Pete Crowley was sitting with his future business partner John Neurauter as they wrote their business plan on a napkin. It had three bullet points: Specialty meats, Hand Crafted Beer and Custom made Sausages. With that napkin they raised all the money they needed and some, to open Haymarket Pub and Brewery. How Pete and John met was even more synchronistic. John’s father had won a “Brewer for Day” prize at a charity auction many years before and asked if his son John could use it. Pete agreed, so John spent a day brewing with Pete in 2006 at Rock Bottom Chicago where Pete was head brewer, and through that experience became lifelong friends and business partners.
They opened there doors officially on January 12, 2011 on the corner of Randolph and Halsted (737 W Randolph) directly across from where the infamous Haymarket workers riot occurred, hence the name. When Haymarket opened the West loop was still not the best neighborhood but the space fit all their needs. Once they finished building it out they had room for the Brewhouse and a front and back bar with seating for over 300.
In the front area they had a large bar area with a large dining area next to bar and brewhouse next to the dining area - this area has plenty of TVs and has a sports bar feel. Their proximity to the United Center made them the go-to bar for Blackhawks fans, they even had a shuttle from the bar to the stadium for about 4 years.
The back area has a stage and more of a coffee house or English pub vibe and is known as the Drinking and Writing Theatre. Live music and even theater productions take place there. They used to have a regular Saturday afternoon show which promoted creative local talent. Today it is used for many corporate and family events. It still has that beautiful English Pub feel.
While the beer choices are quite eclectic at Haymarket for me two style categories stand out the most: Strong Ales and Belgians (Pete original focus). The Belgians from his original gold medal winning Angry Birds Belgian IPA, to Lucy’s Giant Tripel, Haymarket’s Belgian beers are world class examples of these beer styles. Drop in now and enjoy their current medal winning a Belgium IPA, Oscars Pardon and keep an eye out for Mother Jones Dubbel. Then we come to perhaps Haymarket's best style category - Strong Ales. From Imperial Stouts and Double Bocks to Barley Wines as well as Barrel aged versions of all these. Currently they have what I consider to one of the best Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial Stouts in all of Chicago - Clare’s Thirsty Ale BBA - a bourbon aged raspberry imperial stout. As great as the beer is, food is equally a part of Haymarket’s DNA.
Chef Chris McCoy who worked with Pete at Rock Bottom Chicago, joined Pete and John as a partner and the chef. He prides his menu with foods made from scratch and of course a focus on those great sausages and meats. Chris is a big fan of using beer in most of his dishes. I asked him which beer he used the most in his dishes, and he said Mother Jones Dubbel, a chef after my heart!
Do yourself a favor and stop by perhaps the best food and beer pairing restaurants in Chicago and while you are there have a beer or even two, and have a toast to the working men and women of America!
Cheers!
Owner and Brewmaster Pete Crowley doing some two fisted drinking !