The South Loop Brew
In terms of Loop dining and drinking culture, the South Loop has long been relegated to the shadows of the West Loop and Loop. It’s the Loop more commonly associated with Museum Campus, Soldier Field, and Grant Park, which is all well and good, but dining and drinking options paled in comparison to its Loop brethren. All that is changing rapidly, thanks to the epic uptick in breweries/brewpubs taking shape in the neighborhood.
The first beer presence to emerge in the South Loop was Vice District Brewing Co. last fall. Named for the neighborhood’s former nickname, the brewery is situated in a landmark building on Michigan Avenue, serving as a dutiful ode to olden Chicago with exposed brick and open-air space. Patrons get a front-row view of the brewing action through windows, where brewmaster Charlie Davis works his magic on beers like Black IPA, Extra Special Bitter, and Molasses Porter. All in all, Vice District has capacity for about 14 beers on tap, with the intent to become a go-to watering hole in the South Loop, and eventually they’ll begin shipping beer kegs to local restaurants and bars to spread the Vice District love a little more.
Next up is Motor Row Brewing, opening this month a little further south on Michigan Avenue. This one’s also named for a former South Loop alias, housed inside the former Federal Motor Car Co. showroom. A taproom will be on-site within the 8,700-square foot brewery, which is focused largely on lagers.
Later this year, it’s Baderbräu Brewing Company’s turn to shine. If you’re a longtime fan of craft beer, the name may sound familiar to you, as Rob Sama revived the ’90s brand by “re”brewing the original Chicago Pilsener, along with new creations like Red Velvet, Oktoberfest, Lawnmower Lager, and a black IPL called Naked Selfie. Working on a 4,000-square foot facility and retail space on Wabash Avenue, Baderbräu will contain a groundbreaking 20HL mash filter system unique to Chicagoland. Baderbräu Brewery is on track to open this summer.
Vice District Brewing Co.
1454 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
(312) 291-9022
Website
Motor Row Brewing
2337 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Website
Baderbräu Brewing Company
2515 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago
Website
