Qualities of a good Patio/Beer Garden

This may have already been done, but I'd like to enumerate the qualities of a good patio or beer garden experience (or bier garten if you sprechen sie Deutch). In addition, I'd like to make a list of favorite places.
I like the beer garden at Moody's Pub. I can't say much for their food or beer selection but their beer garden is big, it's sheltered from the noise of broadway, it's not a scene and it has trees and fountains. It's an all around pleasant place to hang out.
We're going to try to go to Fonda del Mar tonight if the weather passes. So I'm sure I'll add that as well.

Moody's Pub
5910 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 275-2696

curry71 wrote:I like the beer garden at Moody's Pub. I can't say much for their food or beer selection but their beer garden is big, it's sheltered from the noise of broadway, it's not a scene and it has trees and fountains. It's an all around pleasant place to hang out.

I'm sure I've made this claim many times elsewhere on the site.

With many of the same qualities, Chief O'Neills has long been my gold standard for beer gardens in town. The food could be better, but it's a great space and I love to sit out there summer evenings with a Guinness.

3471 N. Elston
Chicago
773-IRE-LAND

Best,
Michael

curry71 wrote:I can't say much for their food or beer selection

Moody's has Anchor Steam on tap. For a long time, the most interesting beer you could get was Killian's Red, but I'm happy with Anchor Steam pitchers for $11 or so.

That's a new development to me.
Thanks!

curry71 wrote:Thanks!

but of course.

my favorite biergarten (not that I'm an expert) is at Resi's Bierstube. It's smallish, but it's in back and therefore totally isolated from street noise. There are some nice trees and a generally cozy feel.

I also really like the space behind Hopleaf, but they don't have any service out there, so it's a little annoying to have to go in and fight with the bar crowd. Still, I've enjoyed the lounging back there when I've done it, no doubt because of the quality of the beer. But honestly, if I were"enumerating the qualities of a good experience", table service would be included to be sure.

Resi's Bierstube
2034 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 472-1749

Hopleaf (an LTH Great Neighborhood Restaurant)
5148 N. Clark St.
Chicago
773-334-9851

I didn't know Hopleaf had a beer garden!?!?! Cool.
Ever order the Kwak? Great stuff!
Too bad they don't have table service. Their beer and proximity to my place will always keep me coming.

It seems that quite a few places are now putting in Beer Gardens/ Patios at the rear of their establishments. I can only assume that this is partially due to the non-smoking law which allows smoking on patios as long as they are 15' from the door.

eatchicago wrote:

curry71 wrote:I like the beer garden at Moody's Pub. I can't say much for their food or beer selection but their beer garden is big, it's sheltered from the noise of broadway, it's not a scene and it has trees and fountains. It's an all around pleasant place to hang out.

I'm sure I've made this claim many times elsewhere on the site.

With many of the same qualities, Chief O'Neills has long been my gold standard for beer gardens in town. The food could be better, but it's a great space and I love to sit out there summer evenings with a Guinness.

3471 N. Elston
Chicago
773-IRE-LAND

Best,
Michael

I never cared much for Chief O'Neil's biergarten. It feels like you're in somebody's back yard, complete with the grass surface and the ability to look into the windows of the next-door neighbor. Plus those stupid little evergreen shrubs are wholly inadequate to shield it from the traffic noise on Elston. I like something a little more isolated/enclosed. Moody's is the best example in the city that I can think of. I also like the one at Resi's Bierstube, though it's pretty small. My favorite of all time though is the Great Dane brewpub in downtown Madison:

^^^ That just got me extremely nostalgic for my post-college year in Madison when I'd drink at the Great Dane about once a week. Greatest. Brewpub. EVER

Sheffield's has a great beer garden. I think the presence of large, old shade trees is what makes the critical difference. That is the same reason the back patio at Ten Cat works - one big tree that shades everything.

Sheffield's
3258 N. Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
(773) 281-4989

Ten Cat Tavern
3931 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 935-5377

schenked wrote:Sheffield's has a great beer garden. I think the presence of large, old shade trees is what makes the critical difference. That is the same reason the back patio at Ten Cat works - one big tree that shades everything.

Yeah, shade trees and complete enclosure; not just physically ala the iron fence at Kuma's Corner, but visually as well so that the biergarten is its own self-contained world away from everything else around it.