NW Side Finds: Lake Effect Brewery

The first thing you’ll notice upon entering Lake Effect is the aroma.

Actually, let me back up for a moment, because I realize I just assumed you’ve actually found Lake Effect Brewing Company. It may not help you to know that it’s located at 4727 W Montrose Ave, Suite C in Chicago. I know that some small breweries and tap rooms these days can be tucked away off the beaten path. Lake Effect is as tucked as you can get: at the end of a dead-end alley on a tiny slice of warehouse real estate squeezed between the Metra, Amtrak and CTA tracks. If you miss it driving in, you’ll have to negotiate your turn-around among obstacles as massive as the Cicero/Montrose intersection, and the sprawl of the Kennedy expressway underpass right at the junction of 90 and 94.

So, don’t miss it: heading eastbound on Montrose from Cicero, proceed slowly under the Metra tracks. The first right is a delivery ramp (don’t go there, it’s hard to back out!), the second right, just past Chicago Costume, is the one you want. Turn there, and proceed to the small parking area at the far end of the building. It doesn’t look like much, but yes, you’re at the right place.

Walking or biking make all this a heck of a lot easier, BTW.

Once you’ve found the bright blue door with hardware store lettering spelling out “Lake Effect Brewing Co”, do go in. The entrance may not seem as welcoming as some, but Clint —owner and head brewer— really does want to see you.

This is where the aroma comes in. It’s hard to define: bready, but not like delicious, freshly baked bread. More like the tantalizing promise of something you have to associate and imagine. Like an old-school kitchen where sourdough starter and yogurt cultures are a constant presence. It doesn’t tell you exactly what’s cooking and what it will taste like when finished, but it’s bound to be out of the ordinary.

In his former life, before 2011, Clint was an architect and a home brewer. He feels that both architecture and brewing can serve as creative outlets for interesting projects. However, working in an architecture firm in meant living under a constant threat of layoffs. Clint describes working in a large, open office, where there was a period of time he and his colleagues could literally watch their co-workers’ computer screens go blank after they’ve been picked off for a conference with the management one by one. Clint narrowly missed being laid off himself, but this experience made self-employment appear at least somewhat more viable and less risky.

So in 2012 Clint embarked on what every home brewer dreams of: building his own brewery. He found that his recipes were easy to scale, but packaging, distribution, and actually moving beers off the shelves proved to be a challenge. The challenge is compounded by the fact, that —unlike many other independent breweries in Chicago— Lake Effect doesn’t have a taproom. So you can only purchase their selections from the small bottle shop to enjoy at home, or find them at local drinking establishments. Clint has been in talks with the powers that be about creating a brewery with a taproom at the old fire house near the Jefferson Park transit center, but this process has been mired in municipal red tape, with no definite date for breaking ground on the horizon.

He’s determined to stay local, serve the neighborhood and the NW Side, and fund everything through sales, without borrowing a lot of money. He’s found collaborations with local businesses fun and creative. He also makes a seasonal beer brewed with hops locally grown by residents in the neighborhood. And collaborations with larger partners, such as Morton Arboretum, Superdawg, and —unexpectedly— some golf courses, are good sources of revenue and help broaden his reach.

To further build on these collaborations and fuel his passion for experimentation, Clint created a Barrel Club program for 2020. He sources barrels in which various spirits or wines have been aged, and uses those, in combination with a variety of ingredients procured from local coffee houses, bakeries and other businesses, to create limited edition beers infused with truly unique flavors. Beer connoisseurs who subscribe to the program can pick a selection of 20 bottles per year, receive a t-shirt and a set of 4 Lake Effect glasses (plus a bonus beer to enjoy right away), as well as other perks.

As part of our monthly brewery ride series at Cosmic Bikes, we’ll be visiting Lake Effect on December 28th. If you haven’t been there, this is an excellent opportunity to check it out. And if you have, come along with us to get your favorite take-out beer and ride over to Smak Tak for some hearty Polish food.