This content was originally published by The Hop Review, a digital magazine that joined the Hop Culture family in March 2020.
This piece was written by Nick Costa.
CHICAGOLAND
2019 Chicago Brewery Bracket
”Final 4”
Four rounds of our Readers’ Choice Chicago Brewery Bracket are wrapped, and more than 150,000 votes have been cast… And we are down to four coveted spots, with a set Chicago brewery “Final 4”. One North Side favorite has prevailed, and will battle it out against one trendy suburban brewery. On the South Side, the #BattleforBeverly decided a winner by a slight margin, who will line up against another trendy-style-favorite from the West. Now, who’ll make it to the ‘ship?
Vote for your favorite breweries below, and we will tally the votes to select the Top 2 who’ll compete for the championship.
Voting concludes Thursday, 4/4 at 5:00pm CST.NORTH VS. SUBURBS
(1) Half Acre Beer Co. vs. (5) Hop Butcher For The World
North Side darlings, Half Acre, made a return to the bracket’s Final 4 for the first time since our inaugural bracket back in 2016, by overpowering LaGrow, DryHop, Spiteful and Corridor to get here. They will show down with former Bowmanville neighbors–turned-suburbanites, Hop Butcher. Both produce some of Chicagoland’s most unique and sought after beers. This should be a good one…
SOUTH VS. WEST
(8) Open Outcry Brewing Co. vs. (4) Maplewood Brewery & Distillery
The South versus West showdown pits two loyal fan bases against each other. Open Outcry–after just missing the Final 4 last year–won the “Battle for Beverly” against neighbors (and 2016 Champs) Horse Thief Hollow. ‘OO’’s patrons have come out in droves to get the votes in. They will have another tough matchup against fellow acclaimed brewpub/lounge, in Logan Square’s Maplewood. Which of the two nearly-always-packed taprooms will make it to the finals…?
These polls are now closed.
Thanks for voting!
*One vote, per email, per day. Duplicate & false emails will be removed.
For a PDF of the bracket, please click here.
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