Lagunitas Brewing Company

Lagunitas Brewing CompanyLagunitas Brewing Company
Lagunitas Brewing CompanyLagunitas Brewing Company
Brewery, Beer-to-go

1843 S Washtenaw Ave
Chicago, Illinois, 60608-2423
United States

(773) 522-1308 | map
lagunitas.com
BEER STATS
Average:
3.9
Beers:
175
Ratings:
102,942
Linked Beer Listing
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.23
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
112
pDev:
11.82%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by saemick:
 
Rated: 4.32 by SAEmick from Illinois

Nov 24, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.34/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
everything about this place is amazing, and when people wonder how you do big beer cool, this is it. south side of town, a little tricky getting here, enormous warehouse that can probably be seen from space. its cool before you even go in, fake doors painted on the outside so real you try them and find out its just a wall before you find the real one. then its down a long trippy tube, and i mean very long, a city block, and i dont mean trippy as aesthetic, i mean trippy in like are you actually tripping, sort of willy wonka oceanic vibes, swirling lights and colors and noises, windows through on each side to some production areas, finally a staircase up to the taproom, which is situated in the center of the place above the brewery, big square bar in the middle, a small sound stage, its like the california one but newer and lofted and more urban, really hip and nice, they spared no expense it seems. there is a hallway up here to some offices and the modest gear shop, there is a view down below to another cool space like the petaluma loft, sort of a vip lounge area, and behind that a massive concert or event space, this place just keeps going! from the taproom upstairs there is a catwalk where you can sit and check out the operations below, lots to look at in here, noisy, a brewery at work. awesome list of beers, some specific to just here i think, all the classics too, fresh as can be, epic service, quality pub food, rad people, good vibes everywhere. its always a treat to visit this place, i think its probably what a lot of middling regional breweries aspire to, a monument to what is possible, and still cool despite all the recent changes. a local favorite now in chicago and for good reason. this place is a must when doing the brewery circuit there, really amazing experience every time!
Oct 31, 2022
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Reviewed by GoBearsWalter34 from Illinois

4.8/5  rDev +13.5%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
This place is an absolute blast! Charlie and the Chocolate Factory theme walking in. Huge areas that can satisfy all your partying needs. Super friendly people and world class beer. Gift shop is accessible and staffed with great people. A must visit!!
Jan 04, 2020
 
Rated: 4.08 by TheRock7755 from Georgia

Aug 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.03 by coz from Illinois

Jul 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.33 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Apr 15, 2019
 
Rated: 2.71 by Jeffsbowen from Illinois

Aug 31, 2018
Photo of SaisonRichBiere
Reviewed by SaisonRichBiere from Michigan

4.11/5  rDev -2.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Huge production brewery with a cozy taproom and a pretty cool tour. Solid selection of Lagunitas beers in the tap room, and some Short’s cider options for the non-beer types, which is cool. The tour was quite fun with a pretty animated tour guide. A cool trip if you’re in Chicago.
Aug 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by meanmutt from Ohio

Aug 13, 2018
Photo of Lazhal
Reviewed by Lazhal from Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
Walking in to this place is a bit of a hike, but they have made it pretty neat.. I won't spoil it for you though.

Dog friendly in case you are wondering.

We ate at a table near the catwalk which was pretty cool. It was hot though, maybe 85-90 degrees. Pretty good food. I had my normal sampler. They didn't anything special on tap while was there. Just the staples and a seasonal or two.

We also went on a brewery tour. Didn't take long, maybe 20 minutes. The tour guide did a good job.

There was also a magician. He had the kids attention for at least 15 minutes. They loved it.

Looking forward to visiting again.
Aug 06, 2018
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -22.5%
vibe: 3.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 2.75 | selection: 3.25
The vibe here is slick and impersonal, it’s huge and loud like a cafeteria with long communal tables. Some interesting decor, psychedelic murals in the entry hall and some Dead posters. A live band with a cellist stood in the corner on a tiny stage like marionettes. A few staged furniture ensembles and a nice beer can collection, but ultimately it’s too huge to feel remotely cozy. It's the brewery equivalent of a rich old uncle still trying to be hip with the kids.

First attempt to order at the bar while standing, the bartender silently pointed me to a line of people standing on the opposite side of the large island bar, then walked away. That’s odd I thought, as I took a seat then just ordered directly from a different bartender. A firkin and 4 seasonals available, otherwise it’s what you can find at most local stores.

Skip the food and get authentic tacos nearby from La Chaparrita, El Milagro, or any number of other quality local establishments nearby in Little Village. To me, the experience felt overly manufactured, as if a carpetbagging mega-brewery sank all their Heineken buyout money into a shiny new brewery to saturate midwest distribution, with a flashy showroom to pull in the tourists. Apparently it's working.

100% of the time i'd rather support the local breweries: Marz, Whiner, Lo Rez are all better options nearby. If headed to a Sox game, Maria's/Kimski is always my #1 pre/post-game one-stop for food, drafts, and beer-to-go.

