excerpted from article

Handlebar

2311 W. North Ave., 773-384-9546
The bar: Sure, this Wicker Park mainstay draws lots of bikers, but don't be dissuaded if your bike hasn't seen a tire pump in six months. The beer: Juju Ginger Ale from Left Hand Brewing Company is beer laced with ginger; try it with something spicy to experience the full cooling effect. New Belgium's Mighty Arrow Pale Ale is a relatively light beer with complex flavors and good balance that makes it an easy drinker. The outdoors: A huge beer garden in back just about doubles the seating space, and solves the problem of cars and buses trundling next to the table. Plus, part of the garden has a roof over it, should "severe" weather rear its ugly head. Need another reason to go? Handlebar features a mostly vegetarian full menu, so it's easy to make a meal out of a couple good beers and the Black Beans Maduro -- a delicious pile of beans, rice, plantains, and cheese.