La Rose and Zimmer said it seemed at the time to be an underserved market in a growing corner of the city.īut they had rare success with contract brewing and the alternative proprietorship model of making beer at other breweries. Hop Butcher has always planned to open its own space, and, reflecting its original name, initially eyed the South Loop neighborhood. Lights sit above the beer garden at the Half Acre taproom and kitchen at the Balmoral Street production brewery Tuesday Dec. Then came the pandemic, and plans were put on hold. A few months later, Magliaro, La Rose and Zimmer met for coffee and discussed further. The two breweries have informally discussed the possible sale since 2019 La Rose recalled chatting with Magliaro about the future of both breweries at that year’s Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer and realized there could be a fit. The deal, which includes the building, furnishings and equipment, is expected to close in late October. It will also give La Rose and Zimmer a taproom and a bottle shop where they can sell directly to consumers - one of the most reliable profit sources for a small brewery. The soon-to-be former Half Acre space will finally give Hop Butcher its own bricks-and-mortar operation. “People like the variety we provide them and the ‘If you see it, buy it’ mentality. “There’s merit to not trying to fix something that isn’t broken,” Zimmer said. Since 2021, it has brewed its beers in a wholly-owned production brewery in Bedford Park and at its Lincoln Avenue brewery and taproom, which it acquired in May 2021 from Half Acre Beer Company.They plan to push the model forward in their new home. Every week, the brewery self-distributes fresh beer, often only hours or days in the can, from its lineup of over 250 different beers (and growing) to better craft beer retailers throughout Chicagoland and periodically to out-of-state markets such as southern Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, California, New York, Boston, Florida, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Nashville and Portland, Ore. Hop Butcher For The World will continue to brew and self-distribute its beer to better craft beer retailers throughout Chicagoland - as it has since 2015.įor more information or to coordinate an interview with Hop Butcher, please email Jeremiah at and/or Jude at Butcher For The Worldįounded in Chicago in 2014, Hop Butcher For The World brews a broad portfolio of hop forward IPAs, flavorful lagers and bold stouts. Now, we can kick out small batchesĪnd get real-time feedback from our most-devoted fans in our own taproom, who will help determine which beers deserve a broader audience.” “Hoppy lagers, experimental Belgian beers, hybrid styles – you name it. “We are excited to dive into new styles and experimentation, something we previously didn’t have the capability to do,” says Hop Butcher co-founder Jude La Rose. Its Lincoln Avenue brewery and taproom will allow Hop Butcher’s brewers to pilot new recipes and test smaller-batch beers before taking them into retail distribution. Hop Butcher also operates a larger-scale production brewery in Bedford Park, Ill. In addition to the taproom, the 13,000-square-foot facility includes a separate retail storefront where fans can purchase merchandise and beer to-go, as well as a fully functional production brewery supplying most of the beer available in the taproom and attached retail space. “Some updates act as a nod to our predecessors’ 10-year tenure in the space, while others aim to showcase the unique spirit of Hop Butcher and what we stand for as a brewery.” Our goal upon taking over the space was to inject a giant dose of who we are as a brewery,” Zimmer says. “Half Acre built a beautiful space for drinkers to enjoy beer, so a lot of the foundation was in place.
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