Thursday 18th of June 2009 11:50:34 AM

link
I have been going to Sheffields on and off for the last 20+ years. It continues to evolve and improve.

In the mid 1980s it was one of the few real “beer bars” in Chicago. They offered about 60 beers and always had some cheap forgotten regional on special (Rhinelander or Baltz Cream Ale anyone??).

They offer a very solid selection on both taps and bottles. Lots of Midwest favorites and offerings from both coasts will give you plenty of choices. There is always something new to try. The prices are decent for the area and they always have a pint of the month for $4. You can also get cask here which is a great option.

Sheffields is well laid out. Upon entry you will see a beautiful old Brunswick bar. Walk past and to your right is the new (for me at least) Beer School bar area that has different tap selections from the main bar. As always, you should spend some time in one of the nicest beer gardens in Chicago.

An upgrade for me is that they now offer food (BBQ), this allows me to linger and make a long afternoon out of any visit.

Service is friendly and the bartenders seem really into beer. They are quick with samples and recommendations.

Yes, it can get a bit crowded after Cubs games, but I find the crowd here a bit different than at the usual Wriggleyville area watering hole. I always have fun here & I think you will to!

Thursday 14th of May 2009 01:27:11 PM

link
I don't think they have $2 specials anymore, when I was there earlier this week for lunch, they had Goose Summertime at $4 for the special. Overall this rates as a top choice for beer lovers in Chicagoland.

Taps total I believe 24 including the back bar locations. The patio is dreamy, very inviting. The front bar itself very solid, great server (and cute) with deep beer knowledge. We talked about unique beers from around the country, and they sold me a bomber of Southhampton Saison Deluxe, claiming they are the only ones that have it.

Outstanding tap selection included a cask of Robert the Bruce (FFF's), a 1 yr old cask of Surly 2 (outstanding), Sierra Nevada Brown Saison, Half Acre Baume, Hopslam, and many others. The bottle booklet runs 170 beers, many unusual. Overall outstanding selection, only downside is no Belgian's on tap, but they do American craft micros better than almost anyone in the city.

The smoked bbq is very good, served a pulled pork sandwich with no sauce, as it should be, pour your own from 2 choices, regular catchup based sauce and a Carolina vinegar based sauce that was outstanding. The rest of the menu I cannot speak for but the bbq is very well made.

Come for a nosh, stay for several beers, you won't be disappointed.

Saturday 29th of March 2008 03:07:37 AM

link
Sheffield's is a bar which managed to get its location when the neighborhood was in the dumps; and it has seen its fortunes rise with that of the environs.
It has a sufficient amount of space, in a tri-partite layout, to put on a lot of intriguing beers on draft. The last time I was here, the rear room was set up for a Dogfish Head beer tasting (with Sam Calagione). All of the taps were serving Dogfish Head.
But you've likely noticed my low score for "Atmosphere". I am sorry; but it seems that, most times, when I was here during the months between April and October, the venue was packed with zombied lemmings drinking bottles of Bud Light and repeating everything which was being uttered by the commentators on the telecast of the nearby baseball franchise. Ugh. Ugh. I can only hope that they had to pay at least $6 for their beer. They were certainly drinking a lot of them (and getting most of the attention from the barstaff).
Try here during the other five months of the year, or consider wearing the earplugs other reviewers have recommended for when you go to Kuma's Corner.
I am updating this.
I went here again on a Monday night when, mirable dictu, the nearby b**eball franchise was not playing anywhere. The 'event' was the 'official' roll-out for Harpoon Brwy. [Boston, MA.] in metropolitan Chicago.
Harpoon is appearantly bringing only two beers to Chicago initially, and only one on draft, its I.P.A. The four taps at the Beer School bar were all serving the I.P.A. It's a good I.P.A. It's not overwhelmingly hopped like many other I.P.A.s
Try and go here during daylight hours. So you can see all the old beer cans affixed to the ventilation shafts overhead. Lots of defunct breweries represented. I even saw the "generic" beer can!
The hazard about the Beer School bar is: Watch out for overzealous bartenders who will without warning haul away your partially-consumed food or beverage while you are checking out the breweriana.
A third update - and Sheffield's achieves another level.
On a Monday night, when another bar was *dead*, and a back-up wanted $3.50 for a bottle of an A-BiB or MillerCoors megabrew, Sheffield's beer specials (in the *front bar*) were good; and, one of the flat screen TVs was tuned to GOL-TV, which I never expected to glimpse.
Public transportation is really, really fine to get here. The #77 Belmont bus runs *all the time* between here and Central (and 20 hours a day to Cumberland). The Red | Brown | Purple Line “L” station at Belmont is two blocks away.

Monday 27th of August 2007 11:13:19 PM

link
Stopped in tonight for the expressed purpose of trying their new BBQ menu. Since it was Monday, a full slab of ribs was a mere $12 with slaw and fries, 3 sauce variety. It was certainly better than the Chili's/TGI/etc. variety, but compared with traditional rib joints in Chicago, it was just ok. Can't complain, those rib joints don't offer 150 beers...

The garden is beautiful in the off-hours and warmer months. A large shady tree, and a smaller second one provide enough shade for the entire area. Many wooden tables and rails are illuminated by small lanterns. The interior has alot of dark wood, some art here and there, and a newer Family Guy pinball machine.

The crowd here is ok, it never fails that half the bar is swilling the $2 beer of the month though. Rotating seasonals from 3F, 2 Bros., Sierra Nevada, and Goose Island. The very descriptive beer menu is categorized by top & bottom fermenting ales, seasonals, and a small vintage selection (GI Reserve, Samichlaus, 2 Bros. Bare Tree) Cask offering on my visit was 3F Brian Boru. There is usually something new and interesting for a cask selection. Plenty of US craft staples, alongside Celebrator & Ayinger from Germany, and a good number of Belgians, including a couple esoteric ones (Hanssens Oude Gueuze, Cantillon, Dulle Teve). One or two things were priced too high, Matilda for $10 for example, but everything was mostly affordable, in addition to a monthly daily special.

Overall a good beer stop, they host beer-related events on occasion too. Recommended!

Friday 23rd of March 2007 11:16:53 AM

link
Sheffield's is a pretty cool place that is a bit deceiving when you first walk in. The bar feels like a typical long and slender Chicago style bar. But they have a nice sized beer garden and two decent sized bars tucked away in back rooms.

They usually have a decent to solid beer selection in the front bar, with somewhere in the vicinity of 10 to 15 taps. Goose Island, Three Floyds and Two Brothers are usually well supported. A Dogfish Head tap or two are normally available as well. They do have a bottle list, but I normally just head for the taps.

Sheffield's is an establishment that is interested in educating their customers about craft beer. They usually have booklets laying around the bar that have good and simple style descriptions and they usually have examples that might be available at the bar, or at least locally. Occasionally they will have a beer event or two that is in support of craft beer.

Sheffield's is very close (west 1 block then north 1 block) to the Brown and Red Line Belmont stop. There is street parking around Sheffield's but much of it is zoned and not available without a permit.

Sheffield's is supposed to have a smokehouse soon with BBQ available. I have not had a chance to try it yet, but I will update when I get the chance.