# West Town, Fulton Market and the West Loop > Self-guided Chicago craft beer crawl: Forbidden Root, Goose Island Fulton Street Brewery & Taproom and 3 more. About 3.8 km, allow 4.5–5.5 hours. Source: https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/chicago/routes/west-town-fulton-market-west-loop/ (The Craft Beer Crawl, 2026-10-21) Route 2 · "The Brewpub Trail" - 5 stops - About 3.8 km - Walking: About 50 min - Allow 4.5–5.5 hours **Best time:** Wednesday to Sunday, because Goose Island's taproom is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Friday or Saturday is best: start at Forbidden Root (from noon on Saturday, 3pm on Friday) and finish on Randolph Street, where Haymarket pours until 2am. On Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday reach Goose Island before 7pm (it closes at 8pm). Opening hours change, so check each venue before you set off. ## The stops 1. ### [Forbidden Root](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/chicago/venues/chicago-forbidden-root/) 1746 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · **66 Chicago bus; Blue Line, Chicago (about 15 min walk)** Chicago's self-styled 'first botanic brewery': a brewpub in a converted West Town building that builds beers around herbs, fruit, roots and flowers alongside straighter lagers and IPAs, with a full seasonal kitchen and a heated covered patio. Third-party listings show it open 4pm to 10pm Monday to Thursday, 3pm to 11pm Friday, noon to 11pm Saturday and noon to 9pm Sunday (the brewery's own page shows noon to 9pm Sunday and 11pm close Friday and Saturday; one listing shows noon openings Monday to Thursday too). [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Forbidden%20Root%2C%201746%20W%20Chicago%20Ave%2C%20Chicago%2C%20IL%2060622) 2. ### [Goose Island Fulton Street Brewery & Taproom](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/chicago/venues/chicago-goose-island-fulton/) 1800 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60612 · **Green/Pink Line, Ashland (about 10 min walk)** The taproom attached to Goose Island's main production brewery, where it has brewed since 1995. Goose has been owned by AB InBev since 2011, but this is where the classics (312, IPA) sit beside test batches and vintage Bourbon County Stout, the barrel-aged stout it says was the world's first. Brewery tours run Friday to Sunday and can be booked online. Open noon to 8pm Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 10pm Friday and Saturday and noon to 8pm Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday. [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Goose%20Island%20Fulton%20Street%20Brewery%20%26%20Taproom%2C%201800%20W%20Fulton%20St%2C%20Chicago%2C%20IL%2060612) 3. ### [Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chicago](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/chicago/venues/chicago-guinness-open-gate-chicago/) 901 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60607 · **Green/Pink Line, Morgan (5 min walk)** Diageo's second US Guinness brewery, a big brewery-restaurant in a former rail depot in Fulton Market. Most of what's on tap is brewed here and isn't the stout you know (lagers, IPAs and experimental beers), alongside a handful of Dublin-brewed classics. Open 11am to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 11am to midnight Friday, 9am to midnight Saturday and 9am to 11pm Sunday, with brunch 9am to 2pm at weekends. [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Guinness%20Open%20Gate%20Brewery%20Chicago%2C%20901%20W%20Kinzie%20St%2C%20Chicago%2C%20IL%2060607) 4. ### [Cruz Blanca Taquería + Brewery](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/chicago/venues/chicago-cruz-blanca/) 904 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607 West Loop brewpub opened in 2016 by Rick Bayless (who left in 2020; Manny Valdes runs it), pairing house-brewed Mexican-inspired cervezas, from Mexican-style lagers to barrel-aged specialities, with wood-fired tacos, Cali burritos and tlayudas. Open 11:30am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 11:30am to midnight Friday and Saturday (official site; some listings show it closed on Mondays). [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Cruz%20Blanca%20Taquer%C3%ADa%20%2B%20Brewery%2C%20904%20W%20Randolph%20St%2C%20Chicago%2C%20IL%2060607) 5. ### [Haymarket Brewery & Pub](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/chicago/venues/chicago-haymarket-brewery/) 737 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661 · **Green/Pink Line, Morgan; 8 Halsted bus** The oldest of the West Loop brewpubs, open since 2010, with a working brewhouse on view behind the bar, house beers brewed on site and made-from-scratch pub food. Open 11:30am to 11pm Monday