Blind Corner Brewery

By Trent Modglin

Blind Corner Brewery
1655 Quincy Avenue, #155 in Naperville
BlindCornerBrewery.com

The details: The trio of Eric Hobbs (COO), JP Vander Veen (brewing and operations) and Nicholas Scofield (sales) all boast plenty of industry experience and spent close to eight years together at Solemn Oath Brewing before deciding to branch out on their own with Blind Corner in 2024.

“It was a unique situation where we’d all worked in breweries and distribution, and we understood the ins and outs and the challenges of the business,” Hobbs tells us. “So as things evolved after we started out, we tried to control what we could control, keep it small, have experts in each area and not micromanage one other. So far, it’s been pretty efficient.”

Soon after launching, Blind Corner partnered in an alternating proprietorship with the rapidly growing, non-alcoholic Go Brewing — who, other than using it for occasional small-batch projects, had outgrown the space — and began operating in their Naperville facility and taproom in January of 2025. Thus far, they have hit every benchmark they set for themselves in terms of distribution growth, so expect to see more of this brand on shelves and on tap soon.

Blind Corner has settled in quite nicely to the former Go Brewing taproom, creating what almost feels like a jazz lounge vibe with funky chandeliers, exposed ductwork and brick walls, staff photos and a large stage that hosts live music Friday-Sunday.

What caught our eye: Blind Corner has settled in quite nicely to the former Go taproom, creating what almost feels like a jazz lounge vibe with funky chandeliers, exposed ductwork and brick walls, staff photos and a large stage. They offer live music Friday-Sunday and, when the weather cooperates, can open the large garage doors to connect with the front patio. It’s also pretty clear that this is a family-friendly venue, especially on the roped-off side of the patio.

Food and beer: Blind Corner, whose brewing team plans to experiment more with smaller batches of traditional styles, generally claims 10 taps in the taproom vs. about six non-alcohol options from Go Brewing. The popular Booter hazy IPA is their flagship beer, and we also recommend Kingfall (a hazy IPA with notes of candied tangerine, passionfruit and crushed blueberry), Drop Ride (a classic West Coast IPA), their seasonal Festbier and White Winter Hymnal (classic wheat ale layered with sweet orange peel and subtle spice).

If beer’s not your thing, Blind Corner also offers a few wine options and a trio of barrel-aged hard seltzer cocktails like the enticing Watermelon Wave (think bourbon, watermelon, hibiscus and lemon).

If you can still find it, grab a pint of Forever Bloom, an annual IPA that helped raise $22,000 last year to fight pediatric cancer in honor of their operations manager’s 4-year-old daughter who passed away.

Blind Corner offers plenty of regular food truck options, as well as small pizzas of their own and a few snacks.

From the brewery: “One of the things I love talking about is celebrating an occasion of any sort with beer. It’s something I’ve enjoyed forever, and it’s present in how we live and how we run our business. We love celebrating what we call ‘the beer occasion.’ … It’s been very affirming to us to find success, especially entering the market at a time when most people thought we were crazy to be opening our own thing. We’re meeting our goals, seeing people enjoy their time with our beer, seeing people appreciating what we’re doing. Craft beer is going through a cycle right now, but we see it being here for a long time, and we’ll continue to do what we can to drive it forward.”

— Eric Hobbs

Solemn Oath beer garden

Solemn Oath Brewery
1661 Quincy Avenue, Suite 179 in Naperville
SolemnOathBrewery.com

The details: Solemn Oath, the creation of John Barley — who, unlike nearly everyone else in the industry, actually did not start out as a home brewer — rolled out its first beers way back in 2012 and has seen plenty of expansion since, including opening their hip Still Life taproom in Chicago’s Logan Square in 2021 and launching a sister brand, called Hidden Hand, for smaller-batch creations in 2023.

While he was attending college at DePaul, Barley’s parents moved to Brussels, Belgium, freeing him up to travel across the pond a fair amount in his early 20s. And that’s where he “learned what beer truly is, and what it could be, visiting 100 year-old brewing institutions that are engrained in these historic communities.”

The staff at Solemn Oath is always friendly and knowledgeable, and if you live in the area, check out Deadeye Company, their membership club that offers fresh releases, member pricing on beer and events, and invites to brewery days.

What caught our eye: We’re a big fan of their “beer camp and garden,” a year-round outdoor space complete with tents, string lights and fire pits. Trust us, you’re as likely to find us enjoying a beer out there on the first sunny day in March as you are in August. Inside, the smaller taproom and adjoining side rooms give visitors an ideal glimpse into the world of large-scale brewing. The staff here is always friendly and knowledgeable, and if you live in the area, check out Deadeye Company, their membership club that offers fresh releases, member pricing on beer and events, and invites to brewery days.

Food and beer: With a wide range of diversity in their beer lineup, Solemn Oath makes it very difficult to just stop in for one, especially when it comes to their stellar lineup of hazy IPAs, Belgians and barrel-aged stouts. The staples of Solemn Oath’s menu are Snaggletooth Bandana, an IPA with hints of grapefruit, mango and pine, and the clean and refreshing Lu kolsch, which we’ve found pairs quite well with a backyard BBQ (and is available every day on draft for $5 at both taprooms). Punk Rock for Rich Kids is a creative Belgian pale ale, and we really enjoyed the hazy DIPA called Call Alice with its hints of orange, melon, mango and blueberry.

