A year in the making, North Park Beer Co. has softly opened its doors on University Avenue, where the handsome new brewery spans a 8,900-square-foot corner space at Ohio Street. For his first project, owner and homebrewer-turned-brewmaster Kelsey McNair chose Paul Basile of BASILE Studio to manifest his vision to turn a former department store into a tasting room and brewery (and future restaurant) that evokes the Arts and Crafts architectural style of the North Park neighborhood.
Amidst the Craftsman elements there are mid-century design nods too, from the custom copper-clad entry doors to the smoked glass globes that top the street lamps which illuminate the space. Along one wall, a custom-fabricated stained white oak bar with hammered copper detailing is currently pouring four house beers (West Coast hoppy red ale, Scottish 70 shilling, a hoppy strong pale ale and an American-style stout), with McNair's signature HopFu Imperial IPA, a classic cream ale and double IPA coming down the pipeline; the tap room will soon also feature guest beers and other beverages, from cold brew to kombucha.
It will likely be two months until its kitchen is completed, at which time North Park Beer Co. will have a restaurant component run by Mastiff Sausage Company. The upstairs mezzanine, though now available for private parties and events, will eventually get the design treatment too; McNair says it will have a homey feel, with fireplaces and other Craftsman touches.
