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BAR REVIEW: DeLux Bar & Grill in the River West neighborhood of Chicago, IL

From the mastermind behind the infamous (and former) Lincoln Park bar known as Parkway, comes a local city bar with the friendly atmosphere of suburban bar: DeLux Bar & Grill. Situated in the up and coming neighborhood of River West on Milwaukee Avenue, DeLux Bar & Grill offers plenty of incentives for you to keep coming back for more. The food menu is one of the main reasons why this local River West bar has found a special place in my heart. From the finger-licking good Chicken Wings to the Sloppy Joes to the Buffalo Chicken Wrap, DeLux offers you the typical bar food, but adds an important ingredient: flavor. All the food items at DeLux taste good sober or wasted.

Now as for the beer menu, DeLux offers mainly bottled beers. The only draft beers DeLux offers (currently) are Guinness, Newcastle and Blue Moon. Having only 3 draft beers may cause a problem if you want fresh tasting beer. Fortunately, the 3 beers they do have on tap are fan favorites.

When I visited DeLux on a Sunday, I noticed how there was more than 1 NFL fan base present. Of course you had your Chicago Bears fans, but you also had Cleveland Browns fans, Dallas Cowboys fans and New York Jets fans. This melting pot of fans creates a unique football environment at DeLux. Each fan base stakes its claim in one area of the bar and they proceed to cheer their team and jeer your team.

DeLux Bar & Grill is located at 669 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Phone: (312) 850-4008. Website: www.deluxchicago.com

Rating: Raise your glass, DeLux Bar & Grill gets 3 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: Paramount Room in the River West area of Chicago, IL

The Grand Blue Line area in the River West neighborhood is becoming a hip destination when it comes to partaking in late night socializing. Iguana Cafe, The Funky Buddha Lounge, Butterfly Social Club, Emmit’s Irish Pub, Richards Bar and Redno Five are the established favorites. If you walk south 2 blocks on Milwaukee Avenue you’ll come across the newest addition to the River West drinking scene: Paramount Room.

Well, the location of the bar isn’t exactly new; the site of the Paramount Room was actually a speakeasy back in the prohibition days. Currently, it is a hip destination where you can enjoy some marvelous draft beer selections and partake in some fantastic meal offerings. The downstairs lounge area is a great late night destination on the weekends. The intimate setting and overall vibe make the underground lounge area a great place to strike up conversation or enjoy a popular sporting event.

Beer wise, the Paramount Room exceeded my expectations. They have a phenomenal selection of draft and bottle beers. My personal favorites were the Arcadia IPA and the Left Hand Milk Stout. Their assortment of beers is not as grand as the Beer Bistro or the Map Room (other great drinking establishments in Chicago), but the few beers they have will keep you well hydrated through out the evening. If you become like a deer in headlights with the sure to be unknown beers available, the friendly bartenders are more than happy to give you a helping suggestion. They also have Beer Flights in case you want to sample several of the beers.

Overall, the Paramount Room gets it right on various levels. They have a terrific food menu and a grand beer menu. Plus, the historic Chicago vibe is evident through out the pub. The people behind this great drinking and eating establishment, Dine & Drink, Inc., have produced a phenomenal drinking destination in the ever-expanding River West area.

Paramount Room is located at 415 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Phone: (312) 829-6300. Website: www.paramountroom.com

Rating: Raise your glass, Paramount Room gets 5 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: WestEnd Bar & Grill in the West Loop Gate area of Chicago, IL

As one of the newest drinking establishments in the up and coming West Loop area, WestEnd Bar & Grill goes out of its way to make sure they get everything right. The inviting atmosphere, the neighborhood feel, non-smoking environment, the numerous wide screen plasma TVs and ample seating make this bar a great place to meet and mingle. What really matters to me though, is the beer selection.

WestEnd Bar & Grill has a strong draft beer selection (Hacker-Pschorr, Goose Island Matilda, and Peroni Nastro Azzurro, to name a few) and a fantastic bottle selection (La Fin du Monde, Delirium Tremens and Great Lakes Elliott Ness, to name a few). You are faced with a tough decision when it comes to selecting the next round of beers. It does help how the friendly staff makes you feel special no matter what beer you choose. The beer list is not as expansive or as impressive as say THE BEER BISTRO (which happens to be down the street), but the selected beers they have make it a terrific destination for drinks.

