Sketchbook Brewing in Skokie

To us, it’s always about hanging with family and friends at Sketchbook Brewing’s spacious front patio in Skokie. It’s a mix of sun and shade like your own backyard, only with great beer, food trucks, board games, fun events and live music on Sundays.

— Dominic Soric

Small but mighty, I think I have to go with Off Color Brewing’s Mousetrap taproom off of North Avenue in Chicago. While I haven’t visited as much lately as I would like, I have some extremely fond memories of going there back when I used to live in Old Town. It feels like a lifetime ago and it even pre-dates my craft beer career, but I fondly remember downing a lot of Apex Predators on Kingsbury since I lived so close by. Those were some weird years of my life with some serious growing pains, but I learned many things about myself and at least I had Off Color beer to help me through it all!

— Luciano Fiore, GM of Beer on the Wall in Elmhurst

Green Street Smoked Meats in Chicago’s West Loop has always been underrated to me. Mostly because it’s tucked away down this little cobblestone alley. It’s so different than what’s offered in the neighborhood. Great BBQ, chill space, lots of local craft beer and a fun little outdoor space with picnic tables.

— Debbie Podmore

A hidden gem in Northwestern Illinois with a great outdoor patio area to check out is Generations Brewing Company in Freeport. They have some great beers and regular events to fill your evenings and weekends, or just sit back and enjoy watching the hops grow on the patio. I’m looking forward to their smash burger Wednesdays this summer.

— Jeff Bovee

The Starved Rock State Park is pretty rad for a nice hike, and then grab a beer at the Lodi Tap House in downtown Utica. And of course the back patio at Illuminated Brew Works on the far NW side of Chicago.

— Jason Monk, Illuminated Brew Works

The rooftop over at Gene’s Sausage Shop in Lincoln Square in Chicago has some good German beer and their own brats and sausages. And they always seem to rotate the tap lineup whenever I’m there.

The rooftop over at Gene’s Sausage Shop in Lincoln Square in Chicago. They have some good German beer and their own brats and sausages for the win! They always seem to rotate the tap lineup whenever I’m there, so as much as I love Illinois beer, when in Rome…

— Dave Zalatoris from the Beer in Front podcast

Printer’s Row Brewing (PRB) on Chicago’s NW side. They have a cute little lit-up sidewalk patio with a plethora of board games, a variety of beer styles, and even trivia every Thursday.

— Megan Mitchell, beverage director at Harp & Fiddle in Park Ridge, IL

Solemn Oath Brewing in Naperville is pretty great. It’s not usually on my list of regular stops because I don’t live nearby, but they always have good beer, a great staff and you can tell they brew with passion. I also like Uné Année’s family-friendly outdoor yard in Niles and Mikerphone’s patio in Elk Grove Village.

— Ted Constan

We had a great dinner and beers at Offshore, the rooftop venue at Navy Pier. … Hard to beat the unobstructed views of Lake Michigan and the entire skyline.

The upstairs patio at First Draft in north suburban Grayslake has so many of your local favorites that you can enjoy while watching games on the many TVs or munching on some delicious cheese curds or pretzel bites. A beer list with craft brews from Illinois and all over the country ensures everyone will find something to enjoy.

— Ben Ault

Macushla Brewing in Glenview is quite nice. It’s tucked away like a little sanctuary off a major intersection (Lake Ave. & Milwaukee) in the north burbs. Settle in with a cold beer at one of the communal tables after a round of golf at one of the nearby courses and you’re set.

— James Inglis

I’m going to say The Long Room in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. The patio is just so hidden from the outside, and it’s actually kinda hidden from the inside as well. I used to work there and people would sit inside and drink for hours and never realize there was a nice little cozy patio out back. The Long Room has such a wide variety of classic European beers, leaning a little Belgian, but enough to hit every palate and make everyone happy.

— Chris Abbey, The Beer Temple

Bitter Pops in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood has a great little outdoor patio along the sidewalk that’s fun for people watching. They have a nice rotating beer list and good food too (get the pretzel). Sheffield’s by Wrigley Field also has a comfy tree-covered beer garden and always has something good on tap. Tasty BBQ as well.

