But two things have happened recently to make me think that I really can do this regularly, and it doesn’t need to be a time suck to write on my blog. The first is that I started working for Party Earth again. No, they haven’t come to Seattle yet (damn). But they do need a lot of descriptive blurbs written, which I can do from home. And as I began writing them, I’ve started remembering why I used to love writing on my blog. Writing is fun, first of all. And going out is fun. And I need to explore Seattle more, so why not do it through the bar scene and then write about it? It all seems so logical.

The second thing that happened is that I visited Chicago for the second time in two months, and both times it struck me how different Seattle and Chicago are, specifically regarding the drinking culture. And then I remembered how fun it was to go explore Chicago and truly experience the drinking culture there. And it made me want to explore Seattle and experience a new drinking culture.

And so, here I am, planning out the future of my blogging experiences. Who knows if I will succeed. If past attempts are any indication, I will fail miserably. But here’s to trying.

To close, since I said nothing of value in this post anyway, here is the Tip of the Day:

Got some random boozes lying around your house but not sure what to do with them? Buy some birch beer and mix away! I swear, it goes with everything. Gin, vodka, whiskey. Gin, a splash of lemon juice, chartreuse, and a float of birch beer, and you have yourself a might fine cocktail.

Cheers.

This past weekend, I ended up in Corvallis, Oregon for an ultimate frisbee tournament. “Where the fuck?” you say. Yes, indeed. It’s pretty much nowhere, home to a giant state school and a bunch of breweries. My co-worker and I entered the town late on a Friday evening looking for a decent meal, and a brewery seemed as good a place as any.

Now don’t get the wrong idea; Flat Tail Brewing didn’t blow my mind. But it was pretty damn good, and a million times better than eating greasy food at the A&W down the road and then drinking PBRs in a parking lot. (Not that I’ve done that. But it sounds kinda lame.) The point is, the beer was delicious, the food was above-expectations, and I kind of wish I could go back because there were at least six other beers on tap I wanted to try. But I won’t, because you couldn’t pay me to back to Corvallis.

In November of last year, I had a similar experience. While spending a weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas I ended up at a local brewpub, and it was one of the most quaint and adorable spots I’ve been to in a while. If I lived there (thank goodness I don’t), I would frequent that spot regularly.

And in Vancouver last October (home of my most favorite cocktail bar EVER), I made a brief pit stop at Granville Island Brewing, and almost drank enough to spoil the cocktail experience that followed. But fortunately for me, nothing could ever spoil that cocktail experience. NOTHING.

As I slowly make my way through the Seattle breweries (only a few so far: Georgetown, Fremont, Elysian, Elliott Bay), I realize that local beer is more than just “Local Beer.” There’s an atmosphere that surrounds a small local brewery or brewpub, an atmosphere that you can’t find at any old bar that serves any old beer. A tad more upscale than your average dive bar, but also friendlier in a way. The people who work there take pride in what they do, and they love to talk to you about their beers. And if that’s something you’re into, you can’t beat it.

Next week, I’ll be hitting up a brand new local spot in a brand new local place. Kona Brewing. If you don’t know where that is, it’s probably for the best. Jealousy can be an ugly thing.

James Bond is awesome because he created the most amazing martini known to man.

For those of you who haven’t seen Casino Royale, go away. You need to watch that movie immediately. Because in it, you shall soon learn, Mr. Bond (aka Daniel Craig of the piercing blue eyes) orders an incredible cocktail, which he names the Vesper after his ooh-la-la lady friend.

If you remember what’s in the Vesper off the top of your head, you and I need to meet. Because even I couldn’t recite it from memory. But, thanks to Google, I can recreate it verbatim:

“Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet, shake it over ice and add a thin slice of lemon peel.”

All recited in the utmost seriousness while Bond stares into the eyes of his nemesis.

But that’s not important.

What is important is that I have actually tasted that cocktail. It is served at a lovely little retro bar down the street from my apartment. And, more importantly, it is the best martini I have ever savored. Seriously.

