HUMBOLDT PARK — After three years of planning, Humboldt Park’s first brewery and taproom is opening next week.
Ørkenoy, situated in the the industrial arts hub Kimball Arts Center at 1757 N. Kimball Ave., will serve its first customers Sept. 18, the owners announced on Instagram Friday.
The brewery and taproom is starting with dine-in service “with a limited contact service model to ensure the safety of our staff and guests,” according to the post. Reservations can be made online starting Monday. The owners plan to roll out carryout service “in the near future.”
At Ørkenoy, folks can expect house-made beer, cocktails and shareable plates, including a smoked trout spread ($8) and Scandinavian open-faced sandwiches, known as Smørrebrød.
Ørkenoy’s founders drew inspiration from Norway and other nearby countries. The brewery is loosely named after the Norwegian words for “desert island” and was designed to have an “Oslo meets Miami” vibe.
The brewery’s house-made beer is mostly lagers and farmhouse ales as a tribute to the beer made in Norway, Estonia and other nearby countries.
Ørkenoy was founded by former Lagunitas Brewing employees Ryan Sanders and Jonny Ifergan. The two have since brought on Briana Hestad and Madison Burns to help them achieve their vision.
Ifergan’s brother, Tohm, founder of Dayglow Coffee in Los Angeles, is opening a new shop, also called Dayglow, next to Ørkenoy to operate in tandem with the brewery. The coffee shop is currently operating in the brewery as a pop-up during construction.
The Ørkenoy crew was initially aiming to open the brewery by the end of 2019, but delays related to construction and timing delayed them. The coronavirus pandemic also brought some challenges.
Ifergan has said they want the brewery to be a hub for local artists and community gatherings when it’s safe.
“Our goal is to build a community of artists and fans by providing a shared space for others to connect — all the while delivering a new hospitality experience through our atmosphere, food, beer and the people we collaborate with to create experiences,” Ifergan previously said in a statement.
For hours of operation, and all other information, visit the brewery’s website.
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