Really like this place, extremely cool how dedicated they are to the Euro brew style. But they don't let that hold them back and find lots of new experiments. The brewers and bartenders were extremely passionate and friendly and happy to talk to us about their craft. read more

Warm and inviting location. They serve a very good selection of lager beers. Plus a small selection of lambic style beers that were worth the visit alone. read more

Dovetail Brewery - Beer - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I visited Dovetail for their Holiday Market which was on the second floor. While we were there, they also had a live tuba band which made it really festive! It looks like a great place for families. We even saw some board games being played! Since it was so crowded, I can't really speak to their service... But they did have a special "hot poked beer" option outside, and that guy was really nice! He explained the whole science behind it... Which I mostly forgot, but basically it gives a caramelized flavor to the beer, and it's a German tradition. I've never experienced that before, so it was really fun! Admittedly I'm not a beer connoisseur, but I really liked the ones that I got. read more

Dovetail Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and were on a day date on a cold February Sunday afternoon and we ended up in Ravenswood at Dovetail Brewery. What a cute place in a lovely neighborhood. The shop was quiet when we first arrived, but more people trickled in, and it was fun sitting at the bar listening to the staff chat with their customers. It's also a good way to learn about the beers. Very friendly service and interesting patrons. My husband and I had the mulled beverage and it was so lovely. I'm looking forward to going back soon and trying more of their beers, which tended to be classic Belgian and German styles. read more

Dovetail Brewing was on my list for a long time. I was lucky when an opportunity arose to try their beers and Steve and I tried three different ones. They were all lighter beers and yes indeed I had a favorite out of the three. This time I will start with the favorite which was their Vienna Lager which I really was happy with. This is a beer type I like anyway and this brewery's version of that was very good! Flavor features with this beer are malty and sweet with a clean finish. The beer is smooth and light bodied. Other beers we liked were the Kolsch which was very good also. Flavors to find with this one are dry, grassy and crisp. The beer is refreshing and light bodied. The final beer was a Hefeweizen. It said it had the presence of banana and clove to it and sometimes those things are too heavy handed in our years of trying craft beer but this one was well balanced and though those features were certainly noticeable it was pleasant. The beer is also sweet and has a clean finish. The beer is also very smooth. Good start with this brewery and an experience we were impressed with! read more

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We stopped in about an hour before close for one drink. The place was clean and spacious with helpful bartenders. The beer was cold and delicious. They also had a number of games to play at your table. Plus it was in walking distance of our Airbnb and a train stop. Couldn't go wrong! read more

Horrible! Called yesterday and asked if they allowed dogs inside. The guy said "yes". Great! A bunch of us and 2 dogs were coming! Got there and was told "no dogs inside". Not nice at all. In fact, very rude. It's fine if you don't allow dogs inside, yet don't say you do on the phone and website. Do what you say! We came from the suburbs. Very bad! There's even a picture inside with a dog! read more

We stopped in during Ravenswood Art Walk and was not disappointed. There was indoor and outdoor seating and were able to grab a table outside. On a Saturday afternoon, it was very crowded and the line to order was long, but moved quickly. The brewers have a passion for European flavors and we noticed it in several of their offerings. They had several lagers and we tried the Kriek 2020, the cherry flavor was unique and subtle and the Pils. The Pils was created over several years and was a standout. They also had a radler option, and guest cider and seltzer. On the Saturday we were there was food from Kite String Taquitos, which were very good and a perfect pairing with the beers. read more

Walking in, the people are very friendly. It seems like everyone knows someone at the bar, so that was comforting to see. The staff seemed to be more about business. Place your order, is it ok, if something is wrong, they're going to try to get to the nitty-gritty of what the problem with the beer is. It's not that they're unfriendly, but you can tell that the staff cares a lot about their business. I ordered the Porter and Framboise. The Porter wasn't super heavy or too bold on flavor. The Framboise is tart, sour, almost kabocha tangy, but that's what made it addicting. I ordered the homemade chips with onion dip. 10/10 I knew I would be craving it when I left. It's really fresh and light, but with a lot of flavor! The interior is really warm and pleasant. It's feels inviting and like you should stay and relax a while. read more

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This is one of my favorite breweries in the area, and there are a lot to choose from! The beers are authentic German styles and are always clean and delicious. I like that they don't try to hop on the IPA or sour bandwagons and stay true to who they are. I also love that they serve pickled eggs, dangly sausages, and a delicious stone ground mustard. While the main taproom isn't anything too special on a day-to-day basis, they often have events. Be sure to come by for a Kolsch Day, or when they have Dimo's in to sell personal pizzas. And definitely don't miss Mayfestiversary and Oktoberfestiversary, the annual street festivals held in conjunction with Begyle down the street. Even if you're not there on an event day, hitting both breweries always makes for a good day. I'll be coming here again and again to enjoy the delicious beer, especially when the Maibock comes out! See you there! read more

