Evanston, IL – Sketchbook Brewing Co. announces plans to move retail operations out of their current alley location to a newly renovated space this Spring. This Tap Room will be located at 821 Chicago Avenue, in Evanston’s thriving Main Street neighborhood, across from the Main Street CTA station.
“This new Tap Room will make it so much easier for craft beer fans to find us, “ says Cesar Marron, one of Sketchbook’s principal owners and brewers. “We do have folks who say they’ll miss our original alley location, which feels like their own private speakeasy. So, our job is to create a unique Tap Room—just steps way from the old space—which matches our original concept: a small and sustainable brewery focused on beer—and community.”
Hours of operation will expand when the new Tap Room opens, a light menu of food will be provided, and Sketchbook plans to host music and art events. Sketchbook has also applied for an upgraded liquor license that will allow the brewery to serve pints and flights.
Sketchbook has been well received by the community over the past year with over 450 predominantly local members in the popular Community Supported Brewery (CSB) program. The brewery has received positive reviews from many local and national press outlets including Crain’s Chicago Business and Thrillist. The February issue of BeerAdvocate gave reviews of 90+ to Sketchbook’s Lapwing bottles.
Sketchbook is working with the architectural firm of Valerio, Dewalt and Train to re-imagine their classic ‘shotgun’ storefront using repurposed wood, roofing slates and lighting fixtures, courtesy of a partnership with Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse.
“In the brewery, we use our DIY homebrewer approach to innovate in all kinds of ways to improve sustainability and quality,” adds Shawn Decker, the other Sketchbook owner and brewer. “Now, we are extending these values to the design and build-out of our new space. We hope our neighbors will find a new ‘local’ at Sketchbook, a community-based small business that makes great fresh beer just blocks from their homes.”