Really nice combination of dive bar and haut beer destination. There's dirty hipsters and vested finance bros in the same place, and the best part is they seem fine enjoying each others company. Right on. Actually the best part is the beer selection. There are some very choice finds that all the untappd and beer advocate faithful are seeking out. I was pleased and then some, even getting some nice recs from the bartender based on some newer brewery offerings and my taste profile. The place was easy to get in and find a good spot on a Tuesday night at prime time. Easy to order, easy to settle up. Did I say it was easy?! Some Tool was playing when I drank my stout. Appropriate. Other 90s nu metal and grunge followed. The free popcorn wasn't bad either. Prices are appropriate depending upon the beer you get. I shall return! read more

Clark Street Ale House - Spooky Halloween vibes - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is THE spot. Free unlimited popcorn say less, I'll be there. The staff is friendly and welcoming, the place gives local bar/tavern energy and is stocked with an ample selection of adult beverages. Highly recommend and will be back. read more

Clark Street Ale House - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We stopped in on a 70F March evening to soak up as much sun and fresh air as possible! This was a cute spot, but the outdoor patio area I the back is what truly makes the space. The interior is dark and moody, which might be nice for a different type of day! They have a large section of drinks, especially if you're a beer person. There is also free, self-serve popcorn. The patio is dog-friendly but it's not gigantic so maybe not the best place if your dog gets worked up around other dogs. We also thought we came within happy hour but our drinks were full price so they may not have been included, there aren't many details about happy hour posted and I didn't want to bother the poor bartender too much since she was running the show solo! Security at the door must've been on break for a bit because she also had to check IDs at the doors on top of bartending while we were leaving. It was definitely busy and they would've benefited from more staff. Overall really enjoyed it and would definitely come back for nice weather! read more

Clark Street Ale House - Kombucha; Blake's Cider - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love Clark Street Ale House! Classic Chicago pub, and free popcorn! Good beer and good people. Never a miss.

Had my first date with my wife here 25 years ago. At least this was part one of my three part dating strategy then. Went here for the beer flights, it allowed for conversation and each person had an easy exit after finishing the five little beer tastes. Off to sushi was part 2 because while Clark St. showed we could click talking I was looking for someone non vanilla food wise. Then at the time we finished at the 3rd coast wine bar down the street on rush street(gone now). This was while Daley was in charge and 9/11 had hit and the city was beautiful, almost no gatherings of homeless, just the regulars. The viagra triangle was in full steam. Maggie had beautified the city with plants and flowers. It was such a good first date I left her a message afterwards telling her so, so she could get it when she got home. read more

Service was terrible the owner messed up our bill and overcharged us and refused to reconcile the check, waiter was creepy to me and my friends, bouncer was too busy smoking to allow us entry would not visit again read more

Where to begin. First, the TV's all went out about 5 minutes after we got there. (Wifi-streaming, boo!) When we finally left 40 minutes later, the bartenders were just starting to work on them. Did I mention that that Cubs and Sox were both playing and that it was game 4 of the NBA Finals?? What kind of a Chicago bar allows that to happen?? Next, I ordered a Tito's/Soda and asked for an orange (don't knock it until you've tried it!). The bartender told me that they only had lemons and limes. As I'm going back to my table, I see a basket of fruit on the bar that clearly had oranges. I go back and say "there are oranges in that basket". She replies "those are whole oranges". I said, "well, give me a knife and I'll cut them myself"! She gives me a very snooty look and says, "well, I'm not giving you a knife, but I'll cut them for you", like it's such an imposition! Mind you, this bar is far from crowded, let alone slammed, like a decent Chicago bar should be on a sports night like this. I was floored by the lack of care and concern from a bar on Clark Street. I've been coming home to Chicago for 40 years and wanted to treat my boyfriend to a good old Chicago sports bar. Needless to say, I'll never go back there. Sad, sad, sad! read more

