1800 W Cuyler Ave.

The first taproom to open along the historic Ravenswood Industrial Corridor, Begyle has quickly become a neighborhood institution. Whether it’s a weeknight skeeball league, Sunday yoga session, brewery tour or a visit from local food trucks, there’s always something happening at this laid-back brewery. 

Launched in 2012 by a group of longtime friends from Michigan, Begyle offers Chicago’s only Community Supported Brewing (CSB) program. Similar to Community Supported Agriculture, members receive a growler or two a month as a part of their membership, allowing the brewery to build a close relationship with their neighbors.

Year-round brews include:
Begyle Blonde
Free Bird APA
Crash Landed Hophazardly IPA
Neighborly Nitro
Coffee Tough Guy

Find Begyle at 1800 W Cuyler Ave, 1 block north of Irving Park Rd and the Irving Park Brown line stop, on southbound Ravenswood Ave west of the Metra tracks. Begyle has a tap room, offers to-go bottles and growler fills, hosts food trucks, and is pet friendly.

Visit begylebrewing.com for more information.

Along with being home to Malt Row, Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood boasts a vibrant community of culinary dynamos. For the third Taste of Ravenswood, local brewers, distillers and chefs have conjured up a menu of one-night-only collaborations and pairings. Come out on Friday, November 10th for an evening of live entertainment and handcrafted bites and sips in the gorgeous Ravenswood Event Center. 

The event will take place from 6-10pm on Friday, November 10th at 4025 N. Ravenswood Ave. Tickets for this year's Taste go on sale at 11 AM on Wednesday, October 4th.

More Info

SPONSORED BY
Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce
SSA#31
Ravenswood Event Center
Hayes Properties

1800 W Belle Plaine Ave.

Dovetail founders Hagen and Bill met in Germany while earning their Master Brewer certifications from the Siebel Institute. Bonding over their mutual interest in continental European beer styles, the two formed a friendship that has resulted in an exciting young brewery dedicated to old world brewing methods.

Even seasoned beer geeks will enjoy their Saturday tours, where visitors can get acquainted with unique equipment like open-top fermenters and Chicago's first coolship, a large, flat vessel that allows for the introduction of wild yeast and bacteria. Be sure to ask about Dovetail's lauter grant, a 100 year old piece of antique brewing equipment that Bill and Hagen acquired from a farm outside of Munich.

Year-round brews include:
Lager
Rauchbier
Vienna Lager
Pilsner

Find Dovetail Brewery at 1800 W Belle Plaine Ave, 2 blocks north of Irving Park Rd, on southbound Ravenswood Ave west of the Metra tracks. Dovetail has a taproom, offers growler fills, hosts food trucks, and is pet friendly.

Visit dovetailbrewery.com for more information.

4257 N Lincoln Ave.

Half Acre launched in 2007 and the release of Daisy Cutter Pale Ale in 2009 cemented their place in the landscape of Chicago beer. Their original location on Lincoln Ave includes a shop where visitors can sample beer or buy to go, before settling into the taproom for a full pour and a wild burrito from their kitchen.

Half Acre also operates a second brewing facility in Bowmanville, which in late 2017 will open a restaurant, taproom and beer garden.

Year-round brews include:
Daisy Cutter Pale Ale
Pony Pilsner
Tuna Extra Pale Ale

Find Half Acre at 4257 N Lincoln Ave, 2 blocks south of Montrose Ave. Half Acre has a tap room and kitchen, offers to-go bottles and growler fills, and is pet friendly.