Lagunitas is not a "locals favorite", and I don't know any locals that actually hang out here that don't work here.
Jul 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.88 by Parkchrisdoug from Indiana

Jun 01, 2018
 
Rated: 4.28 by REVZEB from Illinois

May 17, 2018
Photo of ChicagoJ
Reviewed by ChicagoJ from Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
5/3/18: First visit to the brewery, Willy Wonka greets you. Tap room on the second floor. Somewhat crowded for midweek day, service was great. Peanuts and pretzels served complementary, did not order from the menu. Had three seasonal beers, all well priced and were very good. Band was setting up but had to leave for the White Sox game. Was able to walk around and check out the brewery before heading out, very cool and large operation. Will definitely want to stop by pre-Sox game in the future.
May 13, 2018
 
Rated: 4.31 by chrisjws from California

Mar 23, 2018
Photo of nofreepass99
Reviewed by nofreepass99 from New York

3.9/5  rDev -7.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 3 | service: 5 | selection: 3 | food: 5
Of all the breweries across the country I've been to, this was the coolest. I wasn't in love with any of the beers in particular but it was like willy wonkas in there. Amazing experience for any beer fan
Feb 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.3 by kidzord from Illinois

Feb 18, 2018
 
Rated: 3.68 by HOLTMAN44 from Illinois

Oct 24, 2017
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -4.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
A surprisingly enjoyable experience at this Heineken-owned massive brewery. The complex is truly ginormous, with a large taproom on the second floor. A dozen-or-so taps ranging from a pilsner to one-off brews like rum-barrel Brown Shugga.

Funky and cozy, and some good food to boot- an excellent meat-and-cheese plate with homemade smoky jerky.
Aug 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.85 by adam36 from Illinois

Aug 04, 2017
Photo of GrumpyGas
Reviewed by GrumpyGas from Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +11.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
They actually found soul in a warehouse.
Great vibe. They treat you special from entry to exit.
Even the space between the entrance and the stairs to rise to the shop and pub is decorated. I felt like a kid with the almost Geisel artwork and theme music of Willie Wonka. The colors and lights are transporting.
The waiting room just outside the pub has lots of comfortable seats and a view above the production line.
The pub itself is large with about 30 stools surrounding the central bar, approximately 15 high tops around the outside of the room, and substantial, not flimsy, communal picnic tables that seat another 40 or so. There is also a balcony of sorts for private parties, or for anyone looking for another view of the works, that could easily accommodate 50 people.
The menu is simple and the food is delicious.
Employees were happy to be there, competent at their job, and made me feel welcome.
After I left I had an overwhelming feeling of wonder. I looked back at the stark white warehouse wall with the 8foot tall lettered Lagunitas edict and I asked myself if that just happened.
Awesome.
Jul 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.63 by HopHEAD1522 from Michigan

Jul 14, 2017
Photo of KWD
Rated by KWD from Tennessee

4.95/5  rDev +17%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
This place was awesome.
Jun 29, 2017
Photo of vikingpillager
Reviewed by vikingpillager from Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
Best vibe of any downtown Chicago brewery, bar none! Big shoutout to Burly for being an awesome tour guide! The brewery isn't in the greatest location but once you get there, it's a giant warehouse full of fun!!!
Jun 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.08 by brights from Illinois

Mar 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.88 by Bearshawks85 from Illinois

Feb 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.91 by Mistro from Maine

Jan 26, 2017
Photo of RockRuler
Reviewed by RockRuler from Mississippi

3.73/5  rDev -11.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4
What jumps out immediately as you pull up to the place is the sheer size of the facility. It’s a big brewery. Everything inside is slick and clean. The Willy Wonka “Pure imagination” song is playing as you walk through the door and soon you’ll realize the music is completely appropriate. It’s a trip. I did not take the tour as I was there to only have a few brews. I’m not a huge fan of Lauganitas beer but I wanted to check out the place and see if they offered any “brewery only” beers and was disappointed to discover that was not the case. I walked my way through the cavernous space to the brewpub upstairs. The only thing that stands out about the space is its incredible views of the working brewery below. Other than the view, the space is your typical looking bar/brewpub area. The service was alright and they had many offerings but as mentioned earlier, lacking in the way of brewery only releases. I enjoyed the visit but probably wouldn’t return as there are so many options in the area. A must stop for Lagunitas fans and brewery enthusiasts.
Dec 12, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by zimm421 from Ohio

Dec 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.18 by SlightlyGrey from Minnesota

Nov 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.56 by JColin from Illinois

Nov 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.89 by johunnic from Illinois

Oct 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.71 by crow from Illinois

Sep 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Aug 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4.56 by COR8RFAN from Colorado

Jul 07, 2016
Photo of 98green
Reviewed by 98green from Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4
Did the brewery tour. Less of a tour and more of a free beer tasting and light comedy show. 5 taster pours to begin and a full pint for the tour. The tour is just a loop of the catwalk and commentary is more a stand up act than tour. But that was a nice change of pace from a normal brewery tour. Highly recommended and can't beat the price of free.
Jul 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.2 by cryptichead from Illinois

Jul 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by smartassboiler from Illinois

Jun 19, 2016
Photo of Dmcdonald33013
Rated by Dmcdonald33013 from Florida

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 1
This is an absolute must visit brewery. MUST!
Jun 08, 2016
Photo of BSiegs
Reviewed by BSiegs from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Great all around visit to Lagunitas. Great selection, great service, and good food to go along with it. The vibe is laid back and the hallway on the way in is a bit trippy. Looking forward to going back.
Jun 02, 2016
Lagunitas Brewing Company in Chicago, IL
Brewery rating: 3.9 out of 5 with 102942 ratings