Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society

A search on LTHF turned up only two results, one of which was mine , so I'll start a thread.
This Sunday, March 4th {alert LTHFers might notice this contrasts with my usual typography of a calendar date} is the (lucky) 13th Annual Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society “March Forth for Froth” pub stroll.
If you did not click through, here is the itinerary:

1. 4:00 p.m. Metropolitan Brewery, 3057 N. Rockwell St.
2. 5:00 p.m. Maplewood Brewing, 2717 N. Maplewood Ave.
3. 6:00 p.m. Owen & Engine, 2700 N. Western Ave.
4. 7:00 p.m. Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave.
5. 8:00 p.m. Logan Arcade, 2410 W. Fullerton Ave.

You're most welcome to accompany us at any or all of these venues. I do recommend bringing cash, as settling your credit card tab to get to the next venue might consume more time than you think. I believe Quenchers is still cash only as well.

The Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society
presents "March Forth For Froth 2022"!

After a one-year pandemic suspension returns the
Pub Crawl in which neighborhood venues are judged
on their ability to fulfill the tenets of beer
drinkers, including the proper pour.

Beer bars are experiencing intense strain from
brewpubs and tap rooms. The salutary ones need
our sustenance. The Pub Crawl is designed to
assist in identifying them.

Everybody is welcome! Visit a few, many, or all of
the nominated venues. Bring your vaccination data,
and some cash, as a venue may not accept a credit
card.

It will occur on Friday, March 4th, 2022 at these
purveyors (map)

1. 5:30 pm - Ludlow Liquors
   2959 N. California Ave.
2. 6:30 pm - The Beer Temple
   3173 N. Elston Ave.
3. 7:30 pm - The Wolfhound Bar & Kitchen
   3188 N. Elston Ave.
4. 8:30 pm - The D'Men Tap
   2849 W. Belmont Ave.
5. 9:45 pm - Kuma's Corner
   2900 W. Belmont Ave.
6. 11:00 pm - Reed's Local
   3017 W. Belmont Ave.

The Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society
hopes to see you!

The ballots have been collated. Here are the results of the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society's "March Forth For Froth" Pub Crawl.

1. The Beer Temple - 3173 N. Elston Ave.
   This might have been predicted to finish on top, but it was close. Its selection of beers on draught was outstanding, but it lost a few points for having to bring in foodstuffs from outside.


2. The D'Men Tap - 2849 W. Belmont Ave.
   Its selection of draught beers was smaller than normal, but balanced. Its entertainment viewing level was limited depending on where you were in the venue.


3. The Wolfhound Bar & Kitchen - 3188 N. Elston Ave.
   Here was the surprise of the pub crawl. It picked up points for its bright atmosphere, high numbers of draughts, its food selections, and the ability to show sports on televisions which reached all corners of the venue.


4. Kuma's Corner - 2900 W. Belmont Ave.
   It probably fell this far because, although there is no longer a consistent line out its door, it still tilts closer to a restaurant with superb draught beers rather than a beerworthy venue with solid food. Nonetheless, perhaps drinkers should reflect.


5. Reed's Local - 3017 W. Belmont Ave.
   The "dive" bar which might have been predetermined to finish at the bottom of the results clambered out of that slot by its intangibles. Consisting of a spectrum of beers on draught, both macro and craft, and its involvement with the community.


6. Ludlow Liquors - 2959 N. California Ave.
   Something had to wind up at the foot. There are nice elements involved consuming here, including friendly, enthusiastic staff, and good preparation of food. Unfortunately, what sunk it was this is a cocktail-oriented bar, at this time of the season, its outside patio is not open, and its draught beer offerings were in twelve-ounce pours, failing one of the basic tenets of the LSDBPS (for 16- or preferably 20-ounce pours).

In summation, the bars of Logan Square are still near the top as far as Chicago communities go. But as this reveals, there is room for improvement.
I hope for next year, somebody else comes up with a good route for the LSDBPS pub crawl. It should not require a memo that March 4th, 2023 is a Saturday.

