Table of Contents
Known for its great part in the history of the United States and as the home of the first Mcdonald’s branch, Illinois is among the best states you should visit. The state offers numerous restaurants, pubs, and breweries you can try.
Illinois breweries offer various out-of-the-box brews that are perfect for all beer lovers. If you plan to have a joyful beer hopping, join us as we’ll guide you to the nine most visited breweries in Illinois.
1. Half Acre Beer Co.
Brewing since 2007, Half Acre is a regional brewery serving Chicagoans with terrific craft beers. It started as a small bar but grew into a large brewery that crafted over 600 original beers. In 2013, Half Acre built its second location; a spacious production facility with a taproom, beautiful beer garden, and shop.
Half Acre’s Balmoral taproom features 22 draft lines of superb craft beers. You can get these beers in pints or a flight of four 5oz samplers. And partner these with Half Acre’s delicious pub fare featuring classic burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
- Crowd Favorite: Daisy Cutter Pale Ale. An aromatic West Coast Pale Ale with 5.2% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: GoneAway
- Hop-py Note: Kid-friendly. Street parking and private lot parking. Indoor and outdoor seating.
- Fun Fact: Half Acre won a silver medal in the 2014 GABF, outdoing 277 entries for the American-Style IPA category.
Hours: Open Wed & Thur 3pm – 9pm, Fri & Sat 11am – 10pm, Sun 11am – 9pm, Mon & Tues Closed.
Address: 2050 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Contact: (773) 754-8488 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
2. Revolution Brewing Company
Revolution Brewing operates as the state’s biggest independently-owned brewery. It began as a small brewery in 2010, and after a year of success, Revolution brewing added a Brewers’ Lounge on its second floor. And in 2012, the brewery finally built its production facility and taproom.
Today, Revolution Brewing offers various beer styles with big flavors and creativity. You can find 15 taps in its Kedzie taproom with customized handles. Try a variety of its beers at once by having a beer flight of four samplers. For food, visit Revolution’s Brewpub on Milwaukee avenue, as the place offers a wide array of food items.
- Crowd Favorite: Anti-Hero. A crisp, aromatic, and drinkable American IPA with 6.7% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Fist City
- Hop-py note: Private event booking is available. Vegan options. Kid-friendly. Street and bike parking. Public and private tours.
- Fun Fact: Revolution Brewing boasts eight 800-barrel fermenters in its production facility.
Hours: Open Sun Mon Wed & Thur 12pm – 10pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 12am, Tues Closed.
Address: 2323 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Contact: (773)227-2739 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
3. Off Color Brewing
Through the efforts of John and Dave, Off Color Brewing was born in Chicago. The brewery provides the entire city with delicious forgotten beers. You can find unfamiliar styles like sahti and kotbusser on its taproom, but never IPAs. John, the co-founder of Off Color, stated that the brewery would never brew IPAs, regardless of their popularity. Instead, John enjoys crafting unusual brews incorporating yeast and bacteria.
Today, Off Color’s Mousetrap taproom features 16 unique beers on draft. And while the place doesn’t offer in-house food, ordering or bringing outside fare is encouraged. Moreover, Off Color provides space for large groups; its patio has plenty of seating.
- Crowd Favorite: Apex Predator. Farmhouse ale with a fruity and dry finish. Contains 6.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Dino S’mores
- Hop-py note: Dog-friendly. Indoor and outdoor seating. Street, bike, and private lot parking. Free Wi-Fi.
Hours: Open Sun – Thur 12pm – 10pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 12am.
Address: 1460 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642
Contact: (312) 929-2916 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
4. Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
Originally named Mercenary Brewery & Distillery in 2007, Maplewood changed its name to its current brand in 2015 due to a legal dispute. Today, the brewery serves the locals and tourists in Logan Square with bright, bold-flavored beers.
Maplewood offers 15 distinct beers on tap on its full bar. You can also enjoy a variety of cocktails and spirits here on glass or in a can. And while Maplewood used to serve food, its in-house kitchen is currently closed. But if you want, you can order outside food and bring it to the taproom.
- Crowd Favorite: Son of Juice. A tropical, fruity, and hoppy hazy IPA with 6.3% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Charlatan
- Hop-py note: Covered outdoor seating. Bike and street parking. Dog-friendly patio.
- Fun Fact: Maplewood crafted a Charlatan American Pale Ale to rival Half Acre’s most famous beer, Daisy Cutter.
Hours: Open Mon 3pm – 9pm, Tues & Wed 3pm – 10pm, Thur 3pm – 12am, Fri 1pm – 12am, Sat 11am – 12am, Sun 12pm – 10pm.
Address: 2717 N Maplewood Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Contact: (773) 270-1061 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
5. More Brewing Company
Serving Illinois since 2017, More Brewing is an award-winning brewery and restaurant. It focuses on crafting hop-saturated ales and unique lagers, and heavy IPAs. And aside from beers, More Brewing also features a variety of whiskey, craft spirits, and beers from other local breweries in its taproom.
