10 Best Breweries and Beer Places in Stone Park

"If you are trying to figure out where to get craft beer in Chicago, Half Acre Beer Company has two brewery locations — one in Lincoln and one in Balmoral — and each is equipped with a taproom and kitchen. The Balmoral location has an outdoor beer garden, while the Lincoln location is where it all began. Their dedication to both time-honored classics and exciting special releases — all offered in colorful, aesthetically pleasing cans — makes Half Acre one of Chicago’s favorite local beers."

"In a city that has detonated with craft breweries in the last decade, Half Acre Beer Company, founded in 2006, is considered one of the original players. The first brewery location is on Chicago’s north side on Lincoln Avenue and the expanded space is about 15 minutes away on Balmoral—both complete with kitchens and taprooms and both offer inexpensive tours. The Balmoral spot, however, has a lovely outdoor beer garden that is perfect for drinking all of those Daisy Cutters."

"Lights sit above the beer garden at the Half Acre taproom and kitchen at the Balmoral Street production brewery. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune). What was once the larger, but younger of Half Acre’s two taprooms is now the sole location, after the Chicago brewery recently sold its original Lincoln Avenue taproom to Hop Butcher for the World."

"One of Chicago’s most popular breweries moved its operation to a new venue in 2019 and added a restaurant as well. Head to the Bar at Moody Tongue to try executive chef Jared Wentworth’s fine-dining-caliber dishes paired with brewmaster Jared Rouben’s beers. The German chocolate cake is a must-try that features 12 layers of rich chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, espresso cheesecake, and German chocolate filling with toasted pecans and coconut."

"Moody Tongue is a newcomer to the list, earning its first stars in 2021. The brewpub's 2019 move from Pilsen to South Loop has proved to be a productive move and we can't wait to get back to the dining room, which opens on May 20th."

"Goose Island brews are well known throughout Chicago and the country and some folks have scoffed at the mainstream reach since the 2011 sale of the company to InBev. Since 1988, however, this beer company has consistently produced high-quality, great-tasting beers, and while it’s no longer considered a craft brewery by any stretch of the imagination, Goose Island’s beers are still striking and delicious. Visit the Goose Island taproom on Fulton Street or the one on Clybourn Avenue and order a 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Goose IPA, Green Line Pale Ale, or a Ms Brightside."

"One the most well-known Chicago-born breweries, Goose Island, operated a taproom room out of their Fulton Street brewery. Enjoy a freshly brewed pint of their classic brews, like 312 or Matilda, in the sleek taproom, with industrial seating and a combination of exposed brick and ceramic tiled walls. While you’re there, take a tour of the production facility for an inside look at the brewmaster’s process while sampling beers along the way."

"One of the most popular beers in Chicago and the one with most worldwide recognition is Goose Island. This acclaimed brewery offers a stunning selection of over 50 brews to choose from, with dark beer, light beer, and everything in between. Goose Island has two locations: one in Whitneyville and another in the center of Lincoln Park."

"Ravenswood Brewing German-style beers and lagers on the North Side since 2009, Metropolitan largely flies under the radar amongst non beer-aficionados but continues to dominate as one of the most respected beer makers in Chicago. While many contemporary breweries fall over themselves trying to get your attention with the weirdest or most hop-forward beers imaginable, Metro keeps things simple with just flat-out good beer whose easy drinkability remains its finest asset. Metro’s profile has been raised slightly thanks to the recent addition of its Rockwell Tap Room, easily one of the best taprooms in the city thanks to its homey atmosphere (with reclaimed-wood tables and chairs) and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Chicago River.Must-try beer: Krankshaft, their flagship Kolsch-style beer, is brewed in homage to Cologne, Germany, featuring lemony flavors and a dry, clean finish characterized by Metro’s trademark high drinkability."

