Solemn Oath Brewery

I find myself at *Salem Oath Brewery* in Naperville, Illinois, a pocket of rebellion amidst the suburban sprawl—unexpected, almost subversive. This is the kind of place you don’t expect to find out here, the kind of joint that has no business existing in a town best known for cookie-cutter homes, strip malls, and places with “family-friendly” in the tagline. But here it is, dark, atmospheric, with the energy of a punk bar that somehow wandered into a Norman Rockwell painting and decided to stay. The first thing you notice is that it’s unapologetically itself. The décor is all dark wood, steel, and minimalist lines, equal parts Midwestern grit and industrial chic, and there’s an undercurrent of irreverence in everything from the murals on the wall to the beer names scrawled on the chalkboard menu. You don’t just wander into a place like this—you seek it out. And you know you’re in for something interesting. I scan the tap list. It’s clear this place knows its craft: no mass-produced, uninspired nonsense here. They’re pushing boundaries and making you question what beer can be—big flavors, bold experiments, and not a trace of pretense. I go for the “Devil’s Advocate,” an imperial stout that’s thick, inky, and dark as a moonless night. First sip, and I’m hit with layers of chocolate, espresso, and just the faintest whiff of smoke. This is not the kind of brew you drink lightly. It’s almost intimidating, a beer that dares you to take it on, and if you don’t respect it, it’ll humble you fast. There’s something deeply satisfying about finding a place like this, especially here, in Naperville—a town that could be the poster child for safe, sanitized living. *Salem Oath* stands out like a black sheep, a beacon for those who crave something offbeat, something that doesn’t fit neatly into the expected. The people here get it. You can see it in the crowd—local misfits, craft beer obsessives, and a few adventurous suburbanites clearly out of their comfort zone, trying to make sense of the intensity in their glass. They could coast by playing it safe, but they don’t. There’s no attempt to dilute the experience, no concessions made to those who might want their beer a little lighter, a little sweeter, a little less… dangerous. And that’s rare. That’s something to be celebrated. Because when you stumble onto a place that embraces being different, that refuses to compromise on what it is—whether that’s a brewery, a dive bar, or a tiny ramen joint down an alleyway in Tokyo—you know you’re onto something real. So, is *Salem Oath Brewery* for everyone? No, and thank God for that. It’s a place for the wanderers, the curious, the ones who want to taste something that forces them to sit up and pay attention. And if that’s you, then this place, this unassuming little brewery in the middle of the Illinois suburbs, might just surprise you. But then, isn’t that what life is all about? Finding the unexpected in the most unlikely of places, and letting yourself be changed by it.

Solemn Oath Brewery in Naperville is not your average restaurant. They specialize in serving their own delicious draft beers, creating a unique and enjoyable experience for beer enthusiasts. The setup with cabanas allows guests to bring their own food and enjoy a relaxing atmosphere with friends, especially during the summer months. Be sure to try their beer sampler, which allows you to taste a variety of their carefully crafted beers. The environment is friendly and welcoming, making it a great spot to gather with friends. I recently had a fantastic time with a group of 12 friends at Solemn Oath Brewery. Cheers to a great experience!

Another brewery which had to be searched - this one in particular, Uber and me both were about to decide on dropping this place. We just couldn’t find it!! All that apprehensions went away as soon as we entered. It was quite nippy the day I went and one of the first things I asked was to close the door! Else it would have been a whiskey session rather than a cold brew! Door closed and we moved on to what we were supposed to do - scan the list and pick what we wanted. Beers are good and we had a good time. Interesting thing was that there were two sets of music playing - on enquiring they told us that one music was for the brewery which was good rock/metal music and slightly classic at the bar counter. Reason for such messed up music - two sets of players 🙄 Outside looks just awesome and I think they are waiting for warmer days for people to sit out and sip on their brews. Outside is pet friendly and a good place to just chill and relax 😍

Another "not my first time here, but first Google Review" for this place! Came here when they first opened (and a few times in-between) where I remembered there was a two-beer limit! Times have definitely changed throughout the years. Love the entire space, especially fun outdoor space (pictured here).

