I was recently at Off Color brewing for a small group dinner meeting. We had a table reserved for us in the back. Food was ordered ahead of time with a tab started for our drinks. Ordering was quick and they had I a variety of beers and drinks to choose from. The music was a wee bit too loud for our convos, but we only talked louder to make it work. I can imagine coming back when it's warmer with a more smaller intimate group. read more

See all

Recall 6 weeks ago when I descended upon the city for Billy Corgan and my brother picked me up from the airport in rush hour? Yes well this was our first stop - well actually our second stop since we cleaned out the Whole Foods hot bar next door to enjoy with our beer. My brother loves this place and easy to see why - great vibes, nice selection, and super friendly staff. I got the Beer for Crispy Pizza. I love anything with notes of pine because it tastes like Christmas trees. My brother got something dark and portery/barrel aged. Highlights: -great beer -amazing flags (check pic) -comfortable seating -I got a free sticker read more

See all

I've passed this bar hundreds of times while in the area and hadn't try it until now. Definitely not what I was expecting. The ambiance is nice and almost classy while still looking modern and cool! On tap menu is on the far wall but they also have paper menus. Lots of bar and table seating. What caught my eye was the Good Things Vending machine which sold local artists goods and crafts and I love that so much. We got the Cranberry Fox in the Snow (8.4%) 8oz and it was like a mix between a sour and a stout to me- and then we also got Plant Club (6.2%) 13oz and that was nice and refreshing too. We had to kind of just drink it and go because we had to catch a show, but we can't wait to go back! read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such an enjoyable brewery! Located in a busy spot on Kingsbury in Lincoln Park, this place is easy to get to and enjoy if you're shopping in the neighborhood. The brewpub is spacious with lots of variety if you're not sure what you're looking for. 'Beer for (insert activity here)' are always my favorite and live up to what you would be want to be drinking doing that activity (derbies, baseball, etc). On my last visit they had 5 squared pizza as a pop-up and it was a perfect accompaniment to the beers I tried. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Beer for Derbies - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I haven't been here in years, and this last visit really impressed me. I don't drink beer, which is why I don't normally go to breweries. Last time I was here, they only served beer and absolutely nothing else. Now they have cocktails, and they even made their own hard iced tea which was actually really good! There is plenty of seating both inside and outside, even on a busy weekend. They don't serve their own food; however, they host food pop ups! We happened to catch one doing Detroit style pizza that was SO GOOD! You could choose up to 4 different slices to make up one pizza. This sounds small, it is NOT small. The slices are huge and I didn't even finish one. While I do not drink beer, my friend that I was with said the beer is really good. Definitely a cute place to check out! The Wild Mile is right nearby as well if you want to make a little day of it. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - pizza from pop up - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Love this place. A wonderful patio. Fridays they have Detroit pizza that you HAVE to get if you're able to. They sell Si Fang, which is the beer they made for QXY in Chinatown. It's also a must-try. I'd go here every day if going to a brewery every day was socially acceptable. Sigh. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Si fang! - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

A good selection of beers and hard liquor are available. Seating is great a lot of areas to sit and board games available. Bathrooms are clean. Service was hit or miss. Some of the staff were very nice and kind while others were drinking heavily and becoming rude as the night went on. Would try again but cautiously. read more

Really excellent beers, loved the Pistachio Cream Ale.we sat in the back deck but they also have a patio area on the front. They have very limited parking on the side of the building. The back is marked for another business. We used a Spot hero & parked in a nearby garage. We really enjoyed the brewery & the indoors looks nice too. read more

See all

Popped in to this place toward the end of my trip to Chicago. A quick walk from the rail line, and a fun neighborhood to explore. I'd read great reviews when looking for brewery suggestions online, and they did NOT disappoint. First off, I really appreciate the creativity and variety of their offerings. Really fun styles and flavors and variety. I was disappointed that I couldn't get a flight, but had a few 8oz pours to sample several things. I enjoyed the place so much that I stopped in again the next day (my final day in town). Easily one of my favorite breweries anywhere. As a Portland resident, that's high praise. They're just doing amazing work and I love that they're not relying on IPA's the same way everyone else seems to do these days. Loved the beer, the service was great, and I like that even though they don't offer food, they encourage people to bring food with them - and have a games shelf for people to play while they sip in the cozy taproom. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've tried quite a few Off Color brews, but this trip to the windy city was my first time getting to go to their tap room! They had am amazing selection of drafts and cans, and it was so hard to pick what to drink! Luckily, my partner was willing to share a few with me so we could try a variety. Of course, their double dino smores stood out to me! The space is pretty big and you can bring your own food. I appreciated that they had a selection of games, and their entertainment vending machine was a fun touch as well! read more

