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| - I know none of us beer-lovers wants to admit it, but craft beer has become completely mainstream. We've tried almost every style of beer out there, and deep down, we're pining away for something more.
Which is why you should come here. In a city with a glut of amazing breweries and brewpubs, Vintage stands out because it does things differently than the other places. I always look forward to the bizarre and unique beer choices that I'll find each time I visit. Not to say that they don't also have very solid, classic styles of beer - the Woodshed IPA and the Derby Girl ESB are fantastic. I just love that I can also come here and try the Jinja Ninja or the bright pink Hibiscus Saison if I feel like mixing things up. If you come on Monday, the beers are only 2.50. Let me repeat that: amazing craft beer for 2.50 a pint.
And quite frankly, Vintage is clearly home to some really innovative thinkers. When I attended the Great Taste of the Midwest in 2011, Vintage had what amounted to a huge, swank lounge set up at their booth. You could laze about on leather couches, enjoying the brightly colored fish swimming about in the enormous fish tank while you sampled their beers. This, in the middle of a grassy field at Olin Park.
The atmosphere at Vintage itself is very similar. The place is dark, dark, dark, with low lighting, dark wood, and a beautiful aquarium behind the bar. There are many comfortable places to sit or lounge, and the dining area is similarly dark and comfortable. The icing on the cake is the brand new outdoor area, where you can eat or drink under the lovely little lights strung across the patio.
I generally go to Vintage for the beer, but I've enjoyed some good meals there as well. They have creative menu ideas that are generally well-executed. The portions are huge, so feel comfortable splitting an entree with a friend.
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