WestEnd Bar & Grill is located at 1326 West Madison Street in Chicago, IL. Phone: (312) 981-7100.

Rating: Raise your glass, WestEnd Bar & Grill gets 4 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: PROST! DEUTSCHLAND/CHICAGO in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL

The neighborhood of Lincoln Park in Chicago, Illinois, USA, has a bar for every occasion. If you want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you head out to one of the many Irish Bars. If you want to catch a major sporting event, you embark to one of the many Sports Bars. If you want to celebrate Cinco De Mayo, you’ll find many of the bars become “cantinas.” Up until now, if you wanted to celebrate Octoberfest, you had to venture out of Lincoln Park for a German themed bar. Well, that is until PROST! opened its doors. Prost! means Cheers! in German, and you’ll be doing plenty of cheering in this German drinking establishment.

Everything from the picnic benches, to the chandeliers, to the Boot mug, to the German Hefeweizen beers, screams Octoberfest. The fun drinking environment welcomes all who want to have the experience of being in a Munich-style beer hall without having to pay for the airfare. The food offered at Prost! are pure German dishes and go great with a stein of lager. Speaking of lagers, Prost! has a wonderful selection of German beers. My recommendation: Spaten Optimator. It’s a Doppelbock beer (a strong Bavarian specialty lager) and goes great with friends and good German food.

Check out Prost! now before the Octoberfest celebration begins, because I’m sure this bar will be a popular destination for all those wanting to celebrate the new season. Of course, you will want to visit Prost! during Octoberfest and any other weekend night!

Prost! Deutschland/Chicago is located at 2566 North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, IL. Phone: (773) 880-9900.

Rating: Raise your glass, Prost! gets 4 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: THE WRIGHTWOOD TAP in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL

Dog owners search no more. If you are looking for a bar where you can drink fresh beer and enjoy the company of your four-legged best friend, your bar is The Wrightwood Tap. This local Lincoln Park watering hole is a “Dog Friendly” establishment. You can bring your pet dog in and converse with the other dog owners. When I visited the Wrightwood Tap, there were 3 dogs hanging out while their owners enjoyed fresh pints of draft beer. Out of all the drinking establishments I have visited in Chicago so far, this local bar is the only one where you can experience a wet nose against your feet.

Beer wise, the Wrightwood Tap has the popular favorites. But you don’t come to this bar to drink “hard to find” beers or micro brews. No, you come here to enjoy a decent beer in the company of your neighbors and dogs. Of course if the bar becomes too packed (as is the case through out the weekend nights), dogs are not allowed.

The Wrightwood Tap is located at 1059 West Wrightwood Ave in Chicago, IL. Phone (773) 549-4949.

Rating: Raise your glass, The Wrightwood Tap gets 3 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: PLYMOUTH RESTAURANT AND BAR in the South Loop district of Chicago, IL

You will fall in love with the roof top bar at PLYMOUTH RESTAURANT AND BAR. High on the 3rd floor, nestled between classic Chicago buildings, this rooftop bar can (and should be) an ideal place for any occasion. I’ll even go as far as to say it would be a great place to propose marriage. The small but quaint roof top deck area has just enough room for those who are lucky enough to know this haven even exists. Don’t let the narrow deck space discourage you from visiting this beautiful drinking establishment. Sure the rooftop may be busy on the weekends during the summer (what roof top in Chicago isn’t?), but if you visit Plymouth Restaurant and Bar during the week, you can find a seat at the bar or amongst the tables. Of course if you are not into a beautiful setting or into enjoying a beer outside during the fantastic Chicago summer, Plymouth Restaurant and Bar does have a bar section on ground level too!

When an opportunity to enjoy a fresh pint of beer while engulfed in the beautiful Chicago Architecture that the South Loop has to offer presents itself, you should seize it. That very same opportunity is present and alive while you are at the beautiful rooftop of the Plymouth Restaurant and Bar. A definite destination if you have company from out of town!

