The history of the name goes back to Aztec mythology where 5 Rabbit was one of five deities. Named after a mythic figure this microbrewery was born in 2007 with partners Andres Araya, Isaac Showaki and Randy Mosher, who creates recipes and graphic designs for the company.
The flavors focus on Latin cuisine such as passion fruit and ancho chili launching six different ones last spring. Some styles include the 5 Rabbit (golden ale), 5 Lizard (wheat beer), and 5 Vulture (dark ale).
On May 24, the company held a dinner at the Logan Square Kitchen on Milwaukee Avenue featuring Chef Grayson Schmitz from Bravo Television’s Top Chef. Attendees were put to work in the kitchen making courses of the dinner in various stations from appetizers to dessert. Schmitz used ingredients including the 5 Rabbit beer in the recipes then paired it for diners at the table. For example the pretzel appetizer was served with 5 Vulture beer cheese sauce. The crab salad used their Huitzi flavor while the walleye fish taco used the 5 Rabbit. To finish things off the 5 Lizard complemented coconut lime cupcakes sweetly.
The company is growing in leaps and bounds as plans are set to open a 25,000-square-foot brewery close to Midway Airport later this year.
Visit www.5rabbitbrewery.com to keep up with future events of the Rabbit such as recent Mole de Mayo festival in Pilsen this past weekend. Photos and text by Jerry Nunn