I do love martinis. Gin, dry, and if it’s gin-on-a-budget, then slightly dirty as well. But the Vesper was another story. It was like drinking a dry martini, but without the bite. It had flavor, but there was no bitterness. It was like the sweetest spring water at the top of the mountain. Very very dangerous spring water.

The secret, of course, is the Lillet Blanc, a fancy French aperitif wine. Which makes sense. Vermouth is also wine. But Lillet Blanc is a hell of lot more expensive than vermouth. Hence the yum factor.

So, in solidarity, I felt I needed to invent a martini myself. And I did. During a cocktail party at my apartment, I stood in my kitchen staring at a counter full of liquor. The gin and vermouth were already in the shaker, but it needed more. It needed some oomph. Some pizazz. Sheer sexiness.

Chartreuse.

Yet another highly expensive French liqueur. (Legit, considering the recipe is a highly guarded secret amongst the monks who make it in the mountains in south-eastern France. I’m actually serious.)

A dash of Chartreuse, a quick shake, add a lemon peel. And voila. A brand new, totally delicious martini. Well, the tiny little sip I took of it was great. I then had to deliver it to my friend Chris. It was tragic.

Well, not totally tragic. He took one sip, turned to me, and said, “Christina. This is not just a drink. This is an experience.”

Success.

Oh wait, I just stole that from Memoirs of a Geisha.

And oh wait, this post is about fish and chips.

The following statement is wildly important, and if you choose not to finish reading this post, at least read this: If you ever happen upon a dingy/sketchy/kitschy-looking hole-in-the-wall that you have never seen before…ALWAYS GO INSIDE.

I will swear by that statement for the rest of my life, and if it costs me my life, well, at least I died in a cool way. (Side note: I have made it my mission to die in the coolest way possible. It’s my life plan.) (Side note #2: If I die by means of hole-in-the-wall, it must be because said hole-in-the-wall was inhabited by zombies.)

Now on to the point of the story. Pike Street Fish Fry is my new favorite food spot in Seattle. It’s not actually replacing anything, since until now I didn’t have a favorite food spot in Seattle. But it should be proud, because it is my FIRST favorite spot. Congratulations, PSFF.

Anyway, the point of the story is, I happened upon this place by accident. It looked a little weird, out of place, perhaps not totally legit. But it said FISH & CHIPS in such gigantic letters that I was drawn to it like a fish to bait.

Best. Decision. Ever. Hands down the best fish and chips I have ever had. AND, to top it off, they have really good beer!

I am used to this thing (i.e. life in Chicago) where you discover an awesome hole-in-the-wall food spot, or a food truck, or something like that, and you can’t drink beer because no one serves beer except for huge established places because the liquor laws are ridiculous.

But NOT SO in Seattle. They actually serve beer (GOOD beer!) in tiny run-down food spots. Seattle, you get a giant thumbs-up in my book. (This is a big deal, because until now, I have been skeptical of the food & drink scene around here. Chicago is pretty hard to beat. But perhaps I can be won over after all.)

At any rate, I enjoyed a meal of fish and chips, cooked by hilariously-clad moustachioed hipsters, along with a cold glass of New Belgium Mothership Wit. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could have possibly satisfied me more.

That’s right. “Hot fish now.” They’re not kidding.

P.S. Their website is like a blog, and they have an entire post about whales!!! It is seriously the coolest thing ever!!

P.P.S. Yes, I am that weird.

No, but in all serious, I feel most at home writing about bars and drinking. Perhaps this is a sign. (Likely a bad one.) My point is, a few days ago I started thinking about mixology, and it just got me excited. I want to write about alcohol! All the time!

This is a problem for several reasons. The main one being that in order to write about alcohol all the time, I will have to drink alcohol. All the time. Ok, I exaggerate. But still. It’s a dangerous endeavor. I’m going to need all the (liquid) courage I can get.

HAHA.

