Great vibe, great food. The pizza is from Middlebrow and it's fantastic pizza. Great toppings, flavorful combinations of toppings, fresh ingredients. The dough is delicious as well, tall but light and fluffy with a crispy edge to it. Would definitely get pizza there again. The beer menu is great, plenty of different styles and appreciate the access to the entire storefront. In fact, when I ordered the beer I wanted, they were out of it, so the guy just hopped into the storefront and go the next closest thing (another belgian quad that I know well). Will definitely return, had a great time read more

Quaint little neighborhood bar with a great beer selection and a nice little kitchen. With 15+ beers on tap, I was surprised that I only had 1 before walking in. Started off with a west coast ipa that was excellent. Chased that with a Pilsner that was okay, followed by a cask red ale that was delicious. Tried a taste of the Scratch paw paw and hated it. Glad it was only a taste. Ordered a Caesar salad and a pepperoni & sausage pizza. The salad was outstanding. Big enough for a family of 4 and had a nice assortment of anchovies on top, which sucked balls, but a great salad nonetheless. The pizza is a Detroit style. Well put together with a great red sauce and plenty of cheese, but the sausage, though plentiful, had a twang to it. Service was super friendly and reasonably fast. Glad we gave it a try. read more

The Beer Temple - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great bottle shop and bar where you can find really good selection of craft beers and a nice rotating selection on tap. Quick service, friendly environment, and a nice vibe for a Saturday afternoon! Pro Tip: Detroit style pizza from Bungalow available to snack on! read more

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What an awesome spot! I'm visiting from San Antonio with my family, and the staff was so welcoming from the second I walked in. They set us up in the game room with the projector to watch the Spurs game, and the Pizza's and salad were unreal! This is a great Chicago spot that I will definitely come back to. Fred and all of the staff were incredible! 10/10 read more

The Beer Temple - Back room - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My lovely wife and I have been to The Beer Temple a couple of times now and we have enjoyed our drinking experiences here. She can enjoy her IPA's and I can shock her with my sour and tangy beer selections. There is a variety of seating options, and you can have a look at some whimsical Chicago-themed murals and perhaps a massive mounted buffalo head. The bottleshop peddles a cornucopia of fine beers and other adult beverages, and you can even mix it up with single vessels of beer here. Now they are also featuring Detroit-style pizza by Middle Brow. Although we did not partake, our friends enjoyed the impressive-looking Spring Green pizza. read more

Great beer selection in the tap room and phenomenal everything selection in the market-- things you haven't seen elsewhere or heard about. Bummer that there are no flights but there are half/small pours available if you want to taste a few things across a wide spectrum. Pretty extensive cocktail list including batched/draft. A few wines as well. New offering of Detroit-style pizza, square slices, from Middlebrow. While I like their pizzas, not in the mood for thick stuff when drinking so that was another disappointment. Different seating areas have different feels. Music on a Tuesday afternoon was indie/alternative and excellent. All servers helpful and knowledgeable, some more friendly than others. Very interesting events and hostings. Definitely will return. read more

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Beer Temple is a neat little spot. Always got something new to try on tap, and a great selection to go. And the service is great. Everyone is really nice. If you're a beer fan, and you just got done eating at Kuma's, go to the Beer Temple and grab something for home. read more

I love how the shop sells single beers. It's a great time looking at the selection and bringing home a few. Staff is always upbeat and willing to answer questions about the exellent beers on tap. read more

So many beer option! They have a bottle cellar with lots of rare options you aren't going to get elsewhere. They also have cocktails if you aren't into beer. The staff is super friendly and assist if needed. Highly recommend. Ambiance is low key and relaxing. read more

The Beer Temple - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you are a beer lover this place might be for you! It has a good amount of beers on draft, not sure if I quite like most of them, but they also have cans. And also they have a well varied store. Now they have food (they didn't in the past) which I think it's mainly pizza my only problem with this was the time we had to wait for it. 40 min seemed a lot so if you are just stopping for a couple of beers and a bite maybe order when you arrive. Very chill. It's not my favorite beer spot but it's one of my husband's. However, I love that it is walk distance from our place and it's something different in the neighborhood. read more

Beers: great selection Secret menu: middle brow pizza. The crust was TO DIE FOR Service: not bad, attentive. Bartender was very knowledgable about a beers on tap read more

