Trouble Could Be Brewing For Lagunitas’ Proposed Taproom In Chicago – UPDATED X3

***UPDATES***

2/26 – It appears to be all but official; Lagunitas’ Chicago taproom will not open in April.

Between now and the hopeful summer opening of the taproom, Lagunitas owner Tony Magee will have sprinklers installed throughout the cavernous 300,000 square-foot warehouse.

I believe the TapRoom’ll b later, maybe June, but the Brewery’ll begin bttling/kgging on time in October. It’ll be finalized by this Friday.

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 25, 2013

Good things come to those who wait, or so they say.

2/20 – More progress yesterday, perhaps?

Still kicking the can down the alley here in Chicago. Today is another day of meaningful conversations… It’s all an interesting trip…

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 20, 2013

2/19 – It seems there was a bit of progress yesterday, but the future of Lagunitas’ taproom in Chicago remains in question.

Moved the ball down the field a bit today. Tomorrow’ll b more, I hope. The brewery will be on time no matter, Taproom’s the question mark…

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 19, 2013

***END UPDATE***

Lagunitas founder and owner Tony Magee is in Chicago today to have a pow-wow with the city’s Department of Buildings to talk about his proposed brewery and taproom at 18th and Rockwell.

At last check Lagunitas’ taproom was slated to open in April followed by the production brewery in the fall.

The current hangup, sprinklers at the site of the taproom:

In Chicago now. The BeerSanctuary here is the smallest part of the whole project, yet it has been holding up the entire tran. Sprinklers…

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 18, 2013

Fire sprinklers that is. Problem ain’t $, it’s the time. May hafta kill the taproom in favor of the brewery today. Drat. I’ll letcha know…

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 18, 2013

Productive capacity’s the big reason to be here. Strange how the smallest part got control of the whole ship. Maybe a tasting tent outside..

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 18, 2013

Building anything is like a form of war. You make the best possible plan, then tear it up once the real fighting begins…

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 18, 2013

It’s all in the City’s building dept’s hands today. Its one of those ‘make or break’ meetings. Im ready to win though. Wish me luck (as if!)

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 18, 2013

‘Adapt and overcome!’ Since the other side of the table will all be wearing ties, I might wait on the ‘violence of action’…but I’m on it!

— LagunitasT (@lagunitasT) February 18, 2013

H/t: BeerPulse.

Ryan

With over a decade of news experience under his belt, Ryan spearheads The Guys in-depth coverage of beer news and craft beer legislation in Illinois and neighboring states. When he’s not digging through the annals of state government he’s looking for unique beers to cellar.

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