Classic German brewery at its best. Walking in, the atmosphere immediately reminds you of a German beer hall. Dovetail is one of the best brewers of lagers in the city. Their Vienna style lager won a medal at the Great American Beer Festival and the Hefeweizen is a favorite of mine. Great place! read more

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It was a wet & rainy day so decided to seek shelter in this fantastic tap room. Glad that I did as they not only had great beers (Pilsner and Pomme 2020 were my choices on this day) but also some friendly snacks. I had the soft pretzel with cheese and it was fantastic. A shout out to the bartender who was super knowledgeable, friendly and funny. Finally, it was nice to bring in my own entree as the Region is nearby and is one of my favorite burger spots in the city. read more

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I've enjoyed Dovetail beers previously, but I liked visiting Dovetail Brewery for the first time recently with my lovely wife over the weekend. We tagged along with our drinking friends who have seemingly tried all of Dovetail's beers over the years. The Dunkelweizen was tasty, as was the Maibock. This place gets busy, but our group of six was able to snag a couple of tables to enjoy our drinks. If you wish, they also have cool pinball games and merch available. read more

Finally checked out this brewery! We had a kolsch which was very light and refreshing. We loved the indoor outdoor situation and opted to seat outside since it was such a nice day out. We were able to order and get seated right away which was great, they have a ton of seating inside and out. They also had a pop up going while we were there so we were able to get some tacos and enjoy our beer. Definitely worth the visit and love the rows of breweries that you can hop around to as well. read more

Dovetail Brewery - Inside - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of my favorites for years. STILL a favorite. Find me in the tap room, beer garden or out in the parking lot! This brewery gets lively! Favorite beers: Vienna Lager, Helles, or Grodzieski (sp?) a 3.2% beer perfect when you roll up on a bike! Or a delicious Berliner Weisse. They've added snacks - landjager, big crusty pretzels, cheese dip and rotating snacks - all great! read more

Dovetail Brewery - Berliner Weisse! - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

No Chicago trip is complete without a stop at Dovetail. The only bummer is that they don't do small pours or flights of their offerings, so you have to be strategic about what you drink while coming to this brewery. They are the definition of perfection when it comes to lagers, but don't sleep on the wild and spontaneous offerings they have as well. I tried two beers while here, but i'm already dreaming of coming back. Fraise (2020): A Fruited Lambic that was spontaneously fermented and made with strawberries. Acidic and tannic, with not much funk character. The strawberry flavor actually comes through nicely, tasting more like fresh strawberries than the artificial strawberry candy flavor that some strawberry beers get. Dunkelweizen: A, well, Dunkelweizen. It was a bit chilly and rainy so I wanted a darker beer, and this Weizen hit the spot. I got chocolate and roast combined with the traditional Weiss flavors of clove and banana (got to love the Hefe yeast strain). It tasted like a warmed up piece of banana bread, and warmed me up just the same. read more

Love the summer menu they've got going on right now and loving some of the mixed beer options - sours + lagers create a visually intricate and really unique flavor combination. Also so glad they are still a lager only brewery, it really allows them to create some great lager beers and love seeing that happen more and more like with Goldfinger in the burbs too. looking forward to coming back! read more

Dovetail Brewery - good patio vibes with a diverse beer selection - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Located in malt row in a cute little Ravenswood neighborhood (I wished I lived here!) It was quiet when we arrived, but did pick up thereafter. The service was accommodating and friendly. We opted for the mulled offering and given the fact it was February, it was THE perfect choice. There were other tempting local limited options available in their cooler for 10% off. Cheers! read more

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Another brewery. Dovetail is located near a few others. It's like breweries are on every block of Ravenswood. Good list for a small place and quality craft. The beers are more expensive but it's a small brewery still. Got a few pints with some guys and girls. It wasn't really a big crowd but the cramped inside made it feel like it. This is a total craft brewery, where they actually make it with care and passion. It doesn't have beer to get chugged. The best I had was the Helles. It's $9 a pint, so yes that's a craft. This has citrus and floral notes. Awesome and crisp. There's not really any food but there's bags of chips and pretzels. Come get away from the popular so called craft breweries. It's truly a neighborhood hangout but anyone's welcome if they appreciate the hard work of those making the good stuff. The prices are the worst thing but that's the price to pay for all that work. read more

Dovetail Brewery - Helles - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We sat outside with our pup. They have a huge patio area and accommodating to dogs. The beer was decent - one was a little more sour than we expected. The slushie was a tad small but tasted good. One of the workers brought our puppy a treat which was so sweet! Would definitely come back read more

