Construction is complete on Begyle Brewing Company and we have the beautiful photos to prove it! This former industrial supply office has been converted into a sleek modern show room and tasting space for Begyle centered in the Ravenswood industrial corridor.
Begyle’s New Community Supported Brewery
Begyle is starting a CSB or Community Supported Brewery, modeled on the increasingly popular Community Supported Agriculture concept which has customers buy into a farm early in the year–giving a farmer the funds to grow and harvest produce–and then get back regular shares of the farm’s bounty through the year. Just as with a CSA membership, Begyle’s members will get a share of craft beer on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. The Chicagoist gave a shout out to their new program on Tuesday. Begyle opens to the public this Saturday!
Founders Matt Ritchey, Kevin Cary and Brendan Blume – are planning for a zero waste facility – they will try to find non-landfill uses for every part of the byproducts of brewing. Ideas include using spent grain to make dog treats and improved heat transfer processes on their brewing. Even the minimal waste involved in fill-your-own-growler distribution is up for improvement. Begyle launched a successful Kickstarter Campaign to fund an alternative to the practice of overfilling growlers (to keep extra air out of the container while its stored) by using a Counter Pressure Filler. Only the highest quality result with the lowest environmental impact will do for the lucky members of Begyle’s CSB. Read more coverage of their CSB at Guys Drinking Beer and Good Beer Hunting.
Brewery Tasting Room Design
Our design focuses attention on the beer, in steins, kegs, and growlers, with simple details and easy to clean, industrial surfaces. We brought natural light into the space with a new window and glass overhead door. Pendant lighting over the retail counter are constructed from helium tank caps. Reclaimed wood shelving–salvaged from the existing space–was constructed to fit their custom growler dimensions. The concrete bar was poured to show the grain of the formwork wood and is topped with a zinc surface which will age beautifully with use. Additional display surfaces feature simple, industrial materials: retail rack made from exposed plumbing pipe, concrete bar, concrete epoxy floors.
Be sure to check out our pre-construction post for more information on Begyle, CSBs and Slow Architecture ideas we have incorporated into this design.
The material palate is simple, using as many re-used and re-purposed elements as possible. Begyle merchandise is displayed on reclaimed wood shelves and plumbing pipe hanger bar details.
Before and After at Begyle Brewery:
The tasting room was just a garage. We gave its industrial elements a facelift and inserted a dramatic bar and dividing display wall to separate the brewing space from the front access.
The garage door entrance was a grim … garage door. Our re-design turned it into another access point for natural light with a new glass panel overhead door.
Progress Shot and After:
First: under construction, with wall framing and concrete form boards in place, and, below: completed.
The front space is kept open, allowing for flexible use as containers are moved around the shop and set up for distribution to members and local bars and staying true to its Ravenswood Industrial Corridor roots with garage door access front and center. The concrete bar was cast to show off an impression of its wood form work, giving it an interesting texture and preserving the history of its manufacture. Just as Begyle makes its brewing process visible and accessible to members and visitors alike, the tasting room doesn’t hide its construction.
The brewing space is functional and easy to clean allowing Begyle’s brewers to focus on their task – making great beer.
The moss design team with Kevin Cary (center) of Begyle
