Humboldt Park’s first brewery, Orkenoy, in the works off 606 Trail
Bar with full kitchen planned by end of ’19
Humboldt Park’s first brewery is pegged to open by the end of the year inside a building near the Bloomingdale Trail and Kimball Avenue.
Orkenoy is from a pair of friends who met while working at Lagunitas Brewing’s Douglas Park taproom. The brewery is opening inside the Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave. The 606 elevated trail overlooks the building near the Kimball Avenue exit.
The bar will have 12 taps, spirits and wine, plus a full kitchen for food. Jonny Ifergan and Ryan Sanders, two beer industry vets — Ifergan works at Whiner Beer and Sanders works inside Lagunitas’ kitchen — have partnered on the project.
Ifergan’s brother Tohm Ifergan will open a coffeeshop inside the space. He debuted Dayglow Coffee in 2017 in Silver Lake, California. Tohm Ifergan will open his second Dayglow inside his brother’s brewery.
Jonny Ifergan confessed that he prefers malt over hops, despite the trendy IPAs that dominate craft beer culture. He’s inspired by the beers of Norway and other Scandinavian influences.
The brewery is named for a Scandinavian ship.
Expect to see farmhouse ales, raw ales, and smoked lagers. Ifergan is also fond of using foraged ingredients.
The partners have taken over about 5,000 square feet inside the arts center, a facility that includes an archery range, art gallery, and architecture office. Orkenoy should have an artist’s spirit as a welcoming place for creatives of all types. It’s also going to be a spot for cyclists and pedestrians walking the 606.
Sanders’ menu won’t be designed for folks to gorge. He wants to give them small plates so they can linger. He mentions a smoked pastrami and a gigante bean “ceviche.” It’s a vegetarian dip with piquillo peppers, pickled red onions, and more. It will be served with plantains.
Ifergan doesn’t want people to see Orkenoy as only a brewery. Just like his brother did with Dayglow, he wants to create a lifestyle brand.
“Yes, we make beer and we want to make great beer, but it doesn’t have to be just about that,” Jonny Ifergan said.