Chicago: Where the Beer Flows Like Wine

By Rachelle Bowden in Food on Feb 6, 2006 11:41PM

A groundhog in Pennsylvania damning us to six more weeks of winter is enough to drive anyone to drink. There are resources if you're a Chicagoan, though, in the form of beer.

The relatively new Chicago Beer Map is an interesting novelty, but there are few surprises on it for Chicago drinkers. Beer pubs, beer breweries, beer bars and even beer stores - pretty much your run of the mill entertainment in the city, but helpful in a pinch. Once you've exhausted that map with your drunken debauchery, there's another. Take another look at Drink Town, which also uses exciting Google map technology to guide Internet-savvy drunks through the city.

There comes a point, though, when you need the support of other beer drinkers to make it through the sunless day. That's where the Chicago Beer Society could come in, if you're daring. These guys have been going strong since 1977, with monthly get-togethers at the Goose Island Brewpub, annual beer Shootouts and home brewing events. In March their Night of the Living Ales extravaganza challenges anyone to take on 30+ brews and help choose the Champion Real Ale of Chicagoland, a distinction any true beer lover would be proud of.

If that's not enough, and you're already very serious about beer, track down one of the Draught Beer Preservation Societies and start making plans to change society with beer.

Basically, you don’t have to wait until American Beer Month in July to enjoy the best beer stuff Chicago has to offer - you can start enjoying the dreary days with a pint whenever you're ready.

Thanks, Alicia