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Penrose Brewing

4.1 (161 reviews)
ModerateBreweries
Open • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Penrose Brewing Photos

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Impromptu brewery tour on a Friday night.  Sours aging room.
Karen S.

We went on a Thursday night. The taproom itself was pretty empty but there was a private party in the back generating some noise. We sat at the bar and ordered the 20 year anniversary Imperial Stout. First sip was amazing! But after a few sips, the sweetness took over and by the sip I was ready to move on. There was not a single Belgium beer on the menu. A little disappointed they have gotten so far away from their roots, especially on their anniversary. There were a lot of IPAs on the menu and while I do love them, I just really wanted a good old fashioned Penrose beer.

Apple Cider Dount
Oliver Y.

Visited here on a Saturday evening, it was lively, there was a private party in the room attached next door, there was a black tie bar crawl event happening as well, not a empty seat in the brewery. Had the luck just as we arrived 2 fellow beer heads were closing there tab, 2 seats opened at the bar top. Started the evening with a 4 (5oz) flight (Pilsner, Goofy Boots, Hazy Skies, Neapolitan Stout). Ordered: Apple Cider Donut our (highly recommended, didn't disappoint) 2nd flight: Oktofest, Blackberry, Spooky Boots, Peach Tea Slush-Up. I just couldn't resist, had to order the $14 sausage pizza (crispy crust, hit the spot, the lemon hot sauce was ok, idk for $9 though) The wait staff we excellent, great recommendations! For the adventurous ones, they have shots of Malort for you!!! Will be back again.....

Yum. Highly recommended the Lemon Seltz-up and Lemon Tea-up.
Brian L.

Really liked the Lemon Seltzer and the Lemon Tea. Good drinks. Good service. Fair prices. What more can one ask for?

Kathy F.

clean with a good selection of beers to choose from the bartender was quick to take the order and answer any questions about the beers offered

Back event room
Tiffany S.

The staff was so communicative, friendly and helpful. We had our baby shower here and everyone had a wonderful time. Great beverage options, loved the back barrel room for the event, close proximity to the bar but private, Penrose provided music that was fun but didn't take away from the party socializing.

Tangerine pale ale
Kate S.

I've been here several more times since my first review nearly 4 years ago. I end up here almost every time I'm in town visiting my parents, because a few of my friends live nearby and love this place. I stand by my earlier review in that I wish that they offered more size options. I'm not sure if it has to do with Geneva liquor laws or not, but I would love a half pint or 4 ounce option so I can try a broader range of brews (but without having to do the full 4 x 4 ounce beer flight). I think that's just something I've been spoiled by at my "home" breweries in Evanston. (I ultimately compare everything to Sketchbook and Temperance). But, this is a little gem in the suburbs, the staff is super chill, and the last time I went there it happened to be around 5pm on a Friday, so they were tapping one of their one-and-done casks so we got to try some brand new beer (it was a lime infused beer and it was fantastic).

Elizabeth H.

I really didn't like these beers. My BF and I came here while out on a Saturday and decided to grab a few tasters. We opened a tab thinking we were going to order more. After trying what we got, we closed out and left. The base flavor for every drink we got was the same and didn't taste good.

Outside
Nicole G.

We came here over the weekend on a Saturday at about 7 PM and the place was pretty crowded but not over the top. We were able to find hightop seats right away. The bartender was friendly and gave some great recommendations. I tried a flight because I couldn't decide! I find flights very helpful especially when I'm trying out new places just so I can see which ones I like first. I tried the juicy Midwest IPA, Pilsner, Grapefruit radler, & American pale ale. The juicy Midwest IPA was by far my favorite. It had a subtle hop, citrus hints, and a wheat-y finish. I wish I got a full one of this! My husband got the Hazy Midwest IPA and liked my Juicy Midwest IPA a lot better. I really like the vibe of this place. It has some warm rustic touches but still felt really industrial. I like the picnic-like tables for people to sit at inside cause it promotes different people sitting together. Overall this is a really cool spot and I wish we had more time. We'll definitely be back!

Victoria B.

Hey New Year, decided to try something new and used a groupon for a brewery tour for 45 mins. I always wanted to try Penrose for two reasons: one just because it pretty local to me and two it's my daughters former middle school teacher owned it. I've never done a brewery tour before, so this was our first time. No food here, but you can bring your own. I didn't know where to check-in and it is pretty loud and crowded. But I figured it out eventually it would be nice if they had someone to greet you upon entry and check you in as well. They have a wall of gameboards and games to choose from while you enjoy their beers. It's tucked away from downtown past some residential and in an industrial area. Reminder to book your tour ahead online. Our tour guide was a bartender their as well, he was laid back and kinda funny. I had they passion fruit pale ale (has some sour notes) and proto beer. Not bad at all. It was cool to learn how Penrose got started and how their product is made. It starts from SBB (steeping for an hour some grain, boil's, and then brew). It takes approx. a day to brew 10-16 hours. Some of the beers are made rest in mostly oak, some whiskey, and tequila barrels and also some sit in a fermentation tank which are huge 40 barrel tanks. It was fun and I'd definitely like to try more of their beers next time.

