Blue Moon Brewing Company, which began in the basement of Coors Field in 1995, just opened its first stand-alone brewery and restaurant in the River North District. Enjoy locally-sourced foods and a selection of experimental brews alongside old favorites at this new location.

Quietly opening its doors last month, Blue Moon is now housed in a much larger facility, 28,685 sq. ft. to be exact, which will allow the beer makers to create and experiment with more unique brews while continuing to brew more of our favorites. The new location will brew 10,000 barrels per year. The brewery celebrated the new location opening with a special tour for local media in August.

The building takes up a large corner of Chestnut Place next to 38^th Street and has its own parking lot and large bicycle station. On each side of the entrance are two large patios with fire pits and they are dog friendly.

Inside this former plumbing supply shop is a large open space with a prominent circular bar above which hangs a giant “blue moon” light sculpture. Garage-door windows that open to the patio fill the dining area with natural light. Concrete culverts have been converted into booths next to the bar. The kitchen has windows to see in inner workings of the chefs. Guests can also take a self-guided tour of the brewery by following the signs down a back hallway that leads to a special tasting room. The brewery also has a separate room for special events that can be reserved for large groups.

A chalkboard out front provides a list of the brews on tap and the variety is large. Something guests are able to sample now is the brewery’s new seasonal for summer 2017, Mango Wheat. Brew Master Josh Legnard says having this larger location with a restaurant allows the brewery to get immediate feedback on new beers and so far the response to the mango has been positive. Going into production next year, Mango Wheat is a light and refreshing beer and while not that sweet, does have a hint of tropical fruitiness that we’ll be looking forward to after a cold winter. Available now is the brewery’s new seasonal Table Pils, a Belgian-style Pilsner. This lower-alcohol beer (4.2% ABV) was created in the Belgian spirit and designed to be enjoyed with a meal. The pilsner is brewed with mandarin orange peel and two row Moravian barley for a rich golden color with a Blue Moon touch.

The menu for the restaurant will feature seasonal and local produce and, according to Chef Darrell Jensen, many of the dishes will be made using beer ingredients, not just basted or cooked in beer, but by using wort from the brewery for instance. Entrees include the Blue Moon Burger, Monkfish and Lamb Loin.

The brewery and restaurant are open seven days a week from 11 AM to 10 PM and most beers come in four-ounce, 10-ounce, and 16-ounce pour. The original Blue Moon Belgian White is available in a 23-ounce pour at happy hour pricing all day, everyday.

Photos by Carrie Dow