LAKEVIEW — Chicago's craft beer week this year is all about the neighborhoods, and beer lovers in Lakeview will be able to celebrate home-grown brews at more than a dozen area bars.
From rare Goose Island Brews to a free tasting of a new flavor of ginger beer, neighborhood joints can keep beer lovers busy nearly every night of week.
Here are some of the highlights:
For those looking to eat their beer, too: Pizza Rustica, 3908 N. Sheridan Road, will host the launch of Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer's new Spiced Orange flavor — and on Wednesday night, customers will be able to sample the new beer for free. As a bonus: Pizza Rustica will be mixing up beer cocktails with the flavors and offering appetizers, entrees and desserts made with the ginger beers. So drink your beers, and eat it, too.
For those looking to expand their horizons — at least out of the city: The Green Lady, 3328 N. Lincoln Ave., will spend Tuesday celebrating the brews of our neighbors downstate and of St. Louis, along with the men behind GuysDrinkingBeer.com. As they put it, this event intends to highlight places in "our own state [and just across a river] that still never seem to get the same amount of respect or attention as places like Wisconsin and Michigan and Indiana."
For a little bowling during the drinking: Greenbush Brewing Co. will be taking over the bowling alley at Southport Lanes, 3325 N. Southport Ave., on Tuesday. Not only will the bar and bowling alley offer nine different brews from Greenbush, the makers of the beer will be on hand to chat about all things craft.
For lovers of Goose Island (and for their friends who need some convincing): Chicago's original craft beer will be taking over three different bars in Lakeview over the course of the week.
On Friday, the taps at Fish Bar, 2956 N. Sheffield Ave., will be taken over by rare Goose Island brews, including Lolita, a pink Belgian-style ale that only exists in a few kegs around the city.
The week after, on May 23, Paddy Long's, 1028 W. Diversey Parkway, hosts "Goose Island is Still Craft Beer!" for any doubters out there. Try some BCS 2012, BCS Barleywine, Madame Rose and 2 More Weeks.
And local favorite DryHop Brewers, 3155 N. Broadway, teamed up with the Goose Island team for its craft beer week event. on Friday, Dryhop will be debuting an American Sour Ale collaboration, along with several of Goose Island's other craft beers.
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