Vice District Brewing And The South Loop Craft Beer Revolution

By Melissa McEwen in Food on Jul 28, 2014 6:00PM



The future location of Vice District Brewing Co. (image courtesy Vice District Brewing Co.)

Is the South Loop Chicago’s latest beer destination? Vice District Brewing Co., which will be located at 1454 S. Michigan Ave, hopes so. They will officially open their doors on Friday, Aug. 22., one of several beer-centric businesses opening soon in the area including the re-vamped Villain’s, Motor Row Brewing, and South Loop Brewing.



Brewmaster Charlie Davis, Co-owner Quintin Cole, Co-owner Curtis Tarver II (image courtesy Vice District Brewing Co.)

And Vice District Brewing Co. was born. It’s not named for the vice of filling your basement with more and more homebrew equipment. “We definitely wanted to be in the South Loop and wanted to make sure when we came to the neighborhood we played homage to its history and character. The South Loop used to be the ‘Vice District’, it was a place where people let their hair down” says Tarver.

They brought in professional brewmaster Charlie Davis, formerly of North High Brewing in Columbus, Ohio. Tarver says they aren’t going to focus on a specific style, but says they are “brewing a porter right now, which will on tap when we open. We also have ESB, IPA, ales, seasonal lagers. Oktoberfest, and winter stouts in the works” that Charlie is “is very fond of German styles, some lagers, primarily ales.” They’ll have ten different beers flowing through their tap lines and take-hope growlers available. They won't have a kitchen, but encourage people to bring food from other local businesses and hope to have food trucks park outside.