Favorite breweries: I would say, as of right now, my favorite would be Sew Hop’d in Huntley. I love their Gangs All Here brown ale and a lot of their stouts. They always have really good food trucks all the time, like the grilled cheese people from Wisconsin. The atmosphere is so fun there too. 

Drinking tendencies: I definitely prefer brown ales these days, as well as lighter West Coast IPAs. I enjoy a well-made stout too, especially in the winter, over a super hoppy IPA.

Recent beers that have caught your eye: Anything that is Energy City Brewing in Batavia is putting out these days, and their Bistro Banana Split in particular. It’s a Berliner weisse that’s heavily fruited with bananas, pineapples, strawberries, chocolate and cherries. I love the variety they put out, especially the wild fruited sour combinations. It’s always a treat when my husband visits there and comes home with something fun. 

What are you looking forward to enjoying on draft this spring?
We’re really excited to visit the new Grainology Brewstillery in downtown Batavia to see what they have that is unique or different. Hubbard’s Cave’s barrel-aged stouts always sounds good this time of year too.

We’re really excited to visit the new Grainology Brewstillery in Batavia to see what they have that is unique or different. Hubbard’s Cave’s barrel-aged stouts always sounds good this time of year too.

And Our Brewing in Holland, Michigan is one of my favorite breweries anywhere, and their brown ale, called Brown Sabbath, is fantastic. The ambiance is really cool there. It’s a smaller brewery, but you can sit on the couches and chill by the fireplace all night. 

Lodi Tap House

Favorite beer bar in Illinois: Easy, the Lodi Tap House in Maple Park. They always have a great assortment of beer, the food is great and everyone is so nice. Bonus: You can bring your golf cart. Their outside area is small and quaint, but it’s a great place to hang with friends in the summer if you can get a seat. 

Best brewery you’ve hit on vacation: LauderAle Brewery, right by the Fort Lauderdale airport. It’s always our first stop when we go to Florida. If you show your boarding pass, you get a percentage off your bill on the day you fly. They have a wonderful indoor/outdoor space, huge fans going, it’s always super chill and it’s a great way to start any vacation in South Florida. 

At Jonamac, they do a great job with homemade ciders, and they have a huge cider barn and a gorgeous outdoor patio that overlooks the orchard.

Secret beer spot: Definitely Jonamac Orchard in Malta (near DeKalb). They do a great job with homemade ciders, and they have a huge cider barn and a gorgeous outdoor patio that overlooks the orchard. You can watch them press their apple cider while you’re sipping on an apple grape wine or a Hard Core apple ale that’s made in collaboration Wild Onion Brewery. Their Apple Crusher incorporates a bunch of different hops for a unique taste. You’d be surprised by the number of  people who come out from the Chicago area to sample their goods.