Crystal Lake Beer Co. to Open Microbrewery in Downtown Crystal Lake

Downtown Crystal Lake soon will be home to the city's first microbrewery. 

John O'Fallon and Chuck Ross received approval from the Crystal Lake City Council last week to open Crystal Lake Beer Company at 150 N. Main Street.

The Main Street building has stood vacant for some time and is the former home of Grand Rental Station and, prior to that, the original location of Reichert Chevrolet.

The City Council approved the businessmen's request for a special use permit to open the brewery and to allow a tap room where potential clients can sample the craft beers, city documents show.

In approving the plans, the council also created a new liquor license classification to allow for a microbrewery business.

Crystal Lake Beer Company will brew beer to package and sell to local businesses. According to development plans presented to the city, the empty building and site will be refurbished without expanding the building's footprint or impacting the size of the parking area.

The company aims to hire eight employees.