Begyle Brewing in Chicago

Hannah Gilmore

Assitant taproom manager
Begyle Brewing
Chicago, IL 

Favorite breweries: Hop Butcher and Half Acre in Chicago are two of my favorites. I love virtually any type of IPA, so their selections never leave me wanting. It feels gratuitous to include Begyle Brewing as another favorite, but it’s true. We joke here that the customer-to-employee pipeline runs strong, and I’m no exception.

Drinking tendencies: I’m a big fan of any and all IPAs. I really love a hazy, but they get harder to keep up with as I get older. Lately, I’ve been digging dry-hopped pilsners and lagers. I recently had Pivo Pils by Firestone Walker, which was excellent.

Recent beers that have caught your eye: Hop Butcher re-released their Big Fern double IPA, which quickly became an all-timer for me last year. I’m very excited to have it back in the rotation this year.

Hopleaf, in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, is a classic, and their draft list paired with the mussels and frites makes me so happy. And The Long Room is my absolute favorite place. The drinks are great, the food is fantastic, and the people are even better.

What are you looking forward to enjoying on draft this fall?
Once the weather turns, I reach for some maltier fest beers. But summer flew by way too fast, so I’m hanging on to my aggressively-hopped beers as long as I can.

Hopleaf 

Favorite beer bar: I’ve got a few haunts that I rotate between. Hopleaf in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, is a classic, and their draft list paired with the mussels and frites makes me so happy. And The Long Room is my absolute favorite place. The drinks are great, the food is fantastic, and the people are even better. Rumor has it, they have the best High Life in the city.

My family vacations in Ellsworth, Maine every year, and I always make time to swing by Fogtown Brewing. Their space is tucked away and feels like a hidden garden in the middle of town — such a special place.

Best brewery you’ve hit on vacation: My family vacations in Ellsworth, Maine every year. While Ellsworth isn’t a huge town, there are some great breweries and beer coming from the Downeast region. I always make time to swing by Fogtown Brewing. Their space is tucked away and feels like a hidden garden in the middle of town — such a special place. Their Foglight pilsner rules, and all the ingredients are locally sourced in Maine.

I’m also a huge sucker for Lunch by Maine Beer Co. and Tubular by Orono Brewing, which are always well stocked in my vacation cooler!

Secret beer spot: It’s certainly no secret, but my favorite place to have a beer is Montrose Harbor on Lake Michigan. Going for a swim in the lake and then enjoying my favorite local beers while taking in the best view of Chicago? It truly can’t be beat.