“Get Your Brews on Route 66!”
America’s First Interstate Highway is Brewed
What is 2448 miles long, was born in 1926, and is numbered 66?
It was immortalized in a pop song written in 1946, that’s been covered by over 50 bands and recording artists as diverse as Nat King Cole, the Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode, Buckwheat Zydeco, and others.
There was even a TV show in the 60’s about it. Yes - you got it - Route 66 - America’s first Interstate highway.
The animated movie “Cars” was based on Route 66, although Radiator Springs is just a figment of the writer’s mind - or is it? We’ll take our trip and find out. And why don’t we, like in the 60’s TV show, travel in a vintage Corvette. 
Hop on into our wheels, Lightning McQueen
BBB Road Trip - ABV Rated
We’re taking our first Black Bucket Brew Road-Trip on that highway! It’s said that about 85% of it is still open for wheels, although it was decommissioned in 1985, after having been replaced and taken over by the Interstate Highway System.
In its day, the early days of motor-cars, the simple two lane highway made it possible to travel in relative ease. In 1938 Route 66 became the first US highway to be completely paved.
I plan on taking a real trip on that fabled road in the future. Come on - join us. We do need a designated driver for sure. 
Let’s tour some brew pubs and breweries as we “Get Our Kicks on Route 66.”
So hey, we’re going from Chicago to LA.
We’ll stop and have some pints along the way.
First Stop - Chicago
“It winds from Chicago to LA,
More than two thousand miles all the way.
Get your kicks on Route Sixty-Six”.
Hold it - how can we stop when we’ve not yet started? Make that - First - Start in Chicago.
Chicago was chosen for the beginning as it was where much of the nation's commerce originated at the time. Before it became Route 66, there was a paved road linking Chicago and St. Louis called the Pontiac Trail.
A Bit of History About Chicago and Route 66:
- Buckingham Fountain marks the beginning of Route 66 on North Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan.
Buckingham Fountain, No. 6 in the "Top 40 Fabulous Fountains of the World"
- The fountain, one of the world’s largest, was built in 1927, one year after Route 66 was built.
- Composed of pink Georgia marble, it is notable for the hourly water show that shoots water 250 feet into the air, and after dusk offers a choreographed light and music show as well.
- The Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) is close to the route’s beginning, too. For many years, it was the world’s tallest building, and is still the tallest in the US. It was constructed in 1973 by Sears, Roebuck & Co.
Sears / Willis Skydeck
- The Sears / Willis Tower Skydeck located on the 103rd floor, 1,353 feet up, is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Chicago.
- Hours: Open Daily. April - September 10 am - 10 pm. October - March 10 am - 8 pm.
Well, how did the Windy City get so popular? Chicago-style pizza and beer of course!
To begin our trip, we need some beer to take along for refreshment at our lunch stop. Let’s flip a coin to choose where we get it. Heads it’s... Tails it’s...
Heads - That will take us to Half Acre Beer Company, real close to Route 66.
Half Acre Beer Company
Known for both their beer and their cool artwork, they have come a long way since their beginning in 2006.
Starting with a non-traditional approach to business, Half Acre Brewing has quickly grown. Focusing on brewing great beer, they left the brewpub business model behind. They first had their recipes brewed in Wisconsin, under contract to their specifications, and then picked them up and sold them to Chicago pubs.
This approach allowed them to quickly expand, so they bought some used brewing equipment from a Durango Colorado brewer and brought it to Chicago. Half Acre then reassembled it in the building of their dreams, and they were truly in business - lock - stock, and barrels.
In April 2010 Half Acre became the first brewer in Chicago to can beer. They started canning Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, Gossamer Golden Ale and Over Ale - year-round favorites.
Chicago Magazine had this to say about Daisy Cutter Pale Ale as one of Chicago’s best craft beers:
“In the old days, Dad cracked open a can of Coors after his weekly lawn-mowing expedition, but today’s “sophistidad” turns to Daisy Cutter, a tangy pale ale bursting with whiffs of dandelion and mulch that glides down the gullet like silky extra virgin olive oil.”
They have some really great reviews so I’m trying them out. Located at 4257 N. Lincoln Ave., they are a production brewery. However, they have a cool storefront where they fill growlers and sell 16 oz. cans of their brews.
Tuesdays are $2 off growler refills at Half Acre Beer
A tour is set for 1:00pm Saturday afternoon and is limited to 60 people. Come first or you miss out. I’ve read that the line starts early! It’s $10 - cash only - and gets you a custom pint glass - plus three fills during the tour. Sounds great to me!
