This is an institution everyone who likes pop and Chicago manufacturing history should visit at least once. I've stopped by here periodically to buy pop either to keep at home or as a gift for pop-loving family members. You can find Filbert's at Pete's Market and other local grocery stores, but buying right at the factory is an experience. You walk in through large delivery doors onto their warehouse floor which is truly just that. It's an industrial building and there's crates of pop stacked all over the place. The back wall has shelves with a large display of vintage beer and soda bottles. The bottling plant is in a room right next to the warehouse and you can hear it running pretty much at all times. Walk over there and you can see it running too, which is pretty cool. You can buy filled boxes or if you prefer you can grab an empty one and mix and match however you like. Eventually someone will notice you or you can wave to the foreman in the bottling plant and he will give you a price, which is a lot less than the store prices. Basically wholesale. It's cash only just hand over your money and take your crates of pop. I like all their drinks that I've tried but black cherry has always been my favorite of any brand so I tend to get that a lot. Their cola is really good too. The flavor options are almost endless here. read more

Very disappointed. We included these on our president's day gift registry and received 12 bottles. Unfortunately, they have NO TASTE whatsoever. At first, I thought that I might have COVID and had to start eating random things of both the sweet and savory varieties to prove that I still was able to taste. Also, these are made with high fructose corn syrup, so they are a double whammy of both tasteless and likely to shorten your life. On a positive note, this appears to be a family owned business, which I'm supportive of (single people should not be allowed to own businesses or property! read more

Filbert's Old Time Root Beer - a bottle of blueberry soda - Specialty Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best root beer in the world and the owners are second to none. Grew up on Filberts and it's still just as good

First of all, St. Louis elite yelper, Dennis W., contributed lots of helpful information in regard to the Filbert's Old Time Root Beer factory in McKinley Park, Chicago. Thank you for your review so that I knew what to expect about this place. The reason why I didn't visit the factory sooner was because I didn't think I would be able to carry a large case of soda or root beer home on public transportation since I CTA chauffeurs me everywhere I go. Well, you're not obligated to purchase the entire case; I bought four (4) bottles since I didn't have enough green bucks on me. The price was $0.50/12 fl. oz. bottle, so a case of twenty-four (24) bottles would be $12! I felt like an "intruder" when I went in from the loading deck off Ashland Ave. I then walked around, looking at boxes and boxes of soda and root beer, while other workers seemed careless about my presence and intent of coming here. Suddenly Mike, one of the workers at the factory, greeted me and asked if I needed help. Yes, please, because I wasn't sure what I was doing. He practically told me to open boxes if necessary to find different flavors. Obviously this "outlet store" is cash-only. I paid Mike on the spot after I made my choices. Continuing the discussion of their factory-store pricing, I don't think you can beat $0.50/bottle, even World Market charges $0.98 on their website for the same item. I guess next time I should bring my grocery cart and try to carry as much home as possible. The factory is located four (4) blocks south from the CTA Ashland Orange Line station. Walking alone during the day is totally fine. Nevertheless, the area past the plaza where Mariano's is appears quite industrial and bare. Thus it may not be as pleasant of a walk like you would encounter other parts of the city. read more

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One of the last independent soda bottling lines still in operation and the only one left in Chicago! I walked in on Saturday around 11 am the owner was there and we started talking about the good old days and he was very welcoming! There are over 30 varieties of soda and I picked up a empty box and picked out what I wanted and also bought a full case of RootBeer! 20 bucks for 36 bottles, awesome business! read more

Short and sweet, K.I.S.S. Great soda, great balance (not too sweet or overpowering). Friendly staff and GREAT value.

In case anyone has a child's party. You can even rent their Root Beer by the keg!! I was at a friends party and the kids were creating Root Beer Floats using the keg. The kids had fun with it since they have never seen one before. They also have created several new flavors such as Banana, Red Raspberry, Blueberry, Apple and more. read more

Great place to get your old time sodas, great prices. Go there for a blast from the past, go back in time for what soda was like back in the days. read more

Filberts is the best Root beer around it also comes in small kegs for parties. You need to go visit the warehouse where they bottle it. If you to the warehouse pick up a bunch of different flavor sodas. This place reminded me of Bonnie Miss 40 years ago Please pardon my miss spelling and grammar I use bark to text read more

Soda pop! Soda pop! Soda pop! Filbert's is one of the few craft soda companies left in the Midwest and have been at it for nearly 100 years. The factory doesn't look like anything but once you walk in you're in soda heaven! You can walk around and select as many bottles as you want from any of their 30 different flavors. The soda is fresh and the staff helps you if you need assistance but otherwise let you browse on your own. They're known for their rootbeer but so far my favorite was blueberry. read more

I really like this place, haven't been often because it's a bit of a hike, but they have a really good variety of flavors. Some of them are made with sugar, some are made with HFCS, at least according to the bottles. The cherry, red raspberry, peach, and lime all tasted like real sugar and were outstanding. Very friendly, they'll talk your ear off about politics, the neighborhood, whatever. read more

