Soon-to-open Solemn Oath Brewery teamed up with Rock Bottom's Lombard brewpub to create Solemn Oats, a 10.5 percent ABV behemoth of an American barleywine. Our only question: Can we have it for breakfast? more ›

We sat down with Rock Bottom-Chicago brewmaster Chris Rafferty to discuss his lowly place in the craft brew food chain. He's brewing beer for a bland chain restaurant, with recipes handed down from national, right? more ›

Striking while the iron is hot in the afterglow of Craft Brewers Conference, the Garfield Park Conservatory is planning a night of beer inside the conservatory proper from 5:30-8 p.m. May 13. Tickets to the event ($45 day of the event, $35 in advance, purchase tickets here) will allow guests to sample beers from Metropolitan, half Acre, Goose Island, Argus Brewery on the Far South Side (we'll have more on Argus later), Hamburger Mary's and Rock Bottom Chicago surrounded by the foliage and fauna of the conservatory. Food for the event will be provided by Marion Street Cheese Market in Oak Park and Green Zebra. more ›

There are separate chili cookoffs tomorrow and Thursday that are very budget conscious. Tomorrow Rock Bottom Brewery (1 W. Grand Ave.) hosts a firefighter chili cookoff from 6-8 p.m. 25 firefighters will be serving up their best chili recipes and vying for top honors from a judges panel that includes Audarshia "312 Dining Diva" Townsend, former Chicagoista Lisa Shames and me. Bottomless cups of chili are $5; $10 gets you the bottomless chili and a Rock Bottom beer of your choice in a souvenir glass; we recommend Fire Chief Ale. Proceeds from this cookoff will benefit the Chicago Fire Department's charitable endeavors. more ›

The past year has been something of a nirvana for local craft beer fans, as their local options increase with the openings of Metropolitan Brewing, Half Acre Beer Company and Revolution Brewing. If all things go well, a fourth microbrewery/brewpub will be joining those ranks by late summer. more ›

Isn't that a thing of beauty? The only thing more beautiful than a growler is one full of beer. more ›

As many of you know, Matt Van Wyk is leaving Flossmoor Station to become the new brewmaster at Oakshire Brewing in Eugene, Oregon. In between packing and saying goodbye to loyal customers, Van Wyk has been training his replacement. more ›

The results from the biennial World Beer Cup (held this year in classy San Diego) are up. Goose Island represented yet again, earning silver medals for "#12" (English-style summer ale) and Matilda (Belgian- and French-style ale). more ›

In the world of independent film, one encounters plenty of obstacles not faced by the big studios. While money—or lack of it—is a common complaint, the challenge of degenerative illness rarely enters the picture. But for director and Chicago theater actor Ben Byer, dealing with ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) was not just an obstacle but also the impetus to get behind the camera in the first place to film Indestructible: A Story of Survival. more ›

A few weeks back Chicagoist Prime made her first ever pilgrimage to the Ballpark Formerly Known as Comiskey and had to admit to having some fun at the game, particularly when the fireworks exploded whenever a White Sox player hit a home run. From there she intimated that both the Cell and Wrigley Field are fun in their own ways. She then went with her entourage to Rock Bottom Brewery after the game, unaware... more ›