Very rustic and quaint. It's best to go later when there is no crowd.

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4 years ago

This place has great beer and great staff. Nice and simple environment to meet up for a drink or very easy to go pick up some beer.

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7 years ago

Great beer and atmosphere. Super family friendly, they even have a changing table in the men's restroom. #awesome

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Ask the Community - Penrose Brewing

Do they serve food?

No, no kitchen on premises. Occasional food trucks.

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Art History Brewing - Inside Art History Brewing  649 W State St, Geneva, IL .  OctoberFest is Here's! Beer Beer Beer Pretzel . Cheers!

Art History Brewing

4.6(43 reviews)
0.3 mi

We were in town visiting friends and the group decided to go out brewery hopping in the Geneva &…read moreSt. Charles area. Entering the brewery on a Friday around 6pm it was busy but not overly crowded. Definitely had the feel of a community brewery that has local regulars there to support it. Taproom was lively and bright. Service was great top notch. The bartenders were knowledgeable about the beers and open to providing recommendations. The beer was the star of the show. A lot of offerings to choose from but I went straight to a cask conditioned porter that was fantastic. You can't find cask conditioned ales in most places. Others in our group had great things to say about the lagers and IPA's. Thanks to Art History Brewing for hosting us. We will be back for a return visit next time we are in town. Cheers, Russ & Jan Livonia, MI

Basically there's a lot of breweries in Geneva. It has tons to choose from including this. Art…read moreHistory Brewing is one of the many hipster ones that have sprung up everywhere. Has beers and games to play. There's lots of cheap specials. An interesting interior. It's located in a strip mall. They still manage to have a great atmosphere in spite of it though. Has quite a bit of games. It's about $7 a pint. Best one of these we had was the Good Night Bamberg. This is a Rauchbier which is rich and toasty. Get half off pints on Mondays. There's not much to eat except $2 bags of almonds and peanuts. Fun filled atmosphere. It's open every night unlike many others. There's a hipster nerdy kind of vibe, and they even have an acoustically controlled and quiet workspace, so it's a great place for both chilling and working.

Photos
Art History Brewing - Beer List @ Art History Brewing  649 W State St, Geneva, IL .  OctoberFest is Here's! Beer Beer Beer Pretzel . Cheers!

Beer List @ Art History Brewing 649 W State St, Geneva, IL . OctoberFest is Here's! Beer Beer Beer Pretzel . Cheers!

Art History Brewing - Ciders Seltzers Sodas @ Art History Brewing  649 W State St, Geneva, IL .  OctoberFest is Here's! Beer Beer Beer Pretzel . Cheers!

Ciders Seltzers Sodas @ Art History Brewing 649 W State St, Geneva, IL . OctoberFest is Here's! Beer Beer Beer Pretzel . Cheers!

Art History Brewing - Inside Art History Brewing  649 W State St, Geneva, IL .  OctoberFest is Here's! Beer Beer Beer Pretzel . Cheers!

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Inside Art History Brewing 649 W State St, Geneva, IL . OctoberFest is Here's! Beer Beer Beer Pretzel . Cheers!

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Overlooking the Fox River

Sturdy Shelter Brewing

4.8(40 reviews)
3.0 mi
•$$

Visiting friends and we decided to go out brewery hopping in the Aurora & Batavia areas. So glad…read morethat brought us to Sturdy Shelter Brewing. There was a good size crowd there which added to the experience because everyone was enjoying their delicious beers and it was great meeting people. It felt like a community gathering place. It's a big place so it can handle a lot of people without it feeling overly crowded. There was live music on the upstairs level that everyone was enjoying. The beers were fantastic. It's a challenge to decide what beer you want because there is a lot of delicious options. I went with the ESB because it's a great style of beer you can't often find. Others in our group recommend their Hazy IPA. Easily a 5 star rating. Make sure to visit this amazing brewery in Batavia. Russ & Jan Livonia, MI

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.

