Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the country and home to several unique neighborhoods. Take your time exploring each one’s character.

The Windy City Tips:

Mmmm it’s windy. Really though. The winters can be insanely brutal, pack appropriately.
Chicago is pretty huge, so be sure to plan ahead so you’re not driving/Lyfting all over the place

Adventures & Ales Top Chicago Recommendations:

Phase Three Brewing: A fantastic brewery in an industrial park in Lake Zurich. They have incredible beers of all styles, an outside space and frequent food trucks.
Maplewood Brewery and Distillery: Absolutely delightful spot with amazing beers and a fun lounge atmosphere.
Whisk: A fantastic brunch option that is BYOB and cash-only. Get the biscuits and gravy—ya welcome.
More Brewing: In the ‘burbs of Chicago, this brewery is cranking out fantastic beers of every style.
Mikerphone Brewing: A fun music themed brewery with incredible beers. Close to O’Hare Airport as well!
Forbidden Root Brewery: They have their own herbs and fruits they grow and infuse into their beers—get the Strawberry Basil Hefeweizen. Also cheese plates.

Begyle Brewing: Great beers and a fun atmosphere!
Dovetail Brewery: A Lager-focused brewery that is right around the corner from Begyle with solid beers. They also have a small food menu and an outdoor bar in the summer months.
Half Acre Beer: A large taproom both inside and out with a plethora of beer options. They also have a small food menu. Keeping Together, a Mixed Culture project from Averie Swanson is housed here as well with draft and bottle options.
Local Option: A super fun beer bar with a full food menu and frequent events. Their tap list is killer!
Beermiscuous: A great beer bar and bottle shop with 16 taps and to-go cans and bottles. They offer single cans which is fantastic to get a variety of things.
Parlor Pizza: Delicious pizzas and a great tap list.

Chicago Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

The Bean: Obviously you can’t go to Chicago without a stop at The Bean! Expect hoards of tourists.
Explore the Lakefront Trail! This 18 mile path runs along Lake Michigan through various parks and attractions.
The Signature Room at the 96th: The views are stunning but the drinks are pricey, it’s worth checking out!
Wander Logan Square: Get a bagel sandwich from Brobagel, pop into some shops!
Take an architecture tour!
Pequod’s Pizza: Fantastic deep dish (insert drool here)
Ohio Street Beach: A popular sandy beach on the lake with skyline views downtown. Close to navy Pier.
Montrose Beach: A popular area for walking, biking, dogs, volleyball, and a beach on Lake Michigan.

Other Chicago Things To Do:

Revolution Brewing: One of the most popular breweries in the city. They have a wide array of beers but their Stouts are particularly great.
Old Irving Brewing: Great beers and a full food menu. More of a restaurant-style set-up than brewery.
Pilot Project: A brewery incubator housing small, new breweries as they get their start. They have a great patio and a beautiful indoor space. Located in the Logan Square neighborhood.
Marz Brewing: A cool spot not too far from Midway Airport with solid beers.
Hubbard’s Cave/Une Année: This unique space started with Une Année producing Belgian beers and then expanded with Hubbard’s Cave specializing in Stouts and IPAs. They have BBQ onsite and a large outdoor space.
Goose Island: Not my favorite because Anheuser Busch owns them, but they’ve got quite a few unique beers only at their Chicago brewery.
Stan’s Donuts: I am a sucker for a good doughnut and Stan’s does not disappoint!
Taste of New York Bagels and Deli: A pretty authentic NYC bagel spot near Wrigleyville.
Corridor Brewery & Provisions: A restaurant-style brewery with average beers. The tap list is quite small. Located near Wrigleyville in a popular neighborhood.
District Brew Yards: Around the Bend Beer Co., Bold Dog Beer Co., and Casa Humilde Cerveceria Artesanal all under one roof with food and games

The Best US Cities for Beer Vacations:

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond has a ton of breweries and some that are truly fantastic. Scott’s Addition itself is jam packed with breweries but the rest of RVA has some great beers to offer as well. Highlights here include Triple Crossing, The Veil, The Answer and Tabol for breweries and Mekong for a great beer bar. Check out my Richmond beer and travel guide here.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville has long been deemed one of the best beer cities in the country, so it is no surprise that I would agree. This picturesque city is home to some huge breweries like Sierra Nevada, Highland, and New Belgium, but also more localized spots like Burial, Dssolvr, Zillicoah, and New Origin. Don’t miss The Whale for a great beer bar! Check out my Asheville beer and travel guide here.

