3 Floyds Brewing
Brewery · Munster ·
Artisan beers, distillery, store, and unique gastropub fare
Artisan beers, distillery, store, and unique gastropub fare
"Reviving its brewpub near Chicago, Three Floyds — a cornerstone of local beer culture — is partnering with Fifty/50 Restaurant Group to relaunch the Munster operation with revamped outdoor areas, more space and games, and a menu and cocktails designed to complement the beer while honoring the brewery’s roots; the team hopes for a spring opening with a larger update later in the year." - Ashok Selvam
"Known for hits like Zombie Dust, Dark Lord, and Alpha King and built on the “It’s not normal” ethos since debuting in 1996, this Munster brewery became a Chicago favorite. Founder Nick Floyd closed the Munster taproom and restaurant in 2020, cutting off direct brewer–customer feedback, but the return of Dark Lord Day signaled a reawakening for fans of the barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout (released in a variety of rarer flavors). The taproom is being rebuilt and doubled to about 5,000 square feet with a 3,200-square-foot outdoor area featuring games, fire pits, a second outdoor bar, and an enclosed all-season beer garden; plans include Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired touches and more private-event capacity. Food service will be handled by Chicago’s Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, aiming for elevated yet working-class–friendly fare (think burgers, barbecue, popular wings, gourmet cheese sticks, beer-battered cheese curds and barbecue beef jerky), while the site will also serve WarPigs collaboration beers and showcase spirits from a distillery added in 2019. The operation—whose leadership has earned multiple James Beard semifinalist nods—targets a spring 2024 opening pending permits." - Ashok Selvam
"I'm hearing that the Three Floyds brewpub, closed in 2020, is working toward reopening its restaurant in Munster, Indiana, though there’s no public timeframe—they’ve approached local officials with a proposal that would include a patio. Known for hits like Alpha King and Zombie Dust and as one of Chicago’s most popular beer brands, the brewery had announced major expansion plans after opening a distillery in 2018, but the pandemic stalled those efforts. The Chicago twist at the pub will be the food, which a source says will be handled by Fifty/50 Restaurant Group (the company behind Roots Pizza, Utopian Tailgate, and West Town Bakery, and a partner of Second City). Even with the brewpub closed, Three Floyds continued events tied to its annual Dark Lord barrel-aged Russian imperial stout—its answer to Bourbon County Brand Stout—including the Dark Lord Day festival with metal bands and visiting breweries; those limited releases are heavily traded and collected, “like Pokemon cards for adults.” During the pandemic the stout was distributed via contactless car pickup, the festival and music returned in May, and next year’s event is slated for May 18." - Ashok Selvam
"In Munster, Indiana, I note that Three Floyds’ brewpub shifted strategies and was permanently closed." - Ashok Selvam
"I noticed Three Floyds sold out of its Dark Lord Day beer packages within an hour after they went on sale Monday night, and like Goose Island the brewery elected not to hold a physical event to distribute the sought-after stout." - Naomi Waxman