This place is fantastic, but the mismanagement of TouchTunes is absolutely criminal. 15/18 songs are by the same horrible artist. The person who selected and spent $200+ on these songs should be banned from every bar for eternity. The bar needs to figure out their internal controls and enhance other measures to prevent additional negligence. read more

Like your favorite dive bar with cleaner floors/bathrooms. Stopped by after a show, my friend was able to bring her dog which was a huge plus. Good beer & cider selection, free popcorn (which we demolished), and the staff (security and bar) were fantastic--friendly and helpful, like we'd been regulars for years. I only wish I lived closer by so I could visit more often! read more

I finally stopped by here last weekend. I'll often pop by Centennial Gastropub/Beer Bar on the other parallel of the block, but this was my first time coming here. Fair prices and nice pours on the whiskey from knowledgeable staff. It's a true bar that has no kitchen but has links to neighboring restaurants for food that can be ordered in. For sure a bit more touristy than some of the places I'd normally go in this area, but that said it's been around for a long time based on its great selection and service. I appreciated the long bar and that tax was already included in the bill and there were no garbage credit card or service fees. I will be back. read more

Straight up drinks with an old school feel. Not sure if this is the norm, but when we were there, there were a lot of "I just turned 21 IPA drinkers". Now that I'm thinking about it, this bar must be full of younger people because there was a "bouncer" ID checker at the door. Solid pours, decent bartender service, lots of options in regards to beer and whiskey. Would for sure visit again for a lowkey beverage in an off time (aka mid day). This bar is also extremely dog friendly - 3 dogs total were inside the bar hanging out with their owners. Bar doesn't serve food - people did bring in take out - so I'm not sure if this is why. At the end of the day, all owners were respectful and the dogs behaved. read more

Clark Street Ale House - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love walking around Chicago when I'm home for the summer. On this visit I had my dog Zeke with me. This taphouse showed up in a Google search for "dog friendly" so I walked a half-mile north from the riverwalk to refresh for an hour of walking. I walked in on a Monday with a few people behind the counter. The friendly bar tender quickly came around to give my dog a water bowl without me asking for one. I sat at the counter and tried two Chicago-brewed wheat beers. There were plenty of beer on tap and many more bottled. A Korean taco shop is next door. There is also a biergarten in the back for larger groups. The interior is heavy on dark wood, like many old taverns, and is long and narrow. Excellent customer service. I paid $16 just for two pints of beer, which is typical for Chicago. read more

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I came to Chicago on a rare business trip and discovered Clark Street Ale House when I was looking for a wind down spot with a quality selection of craft beer and whiskies. Not only did I find the laid back atmosphere I was looking for, but I met staff and patrons that made me feel like it was a watering hole I'd been frequenting for years. Thanks to all the new friends I made. I can't wait to come back. read more

We had our wedding after party here and they were absolutely amazing. Free drinks for me (though strangely enough not for my husband! Lol) the whole night, and plenty of deals thrown in for our guests, too! They have a beautiful beer garden out back, and it was super fun to kick back and enjoy the fresh air. This place isn't pretentious by any means, which just adds that much more to the overall appeal. Such a chill spot in the middle of all the hustle and bustle! My husband and I just went back on our 1 month anniversary and had a blast reliving the memories. Highly recommend. read more

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A casual place to grab a beer at the end of the night. Clean and well spaced out and the staff was amazing in seating us quick and talking over the menu and their recommendations. Good atmosphere and music and a variety of drafts. We stumbled upon it and was so glad! A great way to end our night. read more

Clark Street Ale House - Inside - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I visited Clark street Ale the first week of March 2020, before the lock downs started. Was mostly following my colleagues along in search of the best place offering a variety of different beers. This place definitely hit the spot! Our group had a wide range of beer aficionados from the novice( me) to the demanding( my 5 colleagues). We got there around 8pm and surprisingly there were not a ton of people though it was a weekday. We were seated right away and got our beers very quickly( I think it took our group longer to decide what each person wanted then it took to receive our order); fast efficient service was had! The look of the bar, old style dark wood paneling, added to an awesome atmosphere to drink and be merry! Ah, the good old days, LOL! read more