Weekend food trucks are the norm to curb those hunger pangs.

From the brewery: “Our brand has always been a badge for Naperville, but we’ve always been very connected to Chicago as well, and we wanted to bring a little bit of the city to the western suburbs. I view that as part of our job, and the community has been so welcoming and so supportive.”

— Owner John Barley

Noon Whistle Brewing

Noon Whistle Brewing
1748 W. Jefferson Avenue in Naperville (with a second location in Lombard)
NoonWhistleBrewing.com

The details: Named after the town whistle from a small town in Wisconsin where brewmaster Paul Kreiner used to vacation as a kid (which happened to signal it was time to crack the first beer of the day), Noon Whistle is coming up on their 12-year anniversary in Lombard. Lots of expansion happened in 2020, when they increased the size of the tasting room, added a kitchen and private event space, and opened the doors to this second location in Naperville that now handles the vast majority of production.

What caught our eye: This is one cavernous facility and taproom, with ceilings you wouldn’t be able to touch with a lob wedge. There’s nothing like enjoying a few pints with friends while watching the mad scientists check the tanks high above the bar. Pinball machines and a tucked away patio? Yep, those too. Plus, the space has recently been transformed into what they call a botanical bar. “We’re bringing the outdoors in with a cozier, plant-filled atmosphere and a curated selection of plants available to take home,” Kreiner says. “It’s a space built for great beer, just with a little more green in your day.”

There’s a full slate of regular events here as well, with everything from music Bingo and poker leagues to Bears game-watching parties, brewery tours and artisan markets.

Food and beer: Go ahead and label us big fans of Noon Whistle’s Gummy series of hazy IPAs, including the latest rollout called Orange & Peach Squishy Gummy, which hit the spot on a warm, late-summer day with its smooth flavors of citrus and ripe summer peaches. Passionfruit Smack is a crisp, fruited Berliner weiss that’s part of a larger series of sours (which includes the must-try Pickle Someone Your Own Size), and if you’re looking for a crushable lager, Bruski is where it’s at. In late August, were were delighted to notice they brought back Hipsters vs. Lumberjacks, a rich and flavorful red ale with vanilla.

While a full food menu is available in Lombard, rotating food trucks on the weekend are the norm in Naperville.

From the brewery: “As we approach our 12th year in the industry, we’ve seen a lot of change, but one thing has always remained true: Great beer brings people together. We’re incredibly grateful for the loyal support of our customers. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the people who have shared a pint with us, celebrated with us, and made our beer part of their traditions. From the very beginning, we’ve believed that beer is meant to be enjoyed with friends and family. Every occasion calls for something a little different, and we’re proud to keep creating beers that fit those moments — from casual get-togethers to life’s biggest celebrations.”

— Co-owner and brewer Paul Kreiner

Hopvine Brewing

Hopvine Brewing Co.
4030 Fox Valley Center in Aurora
HopvineBrewingCompany.com

** Editor’s note: Sadly, it was recently announced that Nov. 25, 2026 will be the last day of operations for Hopvine, as the owners are retiring after 14 years in business.**

The details: A family-run brewery and restaurant celebrating its 14th year in Aurora, Hopvine is located on the west side of the Fox Valley Mall. While it might look small and rather plain from the outside, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find a spacious, flower-filled side patio (with hops growing up the side of the wall) and huge, gorgeous interior.

What caught our eye: Filled with dark wood, brick walls, massive windows, creative lighting and three different rooms with seating for about 250 — including a stylish barrel room for private events — it’s clear from your first step inside that Hopvine is quite a space. The staff is on a first-name basis with a lot of the patrons as well.

Food and beer: “We like to do a few different things with our menu, not just your typical pub grub,” owner Doug Isley tells us. “We have some unique things you’re not going to find in other spots.”

Hopvine recently transitioned to a new chef who had some fresh ideas, so roughly half of the menu turned over in late August. Standards like the crispy fish & chips, flatbreads, Italian beef and wings that are brined, smoked and then flash fried, are staying put. One new item we’re looking forward to on our next visit is the smashed tacos with seasoned steak, chihuahua cheese, lettuce, onion, pickles, secret sauce and sesame seeds. They also brought back their slow-cooked baby back ribs, which were a favorite years ago.

For beers, we enjoyed the strawberry lemon-ada, a delightfully easy-drinking fruit-flavored kolsch. The balanced and piney From the Sky pale ale, citrusy Electric Eye hazy IPA, Fiesta Party Mexican lager and traditional malty Oktoberfest are all worth checking out.

Besides beer, Hopvine takes things to the next level with some creative handcrafted beer cocktails as well as a host of specialty cocktails and wine.

From the brewery: “Some people come for the beer, some for the cocktails, some for the food and some for the space and the atmosphere. It helps having a complete package as a business. And as we get into private party season, be sure to check us out. Breweries are a destination, and we’re a good spot to come and make yourself at home. That’s how we want people to feel.”

— Owner Doug Isley