In a move completely out of character for a man who made his Hollywood name sitting on a barstool, George Wendt has released a suds-soaked pseudo memoir, Drinking with George: A Barstool Professional's Guide to Beer.
Wendt is a Chicago native who grew up in Beverly in the 50's and 60's and met his wife, Bernadette Birkett (the sister of DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett), while sharing the Second City stage. Like his career-defining character Norm Peterson, the iconic "Cheers" barfly, it turns out Wendt is most comfortable hoisting a pint.
In an interview with the Sun-Times' Mike Thomas, Wendt names some of his favorite Chicago watering holes (and takes a few shots at the decline of pub culture and "lace-curtain Irish" while he's at it).
Q. Chicago is still a big tavern town, though there aren't nearly as many of them as there once were. What were some favorites in your beer heyday here?
A. We used to like the Old Town Ale House. Still do. I rarely go in there, but I live 2,000 miles away. Of course, the old Sneak Joynt [on Wells], which turned into the Blues Bar. And wasn't there Marge's on Sedgwick? Is that still there? [Yes, now called Marge's Still.] And River Shannon there on Armitage. And these days I like to go into Celtic Crossing on Clark Street near Ontario. And on the South Side, Cork & Kerry on Western Avenue. Western Avenue these days -- I know they canceled the parade -- it's like Universal Studios presents Ireland. An Irish theme park.
Wendt is chronicling his book tour-- and attendant pub crawls-- on Twitter. Watch him discuss beer (curent favorite: California IPA's) below.