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Ladies and gentlemen, the beer revolution is upon us. I've said this before, but bars are getting serious about their brews. Just when I think I've found the holy grail of beer lists, another bar comes into the picture and completely redefines my expectations. This time around, that bar is Barley House.
Liquid consumption: Barley is a key ingredient of beer, and it is no coincidence that beer is the key ingredient of Barley House. With more than 200 beers to choose from, and around 15 on tap, you're going to have many reasons to come back to Barley House. In fact, you can sign up for the Beer Nerd Club and try to work your way through all of them over time, with employees noting the results. So, after finishing all these beers, Beer Nerd Club members have their choice of either a T-shirt, hat or $50 gift card that you could use to buy more beer. If that is not enough, you'll also get your name on a wall of fame - truly a crowning achievement. Beer Nerd Club members also receive 25 percent off their beer on Wednesdays. Now here is the ridiculous part: Three people have already finished every beer, and two of them did it in only six weeks. That is an insane amount of beer in such a short period of time, and do not get me started on how much money that must have totaled. Sure, the majority of drafts are $3 on Thursdays, but the drafts make up a tiny amount of the beer available at Barley House.
Food: Barley House has a surprisingly varied menu. Some of the offerings include corned beef and cabbage, steak, pasta, vegetarian dishes, sandwiches, burgers, duck, pork chops, lamb chops, frog legs, soups, salads and a lot of appetizers. Seriously, how many bars serve frog legs? Exactly. Crowd: This place is obviously going to attract beer lovers. While watching one patron sit down at the bar, I was just waiting for him to pull out his crumpled up Beer Nerd Club list, for this man was clearly on a mission from the beer gods. The rest of the crowd varied in age, and it is easy to see why, Barley House is an extremely nice bar and very welcoming to those who want an exotic beer or simply some food. Service: During my visit, the service was extremely friendly and accommodating. Sounds: The only sounds I heard during my visit to Barley House were from the televisions around the bar and people's chatter around me. But do be warned, even though Barley House resembles a pub, Irish music is only allowed on St. Patrick's Day. This is clearly stated in their strict set of rules. Parking: No need to worry about parking here; the lot is large, as it accommodates multiple businesses in the surrounding area. Overall: Barley House's menu is great, the service is excellent, and the decor is quite welcoming, but for beer lover's, I might as well be talking like the adults in "Peanuts." Delicious food is just an added bonus to an astounding list of beers. Barley House appreciates and rewards beer nerds, but, Barley House, you don't need to win me over with a free T-shirt or my name on a plaque. You had me at "over 200 beers." The weather outside was below zero, but the preview of the new Barley House restaurant in Algonquin Commons was warm and friendly. Owners Brian Jason, Drs. John and Susan DeGuide, and Craig and Pam Johnson, whose family owned and managed Floyd's Restaurant in Carpentersville, enthusiastically greeted family and friends, government officials, and community and business leaders. Staff members were attentive to the more than 500 guests who had difficulty choosing their favorites from the family-friendly, eclectic menu. Executive Chef David Johnson and his team prepared a wide variety of creations. Among the favorites already at the top of the list are the portobello french fries, coconut onion rings, hummus trio, grilled pork chops, stuffed shrimp and Angus steaks. The Barley House features more than 200 beers and more than 100 affordable wine selections. Jason attended culinary school at Elgin Community College and graduated from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island. Among guests were Bill Ganek , Dennis Sandbloom , Jack and Eileen Fricke , Mark Boettger , John and Stacy Johnson , Ron and Mary Kruse , and James and Dee Klinkhamer . For more information, call (847) 658-5520.
Jason, whose father owned Floyd's in Carpentersville for 25 years, recently opened his third establishment, the Barley House in Algonquin Commons along Randall Road.
