Are you a college student? Do you love beer? Knowing from experience, yes you do. Beer is like the staple drink of choice when you’re in college. It’s the cheapest to buy and the easiest to drink. And Chicago is known for some of the coolest and best bars to grab a pint of the best craft beers. So if you’re a college student, living in or around Rogers Park, here are 6 bars/restaurants/breweries you need to check out. All offering some staples, these places are a must if you’re looking to chill out and grab a couple of drinks with some friends (or by yourself, I won’t assume you have friends).
Howard Street Brewing Co.
1617 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60626
Located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Howard Street Brewing is a simple taproom and bar built upon the ideas of conversation and community. It only recently opened in the Fall of 2020. Their 37 seat taproom offers 12 beer styles all made within the 4 walls of Howard Street Brewing. Their philosophy towards beer styles is “to brew them all.” And their small system gives them the flexibility to brew any kind of beer they want. Their website has not revealed a menu, but stay tuned as I figure out what they’re offering!
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Rogers Park Social
6920 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
One of the best places for craft beers in Rogers Park is the namesake social. Intended to reflect the soul of the neighborhood, Rogers Park Social offers a unique and inviting venue featuring craft beers and freshly prepared cocktails – lovingly created and served by their friends and neighbors. Founded and operated by neighborhood residents, they strive to mindfully infuse the spirit of community, diversity, and service in all that they offer. Their interior offers two selections, a warm industrial barroom or a retro lounge. Their beer staples include the Dovetail Framboise, a blend of four barrels of their traditionally-made, spontaneously fermented beer from Fall 2016 and Spring 2017, and aged for 10 months on 225 kg of Michigan raspberries, and Empirical HeLa.
R Public House
1508 W Jarvis Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
R Public House is a community-driven restaurant and bar in Rogers Park that welcomes everyone. They serve as an anchor business in the neighborhood, providing an atmosphere for entertainment and light dining, philanthropy, and goodwill for the diverse population in the area. They offer an extensive selection of beers like 5 Five Rabbits la Pina de Mis Ojos, a sour ale brewed with pineapples, Toppling Goliath King Sue, a hazy double IPA with hints of mango, orange, and pineapple from the use of the delicious Citra hop, Half Acre Daisy Cutter, a master blend of five different hops creates a powerful nose and a dynamic flavor, and Metropolitan Flywheel, a mild, bready malt sweetness with crispy hop flavors.
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Taste Food & Wine
1506 W Jarvis Ave, Chicago, IL 60626
Taste Food & Wine has been a staple in the Jarvis Square neighborhood of North Rogers Park for over a decade. Their beer selection focuses on locally produced craft beer with stand-outs from across the Mid-West and United States. They also stock a large variety of gluten-free beer, ciders, seltzers, canned cocktails, and sake! The beer list at the brewery and bar features locally brewed craft beers from their friends at Marz! Some of their staples include Margarita Session Sour, Toucan Chan IPA, and Instant Oats Stout. Taste Food & Wine is located just steps from the Red Line on Jarvis Avenue. And they have plenty of street parking and even offer delivery service!
Spiteful Brewing
2024 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Owners Brad Shaffer, and Jason Klein, met following a spiteful incident during a hockey game on the pond when they were kids. They remained friends and teammates throughout the years, carrying a Spiteful disposition along the way. They opened a brewery together and brewed their first commercial batch, G.F.Y. Stout, in November of 2012. From the humble beginnings on the stove, Spiteful grew to a team of 4 who help brew, package, and deliver cans, bottles, and kegs across Chicagoland! The flagship of their beers, Spiteful IPA is a drinkable, balanced American IPA with orange and grapefruit, dry and crisp with moderate bitterness.
Half Acre Beer
2050 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Half Acre is a Chicago beer company invested at each end of the brewing spectrum; time-honored classics and experimental, sensory expanding releases. They have two brewery spaces, the original on Lincoln Avenue and the expanded facility on Balmoral. They both have taprooms and kitchens with food programs unique to the location. Lincoln is also home to their retail shop while Balmoral is home to their outdoor beer garden. Although not in Rogers Park, the brewery and bar is a short distance away and is worth the visit, especially the outdoor beer garden. Their core beers include Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, Pony Pilsner, Bodem Pale Ale, Tome, Fader, and Hallow Double IPA. This selection is brewed and canned all year round.
Craft Beers Rogers Park Featured Image Photo Credit: Pexels