Chill spot to grab a drink. Rarely over crowded and bar staff is always friendly and accommodating. No food menu but does have a free popcorn machine and pretzels. Dog friendly with a spacious back patio. Beer and whiskey selection is quality! read more

Clark Street Ale House - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My only regret is that I hadn't gone sooner. Thanks, right at the top, to Tony at Centennial for setting me straight and bringing me and the wife to the Ale House to close out a fun evening. While there may only be a few weeks left to enjoy it, the beer garden out back is a great hang. Very cool vibe, safety measures in place, and friendly staff. This is a no frills bar in the best possible way, I guess you might call it an "industry bar." A solid craft beer list, and for me, an even better scotch and whiskey list. Sure, there are other spots in the city that might have your highest of the high end bourbons and whiskeys at crazy prices, but you can get some really solid stuff here, at reasonable prices, that you won't always find. I really enjoyed the Glenlivet Nadurra White Oak Cask Stength scotch, nice and smooth and a perfect compliment to a great evening out back. read more

I love Clark Street Ale House all year round for allowing dogs inside but I especially love their patio. They have a great selection of rotating taps, touch tunes, sports, a good crowd. Favorite chicago bar for sure. read more

Clark Street Ale House - Patio, beer - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great casual neighborhood bar in a swarm of upscale, boujee for no reason spots. Great outdoor, patio space. POPCORN. & they allow dogs. Need I say more?! read more

I passed by this bar a lot of times. In summer days they opened the windows and beautiful flowers were hanging outside.people love drink here because they really offer kinds of beers. In winter, Watching football and have a beer with friends here seems the best way to enjoy weekends! You can also bring your dog here! He or she will have a wonderful time and make friends here. read more

Clark Street Ale House - Zambia beer always win lol - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came to Clark Street Ale House for a meet & greet for my cousins wedding. At first I didn't like the concept of having dogs at a bar. I didn't encounter any dogs there while visiting, so all was good!! I love the selection of beers on draft and bottle. I love nice neighborhood bars. I will definitely come back if I'm in the area. read more

Clark Street Ale House - Cheers - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Never gets old. Love the popcorn. Love the vibe. Love the locations i've actually been meaning to write this review for a while! Can't wait to pop back in. read more

This place sucks. Half the time they don't give youba full pint even n though they list the amount on their menu as 16 oz. Music is way to loud and garbage top 40s. They painted over the incredible mural they had on the back wall with some airbrush3d garbage. Fills up with yuppies on the weekends. Had the worst IPA I've ever had, I told the bartender about it, he took it away and still charged me for. Garbage bar for a garbage neighborhood. read more

This is a wonderful DOG-friendly place! Even though I am not as lucky to own my own pup, I love coming here and cuddling with other's people pooches. However, since there is always at least one dog at the bar, make sure you do not bring your not dog-friendly grumpy friends here because they would not be happy that some dogs walk around off leash and get curious to sniff around and ask for extra love from anyone they like... Like I said, leave the grumpy not dog friendly fellas at home and you come to enjoy amazing beers and nice laid back bar atmosphere. The beer selection is awesome. Seriously. I am a huge beer fan (kinda goes without saying by being born in the Czech Republic) and here they have so many great draft beers (I always prefer fresh opposed to bottled or canned) to choose from that you do not even have to check out their bottle beers selection which by the way, it is pretty impressive too! They have a popcorn to snack on available for anyone who did not just come for the booze. The ambiance is great and the service was excellent, too. I have only visited twice but for sure coming back soon. Cheers! read more

Clark Street Ale House - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you're looking for a place to have drinks and be safe in the world of COVID, this place has the correct practices in place! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

Great spot to grab a drink! The back patio is really great, nice lighting and flowers, and the inside has TV's and plenty of seating. The indoor is more dark wood paneling and not many windows, but outside is perfect for the summer! Lots of drink options as well! read more

Every time my husband and I come to Chicago we stop in and have a couple drinks before checking into our hotel. The ambiance is fun and welcoming. There are even cute little candles on the tables, such a nice simple touch. Their whisky sours are delicious! Ps. They have popcorn! read more

Clark Street Ale House - a red glass candle holder on a wooden table - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great neighborhood bar with the nicest people working. Loved the complimentary food spread for the Super Bowl.

