California's Lagunitas celebrates Chicago homecoming
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Clocking in at around 300,000 square feet, Lagunitas' new brewery has a 250 barrel brewhouse up and running, with twice that capacity in the next few months. All of the beer it sells East of the Rockies, including England, will be produced here.
"You can fit over six football fields inside this building," said Karen Hamilton, the Regional Marketing Director.
Hamilton grew up in Rogers Park, and her brother started the company on the West Coast.
"He went out to California for a job about 25 years ago and he started home brewing for fun, then decided he would start a little microbrewery and he was already out in California working so that's why out there," she said.
That's why this homecoming is extra special. And there's more than just brewing: a large Tap Room offers more than a dozen beers on tap, plus hearty beer-friendly food, like plump mussels, embedded with bits of bacon and shallot that have been swimming in cream and butter. Also, a pork-lover's sandwich containing a trifecta of pulled pork, bacon and ham. There's also one of the best pretzels in the city - made on-site and served with grainy mustard and cheese spread, plus a grilled brat mounded with caramelized onions and mustardy sauerkraut. One of the benefits of having spent grain from the brewery, is you can use it in the food.
"In the bread, pretzels, baked goods, right now we have a spent grain brownie and a lemon bar," said Hamilton.
As for that hoppy beer, Hamilton says they've managed to create plenty of options for beer fans.
"There are a lot of hops in an IPA, that's the nature of that particular type of beer, but then how much is delivered to the palate, how it's delivered to the palate, changes from brewery to brewery, just like chocolate cake," she said.
So right now, when visitors come to the tap room, you can get about 16 different beers on tap, but because of the brewing schedule, that number is gonna double over the next couple of months.
Live music begins just after four o'clock each day, and there are also daily tours of the brewery.
Lagunitas
1843 S. Washtenaw
Tours every day, check website for times
Tap Room Open Wed - Sun 11 am - 9 pm