Ok, I’m not actually as drunk as I probably sound. I’m only on my second beverage of the evening, albeit the one I’m drinking right now is straight from the bottle… WINE. I SWEAR IT’S ONLY WINE. Why dirty up a glass when there’s so little left?

This whole “omg I need to write about alcohol constantly” thing started this past weekend when my parents were visiting. Now don’t get the wrong idea, I don’t feel the need to drink more when my parents are around. They’re super cool people. We actually talked at length about all kinds of liquor one night, resulting in my Dad convincing me that vodka CAN, in fact, be delicious, and vowing to prove it to me when I went home for Christmas. I. Am. So. Excited.

The point is, when we were out at a super cute independent bookstore, my mom bought me an early Christmas present. It’s a book on mixology. It reminded me why I started this blog in the first place, and suddenly my life made sense again.

Clearly (if it weren’t obvious), I’m being dramatic. But whatever, I want to tell you a story. It’s about, you guessed it, alcohol! Like this!

In the summer of 2008, I was unemployed in Chicago with no job prospects, and all my attempts at finding work were failing miserably. Broke and frustrated, I decided the best answer to my problems would be to drop $800 on bartending classes and learn about the stuff that made my nights (and, let’s face it, days) more exciting.

The experience literally changed my life. Yeah yeah, super cliche, blah blah. But I’m not kidding. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. Because, for the first time, alcohol became more than a tool for getting drunk. It became something new to learn about, something to appreciate, something to teach my friends about.

And the best part, of course, was that I was suddenly SO MUCH COOLER to all of my friends. I’m sure this makes me sound super lame, but that’s because I kind of am and have to get people drunk in order for them to like me.

JUST KIDDING. (sort of…)

My point is, I now go out and drink fancy cocktails and actually stop to think about what I’m drinking. A good cocktail is a terrible thing to waste. No chugging. One must contemplate each sip. Yummm…

I look forward to a time when I can afford all the fancy ingredients necessary to make delicious and creative cocktails. For now, I must stick to hot toddies and gin martinis. But hey, nothing wrong with perfecting the simple drinks. Someone’s gotta do it.

And this time, dear readers, I am finally back. I finally remembered why I started doing this in the first place, and this time you can’t get rid of me.

And now, to quote Jon Stewart, “your moment of zen:”

BUT forsooth! I am returned!

Ok seriously, I’ll stop with that fancy English nonsense. I am back, and I have a wealth of recipes to share with you all. I have decided that I will, I MUST, post at least one recipe per week for my own sanity. (And so you don’t think I’ve completely disappeared.)

Since moving to Seattle, I’ve been trying to keep the spending down a bit from my WILD life out in Chicago. (Lies, but I did go out waaaay too much. BEST JOB.) At any rate, Craig and I have been experimenting lots, and we’ve come up with some sweet recipes to share with all of you. Most of them are made up on the fly, and many of them are super budget-friendly. So if that floats your boat, read on, dear friends!

First, a quick note: I don’t measure things. Thusly, I am going to tell you what ingredients you need before I write the recipe, and then I’m just going to sort of guess how much I used. You will just have to figure it out based on how many people you’re cooking for…

So let’s dive in. Today, we begin with something which will seem a bit upscale, but I promise it’s not as fancy as it sounds. In fact, this meal cost precisely $6/person! Check it out:

Roasted pork loin chops and onion quarters w/ garlic-dill potatoes and collard greens

You will need:

• pork chops
• onion
• olive oil
• lemon
• balsamic vinegar
• red-skin potatoes
• collard greens
• garlic
• fresh dill
• Provence herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, any or all of the above, etc.)

First, preheat the oven to 350° F. Put the pork chops in a baking dish with some large chunks of raw onion (I used 1/2 an onion for 2 chops). Pour a little olive oil in the pan, along with some balsamic vinegar, lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best) and lots of herbs. And salt and pepper. Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Put the chops in the oven and set the timer for 30 minutes.

While the pork is cooking, chop the potatoes into large chunks and set them aside. Also chop the collard greens into strips and set aside. If you manage to do all of this before 30 minutes is up (which you should), have a dance party in your kitchen.

