COMMUNITY CENTER

COMMUNITY Penrose Brewing offerings don’t stop at beer By Kevin Druley | Photo provided by Penrose BrewingCenter

Reminiscent of a savvy server reciting a tap list, Tom Korder spools off a lengthy roll call of new craft beer kids on the Kane County block since Geneva’s Penrose Brewing Company debuted in 2014. Korder beams with the exercise. To the co-founder and brewmaster at Penrose, the evolution of the craft beer climate “brings a bigger spotlight to the whole scene” while providing patrons with seemingly unlimited options. A little competition never hurt anyone, goes the saying. In the case of Penrose — voted one of the finest local breweries in Kane County’s Finest — it drives Korder and Co. to keep customers thirsting for their offerings, both inside the taproom and out. “It’s really just kind of made us hunker down and make sure that we are tightened up on everything that we can do and doing the best darn job that we know we’re capable of,” Korder says. Kane County craft beer enthusiasts might hear “Penrose” and instantly think of Goofy Boots, the brewery’s award-winning New England hazy India pale ale. That’s all well and good with staff and management, though it’s also their hope others might think not only of the dozen-plus other on tap, but any number of adjacent events Penrose has housed through the years. Penrose in early October housed a reading and children’s picture book signing one day after welcoming a food truck to the premises and three days before a weekly trivia Wednesday. Past events include pumpkin carving, a haunted brewery maze and instructional classes exploring fly fishing and playing ukulele. Not simultaneously, of course. Korder says while events have “been ongoing” through Penrose’s history, “they’ve certainly picked up speed of late” while catering to a variety of pastimes. “We see Penrose as a community center,” he says, “where people can come out and enjoy.” Whether it’s strumming a small stringed instrument or savoring a beer or lemon seltzer, Korder hopes clientele at Penrose act upon any yearning to learn.

Stockholm’s Restaurant & Brewery won finest local brewery! Art History Brewing and Penrose Brewing Company were each voted one of the finest.

COMMUNITY As far as learning is concerned, he encourages patrons to ask staff about any attribute of the brewing process. Should their query stump anyone, Korder is happy to oblige, even if he might have the day off. “Not everybody is an ultra-craft beer nerd and tuned into everything, but if they’re not, we want to make sure that they have the opportunity to ask those questions. ‘OK, what makes this beer like this? Why does it taste like that? What makes it special?’” Korder says. “Kind of having all those questions and being able to answer all of those for people is hugely important to us.” As Penrose approaches nine years in Geneva, longtime fans and newcomers alike should expect to see brewery brass do anything but be stagnant. “Every year we sit down and we take a look and say, ‘OK, how can we get better? How can we improve?’” Korder adds. “We’ve got a couple things up our sleeve for early 2023 that will be just minor tweaks — you might not even notice it — but we’re just always on the hunt. “Our crew always wants to make sure that the experience is better.”

 PENROSE BREWING 509 Stevens St., Geneva 630-232-2115 www.penrosebrewing.com

Photo by Kelly Vanderploeg Photography

Before heading to Penrose, grab a meal at any of these award-winning restaurants:

 DINING ON THE WATERFRONT Finest: The Graceful Ordinary 3 E. Main St., St. Charles 331-235-5803 www.thegracefulordinary.com One of the finest: Atwater’s Restaurant One of the finest: Eden Restaurant & Events

 ROMANTIC DINNER Finest: Atwater’s Restaurant 15 S. River Lane (inside Herrington Inn & Spa) 630-208-7433 www.herringtoninn.com One of the finest: Niche One of the finest: The Graceful Ordinary  STEAK Finest: Stockholm’s Restaurant & Brewery 306 W. State St., Geneva 630-208-7070 www.stockholmsbrewpub.com One of the finest: St. Charles Place Steakhouse One of the finest: FoxFire Restaurant

 SUSHI Finest: Swordfish 207 N. Randall Road, Batavia 630-406-6463 www.swordfishsushi.com One of the finest: Shakou St. Charles One of the finest: Moto Imoto

Voted Best Tavern in 2022 Kane County Chronicle’s Readers’ Choice Awards

Monthly Food Specials Outdoor Patio Seating Seasonal Brews $4.00 Daily Handcrafted Beer Specials Try Raider‛s Root Beer (ABV 7.5%)

306 W State StreetDowntown Geneva 630-208-7070 www.stockholmsbrewpub.com