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Photos: Payton Koehler
BEACON BREWING CO.
rowing up in LaGrange, Chase Hudson spent a lot of time in the then-bustling Hillside community, a centerpiece of LaGrange’s mill neighborhoods.
“In those days, Hillside had as much as downtown,” he recalls. “I hated seeing so many empty buildings after the mills closed.” Those memories influenced Hudson in 2017 as he began scouting locations for a new business. Already an established restaurateur, with fine dining eateries C’Sons and Mare Sol downtown, Hudson was intrigued by the idea of opening a brewpub. The building at 700 Lincoln Street offered the rustic charm he was was seeking. Better still, it was around the corner from his boyhood hangout, the legendary soda fountain and lunch counter at the former Smith-Hillside Pharmacy.
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February 2022
Beacon Brewing Co. opened in fall 2018 with a menu featuring “Asian food with Southern flair “and approachable, innovative craft beers made on the premises. Hudson had been struck by the similarities between traditional southern and Korean foods, each with an abundance of pickled, fermented, cured or smoked specialties. “The two flavors work so well together,” he said, inspiring menu options like ramen bowls, braised greens and Waygu beef hotdogs with Asian slaw.
“It’s really growing quick, “ Hudson said. Evidence of that is apparent as construction moves ahead on an expanded brew house with larger, more modern and efficient equipment. They’re also adding a full indoor kitchen to replace the current food truck and a lounge with separate entry, to be furnished with comfy sofas and coffee tables. The popular outdoor tables and green space will remain, Hudson said, along with the laidback vibe.
As for beer, Hudson said he likes the old European model, where every town had its own brewery.
“We want to be very inviting, very casual, definitely a family place where children can play. It’s more of a hangout, more of an experience than just going out to eat.”
Though challenged by the pandemic and related labor shortages, Beacon has not only survived, but thrived.
Though the expanded brewhouse will be more efficient, the goal is not to grow significantly.
