Howard Street Brewing Company

 

Though technically not part of Evanston, I made it part of my E-Town trip due to its extreme proximity to both the city and the Purple Line stop that shares its name. Place is kinda small, but not cramped, a panoply of bright, laminated woods and a bit of steel/concrete for flavor. Think Chipotle if dialed back a healthy bit. I hit the bar in the far close corner and ordered a flight of the whole shebang. Got some solid conversation from both the bartender and the other patrons, everyone in a jolly mood. The beers are all pretty solid, though nothing stood out as necessitating a trip out of your way. I believe food is an order-in sort of deal, so nothing to say on that front, but I will note that the route to the bathrooms is pretty interesting (in a good way). Pricing is pretty solid for the area. Overall, nice to see a new brewery up and running, and, what with the good vibes I experienced during my sojourn, I look forward to hitting HS up again in a few months to see how things have progressed.

Nondescript storefront with large windows, a few plants high on a ledge in the sunny front window. Small horseshoe shaped bar inside, seats for a dozen or so. Several tables along the wall, dotted by blue diagrams of fermenters and beer taps. Along the back wall there were windows with a view of the small 1BBL system.

Melissa the bartender was really knowledgeable and super friendly. She even fended off a wayward street preacher that had found their way into a brewery to proselytize. That was a first.

Beer was great, and a variety of styles including a nice saison and vienna lager. A small system keeps the selection rotating frequently. Very solid first impression from these guys, looking forward to what they do in the future.