Pretty much my "local" and the place to go in Chicago's western 'burbs if you're looking for good tasting German food (along with some American fare) with some great beers to go along with your meal in a classy German-themed environment.
The exclusively craft and imported beer list keeps getting bigger and better: 19 taps are planned by the end of the summer with a selection of 75 bottled beers. German and Austrian standards such as Bitburger, Gosser, Franziskaner, and Spaten are on tap alongside Belgian beers and North American craft brews such as Lagunitas, Three Floyds and Unibroue. Lindemans is featured prominently with a beautiful porcelain and copper draft tower sporting the Pomme and Framboise, while down the bar there is a space-age looking Delirium Tremens tap complete with pink elephant. Great care is taken with the beer and 9 times out of 10 the beer is served in the proper glass. If you're really feeling like a Bavarian you can drink your German beer by the liter. This place goes out of its way for rare imported beers (on tap) such as Eggenberg Urbock 23 from Austria or Margriet from Belgium. This place goes to great lengths to ensure that the quality of the beer served is exceptional.
The "lodge" aspect is played up in terms of a mounted animal here or there in the foyer, but the stained glass, German art deco posters and breweriana make for interesting and inviting surroundings. The food is quite good and reasonable. The menu selection is rather large with some tasty appetizers and desserts, provided you don't get too full on beer. The booths in the dining room are comfortable and the noise volume was subdued making for a relaxing dinner. The tavern side is equally cozy in a different way, with a fireplace along one wall and just the right amount of bric-a-brac to make one feel at home. Most nights the crowd is a mix of all ages.
A very comfortable tavern with a great beer selection, good food and cozy atmosphere.

Well, if you like microbrewed and imported beer, and like to play pub games, this is a good bar for you. There are usually about two dozen taps on the wall and the selection of microbrewed beers keeps getting better. I've seen offerings from the Kalamazoo Brewing Company including, Bell's Two-Hearted Ale (an IPA), Bell's Best Brown, and Bell's Amber. I love Michigan beer and I like bars that support it. Locals such as Goose Island and Two Brothers can be found here, including Two Brothers specialities, such as the red rye ale Cane and Ebel. On a recent visit I also spotted North Coast Olde No. 38 Stout and Rogue Dead Guy Ale. German beer lovers will be enthralled by beers such as Spaten, Franszikaner Weiss and Dunkelweizen. Other regional craft breweries such as Sierra Nevada, Anchor and Sam Adams are well represented, too. Of course, Miller and Coors are available and Bud products can be had in bottles.
Brixie's recently added some new pool tables. Other fun stuff to keep you occupied while drinking your beer includes a few dart boards and one of those fancy new Internet jukeboxes. Sadly, there is no more live music at Brixie's anymore (my band played there years ago.)

Clark Street Ale House
742 N. Clark St.
Chicago, Illinois

Finally, I get to the Clark Street Ale House and I must say, this River North bar is a gem! It is really everything I heard it was: a well-appointed pub/tavern with a wide selection of delectable regional beers mixed with American and European classics. Guinness and Harp for the "punters" and Anchor, Bell's, Three Floyd's, Sierra Nevada, Summit  and other great beers for the "beer geeks." Aside from the beer, the atmosphere is a bit cozy, with a slight hipness to it. There is a small beer garden out back, but it was a bit too cold the other day to go al fresco. The service was good, but then again it was only a Monday night. (It better be good.) It seemed like the kind of place that would get crowded on the weekends, so I would suggest going on a weeknight if possible. The place seemed to be big on cigars to go with the beer and booze. I would suspect that it would get quite smoky. Nonetheless, it was everything I had hoped it would be, and maybe a bit extra. I was happy to pay for a full pint of Rabid Rabbit from Three Floyd's. The Marco Frau (my wife) had a Bell's Two Hearted Ale from the handpump at an equal price. (Some places charge more for handpump beers.) Other beers included IPAs from Goose Island and Summit Brewing Co., of Minnesota; Bell's Amber Ale, from Michigan; Sierra Pale Ale and Bigfoot Barleywine from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.; Anchor Liberty Ale, Two Brothers French Country Ale and Ebel Weiss, Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar, a couple Goose Island beers and a few others. Very delectable indeed.
Another review of this place can be found here.