"Tucked down Rockwell Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood, Metropolitan Brewing’s Tap Room sits right on the banks of the North Branch of the Chicago River. They’re currently building a massive outdoor patio right on the river, but in the meantime, you can get a beer, order food from the rotating delivery partners, and gaze at the green views out the massive floor to ceiling windows. ➙ Need a place to stay?"

"Corridor is a sophisticated project, the brainchild of Siebel- and Doemens-educated Greg Shuff. Also on the team are Director of Brewing Operations Brant Dubovick, who previously led Pittsburgh’s Church Brew Works to the Great American Beer Festival’s Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year Award, and Executive Chef Ryan Henderson, who cut his teeth at Momofuku, Empellon, and Alder. The outstanding pedigree has led to flavorful hop bombs like Ope Fresh Hop Pale Ale and subtle farmhouse beers like Little Greys Light Saison, as well as a food menu featuring delicate salads, hearty sandwiches, and artisan pizzas."

"Farmhouse-style ales go hand in hand with a rustic farmhouse kitchen at Corridor Brewery & Provisions. Pair one of their hop-forward brews with a Midwest bar snacks or an artisan pizza made with local ingredients. The always-changing draft list ranges from double IPAs to fruity sours to funky saisons."

"This brewpub boasts one of our favorite brunch burgers in the city. The restaurant’s no reservation policy can work in your favor if you arrive early and request a seat on the patio. Enjoy people watching on Southport while you eat."

"Logan Square With a hop-heavy lineup of IPAs including double, Belgian, black, and session IPAs, Pipeworks started out in a tiny Chicago space in 2012 which was originally geared towards brewing one-offs for beer nerds in the niche market. Now with a goal of releasing a new beer every week, the hyper prolific brewer is one of the more recognizable yet underappreciated Chicago craft brewers. With plans to open a brewpub in Logan Square in 2019 (where it will face stiff competition), knowing about Pipeworks still feels like being letting in on your cooler big brother’s secret."

"Merrit Lewis and Beejay Oslon didn’t follow the traditional route of attending brewing school before opening up their own brewery in Chicago. Instead, the two friends traveled to Belgium and worked for free at De Struise Brouwers. When the pair returned, they crowdsourced funds and opened Pipeworks Brewing Company in 2012."

"Get in the spring mood with a pint from Pipeworks (the artwork will get your juices creative flowing!). Place your contact-free Pipeworks Brewing Co. pick-up order ahead of time and don’t forget to tip!"

"Temperance Beer Co. prides itself on doing things differently. That includes offering Temperance Trikonasana, a yoga series that takes place in the brewery that gives 100% of its proceeds to a different nonprofit organization each month. Temperance’s taproom offers flights of five-ounce tasters, half and full pints, 64-ounce growlers and 32-ounce howlers."

"Temperance has never been interested in keeping up with the Joneses and has been creating a whole new neighborhood with their award-winning beers and supporting the community since 2013. The Tap Room is now fully open and the best place to quaff their approachable and delicious beers."

"Journey back through 4.6 million years of natural history with a visit to the Field Museum, where millions of specimens and artifacts are on display. Exhibits feature fossilized and cast dinosaur skeletons, an ancient Egyptian tomb with mummified humans and animals, and a nature boardwalk to discover animal habitats of the Midwest."

"Believe it or not, there are TONS of free museums in Chicago!. There are also several free museum days for Illinois residents."

"Among the 26 different gardens here are the three-island Malott Japanese Garden, the 5-acre Evening Island, and the Grunsfeld Children's…"

"Chicago’s Lakefront Trail I promised we’d do a lot of walking today, so next, head back towards Lake Michigan and enjoy the lakefront trail, a nearly 20-mile stretch of paved walkway that meanders down the city’s coastline. The views are spectacular and it’s a great way to see the city’s skyline from a distance. If you’d prefer to bike the trail (highly recommended!), check out the city’s bike-sharing system, Divvy, where you can grab a bike for a 24-hour rental period from one of the city’s many stations"