Plymouth Restaurant and Bar is located at 327 South Plymouth Court in Chicago, IL. Phone: (312) 362-1212. Website: www.plymouthgrill.com

Rating: Raise your glass, Plymouth Restaurant and Bar gets 4 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: ENGLISH in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, IL

A new addition to the trendy drinking scene of the River North neighborhood is the bar ENGLISH. Situated on historic La Salle Street, English is the newest drinking establishment from “Eat Well. Drink Better. Inc.” As their namesake implies, not only can you eat well at English (I recommend the Shrimp and Avocado Pressed Sandwich), you can drink exceptionally better. Their signature drinks stand out, but the drink menu I was more concerned with was their beer selection. They do a great job offering some of the better-known quality beers. Beers such as Fuller’s London Pride, Grolsch and Affligem Blonde Ale are just some of the beers that make up this compact, but efficient beer list. Yet, the beers that stand out the most are the 2 offerings from the St. Peter’s Brewery Co. in the UK: St. Peter’s English Ale and St Peter’s Old-Style Porter. A very rare occurrence in my visit around Chicago bars so far has been finding Ales from the St. Peter’s Brewery. When found, you must make note of said bar and proceed to visit it on a regular basis. It was a great idea to have a fine English beer at a fine bar that is called English. My beer of choice for this bar though goes to Fuller’s London Pride…a fine and affordable pint of beer it is!

The atmosphere itself is inviting and offers plenty of opportunities to start conversation with neighboring tables or with the friendly bartenders. If you cannot find a seat in the main street level proceed to either the second or third floor…if you fancy playing pool the second floor is where you should settle, the pool tables are gorgeous and any pool player would look great taking a shot.

From its friendly staff to reasonably priced drinks and classic, but new, Chicago feel, English is a welcome addition to the lively River North scene. As you walk down La Salle Street keep your eyes open for their classy neon sign advertising their establishment, you should not be able to miss it.

English is located at 444 North La Salle Street in Chicago, IL. Phone: (773) 832-4000. Website: www.englishchicago.com

Rating: Raise your glass, English gets 4 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: The Local Option in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL

One of the great beer bars in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL is THE LOCAL OPTION. Ever since a new owner purchased it in October of 2006, the bar has gone through some changes. When you walk into the bar now you may notice how it no longer has that “dive bar smell” it once had. You will also notice how the bar is a little bit brighter, not just because of the new paint job, but because of the neighborhood bar aura it now emits. The Local Option has been a Lincoln Park staple since the late 1980’s, but for the most part it was a staple of the nightlife. With the new changes, the bar now feels like a local gathering place through out the day.

I’m almost forgetting to mention the biggest change of the bar: the impressive beer list. The Local Option went from having your typical light beers on taps to having an impressive import selection on tap. From the micro brews to the Belgium ales, The Local Option has become a haven for beer drinkers. They did manage to keep their delicious food menu, which was one of the reasons to visit the tavern. So not only do they have a fantastic beer menu, they have a delicious food menu, a powerful combination for any pub.

The Local Option is located at 1102 W Webster Avenue in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Their phone number is (773) 348-2008.

Review: Raise your glass, The Local Option gets 4 cheers!

EVENT REVIEW: Chicago White Sox versus Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field

In the great city of Chicago, Illinois, there are two baseball clubs that contend for the title of “Chicago’s Baseball Team.” On the North Side of Chicago you have the Cubs, on the South Side of Chicago you have the White Sox. Both clubs have had their recent moments in the spotlight: The Chicago Cubs were on the verge of reaching the World Series championship games of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the fall of 2003 only to loose in heart breaking fashion. The Chicago White Sox reached the World Series and won their first Championship Trophy since 1917 during the fall of 2005. Since both clubs are in different leagues of the MLB they only have two, 3 game matches against each other every year. Each one of those games is as important as a championship game because the winner of the games gets recognized as the most important club in the city of Chicago.

