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moss’ newest brewery project, Begyle Brewing (formerly Argyle Brewing Co.) models itself after the increasingly popular CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and is Chicago’s first “CSB” (Community Supported Brewery). Founders Matt Ritchey, Kevin Cary and Brendan Blume decided to start their subscription based brewery after a few brainstorming sessions. Like CSAs, members will receive a share of craft beer on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. Begyle is expected to open its craft beer programs starting this summer.
Though it’s new to Chicago’s shores, community-sustained brewing finds its roots deep in German history. In the 13th and 14th centuries, central brewhouses in each town would produce the liquid base of beer, called the wort, which was then collected by individual citizens. These select few would ferment the wort, and then place a special sign on their door (Zoigl, pictured above.) The six-pointed star looks just like a Star of David, but it’s actually a brewer’s star, one point for each beer-making element: hops, yeast, malt, grain, water and brewer. The Zoigl signaled to townsfolk that their neighbor had opened a temporary, communal pub in his home, a.k.a., to come over and have a cold one. After the beer from that house was gone, the next homebrewer would collect his wort and so the good people of the town were never without local beer (one hopes.)
We peeled back 70 years of dirt, grime and funky looking remodelings of a historic Traverse City opera house to restore its original luster and charm. The result is Brew, a coffeehouse and gastropub with a mighty list of local beer that uses repurposed elements to connect the city with its roots. Brew occupies the bottom floor of the 100-year-old opera house, whose maple floors, yellow masonry and rustic tin ceiling have been rescued from years of neglect. Windows that were obstructed by more recent construction work are incorporated into the new design to flood the space with natural light.
It’s not just the centenarian opera house that gives Brew it’s ultra-local construction: leftover wood from a nearby bowling alley forms sturdy tables, and wood from a old barn features in the design. Mid-century furniture lends the café a cozy, living-room feel. Pieces like the reclaimed pendant light fixtures echo the region’s sawmill history, while an old school 18-inch zinc bar with a galvanized pipe footrest rounds out the historical design elements.
A café by day (featuring locally roasted beans and a custom built pour over stand) and a tavern by night, Brew also offers food and spirits sourced from local farmers, artisans, distillers and brewmasters with continually evolving menus, cocktails and craft beer pairings. Photos and project info inside. Read the rest of this entry »
The enlightened man’s entertainment center can hold your treasured classics and cherished vintages. Designed by moss and fabricated by Demeter Millwork, our new wine and book storage shelf is constructed of materials sourced from within 100 miles of Chicago. The wood is reclaimed Walnut (framing members and siding) from a demolished barn in Northern Indiana. The mortise and tenon holes, nail marks, and other graces of time are visible on the piece. The base is a 4-door cabinet (designed to store 5 carboys and 1 5-gallon stock pot) with adjustable shelf and the upper storage is half book shelf and half wine storage, capable of holding about 6-8 cases. As installed at moss HQ the wine shelf portion acts as a guardrail for the adjacent stair mid-landing, so you don’t fall off after enjoying too much of the wine. Similar to our other wood furniture, no fish were harmed in the making of this piece. Photos inside. Read the rest of this entry »
photo courtesy of CS Interiors
Curbed Chicago has named our Erie Street Loft project the best home renovation of the year! Thanks, Curbed! Relive the magic here and and in video form here. This project was also featured in CS Interiors Magazine, Apartment Therapy, and Curbed Chicago.
Our Erie Street loft project is the center feature in CS Interiors Magazine. Full article inside.
Our newest homemade creation is now complete and ready for you to sit at. The tabletop is live edge black walnut cut from a storm damaged tree in Willow Springs, IL (and lovingly planed, sanded, and stained by our friends at Strand Design), and the legs, designed by us and made in Pilsen by Art Metal Design Studio, are stainless steel. Similar to our 100-mile table concept, no fish were harmed in the making of this piece. Photos inside.
After years of ignoring its original warehouse aesthetic, due to a developer’s ‘apartmentizing’ of the building, this 2,400 square foot, two-story loft has been rehabilitated to show off its industrial roots. Layers of paint and drywall have been removed revealing the original timber beams and masonry walls while accommodating two bedrooms, master suite, and a lofty, open living space at the ground floor. We wanted to avoid the lifeless feeling usually associated with industrial lofts by giving the space a warm but rustic aesthetic that we think best represented the original loft building. The finish materials also echo an industrial aesthetic, featuring upcycled reclaimed timbers as a fireplace surround and wall material, reclaimed stainless steel awning window, sourced from the ReBuilding Exchange, doors from a Chicago Montessori school, and salvaged metal pendant light fixtures. Description, before and after photos, and floor plans inside.
Publicity machine: Activate! Our 2 Sparrows project was featured in Eater Chicago. Check out the progress here.
Check out this sweet panoramic of 2 Sparrows in Lincoln Park. Wall framing is complete, mechanicals are installed, and bench seating is under construction. Wood is stained and ready for installation. We even picked paint colors. More photos inside
