Sew Hop'd Brewery And Taproom - Huntley

We stayed for a while but ultimately decided to leave. Personally, I won’t be returning, as there are better breweries in the area. It’s worth noting that a brewery should not strictly be labeled as a “family establishment.” It can be “family-friendly,” and yours certainly is, especially when the weather is nice, with a large outdoor area where kids can play while their parents enjoy drinks — even in front of the food delivery vehicles that had to halt to avoid them. Instead of addressing that issue, you seemed more concerned about our group, which was simply spending money in your establishment. The only reason you decided to let us stay was because you noticed the size of our group and the signs we brought.

The owner of Sew Hopd expressed that he didn't care if we ever returned, which is an unfortunate way to engage with members of your community who had not even stepped foot in your establishment. We had already placed our lunch order, which was on its way. He told us to eat and then to leave. When I asked why we were being treated this way, he recounted what Kishwaukee Brewing had told him, but I assured him that we were not acting disruptively and had been respectful during our time there. We're too old to cause trouble; we simply wanted to enjoy ourselves. Ultimately, he did apologize and said we could stay, but the entire interaction made me feel like a child being let out of timeout. I hope they can improve their approach to guests in the future.

The beers were clean, but they lacked depth in flavor, possibly due to over-attenuation. I focused on the lagers since they are a true test of a brewery's skill. The Pilsner didn't have the expected hop aroma or bitterness, and the Alt also fell short in both bitterness and maltiness. I can't help but think they might not be using the right yeast for their lagers, perhaps opting for a cost-effective, multipurpose yeast like kveik that can make all their beers taste similar. I skipped the IPAs because I anticipated they would be overly hopped, given the high IBUs. Overall, I'm disappointed, especially considering they have an impressive building and top-notch equipment. I sincerely hope they reconsider their yeast choices and revisit some of their lager recipes.

Just stop, take a seat, and order a John Boy Pils. I always start with that…and then never want to leave. Matter of fact, I’m going to order a flight.

Nice meetup spot. Good beers on tap. I always appreciate places that have flights available as I like to try a little of everything. I love that a historic building has been repurposed. Food available through food trucks, or bring your own.