The Beer Temple - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beer Temple was such a let down after years of wanting to try it. Their draft menu was absolutely boring. Mostly generic lagers, pils, and IPAs. Mostly Illinois stuff that you can easily get to. Maybe I caught them during a bad week? Their ordering system is also clearly visible depending on how you enter the shop. You have to line up at the register near the door opposite the Elston entrance to place orders. They have a sign but if people are at the bar, you might not notice. The best part of the night was eating the pizza by Middle Brow. read more

This place is great, unassuming and small looking from the outside but once you step in your realize how large it is. I came here for the beer, obviously. But they also have Detroit style pizza that looks insanely good. It smelled incredible. The beer was great, the bartender was nice. Overall great experience, definitely come here. read more

This is my new favorite pizza place. Love the Detroit style .....usually get either the sausage,veg or mushroom. read more

The Beer Temple - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great beer selection and knowledge This review is for the pizza. We make the trek west on Belmont which is hell to get our pie. Got home to a sauceless pie. Bummer we could tell this would have been a great pie as it was it was very good. The mark of a good business is how they handled this. Offered a new pie or a refund. All good we all make mistakes. read more

Yes, I'm biased, in part because I know some of the folks behind the scene here. But I have to say--if you come to eat (I don't know much about beer), you will leave with a smile on your face. I've tried the Beefy Boy, the Hot Link, and the Turkey Sandwich, and I would recommend all three if they are still on the menu. Prices here are beyond fair and while the space isn't a looker, hot meat on a platter is. If you love beer, you already know about this place, but know that you can trust the kitchen too! read more

Loving the addition of food. The beefyboy & turkey sandwich are both delicious and go great with a beer. All of the appetizers sound exciting, and I can confirm the pretzel and smoked tomato and olive tapenade are tasty. Excited to see where the menu heads next! read more

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Best beer bar in Chicago. I make my way out here for their superb selection of draft and bottled beer. Friendly knowledgeable staff and a superb beer selection read more

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Other than Hopleaf this is the best beer bar in Chicago. Throw in the bottle shop and the Detroit style pizza from Middlebrow that's exclusively available here and you've got yourself a top tier eating and drinking destination. read more

If you're into craft beer, this is a must for you. They've got about a dozen taps and some of those on tap are rare finds. They had two Hop Butcher drafts on and my Lord, those beers from that place are amazing. Plus, other rare draft finds like Phase Three were on too. The bartender was a nice guy, showed us how to access the menu and what the rules were with regards to COVID. I noticed that a lot of the reviews here mentioned that it's a little pricy for a small pour of beer, but you got to understand that the beers they choose are from small microbreweries with high quality beer, so it's not going to be your usual prices. You have to pay good money for good beer! The bottle shop was nice too. A giant selection with a cool off shoot where you can buy single cans. We spent quite a bit of time there altogether and plan on coming back! read more

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True to its name, this is one of my favorite places to have and try different craft beers. I love the old fashioned they have on tap and they'll make you one off tap too. I love the space and decor which has three areas for small groups and a bar area that can get busy at times. They have a can and bottle room as well where you can find some offerings to buy to take home. Everyone I've met that works here is very nice and I have not tried yet but heard they serve food now. If you're a lover of trying new brews then this is the spot for you to come visit. Sign up for the rewards program too. read more

Best craft beer spot in the city! Constantly rotating draft list, and one of the more diverse bottle shops in Chicago. It's always a treat to try something new or rare here. Why not 5 stars? Draft pours are definitely pricey ($9 for a 6oz pour of your more premium beers). Also, would love to be able to buy single cans in the bottle shop. read more

The Beer Temple - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

In the past year Beer Temple has escaped their cocoon of a mere liquor store and blossomed into a Monarch butterfly slashie. The new and improved Temple boasts a sexy wood bar in their drinking room to complement their newly concentrated liquor store, which is complete with an expansive and frigid walk in cooler. The space itself is a bit warrenesque and disjointed, given its oddly trapezoidal footprint, but we will all manage. Most importantly, the bar stools are luxuriously upholstered, complete with backs and armrests. Upon opening the decor was builder-beige drab, but they've been filling in the walls with murals and yeasty paraphernalia and its become more inviting. The staff is friendly and the music kills; it will lean toward shoegazer droners, if you are lucky. They have a loyalty program and regular schedules of tastings and tap takeovers. If you enjoy beer, you'll enjoy the Beer Temple. read more

They have a good selection of beer, but I really didn't like the passive aggressive email I received when inquiring about tickets for a special event. Will definitely be avoiding this place from now on. read more

