Visiting friends and we decided to go out brewery hopping in the Aurora & Batavia areas. So glad that 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 read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

Checked out this newer brewery in Batavia. It has a lot of room inside, but even that isn't enough for 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. read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - The 3 Amigos Imperial Stout And Bavarian Pretzel - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

Finally got to stop in and try this riverfront brewery. 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! read more

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Stopped in for a libation while biking along the Fox River Trail. Only had time for a couple beers. ESB was quite good (Pitchside). Not many breweries are cooking up ESBs these days (RIP Sherlock's in Eden Prairie, MN). So, the Pitchside was a treat. Third Anniversary Stout was solid but not outstanding given some amazing brews coming out these days. Love the space. Will certainly return for a visit next time I'm biking by. read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Pitchside ESB. Quite good. - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

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This brewery has been on my radar since I started following them on Facebook pre-opening so I was glad to finally check them out in person. I liked that there were plenty of spots to hang out besides at the bar. There was a bridal shower going on upstairs and a pop up catering brunch near the entrance. They did have two types of cider for those who like me are gluten free as well as a good pour list of beer. We were greeted and served promptly. I recommend stopping by the next time you are in Batavia. read more

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I am still getting used to the idea of having to pack in all your own food and snacks--but this is still a great spot and allows for fun celebrations ("I want all my favorite snacks and I want this kind of cake")--they do bring in food trucks for fun collaborations but these often sell out. Also a crazy little secret about breweries... they have to have a few wines available for non-beer drinkers... which usually means they have to pick really good ones! I love the Blackboard Cabernet served here. Verrrrrry long beer list and very fun atmosphere with live music upstairs. My husband and his friends are already planning to come back for trivia this week! read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - BYO birthday smorgasbord - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

Good place to have drinks, I came here with a friend on a Wednesday night before dinner. Not a huge crowd, enjoyed their large tables and how spacious the place was. read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

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The guest experience here is fantastic! The staff is talented and fun! The brews are varied and expertly crafted. Very sophisticated flavor profiles. So glad a place so good is so near! read more

BUSY!!! I like their beer, big menu though so some feel redundant. (Two west coast IPAs? Just have one good one, imo...) EXCELLENT location -- great view of the river from the upstairs. Sometimes they have food vendors which is fun. Family friendly (almost to a fault? idk kids just aren't my thing) but also seems like a solid spot to start your night if you're, for some reason, going out in Batavia (sorry lol) read more

Oliver, Oliver, Oliver!!!!!!! Stopped here on a late Saturday night and it was poppin! Ordered a beer and found some open seats at the bar and made ourselves comfortable. the bartender Oliver was awesome. He had a great positive attitude, very knowledgeable about the beers, and we bonded over our names, Oskar.. i mean Oliver. First round went with: Huckleberry sour and Francesco. If you like sour beers, huckleberry will be up your alley. Francesco was good, typical pilsner beer, would get again. Second round went with a flight: Shumway, turtle, Flinn, and Tko....all 4 were great beers, but liked the Shumway Sour the best Ambiance was great. Bright, nice, and lively. Oh yeah, the breadsticks there were a nice snack..... read more

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I've biked past this brewery more times than I can count and thought it time to poke my head through the doors for a drink or two. Met a buddy here who also had Sturdy on his list. Their menu is in what I would call full summer tilt now with a heavy selection of IPA's and lighter weight options. The first that I had was Wilson Street - a German Dunkel that went down nice and easy and left me wanting more. Switched tracks for my second glass, which was River View - a really nice Kolsch that will taste even better when it's warmer out. I also sampled a few others, at the kindness of our server. There wasn't a bad taste in the bunch. The service and bar servers here are outstanding. We were here when it was a packed house, and they not only spent time explaining their crafts, but also just stopped by to talk to us. Really cool people running what I'd tag as a really awesome brewery. Cool ambience..there's everything to like about Sturdy. You bet I'll be back! read more

Love the vibe! The staff was friendly and the beer was good! We also had the empanadas, I really enjoyed the potato and ham one.

