The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
  • Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

  • Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • A day at the museum: Exploring the iconic Field Museum in Chicago

First Look - Reviews
Home›featured-blogs›First Look - Reviews›First Look review: Touring and tasting at the new Lagunitas Brewery

First Look review: Touring and tasting at the new Lagunitas Brewery

By TheRealChicagoOnline
September 5, 2014
866
0
Share:

TapRoom 1 - web

Lagunitas Brewery
1843 S. Washtenaw Ave.
www.Lagunitas.com

By Scott Hartge

In late August I was able to take a free tour of the new Lagunitas Brewery in Chicago. The brewery cleverly plays the song “Pure Imagination” from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at the entrance. I got a kick out of that, especially while laser lights bounced around the dark tunnel leading to the brewery and tap room. After entering the actual brewery, however, the song choice made a whole lot more sense.TapRoom 4 - web

Observations and tastings: The warehouse that is home to the brewery is a massive 300,000 square feet. They start you in a sectioned-off area that looks like a college kid’s heaven. The enormous room has a bar, worn couches, pinball, foosball and adult-sized Jenga. On top of all that, they hand out free samples of their many different types of craft beer. My personal favorites were the year-round classic, Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’, and their winter seasonal beer, Lagunitas Sucks. Both brews have a unique taste and are quite enjoyable. Once folks have sampled some beer and are a bit livelier, a tour guide gathers everyone around to tell a quick and entertaining history of Lagunitas.

The tour: The tour itself is short and sweet. They take you through the brewery — or as they like to call it, “the jungle” — on a path that overlooks all the machines. The size of the operation is jaw-droBrewhouse 2.JPG_largepping, and they currently use only a fraction of the space. The tour really provides an interesting look at what Lagunitas is like behind the scenes and is definitely time well-spent. And the beer is pretty darn good too.

Fun facts: Lagunitas has been in business for 21 years and was originally launched in northern California. … Additional expansion is coming this fall that will make Lagunitas Chicago the largest single craft-brewing facility in the United States. … You can fit six football fields inside the Chicago building.

Giving back: The brewery’s elevated, glass-enclosed tap room is where they serve the flavorful beers and hold concerts. Every Monday and Tuesday, though, the tap room is closed to the public and reserved exclusively for non-for profit organizations. “How successful are you if you aren’t successful enough to help?” one tour guide happily stated.

TagsChicagoLagunitasLittle Sumpin Sumpin
Previous Article

A night at the Joffrey: Convincing my ...

Next Article

The best of brunch: Scoping out the ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • The Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: Breaking down the best holiday-themed events around Chicago

    December 7, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Chicago Insider

    Chicago Insider: Caitlin Scheinblum on Maude’s Liquor Bar, Sunda and where to shop

    February 27, 2013
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Chicago Insider

    The Chicago Insider: Erin Shovlin

    April 18, 2012
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • A Round of Drinks

    A Round of Drinks at Temple Bar: Blackhawks, soccer, a tasty menu and serious beer list at this inviting neighborhood ...

    September 29, 2014
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • My Chicago

    My Chicago: What place in the city represents true Chicago?

    May 21, 2012
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Chicago Insider

    The Chicago Insider: Luis Torres

    January 16, 2012
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownHidden GemsOther Recent Articles

    Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Cupcakes: The increasing popularity of this (nearly) guiltless pleasure

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    An ode to good beer: The welcome influx of Chicago craft breweries

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
© Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.