Hopleaf

Long before Hopleaf, the Map Room, Goose Island, The Great Beer Palace and the hundreds of tap rooms and craft beer bars we know today, there was Quenchers. For 39 years prior to its closing in 2018, Quenchers featured the beers of the world. Quenchers was the brainchild of Earl Johnson, a true publican's publican. Earle worked hard to offer beers from faraway places that were not easily available in the Chicago marketplace. If you went on vacation to Argentina, Vietnam, New Zealand, Greece, Lebanon or Bulgaria and wanted another taste of a beer you had there, chances are, Quencher's had it.

When he retired, he sold the building and the fixtures and it is now a medical clinic. That's just as well because there could never be a Quenchers without Earle. The place was not fancy, nor was it quite a "dive bar" either. I loved the ancient wooden with glass door coolers that may have predated Prohibition. It was one of, if not the first Chicago watering hole where the main conversations were about the beer. Many of Chicago's brewing pioneers planned their futures over pints there.

Quenchers also had a side room where hundreds of aspiring bands, solo artists and comedians performed. Free popcorn and a few sandwiches and chili were the extent of the food offerings. There really isn't anyplace like Quencher's today.

After Earle's retirement he stopped by at Hopleaf occasionally. He did some traveling until recently when his health began to fail. Sadly shortly after coming home from his last hospital stay, Earle passed. He was 83.
RIP Earle Johnson. Chicago will not forget you.

Photo: Hopleaf 2023. Earle Johnson, Michael Roper and John Freyer

Celebrate the return of Jester King in Chicago with Hopleaf and brewery co-founder Jeffrey Stuffings. Stop by, say hi and enjoy six Jester King drafts.

🇧🇪 Belgian National Day 🇧🇪

Join us ALL DAY July 21 to celebrate!

🍺 $4 OFF all Belgian drafts & bottles

Traditional lambic mussels with dijonnaise

Santé!

It was so wonderful last weekend to have a reunion with our long ago, long time Hopleaf server, Regina Kidder who moved west after her tenure at Hopleaf with her partner Eric. After 34 years, we have employed hundreds of people, many who have gone on to very interesting things all over the world. Regina's post Hopleaf life includes Alpacas, nursing, pottery and other fabulous endeavors. We enjoyed showing her and Eric what we've done with the place since her departure. She approved.

On April 25, the day we held our Zwanze day, Rey who was hosting, was late for their shift. We are all close at the Hopleaf, it is a small community of people that have worked together for years and sometimes decades. We know something is up when people don’t show up.

We learned that day Rey was involved in a car accident, leaving them in the ICU.

Rey’s road to recovery is long but they are a fighter, if you ever got the chance to be seated or had your food run by Rey you could see the sparkle. As a teen Rey was involved in local and national politics, inspired by the thought doing what’s right for all people.

If you have a dollar to spare Rey’s family and friends are running a Go Fund Me to help with Rey’s long term care. We really do appreciate anything you can give. Go Fund Link here:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ana-reyna-recover-and-rebuild

A week from today June 25 at 5pm we will be celebrating longtime friends and regulars Dovetail Brewery Join us for their 10th anniversary celebration. We will be tapping a gravity keg of 10th anniversary lager to start the party.

Friday Happy Hour 4-6pm with Half Acre and Allagash! Join us as we welcome the Half Acre crew and Rob Tod from Allagash to celebrate their collab beer Daisy Cutter Crown.

Weekend special and it is tasty! Stracciatella w/ fresh strawberries, radishes, strawberry vinaigrette, crispy freekeh, strawberry-balsamic reduction, basil oil, pea tendrils & focaccia. $17 while supplies last and only available after 5pm.