I read about this new brewery and wanted to try it out. I believe we were told they had been open for 7 weeks at the time of my visit. We sat at the bar and had excellent customer service. I tried the ipa and my boyfriend had the sour. Both were excellent. They tapped a tropical ipa (slightly different from their other ipa) on day of visit and it was delicious as well. Decided to try a small pour of the cream ale and Mexican hot chocolate and both were tasty as well. Friendly staff, great beer, and inside was gorgeous. I would recommend! read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing recently opened up in BAtavia. The staff were so accommodating and friendly and easy to talk to . The building was an old theater and the renovations were done so well. It is spacious and beautiful. We stopped in on a Saturday and their beer options were limited, but still very good. They explained Batavia is keeping them busy, which is always good to hear. They do not have food, but we were told food trucks come by later in the day. A great place to try when in Batavia. read more

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The space is pretty cool. The noise level is good, just enough volume on the music do you know you are out but still able to have a conversation. The beer was great. The IPA was outstanding. On par with Stone but on tap. Good hop and nice balance. We also had the porter; very nice, roasty with a vanilla finish. My personal preference is not to have the vanilla at the end, but still very drinkable. The place was busy. Go while you can. It's getting discovered. read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - IPA, nice legs. - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

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great find thanks to Yelp located downtown on the river the space is wide open with high ceilings with a lot of natural sunlight coming in. The beer selection was good with a variety of tastes so everyone was pleased . The upper loft area overlooks the river perfect for private parties read more

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Sturdy Shelter is the best thing to happen to Batavia in a long time! We have been twice since the opening and have been pleasantly surprised at how packed it is. It is in a perfect location downtown overlooking the river and the space is beautiful. It has an industrial feel and is spacious, yet so cozy and inviting. While they do not serve food, they have partnered with local food trucks and you can bring in anything from outside. There's so many great options close by so this is not at all an issue. They offer several delicious beers (the hazy ipa might be one of my all time favorites) and some options for non-beer drinkers too. The owners are kind and hospitable and we could not be more happy to have this spot in town! read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

They have a wide variety of beers on tap. Want a sour, stout, ipa, wheat? They have it. But what I also like is that they have wine and NA beers available. Sometimes you want to go out and not have a "beer" the NA's are nice touch. Wine brings in friends and partners they don't want beer. The building itself is just gorgeous and the art is fun (bathrooms). Most of all, just a super friendly staff that genuinely seem to like to make friends and be a part of the community. In a world of "oh boy, another brewery" I can see them lasting on taste in tact and beer. read more

The beer was phenomenal & we just loved the overall atmosphere! We will definitely be returning in the near future.

Had several beers that were very good. Nobody likes everything! Sure wish they had food. read more

In town for a night and wanted to find some local breweries, and we found this one! What a cool place! The brewery was busy, but we found a small table in a corner where we could sit back and just enjoy the evening. My husband and I ordered a beer flight, and ended up having a pint of the Peace Christmas Ale. So good! There was a food truck outside for people to order from as well. We highly recommend this brewery! read more

What a fun place! Came across this after going to the Comedy Vault. Great atmosphere, wonderful employees and best of all GREAT BEER. Highly recommend!!! read more

Great beer and a great community. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and inviting. The space is wonderful and perfect for friends, family and large groups. The staff is knowledgeable and cares about their customers. Can't wait to become a regular here! read more

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We held a couples plus kids baby shower for my son and daughter in law. Approximately 50 people maybe slightly more. It was by far the best experience for all who attended. We chose the upstairs area was all set up for us to add our decorations. The staff immediately began to offer help and make sure we didn't need anything. They provide a wide variety of beer and cider. The stafkept checking with us to make sure all was good and if we needed anything. (the entire place is beautifully detailed with lighting and decor) We had Riverside Pizza & Pub which is nearby deliver Pizza and appetizers (also a great choice, I highly recommend). Great pizza, wings, and salad, delivered on time. Everything went smoothly and everyone had a great time. This is my favorite brewery, so I was very glad we were able to host the event here. I highly recommend this location not only for celebrations, but just to stop in and kick back to relax. The staff is very friendly and they have pop in food vendors as well! read more

Entire package: great beer, ambiance, and people. They get very busy a couple hours after open (2pm) every day and stay that way, so that tells you something! read more

