Jolly Pumpkin, Now Open, Brings Hyde Park its First Brewpub

Hyde Park residents now have another reason to never leave their neighborhood. Michigan’s Jolly Pumpkin is opening its fifth brewpub and first outside of Michigan today at 5215 S. Harper Avenue. The main draw of the brewery is the lineup of sour beers, which take up about half of Jolly Pumpkin’s 30-plus taps. The other half is dedicated to other Jolly Pumpkin subsidiary brews, like approachable IPAs from North Peak Brewing Company, Nomad ciders, and Bonafide wine. All alcohol — including spirits — served are made by Jolly Pumpkin and subsidiaries.

While most of Jolly Pumpkin’s beers and spirits will come from the Dexter, Michigan brewery, there is a smaller brewery and distillery on-site for releases that will only happen at the Hyde Park location, adding an extra allure for beer nerds who want to try something they wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. CEO Tony Grant says special bottle releases and tappings are to come with time.

The menu has dishes similar to Jolly Pumpkin’s other locations, like pizzas and burgers. But a few plates are Chicago-only — like a whitefish and crab burger. While there’s a sense of coherency behind the Jolly Pumpkin brand, the company has done things to make the Chicago location a bit different than the other tasting rooms.

There’s plenty of beer, sour, barrel-aged or otherwise, and collaborations for anyone looking to find something extra special (including a collaboration with Austin, Texas’s elusive Jester King Brewery). But the space isn’t just for drinking at the brewpub, bombers, and six-packs are available for carry-out along with growlers.

Take a look at the menu below. Will Jolly Pumpkin make Hyde Park a craft beer destination? Find out starting today.

Jolly Pumpkin, 5215 S. Harper Avenue, (773) 643-8008, open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.