THE BUZZ ON LOCAL BEER

THE BUZZ ONlocal beer

SAMPLE THESE 8 LOCAL BREWERIES AND TAPROOMS, FULL OF SUMMER FLAVORS AND OUTDOOR SEATING

By Kevin Druley Photos provided by Penrose Brewing, Obscurity Brewing and V House Photo

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OTHING SAYS SUMMER LIKE AN AFTERNOON SPENT AT A BREWERY. WHETHER YOU’RE GRABBING A PINT AT YOUR LONGTIME FAVORITE OR TRYING A FLIGHT AT A NEW-TO-YOU LOCATION, ENJOY A STOP AT THESE EIGHT KANE COUNTY FAVORITES.

 ALTER BREWING + KITCHEN 12 S. First St., St. Charles 331-901-5949 www.alterbrewing.com/st-charles-brewery-kitchen Alter’s first full-service restaurant and brewery can accommodate up to 160 guests inside and 100-plus on its outdoor patio along the Fox River. See the brewing process up close, if you wish; the brew house is the centerpiece once you enter the building. Branded as “smooth cherry, blended with a subtle tartness for regal refreshment sip after sip,” try the King Balaton cherry wheat ale for a refreshing drink of summer.

 ART HISTORY BREWING 649 W. State St., Geneva 630-345-6274 www.arthistorybrewing.com Do you enjoy discussing the finer points of brewing while imbibing your beer? If so, Art History is a haven for such conversation, as head brewer Greg Browne passionately offers a wealth of information about the location’s beer styles and his approach to beer trends. Throughout the year, the brewers at Art History offer more than a dozen styles, with several paying tribute to the Tri-Cities locale. Lincoln Highway is an American pale ale, while Geneva Belle is a pre-Prohibition lager.

 ENERGY CITY BREWING 917 First St., Batavia 630-597-5581 www.energycitybrewing.com Although Energy City typically doesn’t offer a taproom experience, there still are opportunities for communal beer experiences at this downtown Batavia location. The brewery’s drive-thru beer releases are popular Saturday destinations for local craft beer enthusiasts. Recently released summery selections include a blueberry, blackberry and raspberry hard seltzer and the dessert-inspired, strawberry rhubarb Bistro Crumble.

 OBSCURITY BREWING & CRAFT MEAD 113 W. North St., Elburn 630-320-2255 www.drinkobscurity.com While this craft alcohol and barbecue stop is approaching its one-year anniversary, its selection includes perhaps the oldest fermented beverage around — mead, which dates to the times of Shakespeare and blends water, honey, malt and yeast. You can catch more tastes of honey in several of Obscurity’s beers, including its popular braggot hefeweizen.

 PENROSE BREWING 509 Stevens St., Geneva 630-232-2115 www.penrosebrewing.com A great stop for good variety as well as small batches, Penrose is a go-to locale for India pale ale lovers: The brewery’s year-round offerings include three of them. Penrose also presents a number of seasonal releases, promising to “bring on the hoppy and hazy.” These beers include the DDH Sabro Goofier Boots juicy double IPA and Lil Boots hazy IPA. Goofy Boots, by the way, is Penrose’s yearround juicy Midwest IPA.  POLLYANNA BREWING CO. 106 S. Riverside Ave., St. Charles 630-549-7372 www.pollyannabrewing.com Lemont-originated Pollyanna has expanded its outreach to include this brewery, distillery and taproom, adjacent to the Fox River in downtown St. Charles. The organization wasted little time getting involved with the community; it offers, in conjunction with Sammy’s Bikes, weekly, noncompetitive charity bike rides that reconvene at the brewery afterward for a refreshing brew.

 STOCKHOLM’S RESTAURANT & BREWERY 306 W. State St., Geneva 630-208-7070 www.stockholmsbrewpub.com A Tri-Cities staple before the craft beer craze truly took off, Stockholm’s offers visitors a selection of more than a dozen craft brews in the heart of bustling downtown Geneva. Choose from a variety of pilsners and ales, among others, brewed in the Old World tradition. There are also alcoholic and nonalcoholic versions of Stockholm’s small-batch root beer.

 93 OCTANE BREWERY 1825 Lincoln Highway, St. Charles 630-549-0332 www.93OctaneBrewery.com Whether you live in the Tri-Cities or a few towns away, make the trip to 93 Octane, which has fun not just with its brews, but unique can designs that incorporate the family’s history of operating gas stations. Automobile themes abound: Among others, there’s the Traffic Jam sour ale; Hugger Whip, an orange wheat ale; and the Blueberry Pomegranate Sidecar, a milkshake IPA. Kuarter Mile Kölsh is among the selections in the works.

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