The Barrel

A while ago there was a DJ group who would be in the Barrel busting beats and then they went MIA.
I found them not too long ago and turns out that they were fired/​kicked out from their weekly set due to having played «Latino music» They were told that the people who go to the Barrel do not want to listen to that and that they needed to stop.
Aside from that little racist incident. I had gone a few months back and had a seat in the back of the bar. 1. it was cold AF back there. 2. They moved us to put in a horrible jazz band. 3. the jazz band was real bad. 4. The band was extremely loud. 5. It takes too long to get the ONE bartenders attention to order a drink.
Not good experiences the few times I have gone. I believe that there’s great bars you can go to with drink specials and signature drinks when in Pilsen. Do not waste time and money at this dirty, racist, inconvenient spot.

Still the BEST bar in Pilsen… maybe the universe!!!

I’ll give this bar a one star based on the decent pricing of the brew. This was a bad experience for me. You have the owner who sits around getting drunk and judging others because of the music they play on the jukebox. He is really rude. He literally sits there and tells people not to mess with the «atmosphere» of his bar. What a joke. I would never go back because of his poor customer service and the fact that the owner is there drunk says a lot about him and his business. Besides that they have no food to offer, and the only thing you can do is listen to music and of course as I said before he doesn’t even let you do that. He demands his workers to shut it off if it’s «pissing him off». He has no manners. Screaming and yelling at the bar and telling people not to play the jukebox. So then why do you have it there? Poor customer service. Stay at home buddy. WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. AND I WILL NEVER GO BACK. POOR OWNERSHIP.

Ugh bottles and cans was the best. Killer jukebox with tons of rolling stones, a pool table and cheap drinks. Thank god someone came in and did a crappy remode and changed it to tables and chairs. I mean the barrel.

Finally got a chance to make it here, this place is always showing up on my Unilocal …
I came in here in the afternoon, mostly regulars in here. The bar was moderately clean, I was glad it didn’t smell like stale beer or piss soaked floors …
There were cocktail choices to drink, but the bartender informed me the mix was already made, yuck, I like fresh summer drinks … But for $ 7, I guess you can’t go wrong … That’s why I’m knocking off a star.
Anyways, I had him make me a margarita with the recipe I like and 5 stars for following directions .
The bartender Patrick was super friendly and welcoming which was refreshing because there are many pretentious bartenders out there. I liked that he was versatile and able to adapt with new customers and the regulars that were there…
I would def come back to have a few beers or another drink .
****This is a cash only bar ****

Can’t be mad about a cool neighborhood bar. I’m a fairly new addition to the Pilsen neighborhood and I noticed this place on the way to run a quick errand. Later in the week, I scooped up a few friends and we made our way over.
Walking in, the vibe was already pretty cool with a bar full of people and chalkboards full of some great craft brews. We each ordered a draft and then noticed there was more space to sit in back. We made our way back there and found a table to sit at.
We didn’t partake this time, but there is also an option to grab beer to go.
I am excited to go back to get to know this place and the staff to give a better review. First quick stop — was a very nice one. Looking forward to revisiting this neighborhood spot.

I’m no barfly, but if I was, The Barrel would be my home. I love this little dive located one minute’s walk from my home. And don’t get the impression that when I say «dive» I mean filthy with not an ounce of effort. This place is, to me, a perfect balance between local dive bar and cultured enjoyment — particularly on Friday nights, showcasing one of Chicago’s finer smooth jazz band. George, original owner since being purchased nearly 2 years ago (now co-​owner with sweet Patrick) is nothing short of a brilliant businessman and perfect bar owner. Affable, attentive, and adorable, he’s a huge part of The Barrel’s draw. (And as the most smooth-​talking of flirts, he knows how to make a gal feel like she’s a queen!) He’s given the hood another stellar and lasting reason to love Pilsen and its interesting and most welcoming motley crew. Cheers, The Barrel! Muah!

In terms of the bar scene, I was immediately excited to have found this establishment because of cost and atmosphere, but would recommend it only for people who do not mind having roofie jokes made about their drink (by the owner of the bar), having to deal with other jokes about rape and same-​sex loving people, and being verbally assaulted outside the bar (by the bar owner) on the sidewalk after me telling him that I did not appreciate him making a joke about roofies, rape, or any sexual violence, especially when directed towards me. As a female who works with people who have been raped and molested, and has personally been a victim of male sexual aggression, these jokes deeply saddened me, as well as pissed me off. Too bad the owner resulted to yelling on the sidewalk, as I would have entertained having a normal conversation about these issues with him.
I suppose it was naïve of me to expect good things of a bar entirely filled with men in a neighborhood that contains both men and women. I sincerely hope that no one else ever has as upsetting of a time as I had there this weekend.

