Great craft beer is everywhere in Illinois, but here are a few dishes we’ve encountered that are sure to get your stomach growling as well

By Trent Modglin

Hot honey chicken sliders at Open Outcry Brewing Company

Not gonna lie, we’re a sucker for a hot honey chicken sandwich whenever we can get our hands on one. And Open Outcry, located in the Beverly neighborhood on the far south side of Chicago, offers them as shareable sliders… if you can contemplate sharing one, that is.

These crispy, juicy fried chicken breasts are smothered in a scratch-made hot honey, then topped with pickled red onions and served on buttery housemade cheddar biscuits. If that’s not enough of a sensory overload, they come with a side of Open Outcry’s homemade sharp cheddar mac ’n’ cheese.

Pairs well with: Their Chapter 11 English brown ale, a complex American pale ale made with English hops and yeast.

10934 S. Western Ave. in Chicago. OpenOutcryBrewing.com

Crust Brewing’s Better with Sage pizza

It’s never easy to decide what to order at this Rosemont hotspot, located squarely in the middle of the Parkway Bank Park entertainment district, but the Neopolitan-inspired pizzas — cooked right in front of you in the open kitchen — often prove too difficult to ignore.

With their very own Dough Roller lager used in the crust, Crust Brewing starts with a layer of garlic parmesan cream sauce and tops it with house-ground sausage, mushrooms and crispy sage.

One of our favorites is the Better With Sage, which falls under their “white pizza” designation. With their very own Dough Roller lager used in the crust, they start with a layer of garlic parmesan cream sauce and top it with house-ground sausage, mushrooms and crispy sage.

Pairs well with: We’re sticking with the aforementioned Dough Roller, a malty and slightly sweet Vienna amber lager.

5500 Park Place in Rosemont. CrustBrewing.com

Blueberry pancakes at Mickey Finn’s Brewery

These guys know a thing or two about brewing beer. They’ve been doing it, after all, since 1993. But they also know how to roll out a delicious, wide-ranging food menu with something for everyone. Their weekend brunch is top notch, and we couldn’t pass up the fluffy blueberry pancakes at a recent visit. These things are giant, almost to the point you have trouble keeping them, and the syrup, on your plate. Accompanied by four breakfast sausages, it’s the perfect way to kick off your weekend activities.

Insider’s tip: If you go on a Sunday and stick around for a few beers, you can get yourself a half-price pizza later too.

Pairs well with: Mickey Finn’s Dark and Down schwarzbier, the 2021 GABF silver-medal winning rye that’s rich and malty while staying refreshingly crisp and clean.

345 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Libertyville. MickeyFinnsBrewery.com

Insider’s tip: If you go on to Mickey Finn’s brunch on a Sunday and stick around for a few beers, you can get yourself a half-price pizza later too.

Steak and eggs at Miskatonic Brewing Craft Kitchen

Anything that comes from Slagel Farms is good with us, and Miskatonic uses a rotating featured cut of beef from this local favorite on their weekend brunch menu (11 a.m.-2 p.m.). The tender steak comes with maple-garlic butter, two farm fresh eggs, Belgian-style frites and a side of fermented chili aioli.

It hasn’t taken long for this farm-to-table brewery and restaurant to make a name for itself in the west burbs, and their attention to detail is a primary reason why.

It hasn’t taken long for this farm-to-table brewery and restaurant to make a name for itself in the west burbs, and their attention to detail is a primary reason why.

Pairs well with: The bright, easy-drinking West Coast IPA called West Coast Wizard that provides hints of ripe melon and peach.

47 E. Chicago Ave., Suite 120 in Naperville. MiskatonicBrewing.com

Italian beef sandwich at Hopvine Brewing Co.

Sometimes, life just calls for some tender, housemade Italian beef with sweet and hot peppers, choice of cheese (gotta go with mozzarella, don’t you?), crunchy giardiniera and a side of au jus on a flaky French roll. Don’t forget to add the grilled onions. This hearty sandwich comes with a side too (Cajun tots, anyone?).

Pairs well with: Hopvine’s Crimson and Gold American amber that carries a harmonious blend of biscuit and caramel malt balance with a crisp hop taste.

4030 Fox Valley Center Dr. in Aurora. HopvineBrewingCompany.com

Jambalaya at Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works

Details: Did you know Destihl — which, at 47,000 square feet and covering six acres of land in Bloomington, happens to be one of the more impressive breweries we’ve encountered anywhere — also operates a restaurant and taproom up the road in neighboring Normal called Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works?

The food at both venues is phenomenal, and the jambalaya is as close to New Orleans as you’re going to get. A skewer of grilled shrimp rests atop a bowl of andouille sausage and rice with étouffée sauce, chile oil and red and green bell peppers. And if that doesn’t wake your your palate up, don’t forget the delicious cheddar-chive cornbread biscuit with a little Cajun butter. For a few bucks more, you can add some blackened chimichurri chicken on as well.

The food at both Destihl venues in Bloomington/Normal is phenomenal, and the jambalaya is as close to New Orleans as you’re going to get.

Pairs well with: Their Extended Jam DDH hazy IPA that’s loaded with Mosaic, Galena and El Dorado hops and gives off some jammy aromas and flavors of tropical and stone fruits. This seasonal favorite is out April-June.

318 South Towanda Ave. in Normal. Destihl.com/restaurant

Chickpea coconut curry at Guinness Open Gate Brewery

If you haven’t swung by the Guinness brewery in downtown Chicago since it opened in the fall of 2023, it’s quite the spectacle. A gorgeous interior, multiple rooms and a patio that’s sure to be one sought-after destination this summer. The brunch menu is described as “a global celebration of perfect-for-the-morning-after favorites,” and one of the items that caught our eye is the chickpea coconut curry.

It’s a flavorful blend of jasmine rice, coconut milk, bell pepper, tomato, lime and a curry spice blend. Don’t forget the side of naan to wipe up any leftovers.

Pairs well with: The Tmavé Pivo, Guinness’ smooth dark Czech lager, which happens to be brewed at the Chicago facility.

901 W. Kinzie in Chicago. GuinnessBreweryChicago.com