to Wednesday, 11:30am to 1am Thursday, 11:30am to 2am Friday, 11am to 2am Saturday and 11am to 11pm Sunday; the kitchen usually closes an hour earlier. [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Haymarket%20Brewery%20%26%20Pub%2C%20737%20W%20Randolph%20St%2C%20Chicago%2C%20IL%2060661) Getting there: the 66 Chicago Avenue bus stops outside Forbidden Root, or walk 15 minutes west from the Chicago Blue Line stop. Forbidden Root to Goose Island is about 1 km south down Wood Street. Goose Island to Guinness (about 2 km) is the long leg, east along Fulton Street through the old meatpacking district, now Fulton Market's restaurant strip. Guinness, Cruz Blanca and Haymarket are within 600 metres of each other, so the second half is short. All three serve full meals. District Brew Yards (417 N Ashland Ave), a pour-your-own beer hall with four breweries' taps, is about 500 metres from Goose Island; we've left it off the route (see the notes in the rejected list). **Alcohol-free and pacing:** ask at the bar for alcohol-free beers and soft drinks, and remember a half is always fine. Eat along the way, drink water between stops, and skip a stop whenever you like. [More tips](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/responsible-drinking/). [Walking directions (Google Maps)](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=Forbidden+Root%2C+1746+W+Chicago+Ave%2C+Chicago%2C+IL+60622&destination=Haymarket+Brewery+%26+Pub%2C+737+W+Randolph+St%2C+Chicago%2C+IL+60661&travelmode=walking&waypoints=Goose+Island+Fulton+Street+Brewery+%26+Taproom%2C+1800+W+Fulton+St%2C+Chicago%2C+IL+60612%7CGuinness+Open+Gate+Brewery+Chicago%2C+901+W+Kinzie+St%2C+Chicago%2C+IL+60607%7CCruz+Blanca+Taquer%C3%ADa+%2B+Brewery%2C+904+W+Randolph+St%2C+Chicago%2C+IL+60607) [Print the free passport](https://thecraftbeercrawl.com/passport/chicago/west-town-fulton-market-west-loop/) ## Prefer a guide? We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. - [Chicago Local Brewery Expedition with Homemade Guacamole](https://www.getyourguide.com/chicago-l225/chicago-local-brewery-expedition-with-homemade-guacamole-t1215345/?partner_id=8AVPI3Q&cmp=west-town-fulton-market-west-loop): GetYourGuide · From US$63 · check dates Affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Tasting quantities and inclusions are set by each tour operator and can change. Check the listing before you book. ## Places to stay nearby Well-rated places to stay near West Town, measured from Forbidden Root, the first stop. Distances are as the crow flies. We may earn a commission if you book through these links. ### Nobu Hotel Chicago ★★★★★ 155 N. Peoria Street · about 2.2 km from the first stop Guest rating 9.6/10 (765 reviews) [Prices on Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Nobu%20Hotel%20Chicago%2C%20Chicago) or [Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?destination=Nobu%20Hotel%20Chicago%2C%20Chicago) · [Agoda](https://www.agoda.com/search?textToSearch=Nobu%20Hotel%20Chicago%2C%20Chicago) ### Hyatt Place Chicago Wicker Park ★★★ 1551 West North Ave · about 1.6 km from the first stop Guest rating 9.1/10 (804 reviews) [Prices on Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Hyatt%20Place%20Chicago%20Wicker%20Park%2C%20Chicago) or [Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?destination=Hyatt%20Place%20Chicago%20Wicker%20Park%2C%20Chicago) · [Agoda](https://www.agoda.com/search?textToSearch=Hyatt%20Place%20Chicago%20Wicker%20Park%2C%20Chicago) ### Wicker Park Inn ★★★ 1331 N Wicker Park Ave · about 1.1 km from the first stop Guest rating 9/10 (194 reviews) [Prices on Booking.com](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Wicker%20Park%20Inn%2C%20Chicago) or [Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?destination=Wicker%20Park%20Inn%2C%20Chicago) · [Agoda](https://www.agoda.com/search?textToSearch=Wicker%20Park%20Inn%2C%20Chicago) Prefer an apartment? [Search holiday rentals around West Town on Vrbo](https://www.vrbo.com/search?destination=West%20Town%2C%20Chicago). We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. Ratings and star classes are from our hotel data provider and can change; check them on the booking site. --- ## Responsible drinking Please drink responsibly. You must be 21 or over to use this site. Know your limits, eat, drink water and never drink and drive. Free, confidential advice: [SAMHSA National Helpline (free, 24/7: 1-800-662-4357)](https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline) or [Rethinking Drinking (NIAAA, U.S. National Institutes of Health)](https://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/). © 2026 The Craft Beer Crawl. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Venue listings are editorial and nobody pays to appear on a route.