Dovetail Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in after going to another brewery down the street. Nice little spot. Wish I would have been able to try more of the food items, but some of it was out by the time I got there. I shared the Kubano, chips and the onion dip with friends. The Kubano is essentially air dried sausage. Something nice to munch on with your drink. Staff were nice and courteous. I ordered a radler, and my boyfriend and his friends ordered other varieties. Chill spot to hang out on the patio if the weather is nice. Dog-friendly, at least on the patio! read more

Dovetail Brewery - Kubano - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was excited to find a local brewery to try for patio season, so we tried Dovetail on a sunny afternoon! I liked the beer variety - I love a radler so I sprung for that! It was super yummy, and I enjoyed the kolsch I tried, too. The one low point was most of the snack menu was sold out while we were there. We came very excited to try the pretzel, but it wasn't available. Pub snacks are an important part of the brewery patio experience for me, so I hope they are better stocked in the future! Location is awesome with other breweries to string together in the area, and street parking wasn't too bad. read more

Dovetail Brewery - Snack menu - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came from out of town with this place high on people's ratings for local breweries. This exceeded my expectations - the drinks were top notch and worth the visit. Tim and Rachel were lovely as well :) read more

Fantastic people, great time with the bar tenders, they were super accommodating and very welcoming of out of towners. Very great experience please stop by. Rachel and Tim We're great and super accommodating , ands very friendly! read more

I visited Dovetail as part of the IL Summer Passport Program sponsored by the IL Craft Brewers Association. Be warned that Dovetail is in the summer passport book put out by the IL Craft Beer Association and on the website for the program, yet they refused to give me a sticker or sign my book. The bartender said they did not ask to participate, and he received an internal email from someone saying that they were not participating. I was only told this after I asked for a beer and presented my book simultaneously. Avoid Dovetail for false advertising and misleading business practices. They ultimately refused to sign my book. Begyle Brewing, one block over, participates in the IL Summer Passport program, is far more friendly and inviting, and has much better beer. As someone who tries 700+ new beers yearly, I believe this is the worst brewery in Chicago from a customer experience. Do NOT go here. read more

Have not been here yet but hopefully soon. The yellow umbrellas are so attractive and it draws your attention. I will definitely come here for a cool drink and a light snack ! read more

Dovetail Brewery - What an exciting place to have locally ! - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Terrible!! I tried to buy their own beer but the owner said they would not let me drink the beer they actually sell just outside their place. I don't mind paying for the beer, but the way the owner conveyed it the rule to a novice was very rude and conceited. Save you money and not worth the humiliation when you ask a simple question. Super rude And why support someone who doesn't treat their clientele with kindness and understanding. read more

Great neighborhood brewery specializing in German, Czech, and Belgian beers. During warmer months they have great outdoor events with music and food trucks. Great refreshing beers, quick, friendly service, and a cool atmosphere. One of Chicago's most unique breweries. read more

My grandson bought us tour. It was a fabulous tour. I learned a lot about beer making. It includes three 13 ounce beers. Totally worth it. This is a beer centric bar brewery. The staff are amazing. Totally authentic. The selection changes regularly. read more

Dovetail Brewery - Front vestibule - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We all had a nice time sitting outside at this place. You walk up to the counter to get your drinks and sit on one of the benches (if available). The inside was closed (Covid). The guy at the counter, was quite comical, and we each enjoyed the little back and forth he provided. Friendly staff really sticks out to customers. We stayed a couple hours, enjoyed a variety of different beers, which were all excellent, as we expected. I will say the cheese plate was a let down for the price. One of them was actually a spreadable cheese, but they don't give a cracker or anything to spread it on. read more

I came here for a drink with my boyfriend the night before my 22nd birthday, which just so happened to be the first day of the blizzard in December 2022. Despite the chaotic weather, we trekked over there and were warmly welcomed in. There were only a few people inside when we arrived, which was at the last hour of the night because they had been closing early due to the storm. Acknowledging the extreme weather conditions, they passed out free shots to everyone inside and we toasted to the storm. What a lovely last night to be 21! I will never forget what I experienced there. read more

I would rate this review between 4.5 and 5 stars. Beer I tried was ok. As I have mostly been to suburban breweries lately I am not sure if this is a Chicago/covid protocol to not be able to sit inside, only outside. Staff greeted us right at the front door and their beer options were lined up on the table to take a peek at. You placed your order, then chose a table outside to sit at. Staff promptly brought the beer to the table. All staff that I encountered on my visit were super friendly. If lagers/German styles are more your thing, I would hit up. They have various ciders as well. read more