When the timer goes off, take the pork out of the oven and flip the chops over. Put them back in the oven. Set your timer for 20 minutes. Move away from the oven.

Put a large pot of water on the stove to boil (for the potatoes, yo). While the water is heating, chop some garlic into itty bitty pieces. Also chop some fresh dill. Set these things aside.

Boil the potatoes until they’re done. (12ish minutes? Who knows?) While the potatoes are boiling, heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan, then add a little bit of chopped garlic. Put the collard greens in the pan and cook them until they’re all wilted. This should take 5-7  minutes. Set them aside when they’re done.

When the potatoes are cooked, drain them. Pour some olive oil in the pan they were boiling in and swirl it around. Throw the potatoes back in the pan and stir them so they’re all coated with oil. Add some chopped garlic, fresh dill, salt and a dash of pepper. They’re done, hooray!

By now, your oven timer should have gone off as well. Take the aluminum foil off the pan and cook the chops for 10 more minutes (to brown). Then, remove them from the oven and inhale deeply. Yummmm. Serve with a nice red (a big Cabernet Sauvignon or Cab-Merlot blend is best) and enjoy!

If you did everything right, it should look like this:

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you’re feeling adventurous, try marinating the pork in a different sauce: soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, beer (red ale or something simple), herbs, and smashed garlic cloves. MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. DO IT.

Next time on Christina’s Cooking Adventures: SHRIMPS! LOTS OF SHRIMPS!

Note 2: I’M IN SEATTLE AND FINALLY WRITING AGAIN! (Because I finally got internet, woo!)

Anyway, for those of you who read my travel blog, I hope you enjoyed it. Craig and I had a great time writing it, and Leonard is the bestest travel buddy ever.

And now, since I promised this post long, long ago, here are my TOP 5 COCKTAIL SPOTS in Chicago!

——————-

1. The Whistler [5/5 Awesomeness points]

If you have not yet been to The Whistler, you have seriously missed out. The ultimate in small-venue music, this place also has a cocktail list that will blow your mind. Mr. Mixologist (Paul McGee) is a beardy man who wears flannel. In short, he looks like a lumberjack. And he concocts the most delicious cocktails this side of the Dan Ryan.

The menu changes seasonally, and I used to make it a habit of going several times each season to make sure I got to taste all 8 cocktails on the menu. Because seriously, they are that good. For example, I’m not a huge tequila fan, but the tequila cocktails at the Whistler are so subtle that you can hardly tell it’s tequila anyway. So please, go there.

2011 Summer Menu – yummmm…

——————-

2. The California Clipper [5/5 Awesomeness points]

This place is almost too cool to write about. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s so freaking awesome. First of all, they have live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. This music consists of hilarious and entertaining genres like rockabilly, honkeytonk blues, New Orleans dance jazz, and classic country. It’s amazing and oh-so-much fun.

And the cocktails: CLASSIC. I kid you not, they only serve the old-fashioned standard classics. And they make them SO WELL. You can get the ever-popular favorites: the Manhattan, the martini, and the Tom Collins. And then they have the real good oldies: the Singapore Sling (a Tom Collins w/ cherry brandy), the Brandy Alexander, and the (perfect) Rob Roy. Confused? Go ask your grandparents, I’m sure they know.

A classy Singapore Sling and a minty Grasshopper. Perfection.

——————-

3. The Bristol [4.5/5 Awesomeness points]

This is one of those places where the food is so amazing and the drinks are so amazing that you aren’t really sure which you should focus on when you’re telling your friends all about it afterwards. Because all of a sudden you start talking and you’re like “oh man and the pasta” and then you remember the Sazerac cocktail you had and your brain goes all fuzzy.

The best part about The Bristol is that they warn you how long the drinks will take to make. Cocktails are listed in 3 categories: A Few Minutes, Several Minutes, and Ten Minutes +. But don’t be alarmed, because the drinks are worth the wait. My personal favorite is the Smoked Sicilian Manhattan — nowhere else that I have found even stocks smoked Maker’s Mark. And believe me, if you are a whiskey-lover like I am, you definitely need to try it.

