alcohol in the news; After delays, brewpub ready to begin work in Champaign

From the News Gazette

After delays, brewpub ready to begin work in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – Construction is expected to begin soon on the long-awaited brewery and restaurant planned for downtown Champaign.

Destihl Restaurant & Brew Works recently filed a building permit application with the city of Champaign for just over $1 million of work in the M2 building at Neil and Church streets.

Finally...

The space will be "somewhat similar" to the Normal restaurant, "with some exciting, new changes," he said.

"It will be a little more contemporary than the space here (in Normal) which already has a metro industrial look. We'll take that even farther in Champaign."

The Champaign space will be about 1,000 square feet larger and will have a larger bar area. It will also have room for the brewery with its fermenting tanks, barrels for aging beer and other equipment. The beer will be brewed on-site and within view of diners.

In Normal, the brewery produces about 45 to 50 different beers, and Potts expects to do the same or more in Champaign. Throughout the year, the restaurant and bar serves about 16 to 17 beers at any given time. They tend to always feature about five beers, and the remaining are rotated throughout the year. They'll do some barrel-aging of beer on-site as well.

Potts is Matt Potts, the owner.

Construction on the restaurant is expected to last about four months, with a projected opening date in early spring 2011.

I believe that's the third year in a row that they've planned on opening in the spring.