LOGAN SQUARE — A "pour your own beer" taproom is coming to Logan Square.
Longtime friends Erik Swanson and Tim Enarson, both 36, have teamed up to open Navigator Taproom on the ground floor of the "L" luxury apartment building at 2211 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Customers will be able to choose from 50 taps along a wall, including 40 beers and ciders and 10 wines. Using Pour My Beer technology, iPads will measure the ounces and tabulate the cost of each beer.
"They don't have to wait for a bartender or server, and they don't have to order a pint of something they want to try that they may not enjoy," Enarson said.
The idea for a "pour your own beer" taproom has been in the works for about two years. The pair looked at hundreds of locations before landing in Logan Square, near where they both live.
"We want people to know when they come in they're going to have access to something new and different," said Enarson, whose background is in sales and e-commerce.
He and Swanson, whose background is in the sound industry, are dedicated to bringing in a rotating selection of local beer. The taproom will have a rustic, industrial feel with reclaimed wood accents and city grid maps, Enarson said.
Regarding food, they plan to partner with a neighboring restaurant. Enarson said one might be moving into the "L" building on the other side of Navigator, but he declined to give details.
Navigator is the latest "pour your own beer" taproom coming to the Chicago area. Tapster, 2027 W. North Ave., is opening in Wicker Park, and Red Arrow Tap Room is opening in suburban Elmhurst.
Earlier this week, the entire "L" building went on the market. It's unclear what impact, if any, the potential sale will have on the taproom.
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