Brewery / taproom
Unclaimed profileMiddle Brow Bungalow
Chicago, IL · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Middle Brow Bungalow pairs a serious brewery with a natural winery under one roof. House beers all hit $7, from a crisp kolsch to a French oak-aged sour. The wine list leans on Middle Brow's own labels, with bottles from $16 to $68. Cocktails are $13 and built on house-made syrups and local spirits. A non-alcoholic program covers mocktails and N/A options.
- What should I order?
- Start with Yard Work kolsch or the Oak Forest #2 sour, then move to a bottle of FLOAT Vidal Blanc + Traminette. The Lager Spritz offers a low-alcohol bridge between beer and cocktail.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Drinkers who appreciate a brewery that also makes its own natural wine, and anyone looking for a varied, reasonably priced beer list with creative non-alcoholic alternatives.
- What should I expect to spend?
- House beers are $7 each; cocktails are $13; wine bottles range from $16 to $68.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- Middle Brow operates as both brewery and natural winery, so the wine list is entirely house-made, featuring hybrid grapes like Vidal Blanc and Frontenac. The beer list is equally self-sufficient, with a sour aged in French oak on Peruvian purple corn and Michigan cherries.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A small but inventive list of five cocktails, each $13, built on house-made syrups and bitters with local spirits. Standouts include an Old Fashioned with piloncillo bay leaf syrup and a Shrub Highball using Letherbee gin.
Menu strengths
- — House-made ingredients like piloncillo bay leaf syrup and cherry bark + blackstrap bitters
Standout selections
- — Old Fashioned – Judson & Moore rye, El Dorado 5yr rum, piloncillo bay leaf syrup, cherry bark + blackstrap bitters
- — Shrub Highball – house shrub (blueberry, fig leaf + spices), Letherbee gin
Pricing: All cocktails priced at $13.
Wine
An extensive list of natural wines from Middle Brow's own winery, featuring hybrid grapes and creative blends. Bottles range from $16 to $68, with options like FLOAT and PIZZA WINE.
Menu strengths
- — Unique hybrid grape varieties like Vidal Blanc and Frontenac
Standout selections
- — FLOAT / Vidal Blanc + Traminette – 2024, $16
- — PIZZA WINE / Marechal Foch + Frontenac + Noiret – 2025, $64
Pricing: Bottles range from $16 to $68.
Beer
A diverse house beer lineup at a uniform $7, from a straightforward kolsch to a French oak-aged sour with Peruvian purple corn and cherries.
Menu strengths
- — Seven house beers covering kolsch, witbier, sour, and pale ale
Standout selections
- — Yard Work – kolsch with huell melon hops, 4%
- — Oak Forest #2 – French oak-aged sour with Peruvian purple corn and Michigan tart cherries, 4.5%
Pricing: All house beers priced at $7.
Nonalcoholic
A thoughtful non-alcoholic program with mocktails using Lyre's, Seedlip, and Pathfinder, plus N/A sparkling rosé and N/A IPA. House-made shrub and kombucha round out the options.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated mocktail list with craft ingredients; Includes N/A beer and wine alternatives
Standout selections
- — MIDDLE BROW | Dark and Stormy – Lyre's n/a dark rum, pathfinder hemp root amaro, lime, ginger beer
- — Fair State – Hypercold n/a west coast IPA
Pricing: Prices not listed.
Spirits
A curated selection of craft spirits and liqueurs, including Judson & Moore, Buzzard's Roost, Zissou, Letherbee, Faccia Brutto, and Green Key, supporting the cocktail program.
Menu strengths
- — Selection of local and craft distillers; Includes amaro and walnut liqueur for depth
Standout selections
- — Faccia Brutto nocino green walnut liqueur
Pricing: Prices not listed.
How it sits with the food
The venue is described as a 'beer & wine & pizza den,' so the PIZZA WINE blend of Marechal Foch, Frontenac, and Noiret with red fruit and strawberry yogurt notes aligns with the sourdough pizza program.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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