Press Release:

(Chicago, IL) — The management team behind Fountainhead, a well-known craft beer, whisk(e)y bar and farm-to-table restaurant in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood, and The Bar on Buena, a neighborhood bar with a great beer selection, innovative food and an inviting atmosphere, plans to open The Northman, Chicago’s first bar dedicated to cider, in spring 2014. The new bistro-pub will be located at 4337 N. Lincoln Ave. (former location of Copper House/Jury’s) and will offer a well over 100 ciders on draft, cask or in bottles. The Northman will also offer carefully selected beers, wines and spirits but the primary focus of this new format will be cider.

“We are excited to share our love of cider with cider and drink fans and hope that they will embrace the first cider-focused establishment in Chicago,” says managing partner Aaron Zacharias. “When we opened The Bar on Buena nearly 11 years ago, it was pretty rare to have a tap dedicated to cider—but we knew then as we do now that the cider community—growers, producers and drinkers—were ripe for more market share. The curated cider list is going to be incredible. In addition, we will have a menu created by executive chef Cleetus Friedman designed to highlight the diverse selection of ciders and other libations.”

The location is currently open under the interim “Meantime” but will close and reconcept in early spring.

Chef Cleetus Friedman will serve as executive chef of The Northman and Patrick Eberle, former general manager of Sheffield’s Beer and Wine Garden, will be supervising the transformation. The first-ever cider bar in the Chicago will feature over 100 ciders (tap/cask/bottle). The food will focus on sustainability and will be designed to complement the ciders on tap, serving warm, hearty fare.

Opening is scheduled for late spring 2014. Follow updates on Facebook.