Part Eight: New Chicago Beer Co.'s Brewing Set-Up

New Chicago Beer Co.'s sign. Photo by Alex Rich.

One of the principle aims of the New Chicago Beer Co. is getting people involved in brewing through demonstrations and classes, a home brew blog, or guided tours

"We want people to see the process," Jesse Evans said.

The brew house will hold the major beer making apparatuses, massive vats that will run 4-5 times a week producing strong ales, protected behind glass, so tours can see the process in real time. An intimacy that will allow viewers to be so close to the brewing they will "be able to see if the brewer has dandruff."

Massive vats will run floor to ceiling holding the beer as it ferments.

A restaurant and nano-brewery will eventually be put here. Photo by Alex Rich

It's industrialization on a small level, which allows the brewers to experiment. In another room, which they plan to turn into a restaurant and tasting room, the company will run a nano-brewery, producing 100 gallons of beer at a time, and allow the brewers to try new recipes on guests.

"The city needs more breweries than we have now," Evans said. "We're the pioneers."