Welcome to stop #98 on the Brews and Choos project.
Brewery: On Tour Brewing, 1725 W. Hubbard St., Chicago
Train line: CTA Green and Pink lines, Ashland
Time from Chicago: 6 minutes
Distance from station: 700 m
Of the three breweries my friend and I planned to visit last Saturday, On Tour was our clear favorite. It helped that her employer has done several events there, one of which I attended before the pandemic, so we were both happy to go back. And, because there were two of us, we could try a full 5-pour flight without overtaxing our livers.
Here are our tasting notes:
- Thalia Hall Pilsner (5%, 15 IBU): malty, lingering finish, not my cup of tea but well made.
- Sleepy Fire Berlinerweißbier (4.2%, 15 IBU): I personally do not like Weißbieren., but I recognized this is a good example of the variety. My friend wanted to order a full pint after tasting it.
- Apres black lager (5.2%, 10 IBU): Very interesting, and quite good. "Almost like a stout without the motor-oil feel."
- Half Step American pale (5.7%, 45 IBU). Really hoppy, but finishes nicely. We once again had opposite reactions: she said it had a similar feel and finish to Half Acre Daisy Cutter, which she does not like, but I like Daisy Cutter and so liked Half Step.
- Mercury hazy IPA (5.5%, 20 IBU): I wrote, "why can't I form an opinion of this? It's, I guess, good? I like it? Tasting notes are eluding me. But it's a good sippin' beer. Perfectly balanced, no one flavor dominating, does its job and steps back." She had a similar opinion.
We'll definitely go back this summer.
Beer garden? Yes
Dogs OK? Outside only
Televisions? Two, avoidable
Serves food? No; BYOF
Would hang out with a book? Yes
Would hang out with friends? Yes
Would go back? Yes