A beer is a good thing. Several beers can be better. But sometimes, only a wide arsenal of different beers will suffice, and when that happens, you need to pull up a barstool at 1702. The name refers to the place's Speedway Boulevard address, but it might as well be the number of hours you'll have to spend trying the more than 50 domestic and imported beers on tap—not to mention the numerous others in bottles. This joint is seriously suds-crazy, regularly hosting beer-themed events and constantly updating their dizzying selection of fizzy, alcoholic goodness. Their pizza and pub grub is also excellent. What's really amazing thing is that anyone still shows up for class at the UA, with so much great beer within walking distance. Talk about iron-clad willpower.
Runners up:
2. Old Chicago
2960 N. Campbell Ave.
327-6200, oldchicago.com
3. The B Line
621 N. Fourth Ave.
882-7575, blinerestaurant.com