— Meredith Franczyk

We had a great dinner and beers at Offshore, the rooftop venue at Navy Pier, that somehow goes unnoticed to a lot of people. It’s a versatile restaurant with a glass roof and a full open-air space too. Hard to beat the unobstructed views of Lake Michigan, Navy Pier and the entire skyline.

— Geoff Hutchins

The Montrose Saloon is arguably one of the most charming neighborhood taverns on the north side of Chicago. The small bar might be loud and packed most nights thanks to live music, but out back, the patio offers a nice little escape. It has its own outdoor bar with a sturdy beer and cocktail menu and a TV, plus a fire pit, bocce court and enough tables that you’ll never have to wait. Since they don’t serve food, you can bring in takeout from your favorite Albany Park spot for the perfect, laid-back night.

— Jessica Sedgwick, co-author of Beer Hiking Chicago and Beyond

The grassy patio filled with tented picnic tables and a stage at Uné Année/Hubbard’s Cave in Niles is always underrated in my mind, mainly because it’s tucked away in an industrial area. It’s family-friendly and lit up at night, and their wide variety of beer, homemade BBQ and tasty chicken chimichurri sandwiches and shrimp po boys are tough to beat. The Twist of Wit, a Belgian-style wheat beer made with orange peel, coriander and a pop of lemon, is one of our favorites.

— Anna Reynolds

The Montrose Saloon is arguably one of the most charming neighborhood taverns on the north side of Chicago. The small bar might be loud and packed most nights thanks to live music, but out back, the patio offers a nice little escape.

Logan Square’s beloved Pizza Lobo added a second Chicago location in Andersonville in 2023, with a breezy, sprawling patio that feels more like a neighborhood block party than your average tavern. The patio is massive — there are two full-sized bocce courts — but the beer and New York-style pizza slices are the real draw. The draft lineup rotates through local heavyweights like Hidden Hand Brewing and Pipeworks Brewing, but we’re partial to the Shift Beer, a crisp lager brewed just for Lobo in collaboration with Hopewell Brewing that’s perfect for a summer night. As for the pizza, go straight for a slice of the borgata — pepperoni, creamy ricotta, and a drizzle of Calabrian chile honey.

— Dan Ochwat, co-author of Beer Hiking Chicago and Beyond

Wolfden Brewing in west suburban Bloomingdale has one of my favorite outdoor beer gardens, complete with wolf-themed artifacts and plenty of seating. I feel like locals are missing out, as it’s the perfect setting for an intimate evening with a partner or a party on the patio with friends. The Wolfden staff always is on top of their service, and I often enjoy a Blue Gnome kölsch while chillaxing in the beer garden. I highly recommend. Plus, the brewery is haunted!

— John Streetz, founder of the Streetz Artz Alliance

The Beer Garden at Independence Grove in Libertyville has been my go-to place to have a beer outside for the past couple of summers. It’s such a beautiful location with lots of walking trails and things to do. The beer garden is perfectly placed to watch the sun set over the lake as the day is winding down. So if you’re looking for a place to unwind in nature, soak up a little sun and enjoy a local craft beer, this is it.

— Tyler Harnung, Eris Brewery & Cider House

The Beer Garden at Independence Grove in Libertyville is perfectly placed to watch the sun set over the lake. So if you’re looking for a place to unwind in nature, soak up a little sun and enjoy a local craft beer, this is it.

Big Pillow Brewing in Hot Springs, N.C. This year will be a little different heading down after the hurricane flooded the whole town last year. As of this spring though, Big Pillow is back to regular hours and even better than before, and I am excited to see the new stage and how the brewery has been rebuilt. They opened in 2020 as the first brewery in town and named it after one of the white water rapids on the French Broad River. We had my uncle’s retirement party there in 2021 and have been back every year since. We love to sit in the outside courtyard with beautiful views of the Smokey Mountains, enjoying some delicious beer listening to the live music. Going once a year to this brewery just isn’t enough. If you decide to take a trip to Hot Springs, make sure to stop!

— Tina Overton

Eris Brewery and Cider House is a fantastic spot to drink outside in the summer. Their patio is fairly large and extraordinarily well maintained. There is nice shade, and the structures they’ve built give a nice vibe. The plant life in and around the patio is always a nice touch in the concrete jungle of Chicago. Not to mention, Eris has really tasty food and their ciders are on point.

— Scott McElhenie, head brewer at Burning Bush Brewing Company