Go for the Wine, Stay for the Beer

By Andrew Jenkins in Food on Nov 16, 2006 8:25PM

If you’re a discerning beer drinker, live in Chicago, or have followed us here at Chicagoist, you should know that the Map Room is destination numero uno for hard-to-find and craft beer selection. Despite the joint’s larger crowds as of late, we would walk over hot coals for a seat at the bar and a nice Lagunitas Brown Shugga (which happens to be the Map Room’s November beer of the month).

Anyhoo, the bar has a little tradition called Beer School, a 50-person beer tasting held every month. If you haven’t been, you should pencil it in. What’s new this weekend, however, is that Map Room is hosting a Wine School event. The place is breaking out and showing its libation versatility with tastings of seven different wines specifically chosen for the holiday season by Map Room veteran and wine aficionado Tom Eversz. Participants will sample generous pours of wine running through the complete grape gamut — from champagne to port — with cheese on the side.

Yes, going to the Map Room and not drinking something with hops in it could be considered sacrilegious, but their taste in beer is so top-notch that we expect this to be a pretty sound tasting. And if you want to ensure a top-notch hangover the next day, you could always through a couple of pints on top of all that wine when your schooling is done.

Wine School has a 40-person limit, and the $40 tickets must be purchased on site. Saturday, November 18, 4 p.m. Map Room is located at 1949 N. Hoyne. Phone: (773) 252-7636 for more information.

Image via drunkennoodle.