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Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Broadway Musical Night

Broadway Musical Night

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Inside

Inside

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Little Town Brown ale

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Little Town Brown ale

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Trader Joe's Cauliflower

Alter Brewing + Kitchen

3.9(248 reviews)
1.4 mi
•$$

My family and I visited Alter during Scarecrow Fest this year, so it was understandably very busy…read more We ended up waiting about thirty minutes for a table. Thankfully, we were able to sit outside while we waited and listen to the live band, which made the wait much more enjoyable. I am not sure how crowded it gets on a typical weekend, but during the fest, it was definitely packed. When we were finally seated, we were placed in our own small section of the restaurant with no other tables around us. That was interesting because we had waited so long for a table, yet no one else was seated in that area the entire time we were there. Staff picked up after we were seated, so it was frustrating to see empty tables while the wait continued. Our waiter, however, was very friendly and attentive, which helped balance out the experience. For lunch, I ordered the Truffalo Hot Chicken Sandwich ($18.99) with fries, and it was excellent. The chicken breast was huge, crispy, flavorful, and had just the right amount of heat, and the truffle buffalo flavor really stood out. My husband ordered the Alter Caesar Salad ($18.99), but he said it was nothing special and should not have been that expensive. There really isn't that much to the salad, and the chicken wasn't even seasoned or grilled. I tried it, and it tasted like the chicken in those grab-and-go grocery store pre-made salads. Very disappointing for the price. Overall, despite the long wait due to the fest crowds, the chicken sandwich and service made the visit worthwhile. I would definitely return, especially on a less busy day to get a better feel for the normal dining experience, but I do not recommend the Caesar salad.

Super fun place great patio, food, and drinks. I have to say we absolutely love our server John! He…read morewas extremely kind & fast! He really knows his menu and gave us the best suggestions on beer.!

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Alter Brewing + Kitchen - The bar.

The bar.

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Filet Sliders

Filet Sliders

Alter Brewing + Kitchen - Fried green beans.

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Fried green beans.

D and G Brewing Company - Owner Alex serving up the good stuff

D and G Brewing Company

4.5(37 reviews)
1.7 mi

A very small ass brewery. D & G is in St. Charles in the same building as Bring It Sports and Out…read moreOf Body Fitness. It kind of is hard to know where to go because the door to the entrance isn't obvious. Go into the main entrance like you're going into the athletic center and it's to the left. They share a parking lot so if it looks like it's busy it's probably just people working out and training. Brewery is a nice place whether or not you're doing any athletics. It seems mostly quiet in here except they play interesting music. This seems to be more like a garage than a brewery, which is a cool thing. Has quite a few beers on tap even though it's a small place. We tried a few of these. I had the Don't Call It A Double. It's $6 a pint. This is a Belgian Dubbel, and it's considered medium strong. She had an Imperial IPA. We needed something to snack on so we got peanuts. It's $1 a bag. There's not really much food or anything else you can eat. Cool place to check out and get some fresh beers. It's small so it means not a whole lot is made. They brew smaller batches so you get better beer because of this.

Awesome brewery in a cool spot that really makes you feel like you're drinking in a friend's…read moregarage. It has very relaxing vibes! I tried a few different types of beer and enjoyed them all. The staff was very friendly and provided quick & efficient service. I'm looking forward to coming back!

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D and G Brewing Company - Alex and his handiwork.

Alex and his handiwork.

D and G Brewing Company
D and G Brewing Company - Serving up the good stuff

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Serving up the good stuff

93 Octane

93 Octane

4.6(30 reviews)
1.3 mi
•$$

2nd time here in 2.5 years. We were in the Geneva area and decided to visit St Charles, too. Things…read moreare a little different now (in a good way!). They expanded and added a covered, outdoor patio. The indoor dining area is expanded slightly to have more seating. I ordered the wake and bake pineapple express. The beer was good. It was sour, but still had that beer taste. It wasn't overly sour. I didn't try any food. The bartender was friendly and hustling the whole time we were there. You should stop by. It's an interesting concept being attached to a gas station.

Conveniently located on Lincoln highway without that feeling of being off a loud busy road. The…read morepatio was open so we could enjoy the beautiful weather with the awning and umbrellas giving plenty of shade. Five stars for the beer selection! I had a flight with sours, a Mexican ale & a blonde ale - all were delicious & smooth. The food comes from their partner Urban Counter. Husband had the Maxwell St Polish - really good with caramelized onions. The onion rings were nearly perfect with a light crisp beer batter. Not great menu options for a vegan, I went with the southwest salad. It was okay. I'm sure it would be better for anyone able to have the dressing. Adding meat was also an option. Overall worth the stop & will probably be back to enjoy the beers & patio.

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93 Octane
93 Octane
93 Octane - So wonderful to see Octane 93 create an IPA to raise awareness and support for individuals with disabilities. Thank you!!

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So wonderful to see Octane 93 create an IPA to raise awareness and support for individuals with disabilities. Thank you!!

Penrose Brewing - breweries - Updated May 2026

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