[DZ]

I visited the Lagunitas Chicago Brewery over the weekend. The Chicago location brewery is their second location, original is in Petaluma California. Did a self-tour with 7 other family/friends. They have guided tours but we arrived too late. As usual the Brewery is in an old industrial building but completely redesigned and modern. Much larger than I expected. Once you enter you go down a long hallway with blinking colored strobe lights and bright pastel colors. Windows along these walls give you peaks into the brew rooms and warehouse. At the end of the hallway you climb two flights of stairs up to the Taproom, Schwag Shop areas where live music is performed after 4pm. The Tap room is huge and set up with bar stools or large picnic style tables for group seating. A taster includes 8 different four ounce glasses of Lagunitas Brews – 32 ounces of beer for $11.00. You can also order a custom taster of 4 brews of your choice in 4 ounce glasses. The taproom overlooks the entire working brewery and also has crisscrossing bridges to walk over the different areas of the brewery without getting in the way of the workers – brilliant idea. All in all a great visit – and the beer is top notch west coast style. Some of the best craft in the country.