There are good number of other great craft breweries and brew pubs in the Chicago area, but to keep our Route 66 Road Trip authentic, I’ve limited it to those on or close to our historic highway.
Let’s peek into another brewery before we leave this great city.
Tails this time gives us...
Pizza - Chicago Style?
Piece Brewery and Pizzeria
A combination of brewpub and pizzeria, Piece Brewery and Pizzeria won the Independent Pizzeria of the year award in 2011. This is from approximately 35,000 independently owned pizzerias in the United States.
They also were voted Chicago’s best craft brewer as well. So why not go with the flow?
Piece Brewery, Chicago, founded by Bill Jacobs
Converted from an old building that housed trucks, the interior is superb and inviting, along with its cool-looking exterior. Let’s go inside for...
Piece Brewery, Chicago
...Great beers and a different approach to their Chicago pizzas - Thin Crust.
What? Thin? Why not Chicago-style thick crust?
Having lived in Chicago since 1983, the owner Bill Jacobs grew up in New Haven with great thin New Haven Style pizza. So that’s his choice and it is HOT.
At Piece, they make their own sauces, grind the cheeses, and make fresh guacamole, which gives them an edge on quality - evident in the huge number of satisfied customers.
They serve (on their pizzas) about 10,000 pounds of tomatoes each month. That’s a lot of sauce!
Yes, I know...
“But what about the beer?”
We’re getting to that - after we gas up our Corvette.
Piece Brewery has won 21 - to date - awards for their beer, which reflects the talent and skills of Brewmaster Jonathan Cutler, a graduate of The Siebel Institute of Technology. Siebel, BTW, is located in Chicago and is one of the world’s premier beer science schools - having started in 1872.
Jonathan Cutler, Brewmaster at Piece Brewery, Chicago
Take your pick, as there are usually 7 to 9 Piece Brewery beers on tap.
Please take note of their Sunday Carryout Special:
Sunday: Large Pie (Pizza) and a Full Growler $25
We’re going to make a point of stopping by for that special and enjoy the afternoon in one of the beautiful parks before leaving the “Windy City".
We may be leaving Chicago for now, but with the new brews we enjoyed and the great pizzas calling - we’ll be back!
Did you know that Route 66 gave us the first McDonald’s? It was located in San Bernardino, California.
And a less famous hamburger drive-in was the world’s first drive-in restaurant, Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri. Red mis-measured the space for the letters and had to leave out the “er”. So the first hamburg drive-in was born.
It’s time to check into our hotel and get ready for our next stop.
Next stop, who knows? We’ll just see what we find as we “get our brews on Route 66”! Stay tuned to find out what spots we choose in a later issue. We’ll make this a leisurely trip. No rushing allowed! |
The Entire Lyrics Have Rarely Been Used in Recordings
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There are over 50 covers of the Bobby Troup song recorded originally by Nat King Cole. Route 66 is classic. Take a little time now to listen, and to look at a piece of Americana - real American Road Trip history.
As a musician, I have a special appreciation for the diverse music styles that showcase the classic song Route 66. I hope that you do too.
Today we’re listening to just a few, but there are dozens more - come with me and listen.
Let’s watch Route 66 go by - before it’s too late.
Route 66
“Mister . . . you may . . . have travelled near or far,
But you haven't seen the country,
'Till you've seen the country by car!
Mister . . . may I . . . recommend a royal route?
It starts in Illinois, let me tell you boy!
“If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway, that's the best!
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!
It winds from Chicago to L.A.,
More than two thousand miles all the way!
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!
Now, you go through St. Louis, Joplin, Missouri,
And Oklahoma City is a mighty purdy!
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino!
Won't you get hip to this timely tip,
When you make that California trip?
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!
Springfield, Illinois . . . Springfield, Missouri too!
Seven states, count 'em, seven,
Spread out in front of you!
You'll like the aroma, of Tulsa, Oklahoma,
Albuquerque and Tucumcari,
make New Mexico extraordinary!
You'll wanna own a piece of Arizona,
Needles, Essex, Amboy, Azusa,
No one in sunny Cal is a loser . . .
So . . . get hip to this timely tip,
When you make that California trip!
If any Joe . . . tells you to go . . . some other way,
Say nix!
Get your kicks . . . on Route 66!”
~ Lyrics by Bobby Troup
Bobby Troup Route 66 Sheet Music
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Nat Cole Trio
First (1946) Recording of Route 66
Click to Listen on YouTube
Rolling Stones Recorded Route 66 in 1964
Click to Listen on YouTube
Depeche Mode
Click to Listen on YouTube
Buckwheat Zydeco
Click to Listen on YouTube
Brad Paisley
Click to Listen on YouTube
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