You can find Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap at 1460 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642 - I believe this area is called "Near North Side" - it's a bit industrial/commercial and to the east of Goose Island. There appears to be plenty of parking (but I ubered there so could be wrong). I was looking for breweries to visit between the end of a conference and my flight out of O'Hare - I didn't really have enough time to visit too many and really focus on the larger breweries like Revolution or Goose Island, so ended up first at the Mousetrap - funny the taproom tender asked if they were my first stop off a flight and I told them no, was actually headed to O'Hare. I had hoped to find some food here but the foodtruck was still a ways out so only did some sampling of beer - some friends had recommended the lambic (actually wild ale in the US) so I started there and moved my way through some of the menu: * Apex Predator - Farmhouse Ale 6.5% ABV - Fruity nose with hints of sweet citrus, fairly light bodied with beautiful lacing. Finished dry with a bit if hops. 4/5 * Sunrise in Osaka Wild Ale 6.5% ABV - Sweet citrus lime, more tart than sweet. Light boxed, very crisp with a dry finish - maybe a touch tea leaf. 4/5 * All Whiskers Turn Grey Wild Ale 7.2% ABV - Dominant notes of cinnamon coated plumb, hits of cherry and quaffs of fruit - more tart than sweet, acidic dry finish with enough funk to keep things interesting. 4.5/5 * Aqua Regia Barleywine - English 9% ABV - Spiced orange peel, fruit esters with ginger and other winter dessert aromatics, fairly dry body and lingering finish. Sweet nose but this is not a sweet barleywine. 4.2/5 * Double Stuffed Dino S'mores Imperial Stout 12% ABV - Creamy vanilla sweet stout, rich dark chocolate notes, enough bitterness to the finish to balance things well. I liked this a lot. Finished marshmallow. 4.2/5 In all I really enjoyed this place - I could tell immediately that it was filled with beer nerds with great conversation with the staff who offered up recommendations to those that were a bit clueless (young college types looking for Natties). Service was awesome - I'm definitely coming back. read more

See all

I visited twice within a few days with a group and left with the same impression both times: the customer service felt unnecessarily dismissive and condescending. On both visits, I interacted with older, bearded bartenders who seemed annoyed by basic questions and uninterested in engaging with customers. What stood out wasn't any particular policy or drink selection--it was the tone. The interactions consistently felt more like being judged than being served. Maybe this is a difference in brewery culture from what I'm used to, but the breweries I've visited in Washington are typically happy to answer questions about what they're brewing and make customers feel welcome. The contrast here was striking. For me, as a woman, being met with blank stares and smirks (these guys didn't smile once), condescending commentary and tone, made me feel unwelcome and uncomfortable enough that I would not choose to visit alone. I'm grateful I was in a large group. The space itself seems geared toward groups and has a lot of potential, but customer service matters. Based on my experiences, I won't be returning. read more

Solid choice in the Chicago brewery scene. Grab a beer and outside for some nice scenery during the warm months. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great beer and space. Service was good as well. Had a pop up pizza when I was there which was a nice touch. Beer menu was diverse with a lot of styles to choose from read more

See all

Great beer and wonderful service. I didn't bring my charger and Stan the brew tender offered me to use his! Very important when you are thirsty but still need to grocery shop and get an Uber home !! Grateful! read more

I loved this brewery. We stumbled upon it when wandering close to the River. Spacious inside and out. Their beer menu is adventurous, so it's worth discussing choices with the staff. I loved everything that I tried there. The beer is excellent - but the art is also fantastic. My sister and I walked out loaded down with merch! My only disappointment is that I don't live close enough to visit regularly. One thing I saw later was that they offer tours at a reasonable price that includes samples and a glass. I plan to be back! read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I've been to Off Color multiple times, which should tell you something. The space is amazing, with both indoor and outdoor seating in the front and the back, by the river. While no food is offered in house, there is a pizza vendor here in Thursday's and that is awesome (separate review for that). The beers here are the star of the show of course. Most are low ABV and approachable. They do a ton of sours and farmhouse beers that are really good. But if that isn't your cup of tea, then you'll find at least a couple of others that work for you. Okay, no? Well, fine - they have a full bar so you can definitely get something you like. Hang out since if you wish, but if the weather is good, go out front, or even better, out back by the river (beware the biting bugs in the summer). Great staff, great beers, great environment, but bring your own food. read more

