Pilot Project Wrigleyville, Chicago

Welcome to stop #133 on the Brews and Choos project.

Brewery: Pilot Project Brewing, 3473 N Clark, Chicago
Train line: CTA Red Line, Addison
Time from Chicago: 18 minutes
Distance from station: 450 m

Even though Pilot Project doesn't actually brew beer at their new Wrigleyville location, thus technically not being eligible for the Brews & Choos list, I liked the place enough and found it a little oasis in the maelstrom surrounding Wrigley Field, so I'm overruling my own rules. It helped that my Brews Buddy and I had just come up from the Guinness Brew Pub Experience in Fulton Market so were ready for interesting beer and a less-corporatized environment. It also helped that the Boston terrier at the next table kept making googly eyes at me. (Of course, Boston terriers don't really have any other kind of eyes, but I digress.)

Pilot Project, like District Brew Yards, operates as a contract brewery for startup breweries. As such, they don't really do flights, and some of the beers they produce only come in cans. Consequently my Brews Buddy and I only tried one beer each. The Brewer's Kitchen Two Falls New England IPA (6.5%) looked and tasted more like a hazy, but hoppier. My buddy also liked the lack of dank notes and the almost-spiciness of the beer. (Only on checking links for this review did I remember (a) Brewer's Kitchen is Pilot Project's own brand, and (b) we already tried the Two Falls Hazy when we visited the Logan Square taproom last November.)

We also tried the Cerveceria Paracaidista Zicatela Sunset American IPA (5.6%), a cool IPA with crisp hops and a clean finish we both would drink again.

We'll be back, just not on one of the 81 days a year when the Cubs are in town. They also have a chill cocktail lounge in the basement that might have sufficient remove from Clark Street to enjoy after dinner nearby. I expect we'll be back.

Beer garden? Yes
Dogs OK? Outside only
Televisions? Yes, avoidable
Serves food? Full menu
Would hang out with a book? Maybe
Would hang out with friends? Yes
Would go back? Yes