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Arlington Heights might change rules to allow microbrewery

Arlington Heights officials are discussing changes in village code that would pave the way for a prospective microbrewery and tap room.

The proprietors behind Arlington Beer Co. first approached village officials in 2014 with plans for a manufacturing brewery, but that kind of establishment isn't allowed under current village code. The project was put on hold as the owners worked to open Itasca Brewing Company - a microbrewery and adjoining tap room for sampling the homemade beers - on the lower level of the Itasca Country Club.

"Now we're back here and hoping you guys will see the value in this kind of establishment for the residents," owner Kathleen Egan told Arlington Heights trustees this week.

Egan's group has purchased and is renting properties on Hickory Avenue north of Kensington Road where it has eyed putting the microbrewery. The proposal calls for making craft beer on site and selling by the glass in a tap room. Customers could also purchase and take home freshly canned 32-ounce crowlers of beer.

The business wouldn't have a kitchen, but patrons would be able to order food from local eateries.

Arlington Heights has long forbid establishments that serve only liquor - they must also have a kitchen - though an exception was made in 2016 when Arlington Ale House was approved to open on the third floor of 111 W. Campbell St. The bar allows patrons to order food from nearby restaurants.

While the village board agreed to have the village staff draft new brewery liquor classifications, the precise conditions and regulations are still subject to trustees' debate and approval.

"My first reaction is bring it on," Trustee Jim Tinaglia said of the prospect of a microbrewery. "But I think I'm going to be partial to one that has a wood-burning pizza oven in the front for somebody that sits there, has his card he punches three times and gets three really heavy beers, and he just needs to eat something before he hits the road."

Besides Itasca, towns that have microbreweries with tap rooms include Lake Zurich, Barrington, Long Grove, Glenview, Glen Ellyn, Mundelein, Roselle, Algonquin and Wauconda.

Some communities place a limit on the number of beverages that can be purchased, size of beverages and hours of operation.

"You can craft the regulations as uniquely as you can craft the beer itself," said Arlington Heights Village Attorney Mark Burkland.

The board is expected to revisit the issue in the next few weeks.

Microbrewery trying to open in Arlington Heights

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