Everything You Need to Know About Taking a Craft Brewery Tour in Chicago by Barrel Bus

Are you looking forward to visiting the Chicago area in the near future and you’d like to learn more about taking a craft brewery tour? If so, you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’re going to share everything you need to know about taking a Chicago Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus.

One of the best ways to explore all that one of America’s most vibrant cities has to offer is to take a tour. From architectural tours to food tours, there are plenty of options when it comes to discovering the city at your own pace. A craft brewery tour is one of the most popular options for many travelers visiting Chicago. Not only does it give visitors the opportunity to explore some of the best craft breweries the city has to offer, but also provides them with insights into the brewing process and more importantly – samples!

Chicago Craft Brewery Tours, operated by Barrel Bus in collaboration with Half Acre Beer Company offer guests an opportunity to explore some of Chicago’s popular breweries. The tour lasts 4 hours and during that time you’ll get to visit 4 different craft breweries, located in different parts of the city. Each tour starts at the Half Ace Tap Room located in the North Center neighborhood, after which the Barrel Bus takes you to the three remaining destinations on the itinerary.

The tour includes samples at each place (8 in total), where visitors have the chance to truly enjoy some of the very best craft beers that the city offers. Of course, visitors are all also expected to follow their tasting with food and if hunger strikes, don’t worry – snacks and food will be available for purchase at two of the locations.

In addition to beer sampling, each stop also offers educational experiences related to beer brewing processes, local knowledge from your tour guide and a lot of interesting trivia about beer making and Chicago’s beer history.

So what locations can you expect to visit on the Chicago Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus? The locations change from time to time depending on availability, but generally guests can expect an experience something like this:

Destinations

• Beginning Stop: Half Acre Tap Room
• Second Stop: Revolution Brewing
• Third Stop: Off Color Brewing
• Fourth Stop: Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

The Tour Itinerary

The tour commences in Half Acre’s Bavarian style Tap Room, a bustling venue constructed with a design worthy of any beer enthusiast’s admiration. Once aboard the Barrel Bus, your tour guide will take you through beer brewing processes, the different Germans styles of beer and perhaps even throw in some pub trivia for good measure.

Your second stop will be at Revolution Brewing, which is considered one of Chicago’s premier craft breweries. Here, as well as sampling some of Revolution Brewing’s renowned brews, visitors will receive an insight into the story behind one of the city’s leading breweries, lessons on how to judge beer and even get a chance to chat with some local brewers (depending on availability).

You’ll then be off on the bus again where your next stop is Off Color Brewing. This location is slightly off-the-beaten track, but it is definitely worth your time. In addition to sampling some of the brewery’s local craft beers, visitors also get an insight into their unique brewing processes and how they plan out new recipes for beers.

The final stop on the Barrel Bus Craft Brewery Tour is the Maplewood Brewery & Distillery. It first started as a passion project for a local home brewer and slowly be created maplewood into one of the most sought-after breweries in the Chicago area. What makes this place special is that they not only specialize in high-quality specialty beers but also craft spirits like whiskey and gin as well. With weird but delicious beer flavors like “ghost pumpkin’ and “heather ale’ on offer, it’s definitely an experience you don’t want to miss out on.

After saying goodbye to the amazing staff at Maplewood Brewery & Distillery our journey will take us back to Half Acre Tap Room where your adventure initially began.

Visiting Hours & Price

The Barrel Bus Craft Brewery Tour runs from 8pm – 12pm on Friday evenings and 12 – 4pm on Saturday afternoons. The tickets for the tour cost $75 per person.

What’s included?

• Transportation between 3-4 Craft Brewery Locations
• 8 beer samples
• Tasting notes & information about the beers sampled
• Education about the beer brewing process
• Good times with locals and fellow travelers

FAQs

Is there an age limit?

Yes, visitors must be 21 or over in order to take part in this tour. A valid ID is required before boarding, so please remember to bring it along!

What should I wear?

As there will be a bit of walking involved during this tour, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes and clothing. Remember, temperatures may vary during your tour so it’s best to be prepared for all weathers!

How many guests per tour?

As this is an intimate experience, visits are limited to 20 guests per tour.

Is this safe?

Safety is always our main concern. The venues that we visit are chosen for their reputable safety records and our guides are always professional and friendly. Of course drinking is a big part of this tour – but please bear in mind to drink responsibly!

Do I need specific skills or knowledge?

No, absolutely not! This tour is suitable for anyone who would like an introduction to craft breweries and their culture in Chicago./span>

At the end of the day you’re guaranteed to have had a great time as well as learning a thing or two about beer making. And if you’d like to organise a unique trip and book tickets for this craft brewery tour you can do so via GetYourGuide’s website.

Craft brewery tours by Barrel Bus offer an insightful way of seeing all that makes Chicago special from a beer enthusiast’s point of view – and it’s definitely worth considering if you plan on visiting anytime soon!