Checked out this newer brewery in Batavia. It has a lot of room inside, but even that isn't enough…read morefor the large groups, and parties. Sturdy Shelter has a pretty good variety. A good amount of choices, whether it's light or a strong one that will kick ass. They also have a food menu, with basics such as pretzels and snacks. For the most part it's good. It's located in an old building downtown that has a couple levels. The upstairs is often used for private events like parties. If it's not available then it's hard to get a seat anywhere. The seats at the bar fill up, and there's only a few tables. It's about $7 a pint. There's a few of the more stronger ones that cost more though. Best one we had the last time was the 3 Amigos Imperial Stout. Full bodied and thick as a brick too. There's notes of ancho chilis, cacao nibs, cinnamon, and vanilla. Also got something to eat. It's $8 for the Bavarian Pretzel. Helps to absorb the alcohol. They also have chips and salsa among the food options. Got to add it to the list of breweries that seem to be everywhere in this city. It's located on Shumway Avenue in a historic old building full of history. This is a popular place to have private events or whatever.

Finally got to stop in and try this riverfront brewery…read more Their taproom is huge with tables and chairs as well as seats around their bar. Staff is super friendly serving many craft beers. They have over 15 different beers ranging from IPAs,stouts,pirates and sours. They don't serve food but there are many local restaurants nearby that will deliver. Check their social media pages for their upcoming events and entertainment. Open 7 days a week with plenty not street parking. I will definitely be back!

Ambiance is nice, service is great and the food is very good. Nice place…read moreThey have hundreds of bourbon brands and they make there own beer. They have charcuterie boards of all kinds you can mix and match Fun place to drink and dine!

The service was a little slow but our server was very polite l…read more Whiskey sour was sort of flavorless. The beet salad was also disappointing. I expected more flavor but the texture was good. The baked goat cheese was excellent! As was the old fashioned. This place just has great whiskey. Their summer wind cocktail is good too. The ambiance is fabulous. This place puts a lot of thought into their menu, ingredients, etc.

To be honest, I hadn't heard of McCarty Mills before. We were looking for a new place to try, as…read morepart of Aurora's restaurant week, that had a good beer selection. The food offered, as part of restaurant week, the beer selection, and service were all fantastic. I'm very glad we stopped here and would definitely stop again!

It's a small place. Variety of beers in cans and on tap. The service was good. Place is cute…read more Definitely locals go there. Not a variety of food-pizza and like 2 appetizers.

Checked out this brewery in Yorkville and got some local beers. Fox Republic has been here awhile,…read moreand benefits from being the only such place around it. It pretty much only has beers, but it also has a distillery next to it where you can get that stuff too. Has more of these than expected. There's some pretty cool flavors. Breweries like this are known for their limited hours and selections, but here neither is the case. It's actually got quite a bit to choose from. There's a few pretty interesting and unique flavors, too. A lot of these rotate so it makes people come back. It's about $7 a pint. We had a few of these. Best we had was the Mist Walker, a hazy IPA. This is a pretty strong one. Has a window into Home Run Hot Dogs. It's got a few including veggie dogs that are made Chicago style. Also is known for their stuffed pretzels. They let you bring in stuff. Great place to get locally made beers. It's actually open daily if you can even believe it. They're open longer on weekends.

This place had been on my list to try for awhile and finally made it out to Yorkville. I saw their…read moresour weekend on Facebook so made the trek out. As they had many options I wanted try, I opted for flights. They offer 4 5oz pours for $10. My faves were foxy sour beer nerdz and the case eagle. The Carmel apple was a miss for me. They also offer tequila seltzers and sodas. Friendly service and plenty of seating.

I can't believe I have been missing out on this spot! I came here for bingo night and it was so…read moremuch fun! The atmosphere was really friendly. We were welcomed after we found a spot to sit with bingo cards! I like that they have nights where food trucks come and then you are also able to bring your own food. There are some small bites/snacks on the menu as well. The list of beer options are nice. I ordered the lil jug with mango and loved it! It was nice light fruit beer. There are other events that happen at this location & you can even schedule a tour of the brewery as well. I will definitely be coming back especially when it gets nicer out.