The first set of games took place this past weekend at Wrigley Field, which is home to the Chicago Cubs, and we were there to witness first hand the meeting of these 2 Chicago teams. Wrigley Field is considered to be one of the ideal stadiums to catch a baseball game. Few would argue that claim. Not only is Wrigley Field situated in a popular neighborhood (known as “Wrigleyville”) where local bars and restaurants flourish during the baseball season, but Wrigley Field also has the honor of being the second oldest ball park in existence in the United States. When you attend a game at Wrigley Field you experience a baseball game as how it was meant to be experienced. One of the best seating sections available at Wrigley Field is the Bleacher Seats. If you sit in the Bleacher Seats you will have a good time. The drinks are always cold, the hot dogs are always warm and the fans are always rowdy. Just make sure you arrive early since the Bleacher Seats are general admission and the front seats fill up first.

We sat in the right field section of the bleachers in the first row for that memorable Saturday afternoon game. The weather was perfect baseball weather: sunny, a light breeze and plenty of excitement in the air. Since we arrived early we got a chance to witness the baseball players practice and were lucky enough to catch some baseballs from our favorite players (Thank You Tadahito Iguchi!). Now, one of the many traditions at Wrigley Field is to eat a Hot Dog and drink some Old Style Beer. Old Style Beer has been available at Wrigley Field since 1950 and is the beer of choice for Cub Fans. If you have not drank Old Style Beer, having your first drink at Wrigley Field is as good as it can get. Old Style is a pale lager that goes down smooth and tastes great at an afternoon baseball game.

The game it self was a blast! Each team had the lead through out various times of the game, but at the end, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Chicago White Sox. The final score is not important, what is important is that you had a good time and watched a good game. After the game you make your way over to the bars along Clark Street in Wrigleyville and experience a drinking scene rivaled by few. One of the best ways to describe Clark Street would be to compare it to Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Cub Fans have a saying: “Win or Lose, we still booze.” That is evident as your make your way through Wrigleyville after a Cubs game.

Review: Raise your glass, the Saturday, May 19, 2007, Chicago White Sox versus the Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field gets 5 cheers!

EVENT REVIEW: LOOPTOPIA in Chicago, IL

The dusk till dawn event known as Looptopia had its grand debut in the Loop district of Downtown Chicago, Illinois this past Friday. Starting at 5pm on May 11th and concluding at 7am on May 12th, the 14-hour event proved to be a welcome addition to the already impressive list of events held in Chicago through out the year.

Looptopia is the celebration of diversity and culture. It’s patterned off similar all night events held in some European cities such as Paris, Madrid and Rome. The “Chicago Loop Alliance” is the force responsible for bringing Looptopia to life. Over 9 city blocks long and 6 city blocks wide, Looptopia brings together the best businesses in Chicago to create a once a year celebration that is going to be one of the most anticipated events of the year.

It was quite a sight to witness as people of all ages and cultures traveled across the landmarks and businesses of Chicago embarking on to the next scheduled event. There were over 20 destinations that people could have visited and over 70 scheduled events to experience. Some of the notable destinations included the 7th floor dance party in the Macy’s Building (which will always be known as the “Marshall Field’s” building to Chicagoans), the many “themed” tours available through out the evening at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Sullivan Dock events by the old Carson Pirie Scotts building, and the Sunrise Celebration held at the Millennium Park Promenade. All events were free unless otherwise noted…I did not have to pay for anything through out the night, well, except for drinks and food. But that was the best part: $2 bottles of Goose Island’s 312 Urban Wheat Ale! $2 bottles. In the city of Chicago. Downtown. For the price of a CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) subway ticket you can have yourself one of the finest beers to come out of Chicago. Goose Island 312 was not the only available beer; Corona and Corona Light were also being served, all for $2 each.

The crowds that flocked around the Loop district were as diverse as you can get. In the early stages of the evening you had families and people of all ages checking out the many free theatre shows or cabarets available. As the night progressed and as the sun rose, the only people left were the dedicated individuals who knew how to have a fun time. There are very few events that can bring out the best of a city and it’s inhabitants, Looptopia is one such event. The happy crowds and the lively entertainment along with the great landmarks of a great city came together to celebrate diversity and culture in an event that is a first of its kind in the United States, and is bound not to be the last. If the goal of Looptopia was to spread the idea of a culture, then consider it accomplished. Not since my travels around Europe have I felt so proud to be in a city were the nightlife does not limit you to visiting a bar (which is not a bad thing, but it’s nice to have an alternative).

