Wauconda's Side Lot Brewery is reinventing itself

Side Lot Brewery Offers A New Menu & New Backyard.

Wauconda's Side Lot Brewery is showing everyone that they're about more than just beer.

Nothing Side Lot Brewery had planned for 2020 happened. The plans for expanding the brewery had to be put on the back burner, and like everyone else in the industry, the year became about survival.

According to Managing Partner, Phil Castello, 2020 was about re-invention.

"We went into the pandemic with plans of expanding our brewery and trying to get more product into the market. The plan was to really build and grow the brand. But once the shut down happened that spring, it was evident that we had to come up with a new plan.

Castello says that just relying on carry-out and delivery beer sales alone weren't going to keep the lights on. So he and the full-time staff curated virtual tastings and other events to entice people to connect with the brewery.

"Delivery was great because people would order with the anticipation of the truck pulling into their driveway. We even took it around to sell beer like an ice-cream truck one weekend. It was one thing that made Side Lot unique compared to other craft beer delivery options in the area." Castello said.

In June of 2020, Side Lot Brewery ordered their "Winter Domes" to plan for keeping customers coming through the winter, and they were a big success.

Castello says that if it weren't for the domes, Side Lot probably wouldn't be here.

"Seven big domes drew a lot of attention. We estimate that 60% of the guests had never been here before."

That is when the realization came that Side Lot Brewery needed to cater to more than just local craft beer fans. They started out with plans to take their beer garden, affectionately called "The Backyard" from six picnic tables, to a lush lounge filled with couches, hightop tables and other quaint seating arrangements. Next came the cocktails.

"We've always offered wine and cocktails, but never made a real effort to do much with them. We had a meeting and started developing winter cocktail recipes and hosting online cocktail making classes. On the spring and summer menu Side Lot offers over 20 hand crafted cocktails.

"Keeping the 'craft' in the business was important. Which is why we make most of our mixers and bitters in house and grow the herbs that are used in the drinks. You won't find any soda-gun mixers in a Side Lot craft cocktail." Castello Said

The other hurdle was a food menu. Side Lot was allowing customers to order from neighboring restaurants. But sometimes it was frustrating.

"It was great seeing guests order food from our neighbors at Slyce because they wanted to drink our beer with it. But people often don't realize that we're completely separate businesses, so it was frustrating to see $150 worth of food delivered, and then only see $20 in drink sales for that two-hour reservation"

Side Lot wrestled with the idea of coming up with a new food menu. Castello said that he knew if he was going to do it, he wanted to make a statement.

"I'm a foodie at heart, so I knew that if we were going to make this effort, we had to go big and do something that is completely different for this area"

Side Lot Brewery curated a menu of Anytime Snacks, available during all hours of operation, Weekend Bites, and a Sunday Brunch Menu. Items range from a jumbo pretzel weighing in at 1.5 pounds and homemade Churros to Shrimp and Scallop Skewers, Lobster Rolls and the massive Brunch Board.

But Castello says Side Lot Brewery isn't done yet.

"We have an amazing new Chef, Carlos Valdez, who has been in the kitchen at some big name kitchens around the country. Together along with Brewer Kevyn Merwitz, and our Taproom managers Chloe Juckel & Tyler Holt, we're working on new pairing dinners like nothing you'll find in the area."

Side Lot Brewery has their first pairing dinner set for July 3rd to coordinate with the Wauconda Fireworks Show. The Menu includes oysters and dry-aged filet mignon paired with a new series of Reserve Beers. There are limited and

available on their website SideLotBrewing.com

"The beers are still flowing, so that's not changing. But we feel like there is a lot more we can offer from this unassuming building." Said Phil Castello

Side Lot Brewery opened in 2015 as a 60 seat brewpub with an additional beer garden, located in downtown Wauconda Illinois. Phil Castello serves as the Managing Partner and Head Brewer.

Contact:

Phil Castello

Managing Partner & Head Brewer

224-259-2337

Phil@SideLotBrewing.com