Goose Island
Goose Island brewmaster Jared Rouben has crafted the best sour beers this side of Berlin. That’s where the centuries-old flavor originated when medieval brewers experimented with wild yeasts. But Rouben likes the taste of sour brews, which he says plays nicely with just about any food, so he takes the necessary, costly steps to craft them. The beer must be aged in wood barrels, and the yeast, because it can easily contaminate other yeasts, requires special handling. Goose Island’s “Juliet,” is a Belgian-style sour ale aged with blackberries in Cabernet barrels. Prosit!

Goose Island Brewpub, 1800 North Clybourn, (312)915-0071; 3535 North Clark, (773)832-9040, gooseisland.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Burgers and Beer 5K
For more than three years, Universal Sole has hosted a monthly fun run from their Lakeview location. This August, maintaining their connections with Goose Island (for beer) and Fizz Bar & Grill (for burgers), they turned it into an official 5K, starting and finishing in Montrose Harbor. The promise of burgers and beer lured runners in, but the inaugural run also delivered a well-organized race with a laid back after-party.

f3running.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Epiphany Episcopal Church

It’s Friday night and all the hipsters are going to…church? In a partnership with Empty Bottle Presents, Epiphany opened its doors to the rock community in mid-September with acts like Low, Jenny Lewis and the wacky Dan Deacon performing shows. At first it might seem daunting to attend a rock concert in such a sanctified place, but the crisp and booming acoustics simply put Aragon to shame. The absence of pews combined with flowing Goose Island beer and beautiful lit-up murals transforms the church into a full-fledged rock hall with an inkling of godliness.

201 S. Ashland
(312)243-4242
epiphany-chicago.org

Best of Chicago 2008

MillerCoors

Unproven around these parts? Maybe. But we really love beer, and we can’t see why anyone would not want their work environment doused in brew. The joint endeavor of Molson Coors Brewing Co. and SABMiller PLC just signed the papers for its brand new Wacker Drive headquarters, which will reportedly even feature a rooftop beer garden. (“Let’s move this meeting to the roof.”) According to Crain’s, MillerCoors will be Chicago’s twenty-third largest company, and given that alcohol is pretty much the one industry that is recession-proof, we envision long illustrious careers. Yeah, when it comes to taste, we prefer real locals like Goose Island or Two Brothers, but who are we to be overly picky?

Audience choice
Euro RSCG Chicago