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Gurnee's Only Child Brewing a labor of love for local couple

Ben and Amanda Rossi are the parents of four kids and one busy taproom: Only Child Brewing, 1350 Tri State Parkway in Gurnee. The 4,000-square-foot facility relocated from its original Northbrook location and opened in August. The couple took a risk, cashing in Amanda's pension from her stint as a Chicago Public School teacher and capitalizing on Ben's passion for home brewing and his knowledge as a longtime beer buyer for The Grafton, a popular pub in Chicago's Lincoln Square.

The gamble is paying off: They've regularly sold out of their popular IPAs and other craft brews. “People know good beer and they follow good beer,” said Amanda Rossi. She was also excited to confirm that Six Flags Great America will feature their brew this summer.

<b>Motif:</b> The warehouse space is utilitarian with the trademark Only Child silhouette and 1980s posters decorating the gray walls. The entrance opens into a lounge area with black leather couches, metal floor lamps and a few barrels doubling as tables. Black and white painted distressed wood fronts the bar and benches. Seating for about 50 is a mixture of wall benches, black metal chairs and stools including eight seats at the bar. Rossi says her husband is in the process of adding tables to the lounge area for an additional 20 to 30 seats.

Strings of Edison bulbs loop down from the open industrial ceilings, and a thin black chain separates the taproom from the brew tanks, allowing fans of the brewing process a full view.

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  Nick Krieschen and his wife, Lindsay, both of Gurnee, toast their beers at Only Child Brewing in Gurnee. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com

Food: </b>A tin pail on each table holds delivery menus from local restaurants ranging from Mexican food to popular pizza places. Food for Your Soul, a food truck serving Lake County, was parked outside on the day we visited. Customers could walk up to order or follow instructions provided tableside to text their orders and await delivery inside the taproom. Though the menu on the truck was limited, food was hot and flavorful, portions were good and the prices were reasonable.

Rossi says they will soon add food truck service from BBQ Productions out of Grayslake. Special events and the unveiling of new beers often include multiple food vendors on site. Customers are welcome to bring their own food as well. Free palate cleansers include carafes of cheese balls, pretzels and crackers.

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  Only Child Brewing opened its Gurnee taproom last summer. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com

Liquid consumption: </b>We visited on release day for Only Child's sought-after Double IPA in cans, Don't Tell Mom the Baby Citra's Dead. Named after the popular citra hop and the film “Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead,” a cult classic and favorite of Amanda Rossi. Our party of eight sampled the citra along with Tantrum, a Hefeweizen, and the Rouge and Noir versions of their Ferme Du Chene Series of wild ales fermented in oak pinot noir wine barrels.

The big winner in our group was the Time Out, a hoppy American Stout. Rossi said they plan to release a new Double IPA with honey, The Double Dog Dare, sometime in June or July. At this time, they do not offer soft drinks.

<b>Crowd:</b> When we arrived at 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday, the crowd stood three-deep at the bar and all the seats were taken. Families lingered, with small children playing the shuffleboard game, munching on cheese balls or helping themselves to the water cooler. The crowd included first-timers and regulars of all ages. Later at night, the music grew louder, the crowd grew younger and the room continued to fill.

  Owner Ben Rossi tests a new batch of IPA at Only Child Brewing in Gurnee. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com

The taproom is kid- and canine-friendly. They don't mind dogs as long as they're leashed and owners take care of their dog's business.

<b>Music and more:</b> The single flat-screen TV showed Rossi's favorite movie on a loop and patrons sang along to the likes of Men at Work, Pat Benatar and INXS. The owners make sure to feature all the big Chicago sports teams and occasionally open early for a group of regulars who are soccer fans.

Other special events planned include Yoga & Beer with participants receiving a flight of beer following their workout, and various live music acts this summer.

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  Amanda and Ben Rossi own Only Child Brewing and taproom in Gurnee. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com

Service:</b> Amanda Rossi bartends two to three times a week while Ben supervises daily operations. Waiting in line at the bar is the fastest way to order your flights or glasses on tap. Rossi says they're experimenting with table service. The staff seemed to work in tandem, and after we opened a tab waiting in line at the bar, we received friendly and regular attention at our table. All servers were knowledgeable about the brewing process and what customers could expect from each offering.

<b>Parking:</b> The brewery is located in an industrial park with plenty of parking in a well-lit lot.

<b>Overall:</b> Only Child Brewing is a casual, lively spot to hang with friends and family and offers a variety of unique flavors for the craft brew lover.

Only Child Brewing

1350 Tri State Parkway, Suite 124, Gurnee, (224) 656-5241,

onlychildbrewing.com

Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday

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