Off Color Brewing Plans First Taproom in Lincoln Park

Goose Island Brewing Co. is about to get some company in Lincoln Park. Off Color Brewing, the makers of the popular Dinos’mores graham cracker/chocolate stout, has plans for a taproom with an outdoor patio and a second brewery at 1460 N. Kingsbury St., near the flagship Whole Foods. They’ve applied for the necessary liquor licenses with the city and co-founder John Laffler confirmed their plans.

"Cat’s out of the bag," Laffler wrote via email. "We're always looking at what happens next but it's just a contingent liquor license—we don't even have keys to the building."

The taproom will have room for about 150 people, according to Crain's. The Tribune reports it will double as a coffee shop in the morning. The additional space will be a boon during bottle release parties. They're gunning for a summer opening and by that time the weather will be ready to open a front patio. During the winter months, they'll likely have a fireplace inside. Off Color opened a retail bottle shop inside their Hermosa/Logan Square brewery back in February, which only sells beer to go. Off Color is also looking to conduct retail sales in Lincoln Park.

Laffler used to work for Goose Island and helped develop the brewery’s famed Bourbon County Brand Stout (this year’s batch was released last week). The original Goose Island brewpub stands only a half a mile north from the Off Color site. But it would appear Off Color won’t emulate them by serving food. "We don't know anything about running a restaurant," Laffler added.

Check back in the coming months for further details.