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I was in Chicago a few weeks ago and had the opportunity to
visit Goose Island. This is truly a wonderful place. Located on the near north side of
Chicago in a trendy urban area near DePaul University, the brewery is a large brick
industrial building. All of their beer and food is wonderful. The have home made barbecue
potato chips they serve as free munchies. Two of us had the ever popular gourmet thin
crust pizzas, one had fish and chips, and our fourth had a salmon special. After dinner we
played pool on one of their six tables. These are nice full size tables rented by the
hour. If you're in Chicago you must visit Goose Island.
- Oatmeal Stout
- Their seasonal brew for the month of September was Oatmeal
Stout. This was also their daily special and only $2 a pint! It was a great beer with a
strong roasted flavor. This was stouter than most oatmeal stouts.
- Honker's Ale
- Their pale ale was available on the hand pump and a hand
pumped pale is my idea of perfection. This did not disappoint. Good bitterness. They also
had a hand pumped ESB, which I didn't try.
- Hex Nut Brown Ale
- Another winner in their brown ale. This is a nice balanced
brown ale with a light malt flavor and hop flavor both present, but neither over done.
- Kilgubbin Red Ale
- I had this one bottled. One word: wonderful. This red ale's
got a nice creamy head and a great hop aroma that appears to be from dry hopping.
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Weinkeller
Westmont/Berwyn
I've been to two locations of Weinkeller. The first time was
in Berwyn. I wasn't sure what I wanted so I got the sampler. I didn't ask how much and I
was amazed to see 10 glasses. Berliner Weisse, Bavarian Weiss, Kristal Weiss, Raspberry
Wheat, Scotch Ale, Amber Ale, Pale Ale, Pilsner, ESB, Stout. I was even more amazed when
half of them were wheat beers.
The second visit was in Westmont. I love their Berliner
Weisse. The only other place I've seen this unique beer was in Cleveland at the Firehouse.
Weikeller serves the Berliner with a drop of rasperry syrup as it's drawn into the glass.
I like the lactic flavor balanced by the raspberry sweetness.
O'Grady's
Arlington Hts
This is a beautiful place, dark paneled walls and brass
fixtures. They had only been open a few weeks when I visited. I tried their Scotch Ale and
Pale Ale. I especially liked the Scotch, a less common style and well done.
Millrose
Barrington
I visited Millrose a long time ago, so I can't recall
details of the beers. I do know that I tried Dark Star Lager, Pilsner, and Stout. I recall
liking the Dark Star. |
