Jefferson Park Brewery Taproom Planned Inside 112-Year-Old Former Firehouse

Another Chicago brewery has plans for a taproom, this time inside a 112-year-old fire station in Jefferson Park. Lake Effect Brewing Company, a brewery that’s been around since 2011, wants to occupy the ground floor of a vacant firehouse at 4835 N. Lipps Avenue.

Lake Effect would be the anchor tenant as part of a $2.4 million development that includes apartment buildings, according to Alderman (45th Ward) John Arena’s office. There’s a community meeting on March 8 to discuss the plan. The sanitation department had occupied the building, but it vacated the structure in 2012 and it’s been empty for five years.

The brewery was founded in 2011 and currently resides at 4727 W. Montrose Avenue. It would keep that location, as the new space represents an expansion. The taproom also includes plans for outdoor seating. Lake Effect’s popular beers include Falcon Dive IPA, Espresso Gone Stout, and 45th Ward Pale Ale — a beer made with locally grown hops. It even has beers brewed in collaboration with Chicago hot dog icon Superdawg.

Lake Effect founder Clint Bautz didn’t immediately return a request for comment. Over the weekend, the company did tip its cards by posting a photo of the proposed taproom’s site on Facebook. While not confirmed, it doesn’t appear that the tasting room will have a kitchen. That means it’ll have space for food trucks to dock.

More breweries are opening taprooms, which some believe are rivals to the corner bar. Check back in the coming months for any updates. Nadig Newspapers first reported the news.