It's hard to find a brewery that's still slinging out good sours and funky brews these days. Off Color really hit the spot! I got to try the Boysenberry Fox (an aged wild with boysenberries & blackberries), and it was exactly what I look for in a sour - tart, tart, and more tart. The outdoor patio in the front was lovely, and dog friendly. It was shaded in the afternoon so not the warmest, but I can see that being a nice reprieve from the sun in the dead of summer. They have a pizza pop-up there Thu/Fri/Sat, I was there during those hours but didn't see any pizza so I wonder if they sell out early. Either way, the place is bring-your-own-food which is always nice! The indoor area was spacious and stocked with plenty of games to play while you enjoy your brews. Will definitely be back next time I'm in Chicago! read more

I went in not knowing there was a huge annual event happening so It was crowded, can't speak on how their weekday or weekend crowds normally look. Service was prompt and bartenders were handling business like pros considering how many people were waiting. The beer I had " Rebirth" was akin to a lighter kombucha but my favorite was " Fallen Blossoms". It had the most delicious light fruity and floral taste, I can't wait to go back and go for this one and to try the other beers they have on tap. I also love the fact they serve one of my fav pizzas in the city, Five Squared. So good! read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty decent place. As far a brewery's go wasn't one of my favorites. This place was good, not great. Beer selection was ok, didn't have any hazy which I would expect. The service was good. They made personal pizza slices in house with is an awesome feature, but again wasn't a huge fan of it, trying too hard to be unique left with some odd taste. Decent looking place, could be more games tho. Again, this was just a good place, but wouldn't be in a hurry to go back. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Personal slices made in houses! - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This micro brewery is a gem! Brewmaster is a genius and they do magic with their product, and wild yeast beers especially. Their large collaborations with Miller, Soldier Field museum and other local businesses as well as large macro breweries speaks for themselves. We came here for a tour and the amount of passion that goes into each and every beer is inspiring. Come here and you won't be disappointed. This is our go to place from now on. It's very hard to find people who do something because they are passionate about it and are not just chasing the Benjamins. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Wild yeast beer and Beer for Ballgames - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good place to go for variety of interesting beers, good price (7.50 a beer), and outdoor seating for good weather days read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Cream Ale Beer - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love how they have dog friendly patios in front and back! Wish inside was dog friendly too. Excellent beers. We tried quite a few 5 ounce pours in order to try many of the beers on tap. Prior to our visit, I was not that much of a fan of Off Color, but after visiting and trying more of their beer, I am definitely a fan and plan to return to the tap room for sure. read more

Beer was fine. Service was condescending and rude. We left after one drink because of the way we were treated.

Really bad service. Called ahead and asked if the pizza would be there today - they said yes and when we showed up there was no pizza. They said the guy was "on vacation". They were incredibly rude to us too. The girl bartender is seriously so unfriendly - we were all asking her for advice on drinks (her job?) and she was giving us one word answers and dirty looks. It almost smells like garbage when you sit outside on the patio area. read more

I like this place. The beer for hell is fantastic. Description on the menu is spot on. A lager with character. I also had the juicy beer for burgers which was a nice IPA. The wife is more of a sour beer fan and ordered the cranberry fox in the snow which she found to be extreme. I sipped it and was pretty puckered up from it. This place has a good vibe friendly staff and a nice outdoor space as well. Overall happy to find it within walking distance from my home. read more

Wish I took a picture of my beers but you can probably imagine a great pour with a cool logo pint . Two great things about this brewery; 1. They don't offer IPAs. Now I love myself an IPA but I appreciate their differentiation from other breweries. Their Apex and Aqua farmhouse ales were awesome. 2. Their logo is one of the best. Loved all of the artwork. This is now one of my favorite breweries in Chicago read more

I really like the selection of beers here a lot as it diverges from the more common things you normally see. I'm kind of a weird/funky kind of beer guy so if you are too you'll have a good time here. Agua Regia: Get If you like a stronger more sweeter beer then get this. I love barley wines and this one is great as well. It's a little on the more bitter and less syrup Gator Time: Get A fun beer with lots of good fruity notes. It's refreshing yet a little bit tart. Just what a love to change it up from the typical lagers and IPAs. Service was casual but really friendly too. They can be really chummy and fun which is just what you would expect in a good bartender :) read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - beer tap menu - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our first visit here. We like trying out different breweries and this happened to be on the route we were taking that day. Immediately upon walking in, we were greeted, asked if it was our first visit, told the lay of the land, Etc. Nice. I liked the outside space, inside is dark but ok. Lots to look at. Beer was good. Service was friendly. My only issue was when I went up for my second round, the bartender just looked at me when I said to put it on my tab. After a blank look, I said my name. He said he was waiting for me to say my name while I was waiting for him to ask. Same situation when I went to pay my bill with a different bartender. C'mon, people. Converse with your customers. read more

