Kinslahger, Oak Park's first brewery, celebrated its first anniversary by announcing its intention to quadruple its beer production.

The brewery, at 6806 W. Roosevelt Road, will temporarily end production in Oak Park this summer as it installs new brewing equipment to meet its current demands.

"We'll be selling the equipment we have today and bringing in a whole new brewing system and fermentor this summer," co-owner Keith Huizinga said. "That will require some plumbing and electrical changes."

According to Huizinga, Kinslahger has ordered a 15-barrel brewhouse, one 45-barrel and four 60-barrel fermentation tanks and one new 45-barrel centrifuge.

While the new equipment is installed, Kinslahger will outsource its brewing operations to Great Central Brewing in Chicago, which will brew its Chicago Common and Prohibition Pilsner brands.

"There's going to be some down time in our production facility," Huizinga said. "We're real happy to partner with [Great Central]. They're working with [head brewer] Steve Loranz, so we're definitely involved in what's getting done."

Once installation is complete, brewing operations will shift back to Oak Park. Huizinga hopes the Oak Park brewery can re-open within 30 days of shutting down.

In addition to increasing production, Kinslahger announced it will release its Chicago Common and Prohibition Pilsner beers in 16-ounce cans, which should hit store shelves this month. Among places expected to carry the new cans include Beer Shop, 1026 North Blvd., and the Sugar Beet Co-Op, 812 Madison St., Huizinga said.

Read more at source Chicago Tribune