Obscurity Brewing and Craft Mead ready for grand opening

ELBURN – Guests at Obscurity Brewing and Craft Mead won’t be able to mistake what the brand-new establishment does best: beer, barbecue and mead.

Nestled in the heart of downtown Elburn and paying homage to its agricultural roots, Obscurity, 113 W. North St., is bringing a true blend that craft beer and barbecue enthusiasts can enjoy in a family-friendly atmosphere just down the street from the Elburn Forest Preserve trail.

Opening July 1, patrons will be able to enjoy the collective dream of Obscurity’s five co-owners – Luke Goucher, Dustin Zeitler, Brandon Harris, Gavin Male and Dane Male – and its brewmaster, Carson Souza, that has been brewing for the past 3½ years.

Goucher, Harris and the Males are co-owners of the Lodi Tap House locations in Maple Park and Utica.

“I think we’ve all just been fanboys of the craft beer industry for a long time,” said Goucher, a Geneva graduate. “It’s a fun industry. Beer has been a passion of ours for a long time [along] with great food [and] service. ... We’ve had an eye on the Elburn community for a long time.”

The rustic farm charm of the former agribuilding and American Bank and Trust flows with each step – with an urban presence infused – as original window panes glide atop the ceiling and some original brick wall remains.

Mere feet from tables sit massive stainless steel brewing tanks and their fermentation vessels, which brew 100% of the products on-site. Grain, for example, will cycle in from a neighboring silo overhead to a mill, where it will then become part of the brewing process.

“You’re experiencing part of [the brewing process] as you’re sitting there,” Harris said. “We kind of want you to feel that immersion [as Souza] is back there brewing and you’re sitting there eating.”

Patrons will be able to enjoy lagers, ales, braggot and more. Occupancy allows for about 180 people indoors, with plans for an expanded outdoor seating in a neighboring lot coming soon.

Fast casual barbecue options ranging from smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork and other specialty items will be made in a log burning-only smoker daily.

“We just have a lot of ties to this community,” Goucher said. “[We] felt like it was the right place, right time. They needed a good family-oriented restaurant in town here. ... [We’re] looking forward to bringing all of the community together here, but also be a destination and bring people to town.”

Obscurity will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

“The brewing community has been so embracing, it’s been amazing,” Goucher said. “The Elburn community has, too, The village has been phenomenal to work with.

“We’re just excited to kick the doors open.”