Bob Keck, of St. Charles, holds up a hefeweizen beer during a Silverado Homebrew Club meet-up at Tap House Grill in St. Charles, Ill., on Thursday, June 21, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

Bill Gross, of St. Charles, samples a English Strong Ale during a Silverado Homebrew Club meet-up at Tap House Grill in St. Charles, Ill., on Thursday, June 21, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

Brad Carlson pours a sample of beer for a customer at the Two Brothers Roundhouse on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. A number of Two Brothers beers are on tap at the Roundhouse, including its summer seasonal lager, Dog Days. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Freshly poured beers wait to be picked up from the bar at the Two Brothers Roundhouse. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Solemn Oath patrons sample beers in the brewery's tasting room on Thursday, July 19, 2012. The tasting room is steps away from the production area, separated only by a half wall so customers can watch the brewers at work. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Solemn Oath assistant brewer Paul Schneider fills a growler for a customer on Thursday, July 19, 2012. On top of sampling beers in the brewery's tasting room or at bars and restaurants around the Chicagoland area, customers can fill 64-oz growlers to take Solemn Oath beer home. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Members toast during a Silverado Homebrew Club meet-up at Tap House Grill in St. Charles, Ill., on Thursday, June 21, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

Silverado Homebrew Club meet-up at Tap House Grill in St. Charles, Ill., on Thursday, June 21, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

Bob Keck, of St. Charles, compares home brewed beers during a Silverado Homebrew Club meet-up at Tap House Grill in St. Charles, Ill., on Thursday, June 21, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

Two Brothers' Dog Days is a Dortmunder-style lager that is available during the summer months. It is available on tap — along with a number of other Two Brothers offerings — at the Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, Tap House in Warrenville, and as six-packs in stores around Chicagoland. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Two Brothers patrons look over menus as they sample beers at the Roundhouse on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Solemn Oath head brewer Timothy Marshall checks on kegs that are being filled on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. As a production brewery, Solemn Oath distributes beers to local bars and restaurants around the Fox Valley and Chicago area, while visitors can grab a pint and fill a growler in their tasting room that's just feet away from the production facility. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Solemn Oath head brewer Timothy Marshall watches as the mash tun empties during a brew session on Wednesday, July 18, 2012, in Naperville. Solemn Oath is a production brewery that distributes its beers to local bars in the Fox Valley and Chicago area, and patrons can enjoy a pint and watch the action in its tasting room merely steps away from the brew equipment. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Solemn Oath head brewer Timothy Marshall sprays down the brewery floor during a brew session on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Solemn Oath co-owner John Barley (center) and assistant brewer Paul Schneider check the tap lines that flow into the tasting room after hooking up a fresh keg of the brewery's newest addition, Snaggletooth Bandana, a medium-bodied IPA, on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Solemn Oath plans on releasing nearly two-dozen different beers in its first year of operation, which will be available in the brewery's tasting room and at bars across Chicagoland. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media

Solemn Oath co-owner John Barley empties spent grains from the mash tun during a brewing session on Wednesday, July 18, 2012.

A victory pale ale is one of the many craft beers award-winning Brewmaster Ryan Clooney has created for Emmett's Brewing Co in West Dundee. July 16, 2012 | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

Award-winning Brewmaster Ryan Clooney pours a glass of crafted ale at Emmett's Brewing Co in West Dundee. July 16, 2012 | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

Ryan Clooney is an award-winning brewmaster for Emmett's Brewing Co in West Dundee. July 16, 2012 | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media