(Petaluma, CA) – Expect to see some additional coverage on BeerPulse today regarding Lagunitas Brewing‘s announcement that it is opening a new brewery in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune’s beer columnist, Josh Noel, spoke to a rep from Lagunitas (who happens to double as Magee’s sister) this morning. Noel shared some tweets after the phone call.
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Josh Noel
Just off phone w/ Karen Hamilton, sister of Lagunitas founder Tony Magee (@lagunitast). She works in brewery marketing …
April 10, 2012 9:18 am
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Josh Noel
… and adds detail to surprising announcement last night that CA-based Lagunitas plans to build brewery in #Chicago …
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Josh Noel
Says the forthcoming brewery came together quickly. Tony struck with idea for expanding here in February where many great ideas are born:
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Josh Noel
… while driving. He was bugged about high cost of shipping beer, and trying to think creatively …
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Josh Noel
In February, he flew in, checked out a bunch of properties and showed her the two finalists.
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Josh Noel
The one they’re going to rent, at 18th and Rockwell, behind a film/sound studio, “was Lagunitas” she said. It’s huge, 50 foot ceilings.
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Josh Noel
Tony telegraphed his intention on Twitter on 2/24 with a tweet and pic and the words “what would YOU do with a space like this?” Check it:
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Josh Noel
In other words, the “new” Lagunitas sees itself as much of a Midwestern beer as a West Coast beer …
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Josh Noel
“He’s always wanted to do something back here. This is home. This is Lagunitas coming home,” Karen says. (Karen and Tony grew up here.)