Tour Centennial Crafted Beer, Giving River North 56 Taps of Great Brews Tonight

Centennial Crafted Beer & Eatery officially opens to the public tonight, giving River North a rare bi-level craft beer destination (click for the menu) inside a rehabbed 129-year-old building. The ground floor features a bar with 36 taps, and the second floor has another 20. But Centennial isn’t just a beer hall, thanks to a menu that not only complements the drinks, but in some cases the food actually uses beer as an ingredient.

The building has four levels, but for now Centennial occupies only the first and second floors. There’s a rustic, classic feel with plenty of nooks to sit down and enjoy a drink. TVs are hung on the exposed brick walls, and there are fireplaces to keep patrons warm if the beers fail to do so. The second level features its own bar and a lounge area with distressed leather furniture for those more focused on catching up over drinks rather than getting into a full meal.

Chef Ben Sheagren worked for years in Andersonville at Hopleaf, one of the best beer bars in Chicago. Though he has experience working with passionate beer lovers, he said it was only a coincidence that he’s hopped from one beer-focused restaurant to another. He and owner Jeff Stevenson are eager to give downtown Chicago a place for rare keg tappings and imaginative bar food under one roof.

A late-night menu and weekend brunch are also on the way. Craft beer fans have another reason to love Chicago. Centennial opens tonight, see the photos below.

Centennial Crafted Beer & Eatery, 733 N. LaSalle Dr., (312) 284-5353, open at 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays; 11:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday.

Nick Fochtman