Just when I thought the Beer Temple couldn't get any better....BAM! They smacked us with more amazingness. Beer Temple has been the best bottle shop in the city for awhile, no real denying that. But now they've opened a taproom and all of the little devils inside of my liver rejoiced that they'd be getting some sweet deliciousness so close to home on the regular. The tap room is bigger than it looks from the outside with some belly up bar spots, high tops and low tables. It does fill up quickly on weekends though and doesn't have super late hours. Staff is personable and helpful with beer selections & prices are all reasonable both for drafts and bottles. I still to declare, I'm not worthy of thee, ye divine temple of hops & barley. read more

The Beer Temple - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dog friendly indoors! Enjoy craft beers and a few rotating cocktails on draft before you buy them in their store. They have a walk in the refrigerator so some beers are already chilled. Wines and spirits available as well. Loungy laid back vibe showing love of craft through visual and taste. They don't have a kitchen but places in the area deliver. Perfect place for those looking to hunt down the freshest drops or curious to try something new. Show them some love. Cheers read more

Great beer bar that has harder to find drafts. Finally just added food, and it wasn't an additive experience. The food is super cheap for Chicago, but just isn't any good. I'd get the pretzel again, but that's it. read more

There is a lot on tap. The service is attentive. I went with a friend and they have a rack of board games. We had a lot of fun enjoying our beers and playing a couple of games. We were there on a Saturday afternoon. It wasn't dead, but there were multiple tables open. We were able to visit and didn't have to yell over a crowd. read more

Unassuming... but i liked it. Varied choices on tap. Got to taste a cpl (TEENY TINY TASTES) but i liked Marz Jungle Boogie. Hubby got a wheat beer from Off Color Brewing called Critters. We were both happy and will most likely come again when COVID19 is a past ordeal. read more

The Beer Temple - Going to the restrooms is a nice mural-iffic pathway! - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of my nearest and dearest craft beer bars in Charlotte, NC is The Carolina Beer Temple. So, when in Chicago, there was absolutely no way I was not visiting The Beer Temple! On the retail side, they have an impressive selection of craft beer, cider, and mead. Additionally, they carry a decent amount of liquor (bourbon, yay!) and wine. Their local selection was outstanding. The guy at the counter knew his beer stuff and engaged in pleasant conversation. On the bar side, the selection was equally impressive. The bartender was welcoming, chatty, friendly, but more importantly, very knowledgeable about the drinks he was serving. Including accomodating my friend with gluten intolerance. It definitely felt like it was a place the locals frequented. Some of the people at the bar chatted with us tourists and offered great advice and suggestions to enjoy Chicago. read more

Passed this place countless times over the years but Sunday was my first time going in. They have a bar area and a bottle shop. The wood is so new and it looks gorgeous. Went with either a 6 oz or 8 oz pour of an imperial stout. Very tasty. read more

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Beer is treated like a fine wine, beautifully displayed, with some of the nice collection of the large format beers - what are they called... bombers? For the beer loving friend, these make great gifts. You can find hard to find Monk monastic beer to the kooky local Chicago brews. I got lucky and the staff were sampling beers and invited me to sample some of their bottles. The location is awkward and remote from the L on the 6 corners of Belmont, Elston and California, but if you identify and practice beer geekery, a pilgramage to the Beer Temple is required. read more

The Beer Temple - Kid in a candy store, except replaces with beer. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Whoa...visited from Northern CA a few weeks ago and was told this is the place in Chicago for craft beer. Full disclosure is I know one of the owners but also got independent recommendations. Partial to ambers, they had a Bell's from Kalamazoo MI that introduced me to a new Midwest brewery and they made a new fan. Great local neighborhood full of character on N. Elston northwest of downtown in bootleg beer mobster Roger Touhy's old prohibition era territory. Knowledgeable and friendly staff and a unique and eclectic attached beer store made the pilgrimage all the more worthy. read more

This place was amazing. Went there on Monday the 19th and had an awesome time. Was helped by the buyer who was friendly, knowledgeable and approachable. Will definitely go there again. read more

Beautiful bar to enjoy a lot of local options and even some imports, Chris is extremely knowledgeable and always fun to talk with. Great bottle shop too! Great work Chris! read more