Horrible service. Two bartenders wouldn't attend us and was not busy until we called them for the fifth time and said WHAT lol read more

Clark Street Ale House - the bar and televisions - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here to check out their beer collection. They have whiskeys and other fine liquors as well. Parking is available on the street. The inside is quite dim, and there's a bouncer as well. Friendly guy. The bar is your typical "converted warehouse", with the brick walls and dark interior. Their beer selection is quite impressive, though not everything is local per se. There are many craft beers, but many of them are from out of state. You can do a sampler which consists of 3 different beers. The waitress also brought us these pretzel sticks. They're nice and giant, but they are the driest ones I've ever had in my life. It's like they actually suck the moisture straight out of your mouth. I challenge someone to eat one of these in under a minute without drinking anything. It's really nice to see places like this. Left a really good impression of the city in my books. read more

Alcohol, popcorn, and dogs- what more could you ask for? Seriously, it is such a great concept, and I wish I came here more often! The popcorn is so tasty, and the beer list extensive. The crowds are even more fun and happy because who wouldn't be with all the pups around? Great service and location as well. read more

Cute vibe and it was all decorated for Christmas but I was literally the only girl in there

Dog-friendly INSIDE. Great list of craft beers and whiskey. They do not serve food, but you can order or bring over some korean tacos from next door's Seoul Taco. read more

Clark Street Ale House - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dog friendly bar that also lets you deliver food their as they don't have a kitchen. Great patio in the back to relax and for dogs. Complimentary popcorn. Yale Reardon highly recommends coming here. read more

Clark Street Ale House - Penny pickles at Clark street ale house - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped it ONLY Bc my name is Clark. This place rocks. Awesome spot. AmazIng beers and exquisite whiskey selection ! read more

Clark Street Ale House - I got the LAST hat/merchandise they had left to sell :) - Beer Gardens Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a fun place! Stopped in to watch some football, munch some popcorn, and enjoy a couple of tasty drinks. Bartender was attentive, patient with my wife testing out a few beers, and friendly. Someone brought in a dog, and he brought them their drinks, along with water for the pup. Games were fun to watch on the television and the vibe was neat. read more

This bar has recently been added to my list of go-tos. It's the perfect level of relaxed and casual without being too much like a smelly dive bar. They allow food to be brought in and even provide free, unlimited popcorn. The beer list is expansive and there's always something for everyone. I'm looking forward to checking out the beer garden this summer! read more

There is no Kitchen. Idk where you all got the idea we have food, there is none. We have complimentary popcorn and that's it. You can bring in food or order delivery. read more

Maybe I, too, went on an off night when service was just shorthanded and meticulously slow. Okay, it was July 4th and one detail-oriented bartender was tending bar and many bars on the street were closed due to the 4th. Still, waiting at the bar I never once got the "hey, bud, I'll be with you right after this gal" bit. In fact, chatting with another waiting customer, the barback who had previously been ignoring us and supposedly was just a barback, took a drink order from some pushy trader-type behind us! huhWHat? When did Clark "Barback" Kent become "Super Bartender", and why did he choose to wait on trader guy after ignoring us for twenty minutes? Impossible to get a drink, then the Martini special for the night was "out". No biggie, I can let it go without questioning it. The beer list is not that impressive for an ale house though. Your standard Matildas, Dogfishes, and Allagash Whites amongst the Usual Suspects. I was really hoping for a nice ending to our 4th of July celebratin', but Clark Street did not deliver. read more