Tour Marz Community Brewing’s Taproom, Bringing Bridgeport Closer to the Future

Twenty-four beer taps, sandwiches, and some vibrant artwork debut on Saturday when Marz Community Brewing finally unveils its taproom above the Bridgeport brewery. The brewery’s ownership hopes to turn the four-story building inside an industrial park into a South Side food and beverage destination — it’s a seven-minute drive west of Sox Park at 3630 S. Iron Street. The taproom gives Marz a place to showcase unique beer that’s not available at stores.

Marz, founded in 2013, is known for beers like Jungle Boogie, an American pale wheat ale (with a laundry list of variants), and Ruby’s Tears (a gose). It recently released a milk stout for Fat Tuesday evoking Chicago’s love for paczkis. Those beers, as well as kombucha, and seltzer, are available on draft. It’ll also serve coffee.

Brewery founder Ed Marszewski co-founded Maria’s Packaged Goods and Community Bar and its food operation, Kimski, which serves Polish-Korean mash-ups. Art has always been important to Marszewski, who founded Lumpen magazine and radio. He’ll rotate the art seasonally and also sell prints. Marszewski brings chef Tony Balestreri over from Kimski where he smoked meats, according to Time Out. There’s a menu of salads, sandwiches, pastas, and more. But in typical Marz fashion, the items are atypical. The salad’s inspired by South Side tavern-style pizza. There’s a quesadilla that tastes like a sausage pizza. The pasta’s topped with citra hops. A tandoori chicken wrap shows ambition.

Take a tour through the space below and check out the food menu and tap list below. Marz’s taproom opens at noon on Saturday.

Marz Community Brewing Taproom, 3630 S. Iron Street, (773) 837-0145, hours will fluctuate during the first few weeks.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago