Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

The new Maplewood Lounge is great - made it there this past Friday when they opened to the public. Total madhouse, but given the size, shape, and layout it was a fun time - and well managed. While their beer is perhaps not among the top-tier Chicago brewers, I do enjoy their murky offerings, and their Pug Stout. But the new space is great, triangular in shape, and with a good vibe. Hopefully they will keep a few guest taps too when they are "out" of a particular style someone may be searching for, but it's a solid taproom and a great location near the movie theatres and Owen & Engine. Get a pint!

Vice and quality were awesome. Loved this place! Service was not bad everyone was very friendly. Selection was great beer, spirits, and food. The food, wow. I got a smash burger and it was amazing. Would go back anytime.

 

 

After missing out on visiting the last time I was in the area (curse you, private parties!), I finally hit up Maplewood to end my little Friday trek. Passed the patio tables, the interior really looks the part of the corner unit the place is, with the seating space opening from the taper near the door to the bar and the brewing equipment beyond. It's brick-and-wood rustic without feeling old or anything like that, not unlike the classic pubs of yore. Think Cheers without the weird lighting. ...Something like that, anyway. Maybe it was the booze talking. Either way, at the bar I could pick from some IPAs, the classic Fat Pug milk stout (had to), a couple lagers, and a couple miscellaneous others. It ain't the most extensive list out there, but there's variety, anyway. The bartenders were helpful, even though the place was busy on a Friday night (go figure). I don't remember anything about food, so nothing to report there, as per usual. Overall, despite being slightly crowded, the place remained cozy and enjoyable, a place I'd like to return to in the future when in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

Really small but if you’re able to get a spot at the bar or a table it’s worth the trip

Awesome variety of beers on tap (IPAs, Belgian Tripels, Rauchbiers, etc.), along with cocktails and a full menu at this neighborhood brewery. They recently did a barrel aged release that sold out, which is indicative of their rise over the past year or so.

They consistently do events with community members and represent the city well. One of my favorite places to go!

 

 

Stopped by the Maplewood Brewery and it is in a non-descript place off an ally/side street in the near North part of Chicago. It had a small bar and then several tables to sit and have drinks. The quality of the food and beer were good....service was a bit grumpy and didn't seem overly interested to make the visit experience notable. Fifty percent of the beer offerings were hazy ipas or some variant....and there wasn't much difference between them all. The food was good. I thought the beer was overpriced....especially for a sampler.

 

Visited at 4pm on Easter. Triangle shaped room, 10 person bar with tables and window rail behind. Exposed brick and wood, vintagey leather chairs give a bit more of a dive bar feel. Vibe was chill when I was here, but the place doesn’t seem big enough to get raucous. Music is 70s funk records from a turntable. A dozen of their own on offer, tilting toward the hazy IPAs they are known for. Pricing is reasonable, 6-7 for pint pours. Overall a nice place, but the beer is a bit better than the digs for me. But that is just personal preference.

 

 

 

Great local place to relax. Very cool space. They also have some distilled spirits that are worth trying.

 

 

 

 

Love their Sons of Juice. Didn't have on tap but did buy a fresh 4-pack. AWESOME. Brewery was loud, but that's a good thing. People having fun! Selection was not bad, just not what I was hoping for. I love this place!

 

 

 

 

Wedge shaped tap room at the end of a quiet residential street. The Lounge has a relaxed vibe and tons of exposed brick. Quality of the beer is mostly well above average. Service was fast, friendly and helpful. There are fourteen beers on tap. They also have a cocktail program using spirits distilled on site. The food is provided by a caterer next door but I did not try anything yet.

 

 

 

The Maplewood Lounge has been open a month now, and is already firing on all cylinders. Located on a dead-end street, right up against the Metra tracks & Kennedy (hmm, familiar) with a somewhat hidden sign until you're right on top of it. Semi-speakeasy vibe with dim lighting in the wedge-shaped room. Candles on the bar. Comfortable upholstered swivel chairs at the bar, and wooden tables lining the space. If I had to nitpick, it was too dark and the barstools were too close together to comfortably exit. Minor stuff. Merch and to-go cooler to the right of the bar, and immaculate gender-neutral restrooms right around the corner. Steve Miller Band on the stereo.

Service at the bar was timely and friendly, they struck up a conversation when time allowed. As the menu board states, "F*** Yeah! We got FOOD!". Snacky pub grub, even a Publican sausage on the menu. Food comes through a side window behind the bar, from an adjacent kitchen next door.

Selection was good, about a dozen beers and half of them were new to me, including an RIS and BA Barleywine. Quality stuff on a cold winter day, and the margarita gose wasn't shabby either. They have a fairly extensive list of beer cocktails that incorporate their house distilled spirits. Sampled the Fat Pug white whiskey, which was fairly sweet with pear and caramelized plantain esters/s. For a brewery taproom, the drink list was pretty "non-beer person" friendly with cocktails, frozen drinks, etc. using their house spirits.

Overall it was a cool little spot, and practically around the corner from Owen & Engine. Not far from the usual Avondale spots either, Beer Temple, Metropolitan, Kuma's, Dmen, etc.