A Pomelo Fizz and Sazerac, perfectly crafted.

——————-

4. Mercadito [4/5 Awesomeness points]

As I said before, I’m not a huge tequila fan. But Mercadito may have single handedly changed my mind. It’s a tapas-style contemporary Mexican restaurant, so lots of small plates and ceviches and various types of guac and salsa. It’s quite delicious.

To go along with their really funky menu, Mercadito has redefined what it means to hang out and drink margaritas. They have 8 different margaritas, and they are so much more interesting than your basic Strawberry Margarita or whatever. These vary in levels of spice and citrus, some are sweet and some are salty. It’s fantastic. And beyond that, they serve what may be the best (and spiciest) Michelada I have ever encountered. So if you are a margarita fan, I highly recommend this place. And if not, give it a shot, you might change your mind.

A super-spicy Michelada and the Tres Viejos margarita.

——————-

5. Big Star [3.5/5 Awesomeness points]

I know several people (coughKate&Katecough) for whom Big Star is the shit. I myself was not so impressed. It’s loud. It’s crowded. Both of those things I don’t handle well. HOWEVER, they do have some pretty good cocktails. Yes indeedy.

The whole vibe is sort of on-the-border-esque, so the cocktails all have a southern Texas feel to them. You have your basic Big Star Margarita, and then there’s the Sarsaparilla Springs, and the Stockyard Pony, and a whole host of other cocktails made with crazy southern ingredients that you don’t normally see. So if you’re cool with crowds and noise, this is definitely your cocktail spot. And if not, sit outside where it’s slightly quieter and enjoy the Tacos de Pescado. Delicious…

A super-salty Michelada at Big Star with Tecate. Refreshing.

Alright kids, that’s it for the Chicago hotspots. Now I’m in Seattle, and I have a whole new bar-hopping adventure just waiting for me! It’s going to be great.

In the meantime, expect lots of ***RECIPES*** to show up here. I’m kind of broke and can’t go out to bars all that much at the moment. But Craig and I have been cooking a lot, and I have some exciting new dishes to share with all of you. Get excited!

Well, duh. We obliged. More than once. Apparently the guy who owned it didn’t appreciate whiskey (GASP!). So we partook. Wild Turkey, aged 40 years. And hot damn, it was amazing.

*******

In other news, I went to a place called Hot Doug’s last week. Twice, in fact. Because it was that good. Oh yeah.

It’s one of those places that has a ton of hype, supposedly “the best hot dogs in Chicago.” Well, I figured I was leaving Chicago soon, so I might as well try it. OHMIGOD. Waiting two hours for a hot dog is a bit outrageous, I grant you that one. And I probably wouldn’t wait that long again. But go early on a weekday, there is hardly any wait at all. And it’s SO DELICIOUS.

First of all, I am a Chicago-style hot dog person. I like it with all the crazy fixings, the relish, the tomato, the pickle ON THE HOTDOG. No ketchup, only mustard. And Hot Doug’s knows how to make a damn good Chicago-style dog.

But this isn’t just your average hot dog spot. Oh no. They have sausages of every variety, with incredible sauces and cheeses and everything you could imagine. For example: Mushroom and Swiss Cheese Pork Sausage with Blue Cheese Dijonnaise and Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms sauteed in Duck Fat.

WHAT?!

It’s real. And it’s delicious. They have venison, duck, buffalo, Swedish potato sausage (I still don’t know what this is, but it’s really good). Dogs named after famous people. A Mountain Man Sausage. It’s endless. ENDLESS I TELL YOU.

So, if you are a Chicagoan and have not been here, I highly recommend it. Please go on a weekday morning, it’s basically a zero wait. Perfect.

And if you’re visiting Chicago, this is one of those things that no one will tell you about. It’s very far from downtown, not easy to access, but ABSOLUTELY worth the visit. You are not going to find a place like this just anywhere.

