Named for the original 40-acre parcel of land that became modern day North Park, The Original 40 Brewing Company is prepping to launch next month on University Avenue. Owners Steve and Patricia Billings are longtime area residents and business owners who also runs local bar fixture U-31; with The Original 40, he’s hoping to bring a “next-level” brewery restaurant to the neighborhood.
Executing a menu that will aim beyond basic brewpub food is Luke Johnson, who formerly helmed the kitchen at Cutwater Spirits. Johnson, who has cooked in Michelin-starred kitchens — from Spiaggia in Chicago to Melisse in Los Angeles — is creating a lineup that will range from seasonal salads, including toasted Israeli couscous with shaved fennel, baby spinach, blood orange, radish, and cucumber in a citrus vinaigrette to fresh pastas like sweet pea ravioli with crispy pancetta, mint froth, grated parmesan and lemon essence. House beer will be used where applicable, incorporated into a mussel dish and gougeres, or French cheese puffs.
Lead brewer Christopher Scott Gillogly has an impressive resume that includes brew time at Mikkeller Brewing Company, Green Flash, and Pizza Port. Most recently, Gillogly was head brewer at Groundswell Brewing Company, where he won a silver and bronze medal at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival during his tenure. Upon opening, The Original 40’s 26 taps will stocked with at least 15 house beers in a variety of styles, from a pre-requisite hazy IPA to a pilsner, blonde, Mexican lager, and double IPA.