The Beer Temple - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally made it out here after a good long run as the weather turned nice. Ready for some beer! I was impressed and this place capped off a great day. I can't say enough positive things. I was there for a short time, but it does not take long to form an initial feel for the people and quality here. I went to both the bottle shop and the tasting room, but starting with the shop.. They have a daily list of free tastings. This will be 4-5 limited or more exclusive selections. Its not a "maybe they will have a tasting" situation, its a definite. Which is awesome. They set up a sign, and you just ask to try whatever on it. Very unique and fun. The selection in the bottle shop is huge. Large format bottles and 12 oz cans ranging all over. A large fridge area too. I love Binnys, but sometimes I want the beer right away and Binnys barely puts anything in the fridge - Beer temple has tons of greats in the walk-in fridge. This is big points in my opinion. So into the taproom.. Mostly locals/Chicagoland but all were releases or breweries I'd never tried (or always wanted to try). It seems like they put in the due diligence to pick a variety of interesting options to expand on. I had this amazing Coco Stout, and another IPA. Decent prices, similar to any brewery. I could have tried so much more but had limited time. Lastly, the three or so employees I interacted with here were about as friendly as it gets. And they paid attention to ensuring you got good service. The bottleshop guy new his beer and the tasting room bartender was the type you could causally chat with (who also knew his beer). A simple place, but worth going out of your way to. I'll be back regularly in the foreseeable future! read more

Has some one good and one subpar experience here recently. The good: great service at the bar. My buddy and I came here on a random Tuesday night and loved listening to the bartender and some patrons suggestions as to the best iPas in Chicago. They are serious beer nerds here. Today I went in to buy some beer at the bottle shop and wasn't too impressed by the guy behind the counters attitude. No hello, what's up, or anything. Also the selection is rather weak in my opinion, compared to Capones up the road. I spend a small fortune on two 4 packs and a 12 pack. Too expensive. read more

Went here about a year a ago. Oops. Anyway...kind of a cool slashy when you walk in, because the store is there, and then you walk down a mini-hall into the bar. Once there though you find the bar is pushed into a corner, so when you sit at the bar you have no view whatsoever. Hopefully the dark haired bartender with the earlobe thing is not working there anymore. Smug attitude, then he eve-drops on you - why are you working here? Obviously there is a good selection - duh the store is there - but very expensive, and that is before the corkage fee. One visit was plenty. read more

Bartending very chill. Gave us our drinks let us sample some beers that were on tap. Very patient. Over all great experience.

Last year this exemplary bottle shop added a taproom. This review concerns only the latter, which I visited for the first time yesterday. The bar features comfortable upholstered barstools, with backs and arms. There are also a surprising number of tables for a place without its own food--though patrons can bring their own, or call out to several local restaurants for delivery at the taproom. The bartender on duty on a lightly-patronized Thursday afternoon was quite enthusiastic about craft beer, but was deadpan-courteous when somebody ordered a can of Hamm's. (At San Francisco's Toronado, the sarcasm would have been detectable from low Earth orbit.) There are 20 quality drafts, with many packaged products stocked at the bar. I imagine patrons can also bring in purchases from the adjacent bottle shop. I sampled four drafts: - From Scratch Brewing in far-downstate Ava, Illinois, Turmeric and Oak Leaf Gruit. I gather the Beer Temple has some special relationship with this quirky farmhouse brewery, specializing in herbal beers; there's always one Scratch line on tap. 5.3%. Clear brass, halo head with some lace. Tart nose and taste; the turmeric is subtle, with an earthy quality which the bartender attributed to the oak leaves. And three items from Wild Onion: - Apollo Bourbon-Barrel-Aged Stout. 6.5% (but tastes stronger). Not-quite-opaque brown with red highlights. Cream halo-and-patches head. Nose is dominated by bourbon. Strong roast malt and bourbon taste. - Drago Russian Imperial Stout. 9.5%. Opaque near-black. Tan one-finger head fades fast, leaving lace. Sweet, boozy malt nose. Intense malt taste, with chocolate and raisin notes and ethanol warmth. Aged in bourbon barrels. - Sumatra Coffee Drago Russian Imperial Stout. 9.5%, 55IBU. Opaque black. Two-finger head, with two distinct layers, cream above, tan below. Coffee nose. Cafe au lait taste (I'm not sure if there's actually lactose), sweet roast malt, and boozy. Located on Elston just south of the three-way corner of Elston, Belmont, and California. On the 77-Belmont bus line. Three-quarters of a mile east of the Belmont Blue Line station. Two and a half miles west of the Belmont station on the Red, Brown, and Purple Express Lines. For pub crawlers, Kuma's Corner is one block west. read more