Visit halfacrebeer.com for more information.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Where To Eat In Chicago - Golf Digest

AUGUST 2017

Trails to Rails to Ales: The Backstory Behind Band of Bohemia - Choose Chicago

Half Acre's Balmoral Taproom Opening Saturday, 'Giant Moment' For Brewery - DNAinfo Chicago

Half Acre’s New Restaurant & Taproom Will Serve Roasted Meats and Experimental Brews - Eater Chicago

Fenton natives bring Chicago-based Begyle Brewing to Michigan - MLive

Half Acre’s gigantic new Balmoral Taproom is opening very soon - Time Out Chicago

Half Acre's Huge New Beer Garden Opens Soon: Take A Peek - DNAinfo Chicago

Dog-Friendly Restaurants and Bars in Chicago - NBC 5 Chicago

Ravenswood's Malt Row Hosts Friday Night Flights Beer Fest Finale - DNAinfo Chicago

Bright, tangy and weird: In praise of the modern radler - Draft Mag

JULY 2017

Chicago Brewery Tour: Part 2, The North Side - Mash Tun Journal

The Dovetail Hefeweizen - porchdrinking.com

20 of Chicago's Best Brewpubs and Brewery Tasting Rooms, Mapped - Eater Chicago

JUNE 2017

The Arts Section: Coalition of Chicago Craft Breweries (& Distillery) Brand Themselves Malt Row - WDCB 90.9FM

Ravenswood On Tap: The Great Neighborhood Beer Fest - Urban Matter

Chicago Craft Crawl #10: Malt Row - The Hop Review

Midwest travel: Head to Malt Row - The Daily Herald

A ‘Perfect Storm’ Brewing on Chicago’s North Side - Chicago Tonight

A Sneak Peek At Empirical's New Rogers Park Brewpub — A Beer-Lover's Dream - DNAinfo Chicago

11 Underrated Chicago Festivals You Don't Want To Miss - Urban Matter

The Summer's Hottest Sequel? Half Acre's 'Big North II' Bash In Bowmanville - DNAinfo Chicago

10 Essential Chicago Beers - Chicago Tribune

Local Business Spotlight: Cicerone Certification Program - GRCC

Empirical’s Rogers Park Brewpub, Opening Tonight, Mixes in Beer with Food and Cocktails - Eater Chicago

MAY 2017

Ravenswood Avenue to rebrand as Malt Row, home to 7 craft beer and spirits producers - Chicago Tribune

Take a thirst-quenching trip to Malt Row for Chicago Craft Beer Week - WGN Radio

Welcome To 'Malt Row,' The Craft Beer And Distilling Hub (AKA Ravenswood) - DNAinfo Chicago

Fast Facts on Ravenswood’s Newly Branded Malt Row District - PorchDrinking.com

Your Guide To Chicago's Enormous Craft Beer Week 2017 - Chicagoist

Ravenswood Is Now Chicago's 'Malt Row' Because It Has So Much Beer - Chicagoist

Local Business Spotlight: Empirical Brewery - GRCC

AM Intel: Ravenswood has become ground zero for breweries in the city - Eater Chicago

Cheers: City Introduces 'Friday Night Flights' Beer Fests - DNAinfo Chicago

Ravenswood's Newly Branded 'Malt Row' - neighborhoods.com

Mayfestiversary Celebrates One Year of Dovetail Brewery and Two Years of Begyle Brewing’s Taproom - Chicago Tribune

APRIL 2017

Empirical Tapping 'Vanilla Rain' Brew To Commemorate Prince - DNAinfo Chicago

Half Acre 'Stoked' That Bowmanville Taproom & Beer Garden To Become Reality - DNAinfo Chicago

4710 N Ravenswood Ave.

Pairing food and beer is trendy. Crafting unique beers that pair with specific dishes created by a team that honed their skills at restaurants like Alinea and Longman & Eagle- that's how you become the world's first Michelin-rated brewpub.

Located across from the Ravenswood Metra Station, Band of Bohemia is a chic "culinary brewhouse" that offers a range of cuisine including bar snacks, a tasting menu, full coffee service, wine, cocktails and lounge seating. Their eclectic draft list rotates to compliment a seasonally influenced menu. The only mainstay is Band's house beer, The Noble Raven Ale, a delightfully crisp Belgian Golden Ale showcasing yeast from Bastogne and a healthy dose of Tettnanger hops.

Year-round brews include:
Noble Raven Ale

Find Band of Bohemia at 4710 N Ravenswood Ave, just south of Lawrence Ave, on southbound Ravenswood Ave west of the Metra tracks. Begyle has a dining room and full kitchen, and also offers growler fills.