Best IPA maker in the Midwest. Love coming in to try something new but also love just drinking old…read morefavorites as well. Bartenders are great and the set up of the bar and tables is good for big groups or single patrons. Love the huge mural art next to the bar. Sets the tone for a good beer drinking experience. Love the beer here!

I don't even drink NA's, ever, but I had to check this place out since they're right by another…read morefamous full alcohol brewery. We couldn't bring our dog in due to local health codes (not their fault) so we had to drink on their patio, in 44 degree temps..ok. Not idea, but again, not their fault. The inside is very nice, and the NAs we had were surprisingly (to me) very good. We will check them out again when we're in the area!

Go Brewing Sunbeam Pills: Founded in 2022 by Joe and Heather Chura, Go Brewing is a non-alcoholic…read morebrewery that was conceived after the Chura's identified their alcoholic tendencies during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Go Brewing is located in Naperville, IL. I've got a confession; Sunbeam Pills is my first non-alcoholic beer. I came across it at a friend's house and thought I would give it a try. I'm no teetotaler, but I do enjoy a lot less drinks than your typical Wisconsinite (one or two drinks a week). Sunbeam Pills was inspired by Carl Sagan, a scientist partly responsible for NASA's Voyager 1's mission obtaining a picture of the Earth (showing just how small and insignificant Earth is to the entire universe). Let me start with the good. The artwork on the Sunbeam Pills can is out of this world, such a neat design! Hats off to the artist as it immediately made me want to try this beer. It poured a clear gold with a medium head. On the downside, I thought the flavor was too bitter/hoppy and a bit watery. I applaud the effort, but I wouldn't drink this again even if it did have enough alcohol for a nice buzz. Avoid Doughboy_Food_Reviews

Really liked the Chicago location a few years ago, so we decided to try their Naperville location…read more Even though they're advertised on several online sources as dog friendly, they're not. Not their fault, but the management should make it clearer that they only allow dogs on their patio. Finding the entrance was tricky, despite the solemn oath signs in the back. It didn't seem very obvious how to get in. Their beer selection is what was what really gives them the number of stars I'm giving. I'm going from memory here, but they mostly offered IPAs and some ales, and very few of any porters or stouts. It's February- you should have some more wintery type beers on tap this time of year. Maybe they're not the brewmaster's favorite styles, I dunno. Still, I'd definitely return, but I will read their menu before making the trip next time.

Went to Solemn Oath Brewery after office with friends on an unusually warm March evening (82°F!),…read moreand it turned out to be such a great plan. The outdoor seating has a really chill, rustic vibe--perfect for relaxing after a long day. We ordered pizza to go, and it did not disappoint--tasty, fresh, and quick. The whole atmosphere made it a great place to hang out and unwind. Definitely recommend for casual evenings with friends!

Came to get a few beers at this small brewery in Batavia. Energy City is tucked away along a side…read morestreet in a building that's confusing looking. It doesn't look like a brewery would be there. Actually it is. They specialize in fruity ones and sours, so not beers that are hoppy obviously. Beers are typically hoppy to some point, but these aren't. It's for sure a type not many are used to having. These all have a lot of fruit, but what's unique is the fruit is added after the brewing process. Adds a lot of fruit flavor. These often have the consistency of a smoothie. It's about $8 a can. They brew in pretty small batches at Church Street Brewery in Itasca, and serve these at this taproom. Best we had the last time was the Bistro Pineapple Strawberry Habanero. This is a Berliner style weisse. Consistency was thick like a smoothie would be. This had a lot of fruit flavor, but it also had a tartness. For sure we could try some of these beers again. It's located on First Street. They're closed Mondays to Thursdays, pretty limited hours, so it's a place to go on weekends.

I've had Energy City Brewing on my radar for a while now. I previously came across them at Church…read moreStreet Brewing and a beer festival. I'm glad they now have a taproom to visit. The taproom is a simple but comfortable set up with plenty of options for small and larger groups. When I went up to order, there were a couple of options that caught my eye. Energy City Brewing takes on a lot of Bistro/Coffee Shop flavors and transforms them into beers. Flavors like pineapple banana cream pie to grasshopper mint. Thankfully there were a couple of canned options available to sample. Their prices are comparable to other specialty pint prices. I'll definitely be back when in the area to try out another fresh option.