New Brewery Casa Humilde Set to Join District Brew Yards

In Press Release by Karl

Earlier this month, Jerome Stontz of Bold Dog Beer Company teased us with the news that District Brewyards was close to announcing another brewery to take over the “Fourth Wall,” currently home to some ciders, collab beers and guest handles including beers from breweries like Hop Butcher.

Today, District Brewyards followed through with the release of the below statement, announcing a full-time tenant of the Fourth Wall — and unlike the other three, it’s more or less a brand new start-up, unlike the more established three original brewers: Burnt City, Around the Bend and Bold Dog.

Per the below, the folks behind Casa Humilde Cerveceria Artesenal have been homebrewing for four years and spent time with Omega Yeast, Hopewell Brewing and the Logan Brewlevard homebrew club.

They join a Chicago area brewing scene that also boasts some Latinx-inspired breweries, most notably 5 Rabbit Cerveceria along with Cruz Blanca just around the corner on Randolph.

What about the beers currently pouring on that space? Per a DBY representative, the ciders currently being offered on the Fourth Wall will move to the Burnt City wall to start, while future guest collaboration beers will appear on the wall of the brewery responsible for that collab. Pure contract/guest handles are unlikely to find a future home on behind any of the tap handles.

Those new beer offerings listed below seem interesting (especially that low-ABV hibiscus beer) and after a recent visit to the Brewyards a few weeks ago where we found the PYO option to be surprisingly satisfying and fun, we look forward to sampling through CHCA’s beers soon.


PRESS RELEASE:

(CHICAGO; October 17, 2019)—Starting in late October, District Brew Yards (aka “the Brew Yards”) announces Casa Humilde Cervecería Artesanal officially joins the production brewery collective, pour-your-own beer hall, and retail beer shop in West Town’s Chicago Brewing District, which is already the permanent home to Burnt City BrewingAround the Bend Beer Co., and Bold Dog Beer Co. The official launch party is Casa Humilde’s Day of the Dead celebration on Friday, Nov. 1, 6 p.m.-close, featuring DJs, a mariachi band, a Mexican folkloric dance performance, and more (no cover charge).

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Casa Humilde takes over the full 10-tap wall formerly known as The Fourth Wall, which previously featured District Brew Yards collaborations and guest brewers, including the first two commercial releases from the fledgling brewery in August 2019.

“We are so honored to be a part of the District Brew Yards community,” says Jose Lopez, Casa Humilde co-founding brewer. “Brewers are helpful and supportive of each other by nature, so when I heard about this place, I thought, ‘How badass!’ because it’s like a food hall for beer. You can try a little bit of this and that and find what you like. If you’re adventurous, you can go down the line and try everything. You can have fun with it.”

Casa Humilde co-founding brewer Javier Lopez adds, “District Brew Yards has some breweries with great experience in the industry, so, along with the resources available, we can help each other grow.”

Born and raised in the Hermosa neighborhood of Chicago, brothers Jose and Javier Lopez started homebrewing in September 2015 and officially founded Casa Humilde (“Humble House” in Spanish) in 2019 to reflect their brewing style, ingredients, and heritage. While Lopezes were fine-tuning brewing techniques and recipes with Logan Brewlevard Society homebrew club, Jose dove into the business from the professional end by working at Omega Yeast labs, and he eventually made his way to Hopewell Brewing, where he worked in distribution for a year and a half before leaving this fall to dedicate his full resources to Casa Humilde. Jose also designs the can art and t-shirts currently available at the Brew Yards. Casa Humilde’s tap wall features a distressed teal door, evocative of Mexico, with local art displayed on it that will rotate monthly; first featured is Chicago painter Alma Dominguez. For more information on Casa Humilde, visit www.casahumildechicago.com or on Facebook and Instagram @casahumildecerveceria #stayhumilde.

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“Our style is approachable, easy-drinking beers,” explains Jose Lopez. “We want more of our people who aren’t craft beer drinkers to have something interesting to drink.”

Casa Humilde introduced two beers to market through District Brew Yards this summer: Maizal Mexican Lager (4.7% ABV), brewed with corn for a touch of sweetness and mild bitterness in a crisp and refreshing lager; and the light red-hued Nopalli Prickly Pear Farmhouse Ale (5% ABV), effervescent with a dry finish, as well as a fruity aroma from the prickly pear, like a mix of beer and agua fresca. The brewery’s opening beers at District Brew Yards include:

  • Cafecito Coffee Porter (5.2% ABV)
  • Mesita Hibiscus Table Beer (3.4% ABV)
  • Campesino Saison (4.7% ABV)
  • Neblina Juicy Pale Ale (5.7% ABV)
  • Alba Vienna-Style Lager (5.1% ABV)

For more information, visit www.districtbrewyards.com. Follow along on social media platforms @brewyards.

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About District Brew Yards:

District Brew Yards (417 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago; 773-295-1270) creates the ultimate craft beer experience in the Windy City, with a production brewery collective, pour-your-own beer hall, and retail shop with beer to go all under one roof. The permanent home to Burnt City Brewing, as well as Around the Bend Beer Co., Bold Dog Beer Co., and Casa Humilde Cervecería Artesanal, the Brew Yards is a creative partnership that brings small breweries together to share resources and knowledge—embracing the pioneering spirit upon which the craft beer industry was founded. At the Brew Yards, enthusiasts of craft beer encounter a one-stop shop to sample a wide variety of beers from multiple breweries across 40 taps—like a brewery crawl without having to leave the premises. The beer hall also serves a menu of smoked meats and creative sides. As it is a pour-your-own beer facility, the Brew Yards is 21+. Hours are Tuesday-Thursday 3-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.- 11 p.m., closed Monday. For more information, visit www.districtbrewyards.com, and follow along on Facebook @brewyards and Instagram @brewyards.

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About the Author

Karl

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Karl has written about food, travel and beer for Chicago Magazine, Thrillist, Time Out Chicago, AskMen and more. His book, Beer Lovers Chicago, is now available via Amazon and other booksellers. If you're buying, he's likely having a porter or a pale ale.

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