Visit bandofbohemia.com for more information.

5121 N Ravenswood Ave.

KOVAL is one of America's largest artisan distilleries and winner of over 50 international awards, pioneering a new school of distilling in the US that uses only the heart cut of the distillate. The heart cut is the purest, most grain forward portion, affording KOVAL its signature clean, bright style. KOVAL is also known for its use of unique and interesting grains, inspiring Wine Enthusiast to name the distillery a "leader of the alt-grain scene." All of KOVAL's whiskies are single barrel and aged in New American Oak. Each bottle can be traced back to the field on which the grain was grown. All of KOVAL's whiskey, gin, vodka, and liqueurs are certified Organic and Kosher and made from grain to bottle in Chicago.

The KOVAL facility includes a retail shop and space for cocktail classes, tours, and whiskey workshops.

Year-round spirits include:
Whiskey: Oat, Millet, Rye Bourbon, Four Grain, White Rye
Gin: Dry Gin, Barreled Gin
Liqueurs: Ginger, Rosehip, Chrysanthemum & Honey, Orange Blossom, Walnut, Coffee, Jasmine, Caraway
Vodka

Find KOVAL at 5121 N Ravenswood Ave, just south of Foster Ave, on northbound Ravenswood Ave east of the Metra tracks. KOVAL's retail shop offers bottles to go and is pet friendly.

Visit koval-distillery.com for more information.

9/16 + 9/17 Ravenswood ArtWalk, feat. Begyle, Dovetail and Spiteful

9/23 + 9/24 Oktoberfestiversary 2017, feat. Begyle and Dovetail

9/24 Gypsy Caravan Festival, feat. Band of Bohemia

11/10 Taste of Ravenswood, feat Band of Bohemia, Begyle, Dovetail, Empirical, KOVAL and Spiteful

2018

6/23 + 6/24 Ravenswood On Tap, feat. Andersonville, Band of Bohemia, Begyle, Dovetail, Empirical, Greenstar, Half Acre, KOVAL, Spiteful and more!

1801 W Foster Ave.

Most breweries have a bit of mad scientist in them, but few are as dedicated to experimentation as the crew at Empirical. The brewery doubles as a laboratory where a 1-barrel system is dedicated to exploring new styles and recipes. After collecting feedback from taproom guests and making adjustments, some beers graduate to Empirical's 30-barrel production system for wider release. 

Tours allow guests to see both systems in action, as well as a chance to meet the famous feral cats that protect grains from pesky rodents. Other taproom activities include Trivia Tuesdays, themed karaoke nights and Firkin Fridays, where a unique beer is served in a cask at 4:30pm each week.

Year-round brews include:
Infinity IPA
Heliotropic Pale Ale
Cold Fusion Cream Ale

Find Empirical at 1801 W Foster Ave, at the corner of Foster and southbound Ravenswood Ave, west of the Metra tracks. Empirical has a tap room, offers to-go bottles and growler fills, hosts food trucks, and is pet friendly.

Visit empiricalbrewery.com for more information.

2024 W Balmoral Ave.

What started with a spiteful incident as kids playing hockey on the pond turned into a lifelong friendship for Brad Shaffer and Jason Klein. With a passion for beer and a desire to start their own business, Spiteful launched in 2012 with G.F.Y. Stout, setting the tone for the aggresive flavors and attitude of Spiteful's beers.

After years of brewing out of a 400 square foot basement in the Ravenswood Corridor, Spiteful is moving operations to Bowmanville, where their production facility and taproom will be opening later in 2017. Fresh cans of 6-pacls and 4-packls can be found in local shops throughout the city. 

Year-round brews include:
Spiteful IPA
Working For The Weekend Double IPA
God Damn Pigeon Porter

While not currently open to the public, Spiteful will open their new taproom in 2017.

Visit spitefulbrewing.com for more information.

Cicerone Certification Program

LaGrow Organic Beer Co.