Greetings. The Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society announces its seventeenth “March Fourth for Froth” pub crawl. It shall be this upcoming Saturday, March 4th, 2023. We have the first two venues on the crawl set: Weegee's Lounge (3659 W. Armitage Ave.) at 6:00 pm [CT - GMT-6], and GO Tavern & Liquors (3219 W. Armitage Ave.) at 7:00 pm.
The additional venues will likely be determined ad hoc. I have preferences; but if our other crawlers view it differently, then we shall go where they exhort. In a way, this is suggestive of a mayoral election in that there are multiple candidates, but only up to four may be specified (if we spend sixty minutes each there).

Those four may be designated from these nominations:

• Scofflaw (cocktail bar - 3201 W. Armitage Ave.)
• Parson's Chicken & Fish ^ (draught beers + an exclusive Revolution Brwg. canned beer - 2952 W. Armitage Ave.)
• Still Life by Solemn Oath (brewpub - 2919 W. Armitage Ave.),
• Gretel ^ (2833 W. Armitage Ave.)
• Bungalow by Middle Brow ^ (brewpub - 2840 W. Armitage Ave.)
• Union ^ (2202 N. California Ave.)
• Golden Teardrops (2101 N. California Ave. B1F)

^ = food available

The total length of the march is 1.6 miles. There is a distance to span between some venues [e.g.: GO Tavern to Parson's; Gretel to Union] which will tack on additional minutes. Ultimately, the stop at Golden Teardrops could be entirely optional if people want to drop off the crawl at Union (because the Blue Line “L” station is within eyesight). I shall advocate for Golden Teardrops because I conject people have not been there, and might not be able to find it individually.
Another of our tenets which the crawl promotes is that we want to visit bars | pubs; not brewpubs | taprooms. Brewpubs | Taprooms are supposed to be better venues because they concentrate on their own brews. I shall not vote to place a brewpub on the crawl, but I can be outvoted.

Here is a Google™ map of the intended route.
Everybody is welcome. I do advise having cash on hand, as some venues might not accept a credit card. Further, if the venue is busy, settling your tab and getting out of there for the next venue might take longer than you expect.

The results of the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society's seventeenth "March Fourth for Froth" pub crawl are:

1. Still Life by Solemn Oath
2. Golden Teardrops
3. Weegee's Lounge
4. GO Tavern & Liquors

- Gretel - We went inside Gretel. I got to glimpse the basement there for the first time. We got a copy of its draught list.
But in good news | bad news: It was so busy we could not find a spot where to stand (good news for it). It would have taken excessive time to be served, and later settle (bad news for us). We left there and backpedaled to Still Life by Solemn Oath.
Bungalow by Middle Brow was a smaller venue than Gretel, and it appeared to be more crowded. We did not attempt to go in.

Weegee's Lounge and Go Tavern were cash only. Still Life by Solemn Oath was credit | debit card only.
The atmospheric conditions mitigated against attempting to start a pyre.

It is vastly unsurprising that Still Life by Solemn Oath got the top marks. Brewpubs | Taprooms have an advantage over bars, pubs, & lounges. Not the least of which is they know how their brews should taste. Many of us have experienced the quandary of being served a draught beer which did not taste like the style to which it was specified, voicing it to staff, and receiving the discordant riposte.
We were hamstrung that the route was formatted on revisiting the venues that were on the first "March Fourth for Froth" crawl in 2005. Logan Square has resurged since then, and has many more places which can now be visited. We should not have to resort to visiting a brewpub or taproom to check on superb nooks.

What the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society should do next is query the runoff candidates for the Mayor of Chicago if they will pledge to relocate the statue of General John A. Logan from its delitescent spot in Grant Park to Logan Square.
Then we ought to compound another pub crawl for a weeknight during Illinois Craft Beer Week in May.
This will give us time to select a more concise route amongst the ballooning area which can be envisioned as Logan Square. Ensuing publicity should also entice more draught beer rooters to join the LSDBPS.

