With each sip of my Hugh Hefe (Chaos’ version of a Hefeweizen), I could feel the busy thoughts in my mind slip away. This was a place where I could relax, and leave the chaos of my life – and the world – outside.

Located on Main Street, Chaos is the city’s first craft brewery and taproom.

Owners Dale Clark, Jr., Daniel Crawford, and Frank Ikerd have introduced a different kind of vibe to downtown Joplin, creating a place where people can ride their bike to, bring their dog to, or play board games with their friends at. This is a space where people come as they are to enjoy tasty brews, and each other’s company.

The first thing that guests see when they enter Chaos off of Main Street is a lively, vibrant mural created by artists at a local tattoo shop, Flat line Ink, and it invites everyone to come on in and have a fun time.

Other walls in this room also contain the work of local artists, with new art featured each month. Recent artists include John Knell and Ty Rose.

This large room contains many tables and chairs where groups of people can gather to drink, listen to live music, enjoy special events (like Harry Potter Trivia Night), or dine.

Chaos does not have a kitchen, but guests are welcome to bring in their own food or order from local restaurants like Blackthorn Pizza & Pub or 417 Foodie, and have it delivered to them at Chaos.

Adjacent to the large room is the taproom.

Chaos has a 7-barrel system, which can be seen in its windows that line Main Street (how enticing is that when you’re walking by?).

There are 8 to 12 Chaos beers on tap each week, as well as a few from guest breweries.

The best way to sample the beer here is by ordering a flight, which allows you to taste up to 6 different beers. To see a list of the current beers, click here, or find Chaos on the Untappd app.

Some of the regular brews here include The Origin (a hoppy, brown ale and the first beer ever brewed at Chaos) and Kaos (an incredible tasty tropical pale ale)

Other beers that I’ve tasted here include Bearded Brewista (a hazelnut coffee milk stout made with local Bearded Lady Roasters coffee), Common Sense (a dark beer made in the style of pre-Prohibition Kentucky common beer), and Gekkenhuis (a farmhouse ale featuring whatever fruit is in season – this one has a high alcohol content and can sneak up on you…).

A strong competitor of the brews at Chaos is the cocktail of the week, handcrafted by Daniel Valentine, the expert mixologist from Joplin’s former Infuxn Vodka Bar. One of Daniel’s recent creations was the Hearthbreaker, a perfect fall cocktail made with Hennessy Cognac, maple syrup, a Demerara cube, Angostura bitters, and then smoked and served with an orange twist.

When the weather is nice, bring your beverage outside to Chaos’ patio and watch the sun dip behind the historic downtown buildings as it says goodbye to the day.

A visit to Chaos can leave you wanting more of a good thing, and I’m ever so thankful that Chaos offers crowlers to bring home. These 32-ounce to-go cans last 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator, so you can enjoy a taste of Chaos even if you can’t make it to the taproom. You can also purchase other merchandise, like Chaos t-shirts or dog treats for your fur babies, when you visit.

And when you do visit, you’ll quickly discover that time spent here is anything but chaotic. It’s lively, yet relaxing.

But naming a microbrewery “Lively, Yet Relaxing” isn’t quite as catchy as Chaos Brewing Company, is it?

Chaos Brewing Company is located at 112 South Main Street. If you are hosting a big event, the event center at Chaos accommodates up to 100 people and can be rented by the hour. Click here to visit Chaos Brewing Company’s website, or follow Chaos on Facebook or Instagram.