More Brewing has taprooms in Huntley and Villa Park. Both locations have the same brews available on tap, as well as non-beer beverages. But Huntley has more seating than the other as it has an outdoor patio that is open when the weather allows it. Moreover, both locations are family-friendly, but only Huntley allows pets and service dogs.
- Crowd Favorite: Loose Candies. A hop-loaded NEIPA with 8.4% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Dusty
- Hop-py Note: Offers takeout. Full food menu. Kid-friendly.
- Fun Fact: The brewery has a barrel-aged membership program called More Bairal Society, where members can access More’s exclusive and limited barrel-aged brews.
Hours: Open Sun – Thur 11am – 8pm, Fri & Sat 11am – 10pm.
Address: 13980 Automall Dr, Huntley, IL 60142
Contact: (630) 501-1519 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
6. Solemn Oath Brewery
Solemn Oath was born in 2012 and is currently serving Naperville and Chicago. This brewery is known for its barrel-aged beers and amazing Belgian-style ales. And it is also famous for its Community Dome Forest because of its unique outdoor seating setup.
Solemn Oath’s locations both offer fresh drafts of its beers and hard seltzers. You can find a variety of bottles and cans in its bar area, as well as some growlers. And although both locations don’t serve food, they have food trucks every week, which you can check their schedules on the brewery’s website.
- Crowd Favorite: Snaggletooth Bandana. An American IPA with hop bitterness and 6.5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Butterfly Flashmob
- Hop-py Note: Sells merchandise and gift cards. Dog-friendly.
- Fun Fact: Solemn Oat has a beer community called The Old Order, where members can access exclusive cans and limited releases every year.
Hours: Open Mon – Thur 12pm – 10pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 11pm, Sun 12pm – 9pm.
Address: 1661 Quincy Ave #179, Naperville, IL 60540
Contact: (630) 995-3062 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
7. Noon Whistle Brewing
Noon Whistle is a Lombard brewery founded by friends Paul Kreiner, Mike Condon, and Jim Cagle in 2014. Paul is the brewmaster and oversees the production facility. With his lead, Noon Whistle began with only brewing low-alcohol beers, but over time, the brewery started crafting hoppy beers and sours.
In 2020, Noon Whistle expanded its facility and opened its second location in Naperville. Since then, Noon Whistle’s second facility has taken over most of its production. Moreover, the brewery is now distributing its beers all over Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
- Crowd Favorite: Gummypocalypse. A massively hopped, hazy IPA with 8.2% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Cozmo
- Hop-py Note: In-house kitchen. Non-beer options. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Hours: Open Mon – Thur 12pm – 10pm, Fri 12pm – 11pm, Sat 11am – 11pm, Sun 11am – 7pm.
Address: 800 E Roosevelt Rd, Lombard, IL 60148
Contact: (630) 376-6895 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
8. Old Irving Brewing Co.
Old Irving is another award-winning Chicagoan brewery established in 2016. The brewery got its name from the Old Irving Park neighborhood, where it serves quality brews. Moreover, Old Irving has been featured in USA Today’s list of best brewpubs in the United States for four straight years since 2018.
Old Irving is visited today for its delicious wood-fired food, quality beers, creative cocktails, and amazing bourbons. You can also find various house lagers and ales; some are available on its solid draft line with 12 taps. Moreover, the brewery’s full bar has various wines, ciders, and dessert wines.
- Crowd Favorite: Beezer. A gorgeously hopped hazy IPA with 6.9% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Cinnamon Prost
- Hop-py Note: Kid-friendly. Wheelchair accessible. Sells merchandise and gift cards.
- Fun Fact: Old Irving’s Beezer won a gold medal in the 2019 GABF Hazy IPA category.
Hours: Open Mon – Thur 12pm – 11pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 12am, Sun 12pm – 10pm.
Address: 4419 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
Contact: (773) 916-6421 | Facebook | Instagram | Website
9. Metropolitan Brewing
Founded in 2008 by Doug and Tracy, Metropolitan Brewing is a fun brewery serving Chicago. It is famous for its German-style lagers and smoked beers. And Metropolitan Brewing is the only brewery in Chicago that only serves lagers.
Metropolitan Brewing offers a family-friendly and dog-friendly space. It even offers non-beer and non-alcoholic drinks for kids and teenagers. You can also find guest gluten-free beers, kombuchas, and ciders on tap. Moreover, Metropolitan partners with Arigato Market to serve food in its taproom, mainly tacos. And you can also order food from other restaurants.
- Crowd Favorite: Krankshaft. A Kolsch with gentle hops and fruity flavor with 5% ABV.
- Highly Recommended: Flywheel
- Hop-py note: Kid-friendly. Dog-friendly. Offers table and space rentals. Street, bike, and private parking.
- Fun Fact: The brewery’s beer names are all connected to the city’s industrial history, such as Flywheel and Arc Welder.
Hours: Open Mon – Thur 12pm – 11pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 12am, Sun 12pm – 10pm.
Address: 3057 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618
Contact: (773) 754-0494 | Facebook | Instagram | Website