NORTH CENTER — The minute Begyle Brewing opened its doors in 2014, customers began asking for a taproom.
At noon Wednesday, they get their wish.
"We got our license Friday at 4:09 [p.m.], I'll never forget that, 4:09," said Brendan Blume, co-owner of Begyle with Kevin Cary and Matt Ritchey.
The taproom has seating for 39, enough room for patrons to linger with a pint or two instead of the strictly carry-out operation Begyle's been running since receiving its packaged goods license in 2014.
"You'll be able to sit here and watch the brewers at work, kind of like a zoo," Blume said.
Patty Wetli says the taproom will allow visitors to relax and try a few:
Serving alcohol on premises requires a different liquor license than sending people on their way with growlers, a license Begyle obtained after addressing concerns raised by neighbors at a community meeting held last fall.
"We're not going to be open past 10 [p.m.] on Fridays or Saturdays," Blume said, even though their license would permit a 2 a.m. close.
The food trucks that Begyle hopes to host on weekends will have to park solely on Ravenswood, not Cuyler, another concession. And permit parking on the 1800 block of West Cuyler, where Begyle is located, has been extended from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Anticipating a boost in business from the taproom — which has tables for two, four and larger groups — Begyle is preparing to ramp up production, Blume said.
Nine more tanks are on order, effectively doubling Begyle's capacity, he said.
In 2014, the brewery produced 1,000 barrels of beer and is on pace for 2,500 barrels in 2015. The new tanks will crank that number up to 4,000 or 5,000 barrels, Blume said, with roughly 30 percent of that expected to be sold in the taproom. (For comparison, Half Acre produces 14,000 barrels and is expanding its operation to brew 30,000.)
"We can't make enough beer to keep up," Blume said.
Though Begyle's undergone rapid growth since its 2011 founding, Blume said he, Cary and Ritchey are staying true to their upstart roots.
Small five-barrel fermenters will join their larger counterparts so Begyle can brew "fun test batches" of quirkier beers, he said.
Though he didn't rule out further expansion, the addition of the taproom to Begyle's existing brewing and retail operations "feels like the space is set," Blume said.
"It's pretty cool to see it all come together," he said.
Though the taproom's official opening is Wednesday, customers have already taken advantage of the new option (and Begyle held a preview party for its CSB members Tuesday).
"Sunday I was working and a woman came in, ordered a pint and sat there reading a book and drinking beer," Blume said. "I want more of that."
Begyle's taproom, 1800 W. Cuyler Ave., will be open noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday.
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