Top 13 Local Alcoholic Beverages
in Chicago

Revolution Brewing is the largest independently owned craft brewery in Illinois, based in Chicago. Founded in 2010, it has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most innovative beer producers in the region. Their portfolio features a wide variety of beer styles, including IPAs, lagers, porters, stouts, as well as seasonal and experimental brews. For craft beer enthusiasts visiting Chicago, a trip to the Revolution Brewpub offers the chance to enjoy freshly brewed beer in a welcoming atmosphere. The brewery also offers tours and tastings.Expand

Art of Alchemy (AoA Spirits) is an innovative company dedicated to creating high-quality whiskey blends through collaboration and an artistic approach to production. Founded by a collective of friends and industry experts, AoA merges the tradition of distillation with modern techniques and a philosophy of togetherness. AoA believes in the power of collaboration and community as essential elements for achieving excellence in craftsmanship. Their products are not merely the work of a single producer but a combination of skills, ideas, and resources from renowned industry professionals. Their blends are meticulously crafted in partnership with distilleries and experts, including the legendary master distiller Jim Rutledge. Each series combines spirits of varying ages and origins, ranging from rye whiskeys to bourbons, to achieve a rich and complex flavor profile. Bottling is carried out in collaboration with The Bardstown Bourbon Company, known for its exceptional quality.Expand

Goose Island Brewery is one of the most influential craft breweries in the United States, founded in 1988 in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago when John Hall set out to bring European beer culture to the heart of America. Their first brewpub quickly became a gathering place for beer enthusiasts and a hub of experimentation with various styles, leading to the production of beers that stood out for their quality, character, and innovation. One of their most pioneering creations, Bourbon County Stout, was launched in 1992 and became one of the first American beers aged in bourbon barrels, setting a new industry standard. A major milestone was the development of the Staviary program - a dedicated facility for barrel-aging beer - which positioned Goose Island as a leader in the barrel-aged beer segment. Over the years, the brewery has continued to grow while staying true to its roots. Goose Island is now a shining example of how local passion can evolve into a global brand without compromising on quality or authenticity. Their taprooms, educational tours, and ongoing collaboration with local communities further underscore their commitment to preserving beer culture and driving innovation in the industry.Expand

Half Acre Beer is an independent brewery from Chicago, founded in 2006 by Gabriel Magliaro, and has since grown into one of the most recognizable names on the American craft beer scene. Half Acre produces a wide range of styles - from classic lagers and pilsners to IPAs, hazy IPAs, stouts, and seasonal releases. Their philosophy is rooted in brewing “rough, American micro beers” with strong character and bold aromatics, while continuously experimenting and responding to evolving tastes. The brewery operates a taproom and beer garden in Chicago, offering visitors a chance to enjoy both core and limited-edition beers, and over the years has become a vital part of the local community by supporting events and initiatives. Through a balance of tradition and innovation, Half Acre has built a reputation for beers with authentic identity, appealing both to local drinkers and the broader U.S. market.Expand

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery is an independent producer based in Chicago’s Logan Square, distinguished as the city’s first combined brewery and distillery. Founded with the idea of merging the art of brewing beer and crafting spirits, they quickly became recognized for their innovative approach and wide-ranging portfolio. Their lineup includes craft beers of various styles, from hop-forward IPAs and juicy hazy varieties to rich stouts, crisp lagers, as well as seasonal and experimental releases. In addition to beer, Maplewood also produces its own line of spirits, including whiskey, gin, and liqueurs, along with canned cocktails, making them unique compared to typical craft breweries. Their taproom, known as the “Lounge”, is designed as a warm and dynamic community hub where visitors can enjoy beer, cocktails, and food. Barrels play an important role in their process, used to age select beverages and create added complexity and depth of flavor. Maplewood is well-known for hosting events, engaging in collaborations, and consistently introducing new offerings, keeping them at the center of Chicago’s craft scene. Their beers are celebrated for their aromatics and balance, while their spirits are admired for the attention to detail and care put into aging. Maplewood Brewery & Distillery today stands as a symbol of innovation, community, and high quality in the heart of Chicago.Expand

New York Sour is an American cocktail made with a combination of whiskey, sugar syrup, lemon juice, and dry red wine. In order to prepare it, all ingredients except wine are shaken with ice, then strained into a rocks glass and topped with wine. Contrary to its name, the cocktail was actually invented in Chicago. Originally, it was known as Continental Sour and Southern Whiskey Sour before the name was changed to New York Sour. The first handwritten mention of the cocktail can be found in a Toronto saloon’s drink list from 1856, and a few years later, in 1862, the cocktail appeared in written form in Jerry Thomas’ The Bon-Vivant’s Companion.Expand

Paper Plane is a popular American cocktail that combines equal parts bourbon, amaro Nonino, Aperol, and fresh lemon juice. All the ingredients are shaken with ice, and the mixture is strained into a chilled coupe glass. Paper Plane is often classified as a modern classic. Although it is now featured on many cocktail menus, it is a relatively recent invention, introduced in 2008. The cocktail was created by Sam Ross, the co-owner of Attaboy and Diamond Reef in New York City. Ross first presented the cocktail for the inauguration of The Violet Hour bar in Chicago. The name was inspired by Paper Planes, a song written and recorded by British hip hop artist M.I.A. For that occasion, Ross even decorated the drink with tiny paper planes. The drink was an instant success, and Ross went to put it on the menu of the legendary Milk&Honey.Expand

Malört is a bitter, wormwood-based liqueur that was created in the 1930s by a Swedish immigrant Carl Jeppson. The drink was first introduced in Chicago, and although it is now produced in Florida, it is still mainly associated with its place of origin, and it can rarely be found elsewhere in the United States. Malört, which is a Swedish word for wormwood, was modeled on Swedish beskbrännvin – a liquor distilled from potatoes or grains that was often infused with wormwood. The drink is characterized by its sharp flavor and a long, bitter aftertaste. Although it is recommended to drink it with a sugar cube, it is mainly served neat, and it is intended to be enjoyed as a shot.Expand

Cohasset Punch is an American cocktail originally made with a combination of dark rum, sweet vermouth, lemon juice, canned peach syrup, and a few dashes of orange bitters, while modern interpretation also includes Grand Marnier. In order to prepare it, half of a canned peach is first placed in the bottom of a cocktail glass, which is then halfway filled with shaved ice. All the liquid ingredients are then shaken with ice, and strained into the glass. The drink was supposedly invented for an actor named William H. Crane by a Chicago bartender Lewis Williams in 1899, but almost dissapeared by the late 1980s. It has recently been revived and rebranded as one of Chicago's classic drinks, and even started being bottled and sold by local companies such as G.R. Shutters.Expand

Chicago Cocktail is a classic after-dinner drink made with a combination of brandy, champagne, Angostura bitters, and triple sec. To prepare it, brandy, bitters, and triple sec are mixed with ice, stirred, then strained into a glass and topped with champagne. The cocktail glass can be garnished with a sugared rim, if desired. Despite the name of this cocktail, it is still unknown whether it was invented in Chicago, Nice, or London.Expand