DOUGLAS PARK — The Lagunitas taproom may be delayed, but with plans for a second Chicago brewhouse, the California-based brewery will potentially put out 1.7 million barrels of beer in Chicago alone.
With the California and Chicago locations combined, the brewery would be churning out 2.4 million barrels of beer per year, making them the second-largest “craft” brewery in the United States, according to Beerpulse.com.
Magee said if there’s one thing he learned growing a brewery, it’s that you can never have too much beer.
“If you underestimate how much beer you might need to make in a place, you can find yourself backed into a corner,” he said.
And with 300,000 square feet to work with, Magee said there should be no shortage of beer.
“That’s a stadium. Were gonna have our own weather in there. We’re gonna have to be put lightning rods on top of fermenters,” he said.
Plans are still underway for the taproom at 15th and Rockwell streets, but now instead of June, Magee said he’s looking at an August opening.
The taproom will still be smack in the middle the brewery and will be situated 26 feet off the ground so patrons can watch the brewing process.
In the meantime, Lagunitas is beginning the hiring process and is looking for a general manager and head brewer at the taproom as well as a building engineer and office manager.
Magee said those interested in applying should send a resume and cover letter to lagunitas@lagunitas.com with “Chicago!” as the subject of the email.
And beer knowledge is not all Magee’s looking for.
“They must have a spirit of adventure. Some people who just want to have fun and tell a story,” he said. “Liquid is the common language that the story gets told in.”
