Twisted Hippo Brewery looks to find a new permanent home after a devastating fire destroyed its original location in Albany Park at 2925 W Montrose Ave.
The oddball brewpub tragically burned down in February after being situated there since 2019. After the colorful taproom fell, along with an adventure course for children, co-owners Karl and Marilee Rutherford and Todd Ruddick vowed to relocate within the neighborhood as soon as possible. While the husband-wife duo finds a new home for their brewery, the couple will soon have its beer brewed and served at District Brew Yards‘ original West Town location at 417 N Ashland Ave.
“[We’ve] spent the spring months saying goodbye to a beloved place and space, and ushering in an age of transition,” the owners recently said on the business’ Instagram. “Through the almost unthinkable generosity of our community, we were able to pay our full staff for two months after the fire as they took a moment to breathe and reposition themselves. Every single one of them will be offered the opportunity to return when we are able to open our doors again, wherever that may be.”
These individuals welcomed back include brewery manager Kyle Reed, chef Alex Borrayo, and creative consultant Shawn Smith. To complement the brewpub’s vibrant interior, the staff is described as “a carefully curated group of fun folks who embody what it means to be perfectly yourself, no matter what your quirk may be.”
The partnership with District Brew Yards allows the company to stay afloat while finding a home. Twisted Hippo hopes to have its beer back available to the public by the end of Summer 2022, according to the company’s Instagram. Meanwhile, the host brewery, District Brew Yards, is opening a second facility in north suburban Wheeling this fall.
“We’re working really hard to find a space as close to our original location as possible,” Marilee Rutherford told Block Club Chicago. “I would not expect that we will have our own dedicated space to open again before the year is out. But if we can get producing before then, we’re certainly going to.”