A incredible refurbished Masterpiece of the old building in the river front of Batavia this newer Brewery is outstanding. I love the inside and the spacious environment and unique look of this Brewery and the beer that they offered was also a superior nature. This is a great Brewery and for the fans who love to try new and unusual craft breweries this is a must-have and will worth the travel too. They have a great upper section to level story building with a great View of the river where you can almost jump into it from the second floor. There's also a lounge area with lots of games as one would expect from me Craft Brewery there are various different styles of homemade beer and it is a various prices and this is a very good craft Brewery read more

Non pretentiousness coffee house vibe with beer. Friendly staff and tons of room to find a spot for you and/or your friends. I think I'll try a sampler on my next visit. read more

Clean, open aesthetic. Good beer (I hear). Enjoyed the bottled Horchata Root Beer this visit. read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

Great brewery in downtown Batavia! Nice 2-level view of the fox river and overall atmosphere. Good beers (I had the Cali IPA which was great) and a solid assortment of snacks. Can bring in local eats and they sometimes have food trucks/pop ups provide food as well! read more

Skip the Tuesday "Trivia with Oliver" otherwise beautiful building, great beer and wine options, as well as artisan breadsticks. This establishment is a shining star among Batavia's beer/bar scene. Beer selections are top notch. Wine is fairly represented for a beer bar. The artisanal breadsticks are a welcome treat. Tried "Trivia with Oliver" found it to be the same programming/format/answer slips, etc. at a 1,000 other bars with intentionally obscure questions and songs that take the fun out of the entire experience. Low percentage of new players tells me its the same crowd (cheating) on the same obnoxious and totally obscure questions (seriously - Pokemon questions at an adult trivia night?) week after week. Will definitely visit for the beer, wine and breadsticks -solid pass on trivial pursuits... read more

What a super cool place in downtown Batavia! I came in last Sunday around 3pm - it was packed! Lots of little kids. They don't serve food but on this day they had a food truck and it was very good. It's a really nice space with tasty beer and excellent staff. I believe there is no table service but you just head up to the bar to order. Parking around here isn't plentiful. I'll be back for sure. read more

Great beer. Great ambiance. Friendly service. Cool venue. Definitely recommend for a good pint and is family friendly for the kiddos. read more

Sturdy Shelter Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - Batavia, Illinois

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I've lived in Batavia for two years and just found this amazing place. Absolutely gorgeous bar and brewery. The night we went they had a musician playing (very good!). Terrific selection of beers. Lots of fun. We went another night when a food truck was present (great Mexican food). Excellent all around. read more

Saw this brewery show up on my map and decided to go there today and give them a try. The place was very spacious, lots of beer to choose from and the staff was very friendly! Excited to ride my bike on the Fox River Trail and stop here for a cold one in the spring and summer time! read more

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Great place to hangout with friends and grab a drink. A good variety of beers and games. They don't serve food, but they have food trucks set up so you don't go hungry. read more

Great spot! After car shopping in St Charles needed an adult beverage so searched for a brewery open on Mondays. Glad we stopped by! Great atmosphere - nicely decorated, although had a nice crowd plenty of comfortable places to sit. Other customers were friendly and bar service was outstanding. Great selection of beers - from fruity IPAs for the wife to lagers/pilsner/and even a cream ale for me! If I lived further west this would be my go-to spot. Look forward to visiting again soon! read more

Was waiting all summer for Sturdy Shelter to open the brewery. Went to opening day, and was not disappointed. The staff is super friendly. And the beer is very very good. I can't wait to go back and try it again. Cheers!! read more

We went there opening night and it was crazy busy. Beer was great but we only we only tried 2 just because they were so busy. The building they have is really cool inside and apparently it may have been an old theater at one time. They layout of the space was well thought out and is a great place for a get together. We met Frank and we have known Oliver for years...nicer people you will not find. It's a bit of a hike for us coming from Glen ellyn but I expect that we will be back soon and often. As far as breweries it is one of the best we have been to. Well worth the trip! read more

I'm a beer snob and I have yet to have a beer I didn't like here. Love the array of food trucks that serve here as well. Really cool events all the time as well. Great addition to Batavia!! read more

Great owners, great location, great venue and great beer selection. Place is roomy and design is really cool. I'm happy our town has a place like this now!!!! read more