ALGONQUIN – They have names like “Midas Touch Elixir,“ “Monty Python Holy Grail” and “He’Brew” – self-proclaimed the “chosen beer.” And they are just the beginning. Barley House offers 250 varieties – ranging from domestic “lawnmower lagers,” to rare microbrews, hard cider and blends that include “black and tan” (featuring Smithwicks and Guinness) and “lime ’n’ lager (Stella Artois with a splash of Sprite and lime). “I like my beer – in moderation, of course,” said co-owner Brian Jason, who bemoaned the fact that while he is close to so many rare brews, he is at work and cannot drink. “But we do have staff tastings.” Barley House added lunch to its menu Monday, after four days of dinner-only service. Jason said the reception had been good so far, despite the fact that some of the rare brews command more than $20 a bottle. “We sold a lot of $10 and $25 beers,” Jason said. “People are going out fewer times now, but when they do go out they are spending money.” Jason, president of Twelfth Night Restaurant Group and 20-year veteran of the industry, believes there was a need in this area for a beer bar, common in Chicago. But the father of two also wanted to create an affordable, family friendly restaurant. Children’s meals are served on Frisbees that they can take home. No entrée will command more than $20, and wine sells for $3 a glass. The menu includes an extensive array of appetizers that include pulled chicken nachos, coconut onion rings, sushi rolls, steamed oysters and “100-pound” onion soup – featuring 100 pounds of onions in every 10 gallons. A $7.50 lunch special, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, offers all-you-can-eat soup, salad and artisan bread. Entrées range from a portabella mushroom sandwich to filet mignon and sautéed mako shark. “This is the restaurant I’ve always wanted to open,” said Jason, 34, of Crystal Lake. The idea was to create a fun, relaxing atmosphere. There are bowls of free popcorn on the tables, tucked into the cozy confines of what was formerly Claddagh Irish Pub at 1520 Randall Road. But this is more than a Celtic oasis. Jason recruited his sister, Pam Johnson, a school teacher from Algonquin, to modernize and brighten the 8,800-square-foot interior. There are flat screen TVs at the elaborate bar and in the dining rooms. Staff members dress casually in blue jeans and the menu is punctuated with jokes. “Before you can get a Hamm’s [beer] you have to sing the song,” Jason said. Jason, who along with other family members also operates The Barn of Barrington in Barrington and the Walleye Grill in Huntley, relies on loyal staff to help him manage the three locations. The chef at Barley House, David Johnson (no relation), worked with him at the Walleye for six months prior to the move. “I’ve got really good people,” Jason said. “I hired 70 people from 200 to 300 applicants. It was nice to be that picky.” Barley House
The outside pretty much looks the same, except the marquee now says Barley House instead of Claddagh Irish Pub. Once inside the new Barley House, you'll realize that just because it's in the old Claddagh building along Randall Road in Algonquin does not meant the restaurants are anything alike. Sure you'll find corned beef and cabbage on the menu. And some Irish symbols remain inside. But that's about where the comparison stops. In fact, the Barley House house rules state there is no Irish music allowed, except on St. Paddy's Day, unless it's "Danny Boy."  Brian and Vic Jason show some of the treasures they found as they converted the former Claddagh restaurant into the Barley House in the Algonquin Commons. (Mary Beth Nolan photo) So he went a different route, creating an independent pub where families can go to find something different in a sea of chain restaurants. Barley House has more than 225 different craft beers on its menu, so many that you have to order them by number. "It's more pubby in here than before. We have taken it and made it our own. There's still elements of Irish and those are really neat. But we made it more a casual pub atmosphere," Jason said. "It's a really fun concept. We have beers from small micro breweries from all over the world. There really isn't any restaurant around here like this - unless you go into the city - that offers the variety of beers we carry. "Our menu really crosses all borders. It's user friendly. It's for families. It's for friends. It's a broad market. It's for everyone. It's for people who are sick of chain restaurants," he said. Jason says he knows people might think he's crazy, opening up a new restaurant in this economy. But he wanted to open a place where people could go with their family or with their friends, and just hang out while having great food and great beer. So when the old Claddagh Pub closed, he honed in on the location. The new menu has everything from burgers, to sushi to Peter Piper pickles. But if you're looking for bruschetta, the menu instructs you to go straight next door to Biaggi's, and if you want cappuccino or espresso, it tells you to head over to Border's Coffee shop in the same mall. "We knew we could make a fun place with great food. We think people will come from all over to try us out," he said. "I might be nuts opening up in this economy and on the coldest week of the year, but it's just a great building, it's a great location and we've got a great restaurant. The economy will come back. Randall Road is still viable and people still go out to eat. People still want a release, and we have a unique concept, especially with all of our beer".
ALGONQUIN – The former Claddagh Irish Pub at 1520 Randall Road should have a new tenant soon. Brian Jason, president of Twelfth Night Restaurant Group, anticipates opening Barley – a gastro-pub featuring 220 craft brew beers – by mid-January. A contract for a 10-year lease is pending with Inland Real Estate Group, which operates Algonquin Commons. “The building itself has such character and makes such a statement, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring it back to life,” said Jason, 34, of Crystal Lake. “Algonquin is a booming area with a lot of traffic. Fifty-five thousand cars go by that location every day.” The 8,800-square-foot restaurant shut down suddenly about 18 months ago in a cost-saving move by Ohio-based Claddagh Irish Pubs. Barley will seat about 200 inside, with room for another 100 on the patio. Jason anticipates hiring 75 people. Jason, whose company operates The Barn of Barrington in Barrington and the Walleye Grill in Huntley, said the idea is to create a unique restaurant that is affordable for families. No entree will command more than $20, he said. Wine will sell for $3 to $5 a glass. While the group would have liked to open in time for the holiday shopping season, Jason said, his management team decided that it was better to wait until after Christmas when things quiet down. “You only have one time to make a good first impression,” Jason said. “We think this is the right thing at the right time.”
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