The Barrel Run

We took our staff on the Barrel Run for a winter outing. I have to say it was a great trip. We did 3 breweries and trust me that was plenty. The bus was very well crafted and staff was very professional. Sure you can go to a bar or brewery on your own, but when you are on the bus with friends it’s ten times better. We will be back.
BHT

Highly recommend this amazing brewery tour. The «bus» was the best part– touring the city in a bus repurposed as a barrel. Seriously a must do!

The Barrel Run took our large group on a tour last week. It was a blast! The bus itself is amazing – converted from an old school bus, but you would never know (hello, hard wood floors??). The staff was knowledgeable, fun and totally forgiving of our rowdy crowd. We did the tour that included brewery tour of Revolution, which was really interesting. We will definitely make it an annual tradition. Highly recommend!

Chicagoans, you MUST check out The Barrel Run!!!
Seriously, RUN don’t walk to sign up for a tour.
A large group of my friends spent a chilly Chicago evening touring local breweries in style. First off, setting up a private tour with this company was a PLEASURE. They were beyond accommodating to us. Second, the vehicle. It was so cool!!! It is a large wood barrel with wood interior and ample seating. As we drove around to our breweries, we were able to see they city! Third, the beer. Some of the best places in Chicago.
If you are looking for a fun evening with friends, co-​workers, bachelor/​ette nights – LOOK NO FURTHER and BOOK!!!

So much fun! David was incredible to work with, they picked us up near our workplace, we got to visit different breweries and they helped arrange lunch for us at one stop. The guide was fantastic and our group had an amazing time!

Party buses and trolleys are a dime a dozen in Chicago, but The Barrel Run is a fun new experience you have to try! We rode The Barrel Run bus around Chicago for our team holiday outing and it was so much fun. Our tour guide told us about the history of alcohol in Chicago, what a «barrel run» means and fun commentary along the way. He was super nice and joined us at each stop along the way. On our tour, we hit up Haymarket Brewery and Motor Row Brewing. My favorite part was connecting my phone to the sound system and playing our favorite songs along the way. Thanks for a great time!

I booked the Barrel Run private tour as a surprise party for my fiancé’s 31^st Birthday and it was an unforgettable experience! All our friends are from Chicago but nobody had ever gone on brewery tours in such style! David was very professional and a pleasure to work with from start to finish. The handcrafted bus was unique, impressive and comfortable. I’ve told many friends about this company and look forward to our next trip in the Barrel

Whenever I and my family travel, we typically try to hit up local breweries but sometimes they are all spread out and we don’t rent a car. I think to myself, why cant they just have a beer bus that hits all these places? Well, Chicago does!
First off, this is like stepping onto a barrel time machine made by Doc Brown. The door opens just like Doc’s train at the end of Back to the Future III. This bus is a piece of sheer beauty alone before a tour even starts. I would think this could be showcased in a freaking movie since the craftsmanship is out of this world. I would probably pay an admission just to ride in it… oh wait, you’re telling me my admission brings me to place with booze and free samples?!
I took one of the distillery tours. I’m not much of a hard liquor guy, but David showed us the way to some gems I would have never thought to look for. FEW, Coval and Rhine Hall. It’s hard to rate the tour alone since every experience could be different depending on your tastes and feelings of the stops you make, but I feel the Barrel Run makes a point to weed out the bad apples and provide an experience that is positive. You may go to a few places you have never heard of, but that’s the point! The staff at the destinations all seem to be excited when the bus arrives and treats you like they are there just to make you happy.
Each stop provides samples, a background of their story and sometimes a tour. Another great thing is that my D.D.D. (designated driver David) and crew provide a history lesson during my commute. It’s great when the people on the street look at you like «how do you get on that tour?» Worth every dollar. Comparable to prices of other tours, but is cooler and goes a little deeper into new and fresh craft establishments.

A great experience all around! I had a group of friends visiting Chicago for the weekend and I thought, what better way to show them around Chicago than in a Barrel?! We planned the route we wanted to take, and David was incredibly accommodating in making it all happen! The Barrel itself is incredible — I consider myself a sort of party bus/​trolly/​etc connoisseur having ridden in a number of them in different cities, but this one is a completely unique experience. The décor, craftsmanship, and comfort inside was unlike any one I’ve been in. You can tell how much time David put into creating the barrel and how much care he puts into maintaining it.
I would definitely recommend checking out the Barrel Run if you’re looking for a fun outing and a very unique experience in Chicago!

Such a great experience! We rented out The Barrel Run for a corporate event and it is the absolute best! The driver and guide gave great insights into local hidden gem breweries and distilleries. The group loved learning about the process and of course enjoyed the brews! This is not your normal boring Chicago tour but a real experience. I would highly recommend The Barrel Run for both corporate/​group events as well as group transport – AMAZING! The construction of The Barrel itself was incredible – there is nothing else like it. Loved it! You have to check it out!

I would recommended The Barrel Run to anyone in the Chicago area. I rented this delightfully unique trolley for a friend’s Bachelorette party. Booking and planning was made both simple and flexible with David. He was very accommodating, and even supplied us with water, ice, and coolers for the night. If you’re looking for a transportation experience unlike another, and not to mention turn a few heads on the streets of Chicago, go with the Barrel Run!

Worth every dollar for the cost of admission.
Derek and Dave are running an amazing operation. Bus is awesome. Very comfortable. All mods con. They have a great rapport with the breweries, so they seem to kick that little extra for the Barrel Run riders.
Best way I’ve ever toured breweries. Already looking forward to another Barrel Run.

My experience on The Barrel Run today was… well, how should I say… wonderfully unique!!! The bus itself is unlike anything you’ve ever seen or stepped inside. Feels like a time capsule into history. I only wish I wore my flapper outfit!
I took the White Lighting tour and it was awesome… you get a taste of everything: an explanation of the bus and how all its components really relate to the distilling and brewing process; a 1920’s playlist that sends you back in time; history about prohibition in Chicago; a tour at each stop explaining the specific distillery; and last, but certainly not least, a taste of all the deliciously distilled spirits.
Overall, I highly recommend taking a tour with The Barrel Run. Now I can’t wait to try one of their brewery tours!