Best of Great Lakes

Daisy Cutter pale ale defines Chicago craft. The original Lincoln Avenue location is small but essential; the Bowmanville production facility has the bigger taproom.

Logan Square distillery-and-brewery with strong barrel-aged stouts and a clean IPA program. Charlatan IPA is a Chicago hazy benchmark.

John Laffler and Dave Bleitner's program focused on lost styles — Gose, Berliner Weisse, gratzer, traditional fermentation. The Mousetrap taproom is a beer-geek destination.

Logan Square production brewery with one of the most adventurous IPA programs in the Midwest. Heavy can-art focus and a serious hazy IPA rotation.

Chicago's largest independent. Anti-Hero is a Midwest IPA staple; the Deep Wood barrel-aged stout series is chase-tier annually.

Milwaukee's modern hazy IPA flagship. Clean West Coast IPAs and an excellent fruited sour program in a converted warehouse.

Milwaukee's most recognizable craft brewery. Riverside location, fish fry, and a beer hall that defines Wisconsin hospitality.

Chicago-area NEIPA cult favorite. Tight release schedule, fresh-focused, worth the drive from the city for the hazy IPA chase.

One of the Midwest's most respected hazy IPA specialists. Frequent collaborations and limited drops that move fast. The new Darien taproom is worth the trip.

Wisconsin-only distribution. Spotted Cow is the state mascot beer; the Belgian-inspired Wild Sour Series is genuinely world-class. The hilltop hex-shaped brewery is a destination.

Madison's most versatile brewery. Fantasy Factory IPA is a Wisconsin staple; the small-batch program covers everything from imperial stouts to clean lagers.

Bell's may have sold to macro but the Kalamazoo Eccentric Cafe and General Store remain destination stops for the wider Michigan craft scene with strong rotating drafts.

Farmhouse brewery on a 5-acre property at the edge of Shawnee National Forest. Beers brewed with foraged ingredients — wild carrot, sassafras, hickory, paw paw, basil from their own garden. NYT named them one of the 22 best US pizza spots. James Beard nominated 2020 for Outstanding Beer/Wine/Spirits Producer. Cash only, no cell service. A genuine destination — 2 hours from St. Louis, 6 from Chicago. The Outside-magazine top-4-foraged-beer pick.