New Ciderhouse Could Rule Inside Old Irving Park Church

Plans for Chicago's first cider house, which would include a restaurant, are in the preliminary stages in Old Irving Park.

Eris Brewery and Ciderhouse would take over the Korean Bethel Presbyterian Church at 4240 W. Irving Park Rd.

"We will be combining the organized chaos of brewing beer, fermenting and blending cider, along with providing guests a full-service restaurant and bar," wrote would-be Eris co-owner Michelle Foik in an email.

Foik and business partner Katy Pizza haven't hired a chef yet, but they have big plans which they'll present Tuesday night at a community meeting at Irving Park Baptist Church at 4401 W. Irving Park Rd.

They checked out three areas before deciding that the church was the ideal location. Foik called it an amazing building, and said it didn't hurt that the site is near the Kennedy Expressway, Metra and CTA Blue Line train stops, as well as being serviced by the No. 80 Irving Park CTA bus.

"Old Irving Park needs more restaurants and community meeting spaces," Foik wrote. "The neighborhood association, the Old Irving Park Association, was very supportive and enthusiastic about working with us."

Eris would also serve cider cocktails, including the elusive European-style snakebite: "If you can conceive it, you will be able to drink it at Eris," Foik added.

Foik's experience includes stops at Goose Island and Virtue Cider, the latter run by ex-Goose Islander Greg Hall. She said cider is the next artisanal product, one that's gaining popularity, despite a long history in America. She said it's ripe to jump on the cider bandwagon.

"I think that craft beer people are always looking for something new and enjoyable, and craft cider can certainly quench that thirst," she wrote. "It's a great option for those people who can't drink beer and want to participate in craft-beverage culture."

Lots of folks are jumping on the cider apple cart. Cleetus Friedman and the team at The Fountainhead last year announced plans for Chicago's first cider bar, The Northman. The folks behind the Farmhouse have also shown interest in a cider-centric facility.