USA, IL: Rabid Brewing not certain of opening date yet but expects it to be this summer

Rabid Brewing was granted an extension to its financial incentive agreement with the Homewood village board at the June 13 meeting, The Homewood-Flossmor Chronicle reported.

It’s the second extension for the brewery at 17759 Bretz Drive in Homewood.

Rabid owner Raiye Rosado called the situation with construction “delicate,” but didn’t offer any other explanation for the delays.

“We are indeed a few feet from the finish line. We’re not certain of our opening date yet, but do fully expect it to be this summer,” Rosado said.

In April 2016, the village board approved $40,000 in incentive funding for Rabid Brewing to develop its brewery and taproom. The money comes from Homewood’s non-TIF Business Incentive Program. The brewery would be reimbursed after work is finished.

At the time, the cost of the buildout was estimated at $95,100, with total start-up costs for the brewery projected at about $225,000.

The April 2016 agreement stipulated the project be completed within six months. Progress was slow and the board approved a six-month extension in September.

Rosado and her husband, Tobias Cichon, first began planning Rabid Brewing in 2011. The special-use permit for the Homewood location was approved by the village board in March 2016.

The brewery’s website lists nine varieties of beer with most named in the vein of Nordic myths and deities. They include an American pale ale called Fenrir’s Tooth, a brown sugar ale named Neferteetee and an imperial pale ale Rabid will call Ragnarøkkr.

22 June, 2017