GoodTimes Brewery, Chicago

Welcome to stop #131 on the Brews and Choos project.

Brewery: GoodTimes Brewery, 3827 N Broadway, Chicago
Train line: CTA Red Line, Sheridan
Time from Chicago: 20 minutes
Distance from station: 500 m

Metropolitan Brewing closed in November 2023, just a few months after brewmaster Raybird Gonzalez decided to found his own brewery. The Smylie Brothers flame-out freed up a turnkey brewing facility right at the north end of Boystown, which he grabbed. The new owners didn't change the interior dramatically, though they did remove some TVs and create a more inviting foyer.

Also, the beer got a lot better.

Because Friday was still really too hot for its own good, I didn't feel like having a lot of beer, so I only tried one small pour for myself and I tasted my Brews & Choos Buddy's selection. The Dynomite! IPA (6.5%) wasn't bad at all: crisp, refreshing, with a balanced bitterness/malt/hop profile I enjoyed. The Primitive Love hazy IPA (6.2%) was a decent, juicy hazy, with a long orange finish, though a little sweet for my palate. (My buddy found it sweet as well, but balanced by the hops, and not overly strong.)

I did not try the food, though my buddy has had their pizza and pronounced it acceptable. As she is very particular about pizza, I would take this as a solid endorsement.

It's not really the vibe I seek out for chillaxing on a lazy afternoon, but it's a good addition to the neighborhood. I expect I'll go back—particularly in the winter when I don't feel it insults nature by spending time inside.

Beer garden? No
Dogs OK? No
Televisions? Yes, avoidable
Serves food? Full pub menu
Would hang out with a book? No
Would hang out with friends? Yes
Would go back? Yes