*******

Finally, this is my last post from Chicago! There will be one more Chicago-related post later on (my fave cocktail spots). But for now, I am off to land of Seattle!

For all of you Chicago pals, don’t stop reading! I will still post new recipes and other such fun things. And hey, maybe you’ll come visit Seattle one day and I can take you out

In the meantime, READ MY TRAVEL BLOG! We’re road tripping from Chicago to Seattle, so expect some hilarity and wild stories. Check it out here: http://thelaststoplightoni90.tumblr.com/

Much love to all my Chicago friends. West Coast, here I come.

And by “come to my attention,” I mean that I have long known that Chicago is big on brunch. But it occurred to me that this is actually kind of interesting. Why is brunch such a big deal here?

I’ve finally figured it out: laziness. Being lazy is the key.

Now don’t go taking this the wrong way. I love being lazy. Waking up at 11am and then having a meal that is specifically named for that time that you got up way too late for breakfast but you still want breakfast food, but it’s lunchtime, so it’s not quite breakfast or lunch, but kind of both…yeah, it’s totally awesome.

On Saturday, Craig and I went to the Bongo Room in Wicker Park. It may be the most popular brunch spot in the city, and it is widely considered to have the best brunch in town. I was skeptical, but I figured I would give it a shot.

I’m not usually one to wait a long time for food, but seeing as I had to write a review of the place, I didn’t have much choice. Unless, of course, I woke up at 8am and got there right as it opened, but that totally defeats the purpose of BRUNCH. Duh.

So we waited about an hour. And while we waited, we walked down to Wormhole and got coffee. Then we wandered into Reckless Records, checked out the vintage shops along Milwaukee Ave. When it got close to the time we were supposedly to be seated, we sat on the little plastic orange bench outside and tried to ignore the growling of our stomachs.

Finally, we were inside. And that’s when it all started to make sense. Perusing the menu, everything sounded incredible. I was hungry; it was past noon and we had yet to eat anything of substance (except for a snack at Wormhole because we were, in fact, that hungry). I looked around the small dining room and saw friends laughing, couples sipping mimosas, and families chatting about their plans for the day.

And suddenly it hit me. Brunch isn’t actually about the food. I mean, the food is great. Who doesn’t love gourmet eggs benedict and fruit-filled pancakes and 1 o’clock in the afternoon? But that’s not the point. It’s a laziness thing. It’s about relaxing and doing nothing all day. A day that starts with brunch is a day intended to be spent lazing about and doing exactly what you want to do. No rules. No deadlines. Nothing. Waiting an hour doesn’t matter. It’s all part of the appeal.

So why Chicago? You can get brunch in every city, yes. But in Chicago, it’s a thing. This city is filled with Yolks and Bongo Rooms, Lula Cafes and Milk & Honeys. So why here?

Well, I chalk it up to two main things:

1) Chicago is a young city, and young people like to spend entire days doing nothing. We’re really skilled at it, and we can do so without feeling like we’ve wasted any time. Being lazy is necessary to sanity.

2) The weather sucks. This might sound silly, but I think it’s a major factor. On those bone-chilling single-digit days, or those sweltering 90-degree scorchers, who wants to do anything? Nobody. Everyone wants to snuggle inside in the warmth, or escape the heat with some serious AC. And maybe a bloody mary.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ve never encountered a city that’s as obsessed with brunch as Chicago. The number of brunch-only restaurants is staggering, and more and more upscale bars and dining spots are beginning to offer brunch on weekends just to keep up with the demand.

But who could complain? Brunch is delicious…

See?

If you haven’t already, check out my Top 5 FOOD spots. And coming soon, my Top 5 COCKTAIL spots (which I will post after Thursday night, when I get to visit my favorite cocktail spot in the city wheeee!!).

I must explain one thing before I begin. These are my favorite beer spots (among those I visited while on my drinking travels). By this I mean, these are the places whose beer lists truly impressed me. Some of these do overlap with my food list (duh, beer and food go well together), but the intention of this list is different. Just wanted to clarify.

