Wicker Park Brewery? (aka Moonshine)

Ok, it is pretty well documented that Moonshine is basically a "local" Applebees. Not worth a trip, might be OK if you live in the immediate neighborhood. But this isn't about the food there.

When I was riding the #70 by this morning I noticed a new banner (hard to miss unless you are looking the other way) stating that they are now brewing, I believe, under the name Wicker Park Brewery.

I tracked down this link in Time Out talking about it, but I really can't find much else. Now that link is from January so I assume that if it was any good I would have heard about it, but has anyone tried their house beers?

SSDD

Moonshine isn't THAT bad, and it's actually got a pretty decent brunch.

headcase wrote:Ok, it is pretty well documented that Moonshine is basically a "local" Applebees. Not worth a trip, might be OK if you live in the immediate neighborhood. But this isn't about the food there.

When I was riding the #70 by this morning I noticed a new banner (hard to miss unless you are looking the other way) stating that they are now brewing, I believe, under the name Wicker Park Brewery.

Ha, "a local Applebees!" I couldn't agree more. It's bad and the fact that it's crowded, just boggles my mind (but then again Applebees and Chilis are always crowded as well). The sign has also caught my eye. My first reaction is that it's a gimmick and the beer has to suck - but then it crops up in my mind again as if it's calling me to try it. I'm not sure if I can stomach that place for a long sitting but I may have to go up there during lunch one day to try a few beers. I'll report back as soon as I do.

I was there, years ago, when it first opened and I think they had a beer on the menu that was a propietary brand. Maybe they were contract brewing then? And now they're brewing on site? As much as I like my beer -- and want to support up-and-coming/new breweries -- the negatives at Moonshine will keep me away.

i always hear mixed opinions on moonshine.. i find their brunch to be pretty decent, above average... i think the a lot of people end up there because it's a good people watching patio, i'm not aware of any applebees or chilis where a) there's a patio and b) if there were, it'd be worth sitting in for the people watching value...