Atlas Brewing Company

Atlas Brewing Company Taproom 2747 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL

The Location:
 
Atlas Brewing Company opened their doors in the fall of 2012, taking the name of a brewery from the Prohibition Era that was forced to close down.  The taproom is located in the young (people) and happening area of Lincoln Park, connected to a bowling alley, creating a vibe inside that's a combination of dark speakeasy and fun social club.  On the weekends, this place is full of folks and is a fun time.  I've also been there for their home brewer meetings where folks bring in their own brews to share and to talk shop.  It was a great time and I love they support the home brewers in the community.  We've all got to start somewhere!

The Beer:

One thing I like about Atlas is their ever changing beer selection.  They make four or five beers regularly and then rotate another three or four beers as the season or their inspirations fancy.  I've had a BBA stout, a christmas quadrupel and a I.I.P.A., along with a few others I can't recall.  Currently they're serving a barley wine, a bitter, a Belgian wheat, a milk stout, a pale ale, a golden, a russian imperial stout and a brown ale.  Tons of selections and flavors to choose from.  Here's a quick breakdown of the beers I tried last night:

Burnham Brown Rye Ale:  Certainly rye heavy in the nose.  German & English hops up front, blended and balanced by rye malts, though not overly peppery.  A twist on the traditonal brown ale, there's a subtle roasted flavor that grows as I drink.  5.8% ABV

Diversey Pale Ale:  Very much the in vogue APA, citrus hops (pineapple, orange, mandarin) heavy with a light touch of sweet caramel malts.  There's a peppery bite that suggests just the lightest addition of rye.  Tons of pineapple & orange in the nose.  This is my typical choice when I come here, a solid brew that will satisfy any hop head.  Light, zesty, Yum!  5.5% ABV

Old Disheveler Barley Wine:  Tons of dark cherry & strawberry sweetness.  A touch of caramel, rye and brown malts.  Yum!  It's a bit boozy, but that's to be expected with this style.  Very malt heavy without feeling heavy on the palate, light and crisp hops soften and balance the flavor.  A sweet brew that comes close to a Christmas ale in sweetness without the warming spices.  It's worthy of your dollars.  9.9% ABV

Obfuscation Imperial Stout:  Tons of chocolate & coffee malt.  There's a noticeable English malt influence bringing an oatmeal quality to the flavor.  The smell is very sweet caramel and toffee, with a real creaminess to it.  Very smooth in the mouthfeel with a touch of dryness in the finish.  A very flavorful Russian Imperial Stout.  Yum!

Andromeda Milk Stout:  Sweet milk creaminess in the nose, very milk chocolaty.  A subtle roasted malt flavor with mild milk chocolate undertones, this is a rich, creamy and smooth.  A good brew that holds strong in their lineup.  5.3% ABV

Overall:

The beer at Atlas is typically pretty good, but certainly has the feel of a young brewing company finding a sweet spot.  Their creativity and willingness to try new ales and recipes will bring about the occasional misstep, but brewing is an artistic endeavor and experimentation is vital.  Atlas may not get the attention some of the other breweries get in Chicago, but they will be soon enough.  I definitely suggest stopping by and getting a pint, filling up a growler or getting a four ounce flight of their brews.  Supporting a small business has never tasted so good!