They are willing to accommodate gluten free patrons with adaptations to their menu. I happened to be there when they had «right bee cider» which was wonderful. They also have amazing local brews on tap.

Chicago brewed beers;George (the owner) is awesome. Great place to watch all Chicago games and live music Friday nights. Very cool place :)

My new favorite Local Bar.
All Craft beers from the Chicagoland area.
George the owner aka host with the most is a riot.
Your damn right i’ll keep coming back good drinks great people even better time.
I used to live in Logan square where dive bar are all around but this shall be my new watering hole. Wasn’t excited about moving out south but The Barrel softens the blow. Establishments need to be more like this place

This place is a dive from the smell of stale beer down to the two old timers arguing about Chicago politics at the bar. I love it! The owner is beyond friendly and drinks are good.
I like that they serve local brews and carry a huge selection of whiskeys. I feel like this place truly represents a cross section of Pilsen and its people… something for everyone without being pretentious.
Also the Friday night Jazz salon, definitely worth checking out. I’m really surprised it doesn’t get more packed.

Great local dive bar with great beer selection and an even greater owner, George. Live band on the weekends makes for an even greater ambiance.

It’s funny how you claim to sell «only Chicago beer» but you have Tecate, Modelo, and Corona. Those are not Chicago beers.

After a long day of work I like to come here and have a few drinks, on occasions of coarse.
5 bucks for lagunitas «censored» aka the Kronic can’t tbeat that, it’s like going to the brewery for those prices

Right off the Damen Pink line is this gem of a dive bar. Upon entering, there’s stools along the bar and to the right are a few tables for some larger parties. For Friday happy hour, my coworkers and I will seat ourselves at the large table which can squeeze 10 – 12 people.
There are many things to like about this spot, mainly that they serve local craft brews that are never more than six dollars. The selection is neatly written in different colored chalks. Also, compared to other bars in the area, it’s definitely cleaner and better maintained with a friendly and accommodating bartender.
Solid spot to grab a drink. My only knock is that they don’t serve food, but luckily Taqueria Los Alamos is only a few blocks away. There’s nothing like some steak tacos and beer.

I love going to this bar! Primarily because of two cocktails that George/​owner came up with which are his Soulful Ginger and CBGB!!! And they have a nice craft beer selection. There’s also TVs for watching your Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox games or UFC! And when it really gets fun is when the Rockabilly Scene shows up once a month around the 2^nd or 3^rd Saturday for their Killer Diller Record Hop! Awesome!!! Great live Dj’s playing killer music, tasty cocktails, good beer, good dance floor for jiving or doing the stroll, and best of all Great Company! Everybody is welcoming and friendly! Can’t wait to go again next month!

–A strong Chicago-​centric beer list
–Weekly live music/DJ’s
–Friendly patrons
–Very reasonable prices
–Public transportation across the street (Damen Pink Line station)
–Chicago bartending legend, George, of previous ‘George’s Dark Bar’ infamy
I love this place and my 2015 new years resolution is to spend more time here in my ongoing battle with my liver.

$ 5 local craft beers in Chicago! I really don’t think I need to say any more, but I will.
I have driven by The Barrel several times not knowing what lays inside. All I saw was the Export Ale sign out front. Then one time I noticed a particular local brewer’s sign in the window. That peaked my interest, but it still took about two months for me to stop in… I kept forgetting where The Barrel was located.
One day, my ladyfriend and I were looking for a place to get a beer and she said «what about that place under the Damen Pink Line stop. I said «Oh Yeah! Let’s go.» And we did.
When we arrived (around 4pm), it looked pretty dark inside, and the local brewery’s sign was not turned on. I stuck my head in the door and asked if the bar was opened. The guy behind the counter said yes. We made our way inside to find a few things… First, there was a bar with several whiskies lined-​up behind it (this is a great start). Second, there was a giant chalk board with 10 or 11 local craft beers listed on it [all but one was listed at $ 5 (the other was $ 6)]. Finally, there was a funky smell in the air, but nothing that stayed long enough to make me want to leave.
Oh, at this point, I should mention, The Barrel is cash only. There is a Chase ATM a block and a half south though.
The beer was cheap, but awesome. How can you go wrong with pints of local craft beer for $ 5 a piece. I haven’t seen prices like that since I lived in Washington!
The owner who was behind the bar was super friendly. He chatted us up and informed us about all the things that the bar does throughout the month (live music and the like), how he got into the business, etc.
All-​in-​all, this was a delightful experience. I will definitely be back again.

I have no idea why this bar has no reviews after a year of service, but this place is awesome! Such great owners! They’re so down to earth and prices are on point! Hands down best bar in Chicago!