And so, without further ado…BEER!

——————

1. The Map Room [5/5 Awesomeness points]

For those of you who know it, this is an obvious choice. It is a place that many people know and talk about, and after my extensive bar-hopping travels, I can assure you that it truly is not overrated. The Map Room really is the place to be to drink beer. They have 26 beers on draft at all times, almost all of which rotate daily or weekly. You will find things you have never heard of before, and the bottle list is almost too long to handle.

And if that’s not enough, the atmosphere is really mellow and laid-back, making it a comfortable spot to chill with a cold brew. For beer connoisseurs, it’s definitely your spot. And for those of you who don’t know as much about beer, the bartenders are very willing, no, eager, to help you out. It’s quite lovely.

(Flight of beer–a beer rainbow!)

——————

2. Bangers and Lace [4.5/5 Awesomeness points]

This place looks snooty and kind of upscale from the outside. And in a way it sort of is. It is intended as an upscale beer bar, with an impressive beer list boasting numerous rare and unusual brews. They serve high-quality sausage alongside the beer. And the bartenders truly know their shit.

Even so, it’s a really nice place to hang out. The decor is kind of rustic, and they have a little patio out front. And the beer really is worth it. Best part: The Six Pack, a selection of six rare brews, generally grouped by style and rotating seasonally, and which come in a tasting flight for $9. Definitely worth the visit.

(The Six Pack flight, 2 oz tasters)

——————

3. Public House [4/5 Awesomeness points]

It’s really hard to think about this place without drooling everywhere. The food is just that good. But we’re here to talk about the beer, and Public House knows beer. With over 100 beers in house and 25 on draft, there is a lot to choose from.

To be fair, the draft beers they have are not as unique and rare as those at The Map Room or Bangers. But here’s the kicker: you can get any three draft beers in a flight for $9, and they serve it to you on a cute little chalkboard tray so you know which one is which. It’s a great way to try new things, and chances are you will like one so much that you’ll just order a pint of it afterwards.

And if that’s still not enough for you, Public House is currently the only bar in the city to have their own in-house brew in collaboration with Goose Island. And it changes seasonally. Now that’s something to brag about.

(Flight of beer: Public House brew, Pranqster, and La Chouffe)

——————

4. Sheffield’s [4/5 Awesomeness points]

Again, you may notice this is a repeat from my Food list (BBQ, yummmm). But damn, their beer list is incredible. If craft beer is your thing, you definitely need to check this place out. They have more beers on tap than I was able to count. And the best part: there are three rooms each with its own bar, and each bar has different beers on tap! So you get to walk around and find your favorites, which is pretty cool.

Another thing: only American microbrews. So for you patriotic beer-drinkers out there, check out Sheffield’s. And if you like PBR, well, don’t. Because they don’t serve cheap mainstream beer. It’s awesome.

(I don’t remember what kind of beer this is, but the picture is cool…)

——————

5. Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar [3.5/5 Awesomeness points]

Again, a repeat. But it deserves mention. And the reason it gets only 3.5 points is because the food dramatically outweighs the beer, but the beer is still really really good.

The point is, this place is a lot like Bangers & Lace when it comes to beer: rare, unusual, international. Things you don’t see every day. And, in keeping with its organic food trend, most of their beer is craft brewed with organic hops and all that other environmental jazz that I don’t really understand.

Go for dinner. Please, you must eat the food. But check out the beer too. The list is really creative, and you’ll likely see stuff on there that you won’t find anywhere else in the city. It’s totally worth the trek. (And its neighbor, The California Clipper, will be appearing on my cocktail list, so it’s a 2-for-1 deal!)

(Some random heffeweitzen I’d never heard of but was sooo delicious.)

That’s all for now. Go forth and drink beer! And if you find somewhere that you think is even better than these, please do let me know. I love beer. Hooray beer!

Stay tuned this weekend for my Top 5 Cocktail spots!