Sola's Tap and Liquor

01/26/2018

The first beer on the left in the backroom at Sola's Tap and Liquor

Commercial for Meister Brau beer feat George Wendt (a.k.a. Norm from Cheers) from the summer of 1987.

01/26/2018

When you're outta Schlitz....

The Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company was an American brewery based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and once the largest producer of beer in the world. Its namesake be...

12/17/2016

As we settle in for a "Deep freeze weekend", I'm (Mike Sola) reminded of heading into the tavern during the Blizzard of '67. I would have only been 6 and a few months old at the time, but with the older brothers going out into the snow, I tagged along...until they lost me. There were buses stranded on Michigan Avenue near the Little League field on 125th...I remember using that like an Arctic Outpost and investigating the snowfall. It was quite a rush for this little kid to be able to trudge down the street where the CTA got stuck! As we worked our way back to home, Harry and I decided to visit the tavern and get a cup of hot chocolate before heading home. I don't remember clearly if we kept regular hours during the Blizzard, but I do remember that was like an Arctic Outpost for the "Big kids"!

11/06/2016

Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs. 2016 World Series Champions and breaker of the longest streak of "Wait til next years" in professional sports. I remember watching Cubs games on the big color TV in the corner above the sandwich making area at the tavern. Those gargantuan examples of American ingenuity and commerce were calling cards for corner taps. The ability to pick up the South Bend station in the Winter so the Bears could be seen on a Sunday meant more butts in the seats on the corner of 123rd & Michigan. And after the set would be upgraded, the old model occasionally came to the Sola house. I learned about electronics on them, occasionally being able to revive a picture or audio by experimentally changing a big bulb in the back...but I digress....

The Cubs were an afternoon staple at Sola's Tap...Rita had an ongoing $1@game wager with John Webber. I'm not sure there was ever a cash-in on that tab, however it came out...but, Rita would have loved the excitement of this team...the way they play and the way they respect the game. For me, hearing a game called by Jack Brickhouse and Lou Boudreau, Lloyd Petit...Vince Lloyd...made me love baseball and the environment of the tavern made for some interesting discussions about baseball...usually how much better the White Sox were, but that was sometimes a moot point, both teams sucked...all in good fun.

Congratulations Cubs...Rita would have cashed in big on you this year!!!

08/19/2015

Another Sola's tap picnic...more hula hooping and some calisthenics.

07/20/2015

Here is an 8mm home movie of a Sola's Tap picnic...and other old stuff. Lots of familiar faces. I hope you enjoy (the first 13 minutes or so is the picnic videos)

07/10/2015

I just "rediscovered" some old films of the Sola's Tap picnics...what fun-filled events they were. I just captured a couple of pics so far. This one showing Vince attempting the hula-hoop. I'll add more pics and when I trim down some of the scenes, I will add some videos.

04/16/2015

Drewry's is back in production. It was one of the beers sold in the package liquor part of the business. From my (Michael) recollection the canned/bottled beers available were: Meister Brau, Old Style, Schlitz, Pabst, Blatz, Flastaff, Budweiser, Hamms, Drewry's and Miller High Life. Maybe Heileman's Special Export might have been in the cooler on occasion....and the Meister Brau Bock made it's seasonal appearance. Michelob...I don't recall.

03/19/2015

03/19/2015

03/19/2015

05/25/2014

Mary Sola behind the bar.