SOUTHPORT CORRIDOR — It's been a long wait for Corridor Brewery and Provisions, but with the tanks installed and the design coming together, the microbrewery should be opening within a month, if all goes as planned.
Corridor, 3446 N. Southport Ave., will serve as a sister brewery to DryHop Brewers, which opened just south of Belmont and Broadway in June 2013. It will seat 90 people and have a 10-barrel brewing system.
"The stakes are a little high" after two years of success in East Lakeview, said owner Greg Shuff, who previously said he wants the two spots to "stand on their own."
While DryHop has focused on American IPAs, Corridor will specialize in Belgian and farmhouse beer, which has a "very specific, unique flavor profile," he said. The eatery will also have menus expertly crafted to pair perfectly with the brews, he said.
On Tuesday, Southport neighbors got a sneak peek with tastings inspired by the menu: curry cauliflower and roasted eggplant, a bread and heirloom tomato salad and flatbreads topped with chorizo and brussel sprouts.
Ariel Cheung says there are still some finishing touches needed:
Stickers were given away during a "brewery warming" event at Corridor Brewery and Provisions. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
Without working restrooms or finished surfaces, Corridor still has some work to do before opening, but Shuff hopes to be ready in about a month. Exposed brick walls and barnlike rafters give the large rectangular room an easygoing, Midwestern vibe. Touches like a yellow Tandem bicycle will complete the look.
Both of Shuff's breweries are "designed around brewery tasting rooms, much more than the '80s pubs. We try to be brewery-first with the techniques we're applying," he said.
The microbrewery is feeling the stiff competition for chefs and other trades people. Shuff said even a shortage in electricians threatened Corridor's opening timeline.
"There's still so much to do, but we've got a great team, and we're getting close to the finish line," Shuff said.
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