By Trent Modglin

93 Octane Brewery
1825 Lincoln Highway
93OctaneBrewery.com

Details: The name 93 Octane is an ode to the family’s history of running gas stations and convenience stores for more than four decades (If you’ve ever gassed up or snagged a coffee or bag of chips at a Pride Store in the western burbs, these are your guys). They expanded in 2025, renovating and taking over the former Elmhurst Brewing location.

What caught our attention: The food here, to put it simply, is delicious. Some of the best burgers we’ve had anywhere, the reuben was mouthwatering and wings seasoned perfectly. Grab yourself a Wingman pale ale or the Taillight amber and you can’t go wrong. The cocktail list is pretty awesome too. And they really know their bourbon.

Fun fact: Head brewer Alex Makowski, who was the youngest to pass the Cicerone exam at the tender age of 21, gained valuable experience at several Chicago-area breweries (and in Germany) before finding a home at 93 Octane.

Brother Chimp Brewing
303 N. 4th Street in St. Charles (and 1059 W. Orchard Road in North Aurora)
BrotherChimpBrewing.com

Details: Steve Newman’s award-winning brewery (gold for its Ludwig Vienna lager at the 2024 World Beer Cup) in North Aurora expanded in 2025, and now calls the old D&G Brewing space in St. Charles home as well. As one of our readers mentioned in a recent issue, “at Brother Chimp you feel like you’re in the basement of a friend’s house, in a good way. It smells like rustic wood, there are several small rooms for conversation, the bar is simple and comfortable, and the taproom is tucked away in a cozy neighborhood.”

What caught our attention: It was fun seeing how many patrons were on a first-name basis with the bartenders during a recent visit, and there is an underrated patio to the side we plan to relax on this summer. Grab a pint of the delicious Ludwig Vienna lager, Well Red Monk Irish red ale or hoppy West Coast IPA called For the Masses.

From the brewery: “I think what makes this place special is the people. I feel very fortunate that everyone who comes in is someone I want to see, and someone who appreciates us and what we are doing here.” — Steve Newman

Riverlands Brewing Company
1860 Dean Street
RiverlandsBrewing.com

Details: Founded by a trio of college friends, Riverlands is highly regarded for their successful run of hazy IPAs, which “paid the bills” early on and got them invited to plenty of festivals. But they’ve also earned a quality reputation for other styles since then, including barrel-aged imperial stouts and the popular Kayak pilsner. The Dean Street hazy IPA is one of our favorites anywhere.

What caught our attention: Riverlands is a warm, airy and friendly spot. Saddle up to a tree-trunk table that’s a definite conversation starter, as is the cherry wood bar. The spacious patio is quite the destination in summertime too.

From the brewery: “Overall, we’re very proud to have built a brewery and a community around it. … We wanted to get away from our terrible jobs where we made twice as much money, but knew we had a chance to be twice as happy. And that is absolutely true.” — Co-founder Jason Arges

Alter Brewing + Kitchen
12 S. First Street
AlterBrewing.com

Details: The second of three Alter locations — in addition to Downers Grove and Oak Brook — this is quite the setup alongside the Fox River in downtown St. Charles. The dining room is gorgeous, and they happen to boast one of the more picturesque brewery patios you’ll find in the state.

What caught our attention: This is a wide-ranging yet approachable food menu at Alter, full of creative shareables, salads, sandwiches and entrees that are sure to make the whole family happy. One of our faves: the slow-cooked BBQ brisket mac and cheese topped with fried onions. On tap, try the popular Ambigram hazy IPA with its subtle orange and tangerine notes.

Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling Co.
106 S. Riverside Ave.
PollyannaBrewing.com

Details: Opened in 2019, this is Pollyanna’s third location of four. Besides brewing quality beer and its expanding spirits program, this venue is also known for hosting live local, regional and national music acts.

What caught our attention: Its location on the Fox River — just over the walking bridge from Alter — is in the heart of St. Charles’ nightlife district. We look forward to coming back in the summertime to enjoy a spacious (and newly renovated) beer garden with views of the river. For beer, try the Eleanor, a full-bodied porter that carries hints of dark chocolate, caramel and coffee, or the German pilsner and the lukr side pour. The cocktail list, with their homemade spirits, is strong too.