Sip Craft Beer, Listen To Live Music, And Dine On Rotating Local Food Trucks At This Top-Rated Illinois Brewery
By Linze Rice|Published May 20, 2023
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Linze Rice
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Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
Having a local watering hole in your neighborhood is a luxury that locals often relish. I’m a creature of habit that tends to find the places I like and stick to them. And there is really no shortage of amazing food and drink options in Illinois. Now add in features like getting to try new local chefs each week, a spacious taproom and patio, live music and trivia, and nearly all the beer flavors you could imagine, and I am absolutely in. That’s why this family-owned spot is the best brewery in Forest Park, Illinois.
Exit Strategy Brewing Company, 7700 Madison St., was established in 2015 by husband-and-wife duo Chris and Katherine Valleau. The couple left their jobs as a lawyer and a teacher, respectively, to venture into the world of business and brewing.
The space has an open, airy feel with wide retractable windows and a long, vaulted skylight over the bar — meaning you can stay cozy in the winter and breezy in the summer. Inside, it showcases an eclectic farmhouse-meets-industrialist aesthetic, with a mix of seating options for individuals, couples, families, and large groups.
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The brewery makes its beer in-house and features a substantial list of both its classic mainstays, as well as seasonally rotating beers. Personally, I love that they offer a variety of types at the same time — like sours, ales, stouts, and lagers — and don't just focus on IPAs, which can sometimes be too bitter for me.
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However, its flagship pale ale, the Exit Strategy American Pale Ale, is a tried-and-true classic that definitely hits the spot when you do want something more straightforward and beer-y.
Fruity ales, which I tend to gravitate toward, are often mixed with lactose to make a frothy, tart, and highly drinkable masterpiece perfect for a summer day.
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The variety doesn't stop at the draft list though — Exit Strategy offers beer cocktails, Sunday bloody Mary specials, wine, and even plenty of non-alcoholic options, ranging from lemonade and CBD water to NA beers and cocktails. There is truly something for everyone here!
One of the best things about Exit Strategy is its new food program, which sees a rotating mix of local food trucks and chefs on its patio or in its kitchen, which is perfectly equipped with a walk-up window.
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While some days at the bar you can bring your own food in, other days local chefs will be on hand to whip up incredible artisanal bites — from pizza, to burgers, to soul food, to Indian fusion, to empanadas and crunchy tacos.
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Its dining room extends into the back of house, where Exit Strategy holds trivia nights, as well as live music. Peep the brewing equipment in the back left corner!
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From country to cover bands to DJs, the entertainment is as varied as the beer list.
The brewery also has a shuffleboard league that plays weekly games, and a number of board games on hand for guests to use. In the spacious front dining room, families often post up on the comfy couches.
Linze Rice
In the summer, the brewery's parking lot becomes an energetic patio with strung lights, tables, umbrellas, and just the right mix of sunshine and shade. It's also where fun events, like the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade party, Pride Month, and summer beer release events take place.