Delilah's is wonderful bar that defies any particular stereotype or classification. It part punk, part artistic, part you-name-it. It is definitely eclectic, featuring 80 different beers and always half dozen excellent drafts. The last time I was there was for Trappist beer tasting, which I doubt is a very common thing there, but there are always at least a dozen Belgian beers to be had in bottles. You may even see the occasional Belgian tap, such as Leffe Blond. (This is a fine strong blond ale that is not quite a triple.) I also usually see some good pale ales such as one from the Summit Brewery in Minnesota and Goose Island of Chicago. Call the bar or check New City  to see what's music or what movie is playing the night you want to go, but don't forget there is always a pool table upstairs.

One of the best places to get an authentic Scottish ale and single malt along with some of the tastiest and cheapest fish 'n chips in Chicago. I first visited this pub on one of the coldest nights of they year. The place was packed nonetheless and we were stuck by the back door. Fortunately the McEwans Scotch Ale took the sting of the cold out of us. If you go in winter like I did, make sure and return in the summer to check out their beer garden. McEwan's and Fullers usually on tap. (Sorry, no Miller except in the fish batter.)

Edelweiss
7650 W. Irving Park Rd.
Norridge, Illinois
Ph. (708) 452-6040

We visited this locally famous Norridge restaurant for the first time with our some friends Jim and Ronda. Although we didn't sample the cuisine, the beer was quite tasty. With a good selection of German and Czech beers on tap, and a wonderful atmosphere, Edelweiss did not disappoint. Steins large (some quite large) and small decorate the bar and restaurant helping to foster a traditional German feel. On tap I found pilsners BBK, DAB, and Bitburger, as well as Spaten. Warsteiner Dunkel, Pschorr Brau wheat and Weinstephaner were also featured. The lonely Czech stand out was Pilsner Urquell. Spaten and Warsteiner beers tasted were very fresh, but service was a bit lacking. Parking here can also be a bit tricky. Especially when somebody's BMW is blocking the driveway, as was the case this past Saturday night! Almost in Chicago's far Northwest side.

If you like Belgian beer like I do, and like to enjoy it in a cafe-like atmosphere, then you'll like the Hopleaf. Way north near Clark and Foster, this place is worth seeking out. Always very friendly and often very packed this beer cafe is the spot for the not-too-expensive tasty beer. This is a "beer cafe' decorated with art deco posters and a vintage jukebox full of vintage tunes. Featuring almost two dozen drafts representing many regional breweries, especially Sprecher of Wisconsin and Bell's of Michigan, the Hopleaf is a great spot for a pint. What lurks further behind the bar and in the cooler is one of best bottled beer selections in the city. Just about all of the Belgian beers mentioned on this web site (and many more) are at the Hopleaf. I could probably devote an entire site to the beers that can be found at this bar. You'll just have to be courageous and try them yourself.

John Barleycorn
658 W. Belden
Chicago, Illinois
Ph. (773) 348-8899

I haven't been to this place in quite awhile -- last time I was there (a few years ago) -- they had around 30 beers on tap at this trendy Lincoln Park hangout that has a huge beer garden. This is Lincoln Park, so be prepared to spend around $5 for a pint. Last time I was here I marveled at the dark wood walls of this place, which made me feel like I was in someone's study in a New England mansion.

John's Restaurant and Tavern
Winfield and Jewel Road
Winfield, Illinois
Ph.(630)752-2000

Formerly called John's Buffet. This restaurant and bar has two personalities. There is the refined, almost Art Deco, bar and dining room. This is the bar that has the most impressive array of taps. It is in this room that you will find tap handles advertising beers from breweries such as Bell's, Goose Island, Great Lakes, Sierra Nevada and locals Two Brothers. The back room is a little more casual or rustic with a brick wall along one side of the room. The taps at this bar include some more mainstream selections such as Miller Lite, Budweiser, Killians, etc. You can probably guess that I spend most of my time at the front bar. John's Buffet probably has the best draft beer selection at the most reasonable prices in DuPage County. I have not tried the food, but a menu is available at John's Buffet's website.

Kerry Piper Irish Pub
7900 Joliet Road
Willowbrook, Illinois
Ph. (630)325-3732

A bit different than the Cork and Kerry pub mentioned above, but just as good in a different way. The Kerry Piper Irish Pub has a great atmosphere that is enhanced by country bric-a-brac and a sometimes raucous crowd. An excellent pint of Guinness can be found here, served in a 20 oz. glass. The food also is excellent. Try the corned beef sandwich! It is as good as any that I've had anywhere. In winter, there is a cozy fireplace, we sat right next to it during our recent visit. If you're a bit unfamiliar with the Chicago area, the Kerry Piper is just off Interstate 55. Take Route 83 north to Joliet Road and follow the street around the Holiday Inn. You can't miss it. It actually looks a bit like an Irish cottage!