Review: Raise your glass, Looptopia gets 5 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: Rockit Bar & Grill in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, IL www.rockitbarandgrill.com

No other Downtown Chicago bar mixes the hip factor of a new nightclub with the trendy factor of a new restaurant like “Rockit Bar & Grill” on Hubbard Street. This bar and grill brings everything that makes going out fun and exciting into a cool warehouse-type space in the River North neighborhood. You go to Rockit to see and be seen. The 2 floors that make up Rockit are filled with young professionals, trendsetters, established professionals and drinkers. Each floor has its own bar and vibe. The 1st floor has the restaurant vibe since you can sit down and enjoy a fantastic meal. The 2nd floor has the lounge vibe since you can play pool or crowd around the lounge seats. As far as the beer selection goes, it has your standard favorites accompanied with some unique selections. My suggestion: order a glass of Honker’s Ale and the Rockit Burger off the Entree Menu. Yes, the Rockit Burger comes with a steep price of $19, but if you had to pay around twenty dollars for a burger, the Rockit Burger gets my vote. The combination of Goose Island Honker’s Ale and a Rockit Burger makes you crave more even after you are done!

A great destination if you are in the River North area of Downtown Chicago, Rockit Bar & Grill does what a Chicago drinking establishment should do: provide you with a good time!

Rockit Bar & Grill is located at 22 West Hubbard Street in Chicago, IL. Phone: (312) 645-6000. Website: www.rockitbarandgrill.com

Review: Raise your glass, Rockit Bar & Grill gets 4 cheers!

BAR REVIEW: THE BEER BISTRO

The Beer Bistro does its name justice: this bistro of beers has a grand selection of unique beers you normally do not come across in pubs or taverns. I do not want to imply that The Beer Bistro is an up tight, snooty establishment. Far from it, The Beer Bistro has the local pub feel that is found through out this narrow pub. Old beer ads from different companies hang on the walls, along with pictures of Old Chicago. The centerpiece of the pub is the mahogany bar that towers over the sidewall, but of course, the real attraction of the bar is the 12 taps that pour some of the finest beers in the world. One of those taps was pouring the hard to find Kronenbourg 1664. In fact, one of the main reasons this bar is so fantastic is because they offer 1664 on draft. In addition to the lovely tap selection, they have over 90 different brands of beers! There is bound to be a beer that wets your palate. My suggestion is to start with the ales and lagers on draft and then proceed to the bottle selections. With the wide variety of beers available at this establishment, it’s no surprise that they offer a “Beer School” every last Wednesday of the month. From what I was told, the Beer School introduces you to the beer of the night and then they serve you the different brands that offer that style while educating you on that beer. With its grand selection of beers and friendly environment, The Beer Bistro is a welcomed addition to the Chicago bar scene. By the way, make sure you look up as you sit at the bar…they have an old fashion fan system.

The Beerr Bistro is located at 1061 W. Madison Street in Chicago, IL. Phone: (312) 433-0013. Website: www.thebeerbistro.com

Review: Raise your glass, The Beer Bistro gets 5 cheers!

CHICAGO ST.PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

My week of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in the great city of Chicago has been quite an enjoyable affair. The festivities began on a Sunday and drew to an end on Saturday. As I’ve stated before, few cities celebrate St. Patrick’s Day like Chicago. You can thank the Irish blood that pumps through the City and the strong party scene for this great celebration that comes around only once a year. Everyone becomes Irish when they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Second City. Green overfills the town as the inhabitants sport green attire and as the legendary Chicago River becomes Irish too (they dye the River green!). Our Saturday started off with a morning session of Green Beer and a savory breakfast buffet. We drank at Mother Hubbard’s in the River North section of Chicago. The original plan was to drink at Fado’s a couple blocks down, but all the Irish pubs and taverns in the city had lines that went around the corners. It’s in your best interest to arrive early or to booze up before you hit the bars so you’re feeling good while you wait in line. Mother Hubbard’s may not be as classy or cool as the surrounding bars of the infamous Hubbard Street, but it is one of the most enjoyable. They had a great draft selection (sorry, the draft list went missing after an hour or two of singing and drinking) and the crowd was a great mix of young and old people looking to drink some beers and have some fun.

