The Aurora Area is home to some of the finest craft breweries Chicago has to offer.
From the venerable Two Brothers Artisan Brewing at the historic Two Brothers Roundhouse, to brand new entrants like the B.B.G.B. Brewery at Hardware, a sustainable gastropub in North Aurora developing a reputation for its epic combination of elevated cuisine and a highly drinkable selection of pale ales, the craft breweries of the Aurora Area are renowned as much for their creativity as they are for the consistent, irresistable quality of their beers. Read on for our guide to the craft breweries of the Aurora Area, where in Illinois' second-largest city and its neighboring communities you can find inventive cuisine paired with a perfect beer to match just about any palate.
Two Brothers Artisan Brewing at the Two Brothers Roundhouse
For 20 years this staunchly independent brewery has been synonymous with refreshing, innovative beers that introduced flavors from brewing traditions worldwide to the Chicago market, like its flagship Domaine Dupage, an unparalleled French Country Ale that continues to bring home the gold from the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. When Two Brothers' award-winning operation expanded in 2011 to the historic limestone Two Brothers Roundhouse in Downtown Aurora, they developed an experimental in-house brewing program to go along with craft beer cocktails, a rotating seasonal menu featuring sustainably sourced meats, seafood, and greens, and a coffee roasterie to supply the spacious Two Brothers Cafe.
Two Brothers Roundhouse is located at 205 N. Broadway in Aurora, IL 60505.
B.B.G.B. Brewery at Hardware
Built from the ground up with a sustainable mission, the Aurora Area's newest brewpub is at Hardware in North Aurora, a location that includes a greenhouse, orchard, "living wall" exterior with greens, herbs, and lettuces grown on-site, and a 1.5 acre hop farm to fulfill the base of its beers at B.B.G.B. Brewery. Ranked one of Chicago's best new breweries for 2016, Hardware appeals to craft beer lovers with an adventurous take on traditional styles. Refined, elevated lunch and dinner menus are centered around vegetarian-friendly shareable small plates, house-cured charcuterie, and a frequent rotation of mouth-watering specials. If you haven't tried their deconstruction of the classic Chicago hot dog, do it now and thank us later for the recommendation.
Hardware is located at 2000 W. Orchard Road in North Aurora, 60542.
Hopvine Brewing Company
A popular happy hour spot near the Fox Valley Mall, Hopvine Brewing Company greets you with the aroma of fresh hops and herbs growing out on its three-season patio and a warm, welcoming wraparound bar. Chef Katie DeStefano and Brewmaster Ken McMullen team up to craft experimental food and beer pairings, turning over their menu multiple times throughout the year, sparing no attention to detail: from house-made jams, jellies, and beer cheese to wild, table-side infusions of aromatics, fruits, candies, and vegetables with their beers. The entire small-batch brewing operation, from the fermentation room to the storage cooler, is exposed to the restaurant. Craft beer aficionados and novices alike can find a diverse array of styles on offer at any given time of year, from sours and root-beer ales to Belgian-style Trippels and Imperial IPAs.
Hopvine Brewing Company is located at 4030 Fox Valley Center Drive in Aurora, IL 60504.
Brother Chimp Brewing
The newest craft brewery in the Aurora Area, Brother Chimp Brewing specializes in small batches of handcrafted, tried-and-true traditional styles of ale and lager. Located near Raimondo's Pizza in North Aurora, the two businesses regularly collaborate on pairings. Highlights at Brother Chimp include Smile, a smooth English brown ale with sweet roasty notes of coffee and chocolate, and Kima, a refreshing blonde ale, the perfect accompaniment to a summer's day.
Brother Chimp Brewing is located at 1059 W. Orchard Road in North Aurora, Illinois.
Fox Republic Brewing
It's a good day for a great beer at Fox Republic Brewing in Yorkville, Illinois. Operated by a team of experienced brewers, Fox Republic carries a rotating selection of beers brewed in-house at their downtown Yorkville taproom. From the daring to the downright delicious, you're sure to find a signature style of beer at this new brewery established by and for beer-lovers.
Fox Republic Brewing is located at 101 W. Hydraulic Avenue in Yorkville, Illinois.
Foxes Den Meadery
Foxes Den Meadery is a new micro-meadery located in Yorkville creating hand crafted, artisan honey wine utilizing the finest quality ingredients. The family-owned operation strives to produce a world class product that is inviting to both the sophisticated and novice mead consumer, offering a vast selection of styles ranging from dry to sweet, still to sparkling and session strength to full strength.
Foxes Den Meadery is located at 101 S. Bridge Street in Yorkville, Illinois.
Fox Valley Winery
Fox Valley Winery specializes in creating small lots of handcrafted, award-winning wines. Visit one of Illinois' premier boutique wineries, where you can discover some of the most truly unique, delicious wines produced in the state. Whether you prefer red, white, dry or sweet, enjoy a visit to this inviting, unpretentious winery in the heart of downtown Oswego, Illinois.
Fox Valley Winery is located at 59 Main Street in Oswego, Illinois.
Energy City Brewing
Energy City Brewing is an exclusive nanobrewery located in downtown Batavia, Illinois. Beer lovers are drawn to the refined, limited offerings out of this small-batch operation. Energy City Brewing's current lineup of beers includes citrusy, hop-forward New England style IPAs and Wheat Ales; boozy Imperial porters and stouts; and a series of Bistro-style milkshake beers packed with flavors ranging from deep berries to rich stonefruits.
Energy City Brewing is located at 917 First Street in Batavia, Illinois.
Sturdy Shelter Brewing
Discover a cozy, welcoming space with scenic views and 18 taps featuring historical classics, seasonal favorites, and newly created expressions at Sturdy Shelter Brewing. Located in the heart of downtown Batavia inside a historic riverside limestone building, Sturdy Shelter is one of the newer entrants onto the local craft beverage scene. With a philosophy that tiny, unseen details ensure an exceptional experience, Sturdy Shelter focuses on the details to produce beers that are flavorful, complex, balanced, and most importantly, highly drinkable.
Sturdy Shelter Brewing is located at 10 S. Shumway Avenue in Batavia, Illinois.
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