Greetings, everybody. This is Steve "Pudgy" De Rose. Brad Reeg and myself have compounded a solid route for 2024's Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society's "March Fourth for Froth". It will occur on Monday, March 4th (doh), and visit these nominated venues.

1. 6:00 pm - Hopewell Brwg., 2760 N Milwaukee Ave; Chicago, IL 60647
2. 7:00 pm - The Walk In, 2727 N Milwaukee Ave; Chicago, IL 60647
3. 8:00 pm - Bixi Beer, 2515 N Milwaukee Ave; Chicago, IL 60647
4. 9:00 pm - Spilt Milk, 2758 W Fullerton Ave; Chicago, IL 60647
5. 10:00 pm - Cole's Bar, 2338 N Milwaukee Ave; Chicago, IL 60647

A map of the route.
The venues shall be judged on the criteria of Honest pour, True 16-oz. pint, Tap selection, Freshness, Value, Pub decor, Friendliness, Ventilation, and Intangibles.
The pub crawl orbits around beer, but those seeking food should know that Monday night @ Bixi is the Owen & Engine pop-up.
All are welcome to join on one, more, or all of the stops on the crawl. Cash may be preferable at some venues.

Solid list. I'm long past the days of being able to do a beer crawl on a Monday night and work the next day.

The Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society proclaim the result of this year's March Forth for Froth pub crawl.
We had around six persons at some point on the crawl. I solicited an announcement from Eater Chicago and Block Club Chicago {no links because..}, but they did not give us reportage. I persist we need to have a function more than merely once a year. We should contemplate another pub crawl during Illinois Craft Beer Week [For 2024, this would be 3-10 May.], and another in September.

1. Bixi Beer
2. Hopewell Brwg.
3. The Walk In
4. Cole's Bar
5. Spilt Milk

This year's March Forth for Froth reveals both ends of the hospitality spectrum. Brewpubs and Taprooms have a stead when judging Tap Selection, Freshness, and Value. The distinction between Bixi and Hopewell was Bixi having guest draughts, and Hopewell's Pub Decor is in need of improvement.

The Walk Inn took third place for excelling in Pub Decor, Frendliness, and Intangibles. It was outside the span of the pub crawl, but its Happy Hour [Mon.-Fri. 4:00-7:00 pm] is a solid pick.

Cole's Bar engages forth place for its Tap Selection, Freshness, and Intangibles. However, its True 16-oz. Pint variable needs improvement. Its grade might go higher if you visit on a night it has entertainment.

Something has to sink to the bottom of the ratings, and this is the outcome for Spilt Milk. It was drawnback by virtue of it being primarily a cocktail bar, with limited draught options. It purveyed an Honest Pour, but its True 16-oz. Pint was unacceptable.

Repeating ourselves, we should strive to visit more bars, pubs, and lounges in Logan Square; to avoid comparison with brewpubs and taprooms.

This is merely a {which see} link to an Avondale pub crawl we are undertaking on Monday, 6 May.

Greetings. Here we (the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society) go with our First Annual Octoberfest Pub Crawl. It shall occur on Thursday, 19 September, and visit these nominated venues:

1. 6:00 pm | Gallery Cabaret; 2020 N. Oakley Ave. 60647
2. 7:00 pm | Floyd's Pub; 1944 N. Oakley Ave. 60647 Food
3. 8:15 pm | Life On Marz C. C.; 1950 N. Western Ave. 60647
4. 9:30 pm | Green Eye Lounge; 2403 W. Homer St. 60647
5. (Optional) O's Tap; 2044 N. Western Ave. 60647 Cash only
6. (Optional) Remedy; 1910 N. Milwaukee Ave. 60647 Late night bar

The venues shall be judged on the criteria of Honest Pour, True 16-oz. Pint, Tap Selection, Freshness, Value, Pub Decor, Friendliness, Ventilation, and Intangibles.
All are welcome to join on as many or as few of the stops on the crawl.
Only one crawl venue has food; but there are numerous take-out shops along the jaunt. We promise to not mock anybody ordering from McDonald's.

