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08/05/2026
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
07/29/2026
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.
07/13/2026
🇧🇪 Belgian National Day 🇧🇪
Join us ALL DAY July 21 to celebrate!
🍺 $4 OFF all Belgian drafts & bottles
Traditional lambic mussels with dijonnaise
Santé!
06/26/2026
Celebrate Canada Day at Hopleaf! All day long Wednesday July 1. We will have two draft Canadian beers and one in the bottle. We will be serving our famous mussels from Prince Edward Island and our poutine! Music is an ode to Canadians love for hockey!
06/24/2026
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.
06/23/2026
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
06/18/2026
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.
06/09/2026
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.
06/06/2026
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.
Address
5148 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL
60640
To reach this destination on N Clark Street in Chicago, you can take public transport by getting off at the Bryn Mawr Station or Berwyn Station and walking a few blocks south. Alternatively, if driving, there are metered parking spots available along N Clark Street or paid parking garages nearby.
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What people say
Hopleaf on N Clark Street in Chicago is a must-visit bar and restaurant for beer, wine, and spirits enthusiasts. Since 1992, Hopleaf has been serving up Belgian-inspired cuisine that is sure to satisfy any craving. The menu features a variety of delicious options, including the old favorite chicken liver mousse served with challah, fig jam, port reduction, grapes, radish, marcona almonds and a petite salad. Additionally, Hopleaf offers an extraordinary selection of bottled wines that pair perfectly with their famous mussels. Among the best choices are Rieslings from different regions around the world. The Gustav Lorenze Alsace Riesling is a recent addition to their collection and at $40 it's a bargain! If you're looking for something new to try, don't miss out on their exclusive tappings of Lambic beers from Brussels' LAMBIEK FABRIEK. These sour beers are so new and tart that they're likely to run out quickly! With its cozy atmosphere and exceptional food and drink offerings, Hopleaf is definitely worth checking out.
