TV’s ‘Chicago Fire’ Has Inspired a Beer in Bucktown

Residents living in Bucktown and Logan Square routinely see TV crews from Chicago Fire as NBC often films the firefighter drama in those neighborhoods. The show features Lottie’s Pub, a sports bar nestled a couple blocks east of Damen Avenue at 1925 W. Cortland Street. The pub’s real name isn’t used, and instead the firefighter hangout is known as Molly’s Bar on TV. Knowing a marketing opportunity, Lottie’s is collaborating with Spiteful Brewing to create a beer based on the TV show. Next month the bar will start serving Molly’s By Day IPA.

The beer will be launched on May 18 at a party at Lottie’s. It’s a 5.2-percent ABV beer that costs $6 a pint and the bar will give away pint glasses with the beer’s logo. They’ll also give away tours to Spiteful’s brewery in Bowmanville.

Chicago Fire debuted in 2012 on NBC. Scenes were once filmed at the bar, but that no longer happens. Lottie’s is part of the Pioneer Tavern Group which includes Frontier in Noble Square and The Pony in Lakeview.