Five years ago Chicago’s brewpub scene was as quiet as its brewery scene—and since then it’s grown almost as quickly. The original stalwarts—Piece, Goose Island, and Rock Bottom (plus Moonshine, which closed last year)—now have lots of company. Hamburger Mary’s began brewing its own beer in 2009 (the brewery side is now called Andersonville Brewing), followed by the higher-profile Revolution Brewing in 2010 and Haymarket Pub & Brewery in early 2011. Hard on their heels came Atlas, Horse Thief Hollow, DryHop, and Birreria Chicago (inside Eataly), then Mad Mouse Brewery (part of Moxee restaurant), All Rise Brewing (in Cobra Lounge), Greenstar Brewing (in Uncommon Ground), and Lagunitas Taproom—plus Smylie Brothers and the Peckish Pig up in Evanston. And while Breakroom Brewery is so far the sole brewpub that’s opened in 2015, that’s not likely to last: there are a handful of openings planned for the fall.
Lack of name recognition shouldn’t be a problem for Band of Bohemia (4710 N. Ravenswood), a “culinary brewhouse” (like a brewpub, but fancier) slated to open in October or November in Ravenswood. Former Alinea head sommelier Craig Sindelar and former Alinea baker and Half Acre brewer Michael Carroll recently hired Matt DuBois of Inovasi as their executive chef—but the business partners emphasize that the food will be created to complement the beer, rather than vice versa. The focus will be on session beers brewed with spices, vegetables, and fruits, like a beet/thyme combination and, in the summer, a wheat beer with lemon, lavender, and cardamom. Located in a 6,000-square-foot former cookie factory, Band of Bohemia will have 110 seats, chandeliers, and a wood-fired grill. No TVs, no hamburgers, no french fries—though they’ll offer cocktails and wine along with the beer, and eventually hope to create a rooftop garden where they can grow some of their own ingredients.
READ THE REST OF OUR FALL PREVIEW
