Begyle Opens Tasting Room, Beer "CSA" Members Get Perks

By Jennifer A. Freeman in Food on Jan 21, 2014 9:40PM

If you’re a fan of the best new craft brewery in 2013 as named by Chicago Magazine, you now have more options to buy its beers. Begyle Brewing Co. is launching Chicago’s first CSB (community supported brewing) program, based on the CSA (community supported agriculture) programs that are so popular for produce delivery.

Begyle is opening their 600-square-foot tasting room and store inside the Ravenswood brewery on Jan. 25. First in line might be the 200 members who bought shares in the CSB last December. Tastes are free, and the tasting room is open to the public to purchase growlers, bottles or kegs, but membership has its perks.

A six-month membership for one growler a month will run you $77, $142 for 2 growlers, $266 for 4 and $455 for a sixtel. For those of you who popped open a growler early, that math means there’s a discount for buying in bulk. A year membership makes your beer even cheaper. And if you just can’t get enough, additional purchases beyond your membership still get a 10 percent discount.

Without membership a Begyle growler costs between $12 and $15, depending on the beer, which still makes it one of the cheaper Chicago breweries. A new growler at Half Acre is $16 and ranges from $15 to $30 at Haymarket.

We love seeing all the new local breweries popping up, and the CSB option is another layer to ensure community investment in these new businesses. And with beers as tasty as Begyle's American Dry Stout, Neighborly Stout, and Always Bet on Black, a Black Saison, we want these guys to stick around for a long time.

Begyle Brewing Co. has a program of close to 40 beers, but at least eight should be available for Saturday’s opening. If you’re not a member you can still line up to try Quagmire, a double IPA special release for the event.

The shares made available last December sold out quickly, but if you want to put your dollars behind the community supported brewing program, you can sign up for the June waiting list on the Begyle website.

Begyle Beers are also sold at Binny’s, Whole Foods and some local restaurants, including Fountainhead and the Dawson.

Begyle Brewing Co. is located at 1800 W. Cuyler Ave.