After breakfast we proceeded to catch the dying of the Chicago River green. Spectators fill the bridges, sidewalks, docks, and plazas to get a glimpse of the magic. It was quite a site. 10:45 came and the boats and Irish bagpipes began the ceremony. Up and down they went spreading the orange dye that turns the Chicago River green. Once the ceremony was over, people either stayed or went back to their drinking ways. North or South, East or West: Would be Irish men and women roamed the great downtown that Chicago has to offer. There is also a parade that happens on Saturday, but after the dying of the river I decided to go back to the parties. It was remarkable to walk around the parks and plazas of the downtown area and be greeted by green men and women enjoying their beers. No matter where you went in the City, a party was just around the corner. Plus, if you get hungry, the best food from around the world is found at your fingertips (I indulged myself with some Gino’s East Deep Dish Spinach Pizza. Fan-freaking-tastic.)

Overall, the Chicago festivities that surround St. Patrick’s Day are not to be missed. I ran into people from all over the world: California, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, Australia and many more. They all came to Chicago because they knew Chicago does the St. Patrick’s Festivities right.

Mother Hubbard’s is located in the River North area of Chicago on the infamous section of Hubbard Street. http://www.motherhubbards.net/

There are few events that characterize a city: New Orleans has Mardi Gras, New York City has New Years Eve, Pamplona has the Running of the Bulls and Chicago has St. Patrick’s Day. Every March, the City of Chicago puts on it’s Irish Cap and celebrates the patron Saint of Ireland with a week long celebration that kicks off with the South Side Irish Parade that is held on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day and wraps up with dying the Chicago River green on the following Saturday.

Local Chicago pubs hire buses to transport would be Irish men and women to and from the South Side of Chicago. Specifically, the parade runs through the Beverly area of Chicago and is put on hold until the following Saturday when it becomes the Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade. My partner and I met up early at a Lincoln Park tavern called McGee’s to have an Irish breakfast: Guinness, Car bomb, Corn Beef & Hash and a nice Irish Coffee at the end to settle our stomachs. Afterwards we were aboard the bus and on our way to the neighborhood of Beverly. The parade itself commences at Noon and lasts for a couple of hours, but the festivities last through out the day. Everyone is your friend at this parade: the guys in kilts, the people waiting for the port-a-potty, the Lucky Charms cereal eater, the Rugby players and your relatives you didn’t know. This strong sense of kinship is what makes the South Side Irish Parade a must attend event in Chicago.

Whether you have Irish heritage or not, put on your best green shirt and become Irish for a week (I myself became Shamus McFly) in the great City of Chicago. For more information on the South Side Irish Parade, please visit http://southsideirishparade.org

McGee’s Tavern is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. http://www.mcgeestavern.com/

Stay tuned for an article on the Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

BEER SCHOOL at The Beer Bistro in Chicago

When you give an event a name like “Beer School” you get a great idea of what’s in store. Don’t worry; there are no tests or boring teachers at this school. Beer School at The Beer Bistro is a once a month event that deserves your full, undivided attention. On the last Wednesday of every month, students gather in the bottom level of The Beer Bistro to educate themselves on beer, beer and beer. There are no pop quizzes or chalkboards, just plenty of beer and plenty of knowledge. Professors sample the beer style of the month and discuss the many attributes found with that beer. I sat in on the February class where the professor sampled and discussed Belgian ales. What a treat it was! From ales to lambics, this professor discussed the history behind the beers and the attributes that set them apart. My favorite beer of discussion was the Orval Trappist Ale. The dry-hopped and uniquely complex ale is one of the few beers that taste better with age. Made by Trappist monks in Belgium, this ale is considered a world classic. Most beers of discussion are readily available upstairs in the bar. Luckily for me, the Orval Trappist Ale was one of those beers that required extra attention (extra credit!) and it was found upstairs.

If you are in Chicago on the last Wednesday of the month, you will be wise to attend the next class. The Beer Bistro is located in the West Loop Gate neighborhood of Chicago at 1061 West Madison Street. Their phone number is (312) 433-0013.