Being home for a couple of weeks over the holidays, I got a chance to check out a few of the new establishments that have popped up around Chicago’s western suburbs. One that especially caught my attention is the new Limestone Brewing Company in Plainfield. While there are a few brewpubs around the suburbs, this one is less than five miles from my parents’ home and serves up some of the best beers brewed in the midwest. The place is big and airy, with a stage in a corner that’s going to play host to a lot of local talent around Chicagoland once some of the kinks get worked out of the management’s system.

Another place I’m very excited for is the forthcoming Revolution Brewing Company in Logan Square. It’s got quite the following on its Facebook fan page and I can’t wait to join the mug club. There are a lot of great places to drink locally brewed beer, but only a few around Chicago where you can drink the beer about 50 feet from where it was born.

Both of these endeavors have been years in the process, and, thanks to Facebook, the fans and future patrons have been able to follow along as during the construction process all the way down to having the all-important brewing equipment installed. It’s a great way to create a sense of community for the local beer lovers eager to get a taste.

[top image via Limestone Brewing Company's Facebook page, bottom image via Revolution Brewery's Facebook page]