I came here with my moms group and all our infants and they were very mom friendly . I'm not a big beer fan but they were able to recommend a beer cocktail that fit my pallet. Also the cherry brownie was sooo good. Unfortunately no changing room in the bathroom meant that our time was limited here! read more

Spacious outdoor set up, decent selection, but expensive. They don't do samplers outdoors. There were 3 speciality beers that were sold in 7oz servings but they cost $12, that's the equivalent of $20 for a 12 oz beer! The other 12oz pours are $7. The beer itself was solid, except the Maibock which was great, but that doesn't justify the price. There are portable toilets but no water, that had to be bought as a $3 bottle. read more

Lagers. Dogs. Kids. That's how I'd sum up this brewery. Although I'm a total hophead, I also love lagers. And there ain't enough small-time lager brewers in this here country! This is a family-and-dog-friendly brewery in a quiet area of Chicago. In addition to their (mostly German-style) lagers, they also have German pub food. It feels like you're hanging out at your cool Uncle's house. The one that never got married and instead decided to lose himself in his hobbies. The power-ports are also impressive. Service was great. read more

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During a hot Saturday afternoon, decided to stop here to take a break from the sun and enjoy some beers. Unfortunately no indoor seating at the moment, but a few tables underneath an awning that we were able to get after some other people left. All the beers are shown up front as available in draft, can or bottle. Decided on their regular Lager ($6) - a large format draft that's your basic crisp with a mild flavor. Wanted to also get some water, but they only have bottles for sale and nothing via tap (not great). There is a food truck outside if you need some grub. As far as I can tell most of the tables don't have much sun coverage and we didn't see anyone cleaning the tables between uses. I feel like this spot is best served as nighttime stopover or for beer to-go. read more

Dovetail Brewery - Options - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I could not possibly love this place more. First, many great standard options, all named by style, and truly top notch examples of their respective class. Seriously, the Vienna Lager brought a tear of joy to my eyes. Second, many excellent limited run and experimental beers. Not all of them were my jam but all of them were clearly well crafted and brewed with love and care. Third, excellent space, roomy, airy, lots of tables and bar space. Every one of the staff was friendly, welcoming, smiling. Pretty inexpensive, we hung around for 2 hours drinking and sharing a pretzel for ~$40 Lastly, they do half pours of everything on draft with purpose built glasses even for half-pours which I think is excellent, especially for a place with limited runs. Can't recommend it enough, do yourself a favor and stop by! read more

Dovetail Brewery - a glass of beer and coaster - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The beers are very nice The staff were great The place was cool and it look like they also had a nice outdoor area read more

Dovetail Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Real nice little spot with German-focused beers. Vibe feels like a Bavarian watering hole, and beer is fantastic with traditional lagers of all kinds. I wish there were a bit more on the food option, even for appetizers, as I think they'd do real well with a couple more options. Overall, will definitely be back! read more

I fancy myself a beer chick but I must be missing something here. I've been to about 100 breweries, many multiple times, and I'm sad that Dovetail places itself towards the bottom of my list. This brewery is very clearly a local haunt for those nearby. When I walked in there were a lot of people hanging at the bar and a few small groups or partnerships milling about at tables. I felt awkward instantly as it was like one of those TV Show scenes where everyone stops, turns around, and is like Who dis biotch walking up into our piece!? haha Honestly, I get that, I wouldn't mind that, but then the bartenders didn't even talk to me. I was confused for awhile if they even knew I was standing there as I went without acknowledgment for awhile. One of the things I love about breweries is the friendly staff and here...it leaves much to be desired. The music selection the night we went was odd. It didn't fit the clientele, style of the brewery, style of the beer...something was just off as it went between 70s Funk, 80s Soul and Stevie Nicks. Make no mistake, I love all of that, especially my girl Stevie, but just didn't jive with the setting. Then the most important thing, the beer. It just wasn't for me. Admittedly, lagers aren't my favorite so this is where personal taste plays a part. They just didn't do much for me. I tried the Lager (which I had before but wanted their flagship from the source), Vienna Lager, Holiday Bock and the Rauchbier. I did enjoy the Rauchbier because my palate loves smokey drinks but the others, I'd pass on having again. We also ordered a cheese pretzel and it was stale. It'd be a cool touch if the warmed it up before serving. In addition, they have sausages and cheese flights. I was interested in a cheese flight but my +1 told me they came in prepackaged plastic thingies so I quickly lost interest. They had some very cool sounding cheese flights though and I would definitely try one if I stopped in again. As with everything on Yelp, this is just my experience and clearly the masses love them (4.5 stars on here!) so I would say your mileage will most likely vary. I didn't like Dovetail all that much, but I wouldn't be closed off to giving them another try and stopping in again. read more

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