Microbrews by the bottle/mix & match 6 packs near Evanston?

I'll be staying in Evanston in early October for a few days. I always like to grab a nice mix and match 6 pack of microbrews for my hotel room whever I travel, preferably local ones (Metropolitan, Two Brothers, etc). So I was wondering if there were any liquor stores that sold mircrobrews by the bottle or mixed 6 pack in or near Evanston.

eatwisconsin wrote:I'll be staying in Evanston in early October for a few days. I always like to grab a nice mix and match 6 pack of microbrews for my hotel room whever I travel, preferably local ones (Metropolitan, Two Brothers, etc). So I was wondering if there were any liquor stores that sold mircrobrews by the bottle or mixed 6 pack in or near Evanston.

Whole Foods is the first thing that came to mind, but I can't say I've bought beer at WF in a long time.

I think the Cost Plus World Market next door to the Century theater in Evanston will let you do a mixed 6 pack. I dont think that Evanston First Liquors lets you do it, but they do offer 2-packs (taped together singles) of several of the big bottles of German beers, mostly Weiss. Stupid Evanston liquor laws!

Not sure how long you have been away from the area, but a couple more beer-thoughts. You cant break up the 4-packs, but I highly recommend you try some Half Acre beers, they are brewed just a few miles away in Lincoln Square and are available in E-Town. Their Daisy Cutter pale ale is amazing. Also, I recommend stopping by Prairie Moon restaurant in Evanston for a really great beer selection, tons of rare bottles and about 16 or so beers on tap and hand pull. Food aint bad either.

Lastly, you may not be aware that a new spirits distillery opened in Evanston (of all places!). It is called FEW Spirits and is in an old garage behind and just north of the big modern apt building near the intersection of Main-Chicago on the west side of the street.

The GP wrote:Whole Foods is the first thing that came to mind, but I can't say I've bought beer at WF in a long time.

I've been getting the "Party Packs" at the Whole Foods Lincoln Park location lately, I'm sure they have them at other locations as well. It's an 8 pack containing a random selection of beers, usually micro-brews but sometimes one or two macros thrown in as well (Corona, Pabst, etc...). I believe they also have a selection of beer by the bottle if you're not a fan of randomness. Lat time I was at Strack and Van Til on Elston I noticed that they had a selection of bottles you can mix and match for your own six-pack, but I don't recall what was available at the time (Goose Island was definitely there through).

As others have said, I don't think Evanston First allows you to put together a custom six-pack. However, they have upgraded their beer program in the last six months or so, and they have a nice selection of 8- and 12- variety packs. (Admittedly not local, but I love the Flying Dog Alpha Collection 12-pack, which, among other things, is the only way you can get your hands on their Imperial Simcoe IPA - 97 on Ratebeer.) They'll usually have cold variety packs in back, but you have to ask for them.

champs2005 wrote:Lastly, you may not be aware that a new spirits distillery opened in Evanston (of all places!). It is called FEW Spirits and is in an old garage behind and just north of the big modern apt building near the intersection of Main-Chicago on the west side of the street.

I am going there for a conference and there is a tour of all of these Evanston food/beverage projects including this place, a backyard chicken coop, Now We’re Cookin’ kitchens, and Hummingbird mobile food truck. It also includes discussions with the entrepreneurs that were instrumental in making these places.

Unfortunately it conflicts with anothe session that I have to attend so I cannot go on the tour. I might have to stop by the tasting room though.

That tour sounds great. Mind if I ask, is it part of your conference, or is the tour open to the public?

champs2005 wrote:That tour sounds great. Mind if I ask, is it part of your conference, or is the tour open to the public?

Its an Urban Planning conference and this is part of a tour for conference attendees only. I really wanted to go because I think that this trend of backyard chicken coops, urban farming, small batch distilleries and microbreweries and food trucks are going to continue to flourish and its something that City Planners aren't really used to dealing with.

Just back from Evanston First - they are selling single bottles now. The only caveat is the total purchase has to be at least 40 oz. of beer.

sounds like a great conference

you probably already know this but there is a restaurant in rogers park not too far south of Evanston that has a huge rooftop farm certified organic. Uncommon Ground. Website below. They have an outstanding tap beer list. Very good food, surprisingly meat-centric, lots of farm to table stuff. I think they have tours of the rooftop farm on Fridays and live music. Really cool place.
http://www.uncommonground.com/pages/devon_home/35.php