Letherbee Distillers

Metropolitan Brewing

While Band of Bohemia and Half Acre both have kitchens turning out incredible dishes, not all of Malt Row's taprooms have food on-site. Luckily there is no shortage of excellent restaurants in Ravenswood. Here are a few of our favorite spots to stop in for a meal, or for ordering delivery/carry out:

Ampersand Wine Bar

4845 N Damen Ave ● (773) 728-0031

Refined American comfort food, wines and cocktails served in a contemporary-rustic space with a patio.

Chicago's Pizza

1919 W Montrose Ave ● (773) 348-1700

Casual joint with pizzas, burgers and other comfort foods, plus a bar and late-night delivery/carryout. 

Fountainhead

1970 W Montrose Ave ● (773) 697-8204

Low-key bar featuring a long beer list and creative, organic pub eats plus a seasonal rooftop garden.

The Long Room

1612 W Irving Park Rd ● (773) 697-8204

A neighborhood tavern and coffee house. Home of Sidecar: food truck style service, featuring the chef driven contemporary concessions, The Biscuit Man and Beard & Belly...

·         Beard & Belly ● (773) 665-8210: Provides dinner and late night food service at The Long Room, offering a hearty comfort food-driven menu featuring housemade sandwiches, sides and snacks.

·         The Biscuit Man ● (773) 968-7031: Serves made-from-scratch contemporary American breakfast, brunch and lunch sandwiches, salads, bowls, and sides inside The Long Room 7 days a week.

Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro

3905 N Lincoln Ave ● (773) 248-3905

Laid-back spot for upscale Irish eats plus brews and whiskey poured from 2 bars in an elegant space.

The Northman

4337 N Lincoln Ave ● (773) 935-2255

Chicago's first cider bar, featuring a huge list of cider, plus cocktails, offered along with European fare in a warm, buzzy setting.

River Valley Farmer's Table

1820 W Wilson Ave ● (872) 208-3267

Farm-to-table restaurant and community grocery, owned by Wisconsin's oldest organic mushroom farm, serving up brunch classics and farmer's favorites.

Roots Handmade Pizza

2200 W Lawrence Ave ● (773) 433-5959

Relaxed pizzeria and bar featuring thin, malted-crust pies and an all-Midwestern craft beer list.

Spoken Cafe

1812 W Montrose Ave ● (773) 769-200

Premier cafe in the heart of Ravenswood, serving breakfast/lunch fare with Acadian Cajun respects, including locally roasted, organic coffees.

Tuscan Hen

4019 N Damen Ave ● (773) 466-2380

A new BYOB Italian sandwich and pasta spot with a great back patio that also offers take-home options like fresh pasta, ravioli, lasagna, pizza dough and sauces.

SATURDAY JUNE 23 & SUNDAY JUNE 24, 2018

RAVENSWOOD + BERTEAU

Malt Row is home to one of the country’s most prolific craft brewing communities and we’ll be celebrating that scene this summer at the second annual Ravenswood On Tap craft beer festival! This two-day outdoor event will feature beer and spirits from local breweries, grub from some of Chicago’s favorite restaurants and food trucks, a lineup of original live music, and handmade goods from local retailers and artists. 

It all goes down on Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 at Ravenswood and Berteau. Proceeds from the event help support the work of the Ravenswood Community Council and the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.

2017 PARTICIPANTS

Andersonville Brewing

Band of Bohemia

Begyle Brewing Company

Dovetail Brewery

Empirical Brewery

Greenstar Brewing

Half Acre Beer Company

KOVAL Distillery

Spiteful Brewing

Visit ravenswoodchicago.org/ontap for more information.

SATURDAY SEPT 15 & SUNDAY SEPT 16, 2018

RAVENSWOOD + BERTEAU

2017 PARTICIPANTS + SPONSORS

Begyle Brewing Company

KOVAL Distillery

Midwest Action

Access Contemporary Music

DAVIDsTEA

Ben's Woodshop

Hilary's Cookies

Luckyprints

5411 Empanadas

Boo Coo Roux

Bruges Brothers

Carnivale

La Cocinita

PIKO Street Kitchen

Rogue Curbside Kitchen

Yum Dum