Beer Hall Homes

By Roland Lara on May 24, 2006 5:00PM

Okay. First things first: it was like a hug from Jesus for Chicagoist to discover that the website Beer Advocate even existed.

So we’re over the moon that they’ve compiled the Top 50 Places to Have a Beer in America and had the wisdom to include not only two Chicago watering holes on the list, but two kickass Chicago watering holes.

At #5: The Map Room

At #21: Hopleaf Bar

We talked about Map Room before. And anecdotally, we can tell you that the Map Room is one of the most beloved places in Chicago. The far-off look Chicagoists’ friends get when they speak wistfully of the bar is quite something. And we’re pretty sure it’s not just because they have free wireless.

We have to give it up for Hopleaf, though. Chicagoist has covered Hopleaf before, but to review: the Belgian place in Andersonville has a surprisingly good menu and a beer list to make you weep. Chicagoist had some New Yorker friends in from out of town a few weeks back, and we sent them a copy of Hopleaf’s beer list for two reasons: (1) to whet their whistles; and (2) so we wouldn’t take a week-to-ten days at the table waiting for them to make up their minds. To say Hopleaf’s beer list is extensive is like saying that the government has listened on a handful of phone calls. And let's just say that the New Yorkers' response to Hopleaf said it all: "Second City my ass."

Now Chicagoist has recently voiced our indifference to best-of lists in general, but a site-users’ list that shines a light on a place where you can get both Belgian mussels and a Kwak in a goblet is nothing but a good thing.

And with the recent death of Butch of Butch McGuire's, we're getting a little misty for places that serve the liquid equivalent of comfort food.