See all

Super cute brewery, went there after an event downtown one evening. The beertender was helpful with recommendations and also allowing us to sample a couple beers in order to know what we wanted to drink. Fun names for the beer and a good atmosphere. The restrooms were also clean which is a must. We will definitely stop back in if we are in the area. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Beer for Tacos - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent craft brews in an unassuming space (this is their expansion location - the OG brewery is in Logan Square). They are known for their delicious farmhouse ale but they have seasonal and specialty brews including a potent barley wine available in winter (Aqua Regia - 9% ABV; caveat emptor!). There is outside seating for those balmy Chicago summer evenings. They have a separate take out counter in case you need to stock the fridge! Highly recommended. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Aqua Predator - the OG - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool spot with a great patio and nice draft selection. They also do tours on Sundays for a great deal ($12 and includes tasting). I tried the apex predator, which was similar to a wheat beer. Refreshing for a nice spring day! read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Solid brewery that's good for large groups!! Beer selection was pretty diverse and good natural lighting inside. Easy to reserve for large party to host as well read more

We didn't know the day we stopped in was actually their 10 year anniversary party, so they had some special beers on tap. We got lucky and secured one of their parking spots and got in before the rush. The bartender was super friendly and gave us some recommendations of which beers to try - of which we went back and ordered many more. Some of our favorite easy drinking beers include their Apex Predator Saison, the Beer For Golf Witbier, and the Beer For Ball Games Cream Ale. (We tried some of the sour or more unique ones, but I wouldn't want more than just one small pour of any of those.) We shared a picnic table out on their back patio (which sits between parking and the river) but it was nice to be more spread out and outside. We of course could not leave without purchasing some tall boys to go, because we enjoyed all of the beers that we tried. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been here a couple times and enjoyed myself both times. They brew all their own beers with fun names like "beer for pizza" to make it pretty obvious what beer you should order. They also let you bring in your own food. It's a pretty nice space and when the weather is nice you can also sit outside. Overall, it's a good time. read more

I'm in the neighborhood all the time and finally made a stop at Off Color. I hadn't prioritized a visit as I don't drink beer and didn't realize they have ciders available. I love that they have an extensive menu so there's something for everyone (and that they have a cider from my homeland New Hampshire!). The bartenders are very friendly and responsive. There's a lot of tables and bar seating and it's open and airy. I was there on a Sunday afternoon so I can't speak to the vibe when it's crowded but it's definitely some place I'd return to. read more

i am impressed with the staff, the free parking, the pop up pizza from five squared was excellent. definitely check them out on thursday, the guy Steve who runs the business is a very nice guy. Wish them the best. The cherry saison was awesome on tap. Jolly the double dry hopped beer they have we got to go was yummy. and all the staff members we encountered were super friendly. I will definitely be back. The to go beers i bought were a lager i have yet to try but the prices seemed fair and even some of their shirts were only $14, patches $3. it's also very spacious with the long tables as well as the bar. Thanks for your service off color staff! read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - love the sign - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Here is another hard to find brewery. It takes some effort to look for it. Off Color is located close to Goose Island, not the brewery but the actual island, across the canal along Kingsbury. Beers have some funny names, but there's nothing funny about how these taste, which is good. The prices are about what to expect for a small local brewery, not super expensive for a pint. Cool place inside an old factory. It was kind of hard to find the first time coming here. This is quite a ways to get to. Maybe the closest station is the North/Clybourn. Takes a bit of a walk to get here from there. Close to the Whole Foods. It's about $7 a pint. Many of the beers are sours. After checking this out a few times, I have a few favorite beers. It seems my favorite of these is the Beer For Fantasy. This is a wit beer with dragon fruit and blood orange. Good and not too fruity. There was still a bit of a hoppy flavor but it was good stuff. Good prices on awesome craft beers. It also has very knowledgeable bartenders who are also fun. They have a lot of fruity beers so this is good if you like those. read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Beer For Fantasy - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is good for a casual afternoon beer. The outdoor seating in the front is usually full so you have to be on spot watch, but sitting inside isn't bad either. I also think it's reasonably priced, so that's great. read more

Such a great brewery! The space, sense of humor, beers, and service were all wonderful! I met up with a friend here on a Saturday afternoon and it was populated with plenty of people laughing and having a good time. It was too cold to sit outside but they have a front and a back patio, which look great for warmer weather! We sat inside and there was plenty of seating at 3pm but soon they all filled up. The space inside is well-lit, clean, spacious, and has fun messages on the wall. Some people were playing Catan next to us, so it's boardgame friendly for sure! The staff were also so kind and welcoming! Service was above and beyond. I had the porter, and it's chicory notes were perfect for the chilly weather. I've had plenty of their canned beers before and they're all great! Can't wait to come back :) read more

Off Color Brewing - Mousetrap - Outdoor patio in the front - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all