I get Filbert's root beer from my local market amongst a number of other beverages they make. I didnt pay attention to the fact that they were based out of Chicago until i tried Maria's ginger beer, which is a partnership between Maria's packaged goods and Filbert's. root beer, ginger beer, cream soda, black cherry. It's all really tasty and a very solid line of great beverages. 4.3 stars read more

Website says they're open 9-1 on Saturday's but when we arrived at 9:45 the place was closed. We rang, we knocked...no answer, not a soul in sight. Disappointing... read more

Filberts is a gem! We stopped in on Christmas Eve and bought 24 assorted bottles. We haven't been disappointed with any flavor. For New Years Eve, we offered flights of Filberts to partyers under 21. It was a huge hit for everyone! read more

Filbert's Old Time Root Beer - Our cat, Filbert, checking out his namesake soda! - Specialty Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

How many places can you name that still brew local pop? Besides being hands down the best root beer ever they go beyond that. I remember as a kid getting the big ass glass bottles of pop on tables at weddings so it was a treat something to look forward to. When I grew up and moved into the neighborhood and seen who was next door my mind was blown. They are great people doing things right. I don't think they have a flavor can't can't please .... If you are within a hour drive you have no excuse for not going there and stocking up. Prices are very fair and you owe it to your self, what ever you do do not leave without a case of root beer. read more

Drove by a million times. But it happened to be open today. Well the door was open cuz it's hot out. Plus I love visiting local Chicago businesses. Anyways, stopped in and bought a case of philberts root beer for $6. Not bad root beer, but I'm far from an expert on that. It taste good to me, so that's all that matters. The root beer has actual sugar, so if u like that, u will certainly enjoy this. read more

Filbert's Old Time Root Beer - Specialty Food Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was fun visiting here and Mr. Gilbert was nice enough to show us around. Great prices too. And now no more soda tax.

9$ for a 24 pack of killer local root beer. That's about 38 cents for a delicious local root beer. Why aren't you picking up a case right now? read more

This place is trip! A case of retro soda in glass bottles for $10.00! Unbelievable. Great for parties where kids are around!

These people have always been so nice to myself and my children. I love the root beer, cream soda and the strawberry. Gray prices

I am sipping a bottle of Filbert's Pineapple Soda. There is absolutely no pineapple taste in the bottle. None. Nada. The Filbert chemists to do a little more research. Rootbeer must be their forte, it sure isn't the fruit flavored drinks. read more

Best pop in the city and you can't get it cheaper or fresher anywhere in the world. Great range of flavors, my favorite being Cherry, then followed by their Cola. Worth the trip. read more

I love it here!! They were so kind and even gave us a cold sample. Also really cool to see all the old bottles on display. Can't beat the prices. read more

I myself can only drink the diet root beer. Yummy. Light cake-mix flavor. Go and see the bottler in action. Very friendly guys. read more

LOVE THE ROOT BEER!!! The video strip on archer carries root beer and other flavors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome! I love every flavor except the blueberry and banana (but I think I'm the only one.) Here's an updated video on Filbert's! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTd-OZBATsA read more

Not a fancy storefront or anything- just a great product. Good quality, great-tasting soda in glass bottles. You can mix a case between their 20+ flavors if you don't want a case of all 1 kind. $10 for 24 bottles- just can't be beat. Feels good to support a Chicago family business instead of a corporate giant, too! Only thing that I could ask for is maybe a line that costs a little more but used only sugar instead of corn syrup. read more

I went to Gertie's for lunch yesterday at 87th and Harlem and ordered a Filbert's root beer. It was to die for at the first taste. The best, bar none! read more

great little warehouse you can purchase out of! i love the ginger beer and black cherry flavors, just wish they'd do away with the high-fructose corn syrup and fake color. ugh read more

This nondescript warehouse holds so many treasures! We met one of the partners, Ron, who is super friendly (gave us a few FREE "sample" sodas) and a wealth of knowledge on anything and everything you wanted to know about root beer. You buy by the case here, and for 24 bottles at $.50 a piece, you just can't beat it. Bring cash, or you'll have to walk to someplace nearby for an ATM (there's a Dominick's down the street.) I love this place and will definitely be going back! read more

Love this gem of a place. Last year I threw my husband a surprise birthday party and because he would take root beer over beer any day of the week, I started looking for places that did root beer kegs. Other places charged upward of $75 for a small keg, but Filbert's only charged $25, plus a $100 refundable deposit. My husband raved about the taste and quality, and while I was there I picked up 2 cases of soda for myself-1 peach, 1 pineapple. SOOO GOOD!!! The guys were super friendly, helpful and grateful for my business. If it weren't so far away I'd be in every week. Whether you need a root beer keg or just some delicious soda, go to Filbert's!!! read more

Come from Kankakee to get there pop. It is that good that I drive 70 miles for it. The Cream Soda is like I had when I was a kid 50 years ago, its great as is all of there pop. read more