New Lakeview Brewpub Offers Inventive Brews And Bites

By Ben Kramer in Food on Jul 28, 2015 4:00PM

via Dry Hop

Last Friday, Music Box Theatre hosted Corridor Brewing & Provisions (3446 N. Southport Ave.) a soon-to-open farmhouse-style brewery and restaurant.

The pop-up restaurant provided appetizers and beer before the showing of Kris Swanberg's Unexpected, and attendees were given a glimpse into what the new brewpub will provide when it open in a few months.

Corridor is in the extended family of DryHop Brewers, and Greg Shuff, the owner, also owns Corridor. A few members of DryHop are on the Corridor team, reprising their current roles at DryHop, including Head Brewer Brant Dubovick, and Executive Head Chef Joel Pillar.

Taking place in the back patio of the Music Box, the tasting had a reserved, backyard feel to it. There were little garden plots in cut open barrels, benches and patio chairs, beer served from little kegs, clear plastic cups and red flowers above the food prep station.

The beers they have ready are impressive and exciting. Last Daze, a saison and collaboration between DryHop Lead Brewer, Adrian Vidaurre, and Corridor Lead Brewer, Danny Monnot, was just right for the 80-something degree day. Light, refreshing and dry hopped with Saphir, the beer was slightly citrusy and finished dry.

Wizard Fight, a beer solely done by Corridor, is a Nitro Lactose IPA, coming in at 7 percent ABV. Upon first sip, any and all skepticism was erased. It is well-balanced, the marriage between lactose, a non-fermentable sugar used in Milk Stouts, and the Amarillo, Mosaic and Citra hops blended beautifully. The citrus was there in the aroma and taste, but was not overwhelming once consumed. This allowed the lactose sweetness to pull through. Flaked oat and nitrogen additions lent the beer a soft, creamy mouthfeel, which only boosted it’s drinkability and character.

Three small dishes were served in person by Pillar, with each being delicious in their own right. The Heirloom Panzanella Salad was a fine opener. A bread salad with Heirloom tomatoes, basil, grilled summer vegetables and burrata, it was da bomb. The curried cauliflower with farmers cheese may have been the best, though. Served in harissa tomato sauce with roasted eggplant, it had an excellent amount of spiciness.

Going by the samples Corridor provided, both food and beer, there is reason to be excited. If Wizard Fight is an indication of the inventive brews this brewpub has in store for the public, then the future looks bright. The event went well and served as a sneak peak into something that promises to be superb.