Experimental Brewery and Taproom
Hermosa, Chicago / Lincoln Park, Chicago

The Epic team has had the pleasure of working with Off Color Brewing on two major projects, and we loved every minute. In fact, they’ve referred us to other high-profile brewers: Gary Gulley at Alarmist Brewing, and Pipeworks Production, LLC for whom we even built a new brewery right next door to Off Color!

Starting out with the original space (and one of our very first breweries), Epic worked with co-owners John and Dave in full-blown launch mode. These two needed a basic brewery up and running, on a tight budget, so they didn’t lose any time getting their much sought-after craft beers produced, bottled, and distributed to the growing craft beer market. The scope of this design-build project included taking a 7,500 SF classic, industrial building, and creating a superb production brewery complete with a 30-barrel brew house and 60 barrel fermenters and bright tanks.

Then, in 2017, Epic was called upon to keep things growing, so we built a new satellite location cleverly named The Mousetrap. Focused on being an experimental brewery and taproom, there is a heightened sense of excitement with the beautiful imported foeders that reflect their first-class barrel aging program. Aesthetics and functionality were still very integral, setting the tone for the adventurous philosophy of The Mousetrap. From beautiful new hardwood floors, brewery and draft lines, concrete slabs and subfloors, to the use of crisp white and blue mosaic tiles enveloping the bar walls, this spunky brewery and taproom is completely enamored with the discovery of all things brew-related!

SCOPE

Original Location

• Design-build of production brewery, 30-barrel brew house, 60 barrel fermenters and bright tanks

The Mousetrap

• Build-out of experimental brewery and taproom

• Installation of bar and brewery equipment, draft lines, low voltage work

• Concrete slabs and subfloor, hardwood floors, carpentry, drywall, M/E/P alterations, masonry, painting

• Doors and hardware, fire shutters, mosaic tiles, aluminum storefront, structure steel / ornamental iron, custom millwork and trim, bar with stone countertop

• Giant wooden foeders imported from France for use in their barrel-aging program