Lagunitas Taproom Reopens April 13

The Lagunitas Taproom reopens at its Chicago brewery on April 13 after greater than three years of pandemic closure, and if a preview final weekend is any indication, the place hasn’t missed a beat.

Positioned on the second ground of an enormous 300,000-square-foot brewery in North Lawndale subsequent to Cinespace Movie Studios and close to Douglas Park, the taproom stays a enjoyable place to hold, with good beer served in mason jars and meals that Midwesterners will recognize. Heineken purchased out founder Tony Magee in 2017, although the branding and vibes on show stay strictly Lagunitas.

New taproom GM Julia Helton, a chef who competed on Meals Community’s Vegas Chef Prizefight, acknowledged Lagunitas performed it secure when deciding to carry the general public again, regardless of beer nonetheless being brewed onsite all through the pandemic.

The faucets and types are plentiful. The 9 year-round releases can be found, together with the flagship IPA and previous fav Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, plus the 9% Maximus. On the opposite finish of the spectrum, they’ve their IPNA and Hoppy Refresher hop water out there as non-alcoholic choices.

We spent our 4 preview tokens on among the 14 restricted releases. A fav was the 3-Yr Haze, a 5.6% IPA that was juicy and simple to drink. The New New Dogtown XPA had a justifiable share of bitterness and featured Amarillo, Simcoe, and Mosaic hops at 7.5%. The 17707ST IPA featured an experimental hop with hints of peach. It was OK.

We hoped some Willettized BA stout can be on faucet, and it was. The stout had a pleasant chocolate taste, and the Metropolis Espresso was current however not overwhelming, as had been the Bourbon and Rye Willett barrels this beer was aged in. This beer stays a fantastic worth for a BA stout.

Additionally out there: a blended Belgian ale aged in Bourdeaux barrels with blackberries, a black IPA, a pilsner and a beer, a two-year foeder-aged bitter with raspberries, and Waldo’s Particular Ale (in any case, 4/20 is only a week after the taproom formally reopens).

OG Lagunitas chef Juan Carlos Bueno is again on the helm after a pandemic cease at Ravinia Brewing‘s Logan Sq. taproom. He’s introduced again Earlier than Occasions favorites like Black Mussels and Hoganitas, which is made up of pork stomach, ham, Swiss and onion on a telera roll. The cajun pasta with shrimp and andouille sausage was tasty, and this being Chicago, there’s a Slagel Farms smashburger out there. There are two Shepherd’s Pie choices, one with beef and a vegetarian one with lentils. The pretzel with Lagunitas beer cheese stays a standout. In the event you’re the kind that brings kids to a taproom, there’s even a menu for them.

As Lagunitas dips its toes again into the water, the taproom might be open Thursday-Sunday.

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