocha Java Stout	3.96	17
8	Rock Bottom Chicago Redline Imperial Bourbon Stout	3.96	96
9	Rock Bottom Chicago Sub Zero Barrel-Aged Barleywine	3.94	30
10	Goose Island Brandywine	3.93	12
11	Flossmoor Station Pretty Big IPA	3.92	66
12	Goose Island Jubilation Ale	3.91	14
13	Flossmoor Station Sarge	3.89	45
14	Goose Island Double Red Ale	3.88	21
15	Goose Island Bourbon Blueberry Imperial Stout	3.86	14