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Chicago was once very much behind in terms of the beer culture. But, in recent years, it has caught up. Beer, through its local breweries, has now formed a part of the local food and beverage scene. Now, a trip to Chicago wouldn't be complete without immersing yourself in the local culture though visiting breweries.

Here are some other exciting reasons to convince you that you cannot leave Chicago without checking out some of its local breweries:

1. Lets You Experience and Appreciate Locally-Produced Goods

A visit to a brewery in downtown Chicago will introduce you to locally produced beer and other goods. It gives you the chance to experience part of the city’s local beverage scene. In fact, wherever you may be, you can always check the place’s local breweries.

There is nothing wrong with buying famous international beer products in supermarkets. But it also pays to have a sense of appreciation for local products. Aside from that, you're giving local artisans a chance to showcase their expertise. When you visit local breweries in downtown Chicago, you’re giving local beer brewers the opportunity to establish their names.

2. Allows You To Learn More About Various Types of Breweries

As mentioned above, buying beer shouldn't only be limited to the globally known brands. You'll be surprised to find out that there might even be craft beers that may taste better. Small independent brewers create craft beers, and as a beer enthusiast you need to know about the different types of breweries.

Some of the different types of breweries are:

• Microbreweries are those breweries that sell less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year. These breweries sell either to a wholesaler and then to a retailer, or directly to the consumer through local restaurants

• Taproom breweries are those that sell 25% of their beer products on-site. When you visit one, they may even sell you beer-to-go.
  
  
• Brewpub operates as a food and beer restaurant. Alongside food, the management serves you their locally crafted beer.

3. Gives You A Peek Into Local Culture

Local breweries, such as Adams Street Brewery, for instance, are usually filled with the usual visitors—the locals. It's not every day that you're going to bump into long lines of tourists. If you're the type who likes to relax and have a good time at night or late in the afternoon, visiting a brewery can give you that uniquely local experience. It gives you the chance of getting to know the place’s culture by meeting with some of the locals. That's one of the best and most memorable ways for you to "do as the locals do."

4. Opportunity To Try Out Different Kinds Of Beer

Every brewery has its take on beer. Naturally, they won't serve you something that their competitors have been offering. Breweries want to offer a unique twist to beer. In some, this may mean extreme recipes such as chili beer or red beer, while in others it can be more laid back such as salted caramel beer. Visiting local breweries is the best way to try these uniquely crafted products.

This can be a totally exciting experience for you especially when you’re traveling with friends. For example, you can have a little drinking game by keeping each one blindfolded while trying different options. This adds more fun to your Chicago experience.

5. Enhances Your Knowledge

For beer lovers and enthusiasts, this is your chance to prove that going to a brewery is an educational and knowledgeable experience! You can try and convince non-drinkers that going to a brewery is worth a try, even once in their life.

When you enter a brewery, it's not just about drinking. The great thing about it is that you can also learn a lot about how beer is made. Some of the tours allow you to go through each of the beer-making steps and you're served beer out of the factory. Brewing beer is a skill. Who knows, you might be able to develop your own craft beer back home.

Conclusion

Chicago has found itself a way of building a name by giving you a unique experience through your pub visits. No matter your taste or type of beer, there's a brewery for each of your preferences. The atmosphere is just as welcoming as it can be. Chicago has indeed finally caught up with the beer culture with its local breweries. So, give it a shot whenever you are in Chicago.