Passion for beer, hockey collide at Grayslake's Light the Lamp
Started in 2012 by three local dads who found themselves with more free time when their kids started driving themselves to hockey practice, Grayslake's Light the Lamp Brewery combines the founders' passion for hockey and craft beer by serving brews you won't find anywhere else and providing a great gathering place for sports fans.
Motif: Hockey is dominant at Light the Lamp, located at 10 N. Lake St. Games air on three TVs, a chalkboard shows the NHL schedule and there's a Blackhawks calendar posted on the wall. Blackhawks banners hang from the walls, and the owners have hung their own jerseys along with those from their kids' teams. Customers have added their own decorations as well, bringing in pads and even a model Stanley Cup created for a school art project. Furnishings are eclectic, with a black couch and mismatched wooden tables picked up from garage sales. There's a foosball table and a table hockey game for competitive customers. The spot also brings in local comedians once a month and periodically hosts Cards Against Humanity games or movie nights.
The space is in the process of expanding, adding more seating and a private party area. The owners are also working on updating their draft system to have 10 taps so they don't have to spend time changing out kegs on busy nights. They want to add bags for summer and start offering brewery tours.
Food: Light the Lamp doesn't serve food, but you're welcome to bring your own or order in.
Liquid consumption: While the owners are home brewers, they hired a professional brewer to tweak their recipes and come up with his own. The result is a remarkably good selection of beers, with several varieties seeming to dare people to try things they think they don't like. For instance, the Sin Bin Stout offers a mellow and not too bitter coffee flavor. For something lighter, opt for the citrusy Center Ice session ale or the Bench Minor blonde, which is very light and easy to drink but offers a bite that blondes don't normally have.
The bar typically has six beers on tap, with five staples and a new one rotating in every other Friday. If you're looking to try everything and get a bit of beer education, order a taster, which is presented on a place mat so you don't lose track of what's what. You'll also get a separate list providing descriptions. Light The Lamp sells plenty of growlers and hopes to start distributing its beers to other bars soon.
Crowd: The space brings in a casually dressed 30-to-60 crowd. Blackhawks games draw avid fans, who will cheer for good plays not just when the team scores.
Service: We were immediately greeted by one of the owners when we walked in, despite the fact that the bar was quite busy. The bartender brought us a bowl of popcorn with the taster we ordered and was happy to provide extra explanations of the special brews.
Music: Light The Lamp hosts a mix of original and cover acts twice a month on Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
Parking: Grab a spot in the small free lot behind the bar.
Overall: Light The Lamp's stellar selection of accessible beers and friendly atmosphere make it easy to be a fan.
Light the Lamp Brewery
10 N. Lake St., Grayslake, (847) 752-8489, <a href="http://lightthelampbrewery.com">lightthelampbrewery.com</a>
<b>Hours:</b> 5 to 10 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 4 p.m. to midnight Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday