My Chicago Beer Tour

Fill with mingled cream and amber,

I will drain that glass again,

Such hilarious visions clamber

Through the chambers of my brain.

Come to life and fade away:

What care I how time advances?

I am drinking ale today.

– Edgar Allan Poe

Poe was onto something, especially with the part about drinking ale today. Not tonight, but today. He had the right idea with getting an early start, a jump on the day, and I kept his poem in mind while I tried to decide what to do in Chicago with my friends during an upcoming weekend trip.

Weekend trips are shorter than they sound once you factor in travel time, and you have to make the most out of your whole day to really feel like your trip was worthwhile. Sleeping in until noon doesn’t really fly if you only have one full day in a location.

So, with Poe’s words in mind, we signed up for a three-hour afternoon tour of the best beer in Chicago. We figured it’s hard to go wrong with a three-hour tour that doesn’t involve a boat, right?

Our Experience

Our tour kicked off around noon, a great time of the day to sip on a few beers and see the sights. A few of my friends had never been to Chicago before, so we were glad to find that the tour didn’t just leave us camped out in a bar, but took us through Lincoln Park and the Lakeview neighborhood, and we were only about three miles north of the city so we could get there using public transportation.

Our tour group was about 12 people including myself and friends, but the guide told us that groups could sometimes be as large as 18. Our guide was certifiably awesome. He knew a lot about both beer and the city of Chicago, and he seamlessly intertwined facts about beer with the city’s history dating back to 1833. The history, of course, was all beer related.

I was also surprised to find we weren’t stuck in the same types of bars. We visited an Irish-style pub, a beer-and-bacon bar, a craft beer and wine shop and even a punk-rock themed bar. There was a little something for everyone, including my friend who’s a total beer snob.

The tour did a great job of catering to beer enthusiasts and newbies all in one crowd. They gave us a quick overview about how beer is made, the different styles, different tastes, a rundown of beer terminology and a few facts that wowed even someone as snobby as my friend.

And, finally, the best part, which I’m sure you’ve been wondering: How much beer did you get? We tasted 16 different beers, which was the equivalent of about four standard-sized beers. It was just enough to handle without being overly full — or overly inebriated.

And, since the tour ends in a bar, you’re already in a position to continue taking advantage of the rest of your day, if that’s how you want to roll, and give ol’ Poe a run for his money when it comes to ale consumption.

danielle056

Danielle, who blogs on behalf of Sears and other prestigious brands, is a craft-beer lover and White Russian connoisseur. She enjoys trying new things on a regular basis in both her adult beverage choices and life in general. Read her musings on cooking, travel, and more at http://www.cooksandtravelbooks.com.