Denver, Colorado

Of course Denver is on the list. With superb breweries like Cerebral, Bierstadt, Our Mutual Friend, and TRVE it’s hard to beat the brew scene here. Pair that with everything else the city has to offer and the surrounding scenery and you’re absolutely in for a good time. Check out my Colorado beer and travel guide here.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

As a Michigander this addition should be no surprise, but it’s not just me and my home state biases—Grand Rapids is constantly in the running for any “beer city” competition. Don’t miss Speciation Artisan Ales, Arvon, and City Built for breweries and for Seven Monks for a beer bar. The city is exploding with breweries to explore. Check out my Grand Rapids beer and travel guide here.

New York City, New York

I’m sure most “normal people” wouldn’t think of New York as a hub for craft beer, but the city that never sleeps is indeed a great spot for craft beer lovers. The beer bar scene here tends to shine brightest with spots like Torst, Beer Street, and Proletariat, while breweries such as Other Half, Fifth Hammer, and Evil Twin absolutely crush it. Check out my NYC beer and travel guide here.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has a wide array of breweries throughout their many neighborhoods and suburbs. Heavy hitters include Maplewood, More, Mikerphone and Revolution, plus don’t miss Phase Three in the northern suburb of Lake Zurich. Check out my Chicago beer and travel guide here.

The Twin Cities, Minnesota

The Twin Cities are exploding with breweries! Highlights include BlackStack, Barrel Theory, Fair State, Modist, and Falling Knife. The beer scene here tends to be somewhat IPA heavy, but the beers are superb and there are plenty of spots to explore. Check out my Minneapolis and St. Paul beer and travel guide here.

Portland, Maine

We all know New England is chock full of great breweries and particularly Hazy IPAs, but Portland’s beer scene is unmatched. With OG spots like Allagash, Maine Beer Company, and Oxbow alongside newer (and hazier) breweries like Mast Landing, Belleflower, and Bissell Brothers, you can find an absolutely superb beer of any style. Don’t miss the killer beer bar Novare Res Bier Cafe as well! Check out my Portland beer and travel guide here.

Los Angeles, California

LA might not seem like a great beer city at first glance but this sprawling metro is home to some of the country’s best breweries. LA’s southern neighbor San Diego gets all of the praise for craft beer, but LA’s scene is far superior. Monkish, Bottle Logic, Green Cheek, Homage, and Highland Park all call LA home, along with a ton of other great spots. Windsor Home Brew is a fantastic beer bar and bottle shop that is not to be missed either. Check out my LA beer and travel guide here.

Portland, Oregon

Portland’s beer scene has been exploding for decades. The city is overflowing with breweries and it seems a new one opens almost weekly at this point. There are some solid spots in PDX, and topping the list are Great Notion, Cascade, Ruse, and Wayfinder. Check out my Portland beer and travel guide here.

Charlotte, NC

I wouldn’t live in Charlotte if I didn’t think the beer scene here was superb! There are a ton of breweries in the city, but Resident Culture, Burial, HopFly, and Fonta Flora top the list. CLT is also home to some fantastic beer bars—Salud and Pop The Top should not be missed. Check out my Charlotte guide here.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa absolutely crushes the dark beer game. There are a lot of breweries that make great other styles of beer, but if your a Stout person Tampa is for you! Brewery highlights include Angry Chair, BarrieHaus, Woven Water, and Magnanimous. Check out my Tampa beer and travel guide here. Neighboring St. Pete is also full of great spots!

Notable Mentions:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—Check out my Philly beer and travel guide here! I am excited to be back in May 2024!

Burlington, Vermont—This is the one beer city that I believe will be stupendous that I have not yet visited, but I do think it is probably one of the best cities for a beer vacation. My plans to visit have been foiled numerous times now, but I will finally be there in June 2024!

The Best Cities Abroad for Beer Vacations:

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is a gorgeous city with a booming beer scene, especially for Oceania. Stomping Ground, Fixation, Mood Dog, and Mountain Goat are the best of the best here, but there are a ton of spots to visit. Check out my Melbourne beer and travel guide here.

Munich, Germany

Is it possible to think of “beer cities” and not think of Germany? Munich is home to some classic gems like Augustiner Keller, Lowenbrau, Hofbrauhaus, and Paulaner. Pair a cold mug from any of their breweries with a pretzel or sausage and it’s impossible to have a bad time. Check out my Munich beer and travel guide here.

Brussels, Belgium

Another classic beer city! Personally I think the not-so-classic Belgian beers here outperform the dubbels and tripels. Cantillon is obviously the top choice here, but Moeder Lambic and Delirium should not be missed either! Check out my Belgium beer and travel guide here.

Wellington, New Zealand

My beer expectations for New Zealand were low, but the country as a whole is making some killer beers. Wellington in particular has a stand out beer scene. It is home to Garage Project, the country’s best brewery hands down, but Parrotdog is also a must-visit. Check out my North Island beer and travel guide here.