When we were younger and less discriminating about our beer, we considered it a point of pride to be able to drink every draft selection at a bar. When we made it through every tap at Hopleaf (back when it was only a bar; how many of us can remember that?) we stopped taking on that challenge. Then we started hanging out at Skylark with frequency. With only a couple handfuls of selections, a beer... more ›

Last Friday marked a milestone here at Chicagoist, and we didn't even notice it. On July 13, 2006, we debuted this very column. Truthfully, we never planned on it actually becoming a regular staple of the site. We were only looking to file something on that fateful day, and figured that "Beer of the Week" would run its course in short order with a few glances. However, we seemed to strike a nerve with readers with the next week's selection. By the time we hit you with the one-two punch of Goose Island Matilda and Point Honey Light, there was no turning back. In the past twelve months, we've run all over the city — OK, we've only gone as far north as Hopleaf and Simon's — looking for selections we feel worthy of the "BotW" designation. Ironically, this column has helped us reduce our alcohol consumption. more ›

Domestic beer specials don’t typically blow our kilts up, but we were pleasantly surprised by the craft beer selection offered at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro (3905 N. Lincoln Ave.), which happens to serve all of its American-made beers for $2.50 on Thursday evenings. Sure the name is a little long and confusing (what the hell is an Irish Bistro anyway), but the place has a banging beer list. more ›

Coming off what amounts to a four-day weekend is hell. Sure, we at Chicagoist enjoy the time off as much as anybody but when we came back to work yesterday we were simply unmotivated, thinking about all the wonderful grilling and drinking we did over the holiday. That's why we're thrilled to know July is both National Hot Dog Month and American Beer Month. Knowing this Chicagoist is having a hard time keeping its inner Homer Simpson in check. (Mmmmm... beer). more ›