Great atmosphere! Beer garden is beautiful, great music! Unfortunately the food truck generators are super loud and annoying.

Cannot speak to the negative reviews, respectfully, but always great Beer and Customer Service. With all due respect, I don’t necessarily believe Staff here is rude; you’re in Naperville. This business, like all others in Town, gets packed at times and (unfortunately) lots of personalities and various event purposes for Staff to serve and professionally deal with. Try Solemn Oath at least once in your life!

This is an establishment with terrible service and mediocre beer. We got yelled at by the bartender while we were asking about the beers, while he was super polite to all other customers. We were the only people that of color, so we did feel that contributed to it. I’d strongly encourage people to stay away from here. I’m surprised this has a rating of 4.5. Edit: After reading reviews from other non-“local guides”, this seems to be a pattern. So many people who are regular customers have made the same comments, that I feel these “local guide” ratings are inflated or fake. This is disappointing to say the least.

First time at the Brewery. It's a little hard to find, but worth the trip. Bar area is relatively small, but when the weather improves, the beer garden looks large enough for a crowd. Had a Lu and a couple Gold Buck lagers, which is excellent at only 5.2%. Picked up a 4-pack for home.

While in town visiting for a short couple days, I made sure to hit up a couple of Chicago Breweries. Prioritizing a couple I had never been to, and also hitting some mainstay staples. The first new to me brewery was Solemn Oath. Since opening back in 2012, they have just grown both from a capacity perspective to having multiple brands. The location is quaint, nicely decorated, and pretty crowded for a weekday. I was lucky enough to hang at the bar with a friendly person's pup for a while, since I was missing my little goofball at home. I had a flight of beers and took my time enjoying each. The Promise Kept: An Imperial Stout aged in barrels. Beautifully balanced with nice notes of dark cacao and espresso grinds. The Knowledge Gained: A Coffee Stout aged twelve months in bourbon barrels. They used Manbot Coffee roast that gives nice bitter roast notes without being acidic or astringent. Waterfowl: A Helles that they aged in Oak Foeders. Very drinkable lager that goes down easy with a bready malt character and spicy hop bitterness. Clean, crisp, and downright easy going. VIBES SINCE 1920: An American Pale Ale that hits all the spots of an OG APA. This one was created by the women of Chicago Craft Beer and has the traditional grapefruit, resin, and pine notes you want out of an APA. _____

I was in the area and wanted to try out a brewery. Soleman Oath had popped out as it was nearby where I was located. When you drive in it takes you to an industrial/corporate area. The parking lot is massive and there was another brewery on the opposite side. Right before the entrance into the building, they have a unique and interesting outdoor seating area. At the time I was there no one was (the weather was chilly) but there were fire pits. Definitely a very scenic and interesting place to check out I walk in and the bar has few seatings. There was no one there besides the one bartender. I tried their hazy IPA that was a collab with another brewery and it was delicious. Traditional IPA taste. The bartender offered me their favorite beer and it was also delicious. I had a Belgian beer as well and it wasn't my favorite but it was decent. When I'm in the area again, I'd be happy to check this place out especially when the weather is better. I'm sure during the weekends and nicer weather the place can get busy. I went in a random weekday night so was a busy time.

As far as brewery's go, I thought inside was dark and uninviting. Outside area had a bunch of covered "huts," but on a hot night, not even a cold beer helped and the beer could have been colder too. We were (just about) the only ones there, and the greeting was not welcoming either. "Two drink minimum at the bar." Eh. Nice craft selection but...

Went here for the first time for solemn oath day, so I was only in their outdoor space. Very cool set up and fun and *free* event. Good tunes, beer, food and activities on a hot summer day. I'll definitely come check this brewery out on a normal day.

Great small tasting room inside the brewery! Lots of different brews to try. There is a beautiful dome forest, which I imagine during the early fall, spring and summer months would be perfect weather for. Go see Courtney and have a beer!

