Way OT: Lagunitas Brewery in Chicago
For those as obsessed with beer as I am, I just saw that Lagunitas out of Petaluma CA is opening a production facility in Chicago. Their first batches will be brewed on the south side starting next summer (2013). Tony McGee (the owner) was born and raised in Chicago, so it's no big surprise they are opening a facility here, IMO.
This is big news for those of us who love their hoppy beers as fresh as possible. Very exciting stuff for beer geeks like me- especially with Sierra Nevada and New Belgium opening operations in NC.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:50 AM ^
Im personally not a fan of their beers..But im always happy about another "craft" brewery opening another facility.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:59 AM ^
Beer is never, ever "way" OT.
April 10th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
April 10th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^
Concur. You sir, are a man of exceptional beer taste. I am excited to have a brewery here to provide us with more of their fine beer.
Agreed. Damn good.
April 10th, 2012 at 12:05 PM ^
Not a major Lagunitas fan, but their IPA is my wife's favorite beer (by far). Good stuff, thanks for the news.
April 10th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
Lagunitas Sucks
(Beer geeks know I don't really mean it sucks)
LOL! Whoever marked my post as trolling isn't a beer geek and doesn't know about the beer named "Lagunitas Sucks"
Newbs...
n00bs*
FTFY
April 10th, 2012 at 12:32 PM ^
Living in oregon though there is no shortage of amazing beer. I know deschutes brewery out of bend, or just started distributing to Kansas and Missouri for the first time. Hopefully they keep expanding because I love their stuff and people are missing out on the east coast.
April 10th, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^
I love the Black Butte from Deschutes- I had some when I was in SF a few weeks back. Just fantastic stuff.
April 10th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
I was not a huge fan of their beers until I tried Hop Stoop Ale last weekend and that turned me into a belive. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes hoppy beers with a good bit of citrus aroma and taste like Centennial IPA and Humma Luppa Licious. Too bad I moved away from Chicago a year ago!
April 10th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
I don't like sharing the perks of life in Sonoma County with Chicagoans! First you take our beer. What's next? Wine? You cannot have our wine!
April 10th, 2012 at 12:43 PM ^
Great for you guys, now if we can just get Bells and Founders to open up something here in the Bay Area to even things up.
I think all of them pretty much taste the same. I usually go for the Maximus.
I was told to try lagunitas once and so I bought some. I was unimpressed. I've only heard good things though so I may have to try it again.
If you find yourself near Petaluma, CA on a nice sunny day, I highly recommend you visit their brewery. The beer garden is exceptional and beer flights are only $5 for 4 (maybe even 5 - don't drive yourself) 6 oz. samplers. Foods not bad either.
Here's to hoping they do a beer garden in Chicago as well.
have a Beer Garden in Chicago---I'll be there ! I've tried about a half-dozen different Lagunitas concoctions so far and I'd have to say all were very good to exceptional. In particular, I like their Belgian-Style Tripple Ale, and their Maximus (as was mentioned above) is also excellent.
I was turned on to Lagunitas by their Vanilla Porter. I had it at a place called Mad Mex, which is located by the OSU campus. I am neither a fan of flavored beer, nor am I a fan of porter, but this is one of my favorite beers. Lagunitas is also great for Maximus and their IPA. I haven't tried their other beers, but I'm really impressed by what I have had. Fans of their IPA should also enjoy Bell's Two Hearted and CBC Apricot Ale. This could only mean good things, as the latest Ohio import has been Yuengling, which has its uses but is not something I can get truly excited over...
My favorite Lagunitas beers are for sure the ones that aren't "normal" like the IPA (which I do like), but rather the Brown Shugga, WTF, Little Sumpin', etc. Damn- so good.
I drank a few of these after my race on Saturday...they sponsor by buddies cycling team. Good stuff. Although, I just got done riding 40 miles, full blast on dirt roads so I was pretty thirsty and Coors would have been good, uh maybe not.
Topics on babies and beer should always be exempt from "WAY OT:".
pretty decent brewery. Living in Ohio, I never have trouble getting it (not sure about other midwesterners)
Now, avery brewing company is the shit. Maharaja is my fav. triple IPA bar none. Bells hopslam is close, but Maharaja is special.
Shit i want a beer now. fml
Double Undercover is very good and a well masked 9.9%er
April 10th, 2012 at 11:59 PM ^
For spring beers. I've got my eyes peeled for a 12 pack of Arcadia Whitsun in cans. It can be hard to find, but it's a favorite of mine.
I'm not familiar with anything from lagunitas, but I've heard of them. Most Chicago breweries distribute out this way, so I'll keep my eyes peeled and try something.