Greetings, people. Here we, the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society, go.
We proclaim the 2025 March Forth for Froth: Tuesday, March 4th, 2025.
It will visit these nominated bars and pubs along west Fullerton Ave. and a portion of north California Ave.

• + Northeast corner Fullerton and Western +
  + a minute of silence honoring QUENCHERS +
• 18:01 Logan Arcade, 2410 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
• 19:11 Bob Inn, 2609 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 -cash only-
• (Optional) Fireside Bowl, 2646 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
• 20:21 Cafe Mustache, 2313 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 food
• 21:21 Logan 11 Bar & Kitchen, 2230 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 food
• 22:31 (Optional) Union, 2202 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 food

[Map] https://v.gd/onapup

The venues will be judged on the criteria of Honest pour, True 16-oz. pint, Tap selection, Freshness, Value, Pub decor, Friendliness, Ventilation, and Intangibles.
A form will be furnished for you to rate each venue ["Report Card"].
There is no charge to take part in our Pub Crawl.
Pay as you go. Visit any number of the pubs.
Submit your report card to "Pudgy" before 23:32.

Fun group of bars; when I first moved to the city 20 years ago, Bob Inn was one of our regular spots. At that time, I can't say its tap list was much to write home about, but they did have a free broken Golden Tee machine that would randomly glitch and end your round. Sometimes you'd get two holes, sometimes 16, you just never knew!

Have fun and look forward to hearing the report from the old stomping grounds.

Greetings. Here are the results of our "March Forth for Froth" 2025 Pub Crawl.
The weather was not as much a problem as was predicted. The heaviest rain fell between Fireside Bowl and Cafe Moustache. Fireside Bowl itself was added due to the unanticipated faltering of the Bob Inn [c.v.]. The additional time expended resulted in Union being dropped from the Pub Crawl due to its nightly closure.

1st place = Logan 11 Bar and Kitchen. This wins the Pub Crawl because of these elements: Superb tap selection; its freshness; _it had Fox Sports 2 on_, which was showing a live CONCACAF Champions League soccer game; and _there was a late night 'Happy Hour' deal_. (For yours truly, this was the first late night happy hour since I was in Portland, OR. in 2017.)

2nd place = Logan Arcade. For a venue more dedicated to video games and pinball machines - the tap selection is solid; the decor is superb [pinball back glasses], and everybody there was friendly.

3rd place = Fireside Bowl. This became mandatory after the disappointing experience of the Bob Inn. It has only five draughts, and two of those five are duplicates of packaged beers it purveys. But this devastates every other venue for Pub Decor; and its honest pour was a standout. For Intangibles, Tuesday night is the weekly bowling night for Chicago media outlet persons. It has a neon sign for Stroh's, *but it does not purvey Stroh's* (it has Schlitz).

4th place = Cafe Mustache. This got out of the bottom because of its Friendliness and its Intangibles. There are no draughts here. The selection of the packaged beers went beyond the typical Chicago array. There was a hip-hop performance occuring when we arrived. The male who was penultimate had good flows and beats. I would not be surprised if his songs got played on an R & B station. Tyskie imported beer (Poland) turned out to be the best-tasting brew I had on the entire Pub Crawl.

5th place = The Bob Inn. For a venue which is known about throughout much of Chicago {Amongst other elements, it is a rare north-side bar committed to the south-side b**eball team.}, it was a critical letdown as far as went the Pub Crawl. _There are no draughts here_. This was the only venue on the Pub Crawl to get a "B" for Ventilation; the Friendliness seemed to be aimed at regulars (which we were not); its packaged beer selections were limited, and it is *cash only*. (It did get an "A" for Value.)

If there is a distressing aspect to this Pub Crawl, it is that the majority of venues are not serving sixteen-ounce draught pours. We viewed many 14-oz. glasses, and even some 12-oz. plastic cups.

Our next event should be an Oktoberfest Pub Crawl in September. We will consult as to when and where.