Chicago
An early arrival on the West Loop scene, Haymarket remains nicely low-key. It doesn't try to win you over with uberhipness like many of its neighbors…
Must-see nightlife in The Great Lakes
Cincinnati
Art and beer mix at 3 Points, a sleek industrial space with black-and-white stools and high-top tables. The brewers commission local artists to design…
Chicago
Chandeliers dangle from the high ceiling, fountains gurgle, and sleek couches offer respite under leafy trees in a light-bathed glass atrium. This elegant…
Chicago
Groups of friends and couples on dates descend to the Press Room's snug basement digs to chitchat at candlelit tables over glasses of red, white and…
Michigan
Mitten occupies a beautiful brick Victorian-era fire station. Locals chitchat at knotty wood tables in the warm, pub-like interior. Vintage baseball…
Goose Island Fulton Street Brewery
Chicago
Goose Island – Chicago's first craft brewer, launched in 1988 – is now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, so technically it's no longer a craft brewer. But it…
Gold Coast
The pub is home to Cherry Republic Brewing Company that makes Leelanau Lambic, a dry, tart ale blended with local Montmorency cherries. It also produces…
Michigan
Thornapple is like a friendly corner tavern, where patrons know each other, play cards and compete on trivia teams, though the vibe is slightly punctured…
Cincinnati
Sit at the bar at Arnold’s and you might rub elbows with a city council member or local newscaster or Reds baseball player. The downtown staple has been…
Indiana
'Iechyd Da' means 'Cheers!' in Welsh and this excellent brewery in pretty Elkhart indeeds leans towards UK-style handcrafted ales, though it's not fully…
Chicago
The Chicago outpost of this campy, gay-friendly San Francisco-based chain serves well-regarded burgers and weekend brunch in the downstairs restaurant,…
Illinois
This Rock Island hophead destination manages to strike the perfect balance between craft nanobrewery and neighborhood dive bar. Saddle up to the bar with…
Wisconsin
Lots of families and groups of friends gather at this social spot. From April through October, they congregate at picnic tables in the outdoor beer garden…
Illinois
This gorgeous, retro, Prohibition–styled taproom was Oak Park's first, originally started in 2016 as a lager-only adventure (hence the name). Today, there…
Chicago
The cozy little room with found furniture and exposed brick walls is a great place to munch a sandwich, sip a rose cardamom latte with oat milk, and shop…
Indianapolis
Centerpoint Brewing rode on the coattails of the popularity of its Blood Orange IPA (a refreshing, citrus-hopped explosion!) to the top, taking home 'Best…
Gold Coast
Destination brewery New Holland is known for its robust beers, such as Tangerine Space Machine and Dragon’s Milk stout, and its housemade gins and rums…
Chicago
Lucky Dorr, which stands about 20 paces from Wrigley Field, sends out its siren song to beer aficionados. The 20 taps pour brews by local makers such as…
Indiana
This tap room sits in a historic downtown building with big windows and exposed-brick walls. The company has been brewing for close to 20 years,…
Michigan
Greyline is a bit of an outlier, about 3 miles northwest of downtown, but it’s worth the trip. Set in a squat grey building at the edge of an industrial…
Michigan
Ranked as one of the nation's best beer bars, HopCat draws beer fans young and old. They pack the vintage wood tables in the low-lit room, knocking back…
Michigan
Perrin is far-flung from other Grand Rapids breweries – about a 15-minute drive north of town – but it’s one of the scene’s largest players. The cavernous…
Chicago
Dovetail brews Belgian- and German-style beers. Smoky rauchbier, yolky-orange wheat beer, fruity lambics and sweet tasting spelt beer flow from the…
Ohio
The Scottish brewer with a punk rock spirit has a couple of bars around town. This one in the Short North – a rollicking industrial room with exposed…
Ohio
This brewpub sits on Millersburg’s main street surrounded by antique shops. It’s definitely the local clubhouse for beer drinkers – mostly because bars…
Indiana
Part of a formerly abandoned warehouse space converted into a multi-use creative exhibition space and start-up incubator known as Lang Lab, Zen Cafe…
Chicago
Looking for a packed, sweaty dance floor that's loads of fun? Berlin caters to a mostly gay crowd midweek, though partiers of all stripes jam the place on…
Illinois
Two Brothers hides in an industrial park surrounded by fields. Two brothers, Jim and Jason, do indeed brew the suds, which you can sample via the 14 or so…
Leland, Northport & Suttons Bay
No wonder Hop Lot is a community favorite. The tap room is great, but the outdoor beer garden ups the ante in all seasons. In summer, enjoy bean bag games…
Gold Coast
The Beer Church is a cheeky one. Housed in a former Methodist church, its incongruous facade – bold red lettering proclaiming BREWERY beneath a pristine…
Chicago
Hobnob with neighborhood folks in Empirical's no-frills taproom: play board games, hit the pinball machine, pet the locals' dogs. There's a science-geek…
Indiana
18th Street flies under the radar, which is strange because it makes terrific beer and food. Saisons, double India pale ales and sour beers are the…
Chicago
With metal ducts running overhead, exposed-brick walls and wood bench seats, Sip of Hope is more industrial than cozy. But it's super welcoming and brews…
Chicago
A father-daughter team operates this cute-as-a-button distillery that specializes in fruit brandies. They source the apples, cherries, plums and other…
Indiana
It's hard to beat a set of Quaff ON! Brewing beer samples on Big Woods' porch on a bright fall day. The timber-framed building feels like a cozy cabin…
Chicago
City Winery pours on the grape theme, with casks and tanks of wine everywhere you look. It's very Sonoma decor-wise, with a vine-strewn, open-air patio…
Gold Coast
A slew of eclectic beers bubble forth from the taps. The cinnamon French toast stout and oatmeal stout wallop the senses, while the double IPAs, hazy IPAs…
Illinois
The name of this laid-back brewery is a waggish reference to Evanston's legacy as a teetotaling stronghold: the town's dry spell outlasted US Prohibition…
Ohio
Johnnie’s wins the prize for best dive bar in Columbus. Tucked in a house smack in the middle of a residential block, it has all the hallmarks of…
Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
A hop, skip and a shuffle away from the 606 trail is this Brooklyn import that combines hipster cocktails and beer with leisurely games of full-court…
