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Tour Stop 13 - Hopvine Brewing - 1/18/2017
Hopvine Brewing Company, 4030 Fox Valley Center Dr., Aurora, IL 60504
Experience before you go.........
Okay now it's time to hop on over to the Hopvine Brewing Company located by Fox Valley Mall in Aurora. We tried to stop here once before but it was closed so this time we made sure they were open. Now on the way over if we had a hankering to buy a mattress we definitely had some opportunities. Because on one corner on Hwy 59 there were three Mattress Firms, 1/2 of a block north there was another Mattress firm, two blocks up on the left there was another Mattress Firm and I believe we saw one more in the next 1/2 mile. I saw so many Mattress Firms I felt a strong burning desire to strap one on my car roof and take the highway home driving 65 mph. I think Mattress Firm is trying to corner the mattress market.
Hopvine is a brewpub with a full food menu and quite the selection of brews as well. There is a large table and chair area for dining and a 12-15 stool bar in the back right corner area of the space. Lights are low to create a relaxed calming feel as Brad and I and my tour guest, brother-in-law Guy make our way to the bar. We have a couple guys sitting at the bar and the rest is wide open. We situate ourselves right at the corner, a couple bar stools away from our new neighbors. Now Brad normally situates me closest to the patrons at the bar. I'm not sure if this is a conscientious decision or something that just happens. Fun fact is both Brad and I sold books door to door when we were much younger. I sold a boat anchor of a book called the Volume Library for four summers when I was in college for the Southwestern Company out of Nashville, TN. And Brad sold Collier's encyclopedias. So both Brad and I can literally start up a conversation with really anyone, anywhere, anytime. We both love meeting new people and learning their stories and you know what, everyone has a story. And that right there is the true essence of our Hoppin Brewery Tour. Because I got to tell ya, you mix in a beer or two and you hear some fabulous life experience stories. ....the kind that make you stay up all night, miss a meal or be early for church. A few years back when I was trying to figure out what retirement looked like for me, documenting an ongoing brewery tour was not on the radar.
I order the popular brewery flight starting the Mastodon IPA (7.53%, 65 IBU) this was the fifth IPA of the series made with 6 different hops. Next up was the Alpha Mastodon IPA - Imperial IPA (10%, 85 IBU) heavily hopped and then dry-hopped twice to enhance the hop aroma. We're talking hops and a lot of them.....the Hoppin Brewery Tour feels right at home. Finally got some small talk happening with our neighbors to the right. "Call me Tim from Westmont". Introduced ourselves as the Hoppin Brewery Tour guys Brad and Clyde and bro-in-law Guy. Tim from Westmont likes what he hears and he started telling us about breweries we need to visit..... Noon Whistle in Lombard, Vice District in Chicago, Kinslahger in Oak Park and Exit Strategy in Forest Park. Brad, gas up the sweet ride and let's get busy.
Talking some more with Tim, come to find out that he was a bond trader and was in New York on September 11, 2001. He was walking to their office in New York City that day and actually saw the plane hit the second twin tower. Can you believe it, someone who was actually there to witness, first hand the worst attack on the United States in U.S. history. Even though it's been over 15 years I still remember the numb feeling I had that entire day. How could this have happened on U.S. soil. Tim from Westmont reminded us how all the airports were closed for 24-36 hours after the attack and how eery and quiet the skies were. Tim wanted to get the heck out of New York and back home like all other visitors but with the airports closed it didn't look good. The White Plains airport Tim heard was gearing up to open once the flight ban was lifted. The next day Tim was on a plane that was only 1/3 full heading home. Was the reason the plane was nearly empty because people weren't familiar with the White Plains Airport or was it that people were just scared to even get on a plane.....probably a little bit of both. Interesting note - White Plains Airport (officially Westchester County Airport) was Brad's home airport for 7 years as he and his wife lived only 5 miles away.
I notice a new face behind the bar talking with Guy. The next thing I hear Guy ask is, "you must be the owner". Meet Jan, she and her husband Doug opened Hopvine back in 2013 and they haven't looked back once. The location previously was a kids entertainment place and Brad said, "so you turned it into an adult entertainment place with the brewery". You could tell that Jan was a hard working, hands on owner who appreciates her customers. Best of luck to you Jan and keep on brewing!!
Until next time and remember.......
Go get'cha one!!
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