At this brewery one must take a solemn oath to never discuss what you hear and see or you die. If you give a good Yelp review they make an exception. Solemn Oath is a unique brewery in Naperville. Finding it is an adventure itself. Those who complete the journey will be rewarded with good ass beer and maybe food trucks. For this thirst quenching journey I brought my one friend. It was quite an adventure finding this amongst the warehouses in the industrial park. This is located behind these buildings and doesn't look like a place you would find anything fun but we ventured on and struck gold with this in the form of golden pints. Has a few unique seating choices. One can hang out in one of the domes in the "forest" outside. Each are heated. The inside of the brewery is good too. I had a Snaggletooth Bandana. It's $6 for most pints. This is a West Coast IPA with hints of citrus and slight hoppyness but not too much though. She had a Belgian Whiteout Ale. This one was pretty smooth. As for food there's not a whole lot. Firesticks Pretzels are $5 a box and that's all they got mostly. They also have marshmallows for those who hang around the fire pits. Finding it can be hard. It's located on Quincy Avenue around these car dealer lots. The domes are in front of the entrance and have to be reserved.

if you drink outside the plastic cups are 12 oz and they charge you for their 16 oz pours. beer quality has improved. outside harsh music depends on bartender; sometimes eq'd tasteful; other times a trebly mess of noise. Been buggy in or out at times. Honest pricing + better volume, sit inside at bar have a real glass.

An OUTSTANDING Brewery with excellent selection of beers and fantastic service!!!! A must stop when in Naperville!!!!

Such a cute find. Found ourselves here on a Saturday afternoon . There was a food truck on site and plenty of outdoor seating. I did not check out the indoor seating. Ordering can be done at a window order area. Love the ambience of the place and craft beers were great

Decided to explore my neighborhood. I was craving a good beer. I was surprised to see there were good handful of breweries near me. I checked out this place and saw it was a nice brewery to have a beer outdoors. There's also indoor spaces to drink but the weather is nice so sat outside. It's a family friend and dog friendly place. I loved that there were viking tents and fire pits. It definitely kept with the viking theme! They had a good selection of beers. I went for a cream ale which was more on a happy note than sweet one. Overall, this a good place to enjoy with friends and families. There's plenty of space and close to downtown Naperville.

I enjoyed this place. I would not say its my favorite, but it was a really cool little brewery. The first beer i had was a HH IPA with orange and lactose. It was delicious. Maybe a touch sweet, but outside of that really good. The BA was only ok. It was very sweet and not my favorite flavor. Also it was a 12 oz pour and I quickly realized I should have just grabbed another IPA, because I usually split BA beers with my wife. A note is that the outside was awesome, but there were a crazy amount of bees and bugs. It made me wish we had chosen the inside. A second note I dont love plastic cups at breweries. I am not a person who hates plastic or will not drink out of plastic, but I would rather not drink a good beer in a plastic cup.

MIDWINTER ALE STORM Warm up with a Belgian IPA inside a private igloo at this popular Naperville brewery. Anyone in the northern latitudes celebrating a birthday in January can attest to the difficulty in finding something fun to do. Our choices are pretty limited when taking into account the cold, snow and ice, not to mention a country still very much crippled by the pandemic. Parties are frowned upon and drinking alone is a slippery slope, so what's a guy to do? Luckily, there's Solemn Oath. It's squirreled away in a small industrial park off of Quincy Ave, not far from the intersection of Ogden & Route 59. Finding this place the first time can be a little tricky (at least it was for us), though rest assured you WILL find them eventually. During summer months, they've got picnic tables with umbrellas and during winter, it's dome city! Reservations are made via their website where you'll choose a date & time before placing a $40 deposit. Any purchases you make go towards that, and if you can't manage to reach that goal, you can grab a 4pk for the road. Our private dome was partially flooded, so my wife and I had to huddle together on one side of the picnic table. No biggie, we like each other ;) Concerning the beer, I loved the Butterfly Flashmob, White Van, and Kölsch. They had very amusing names for brews that otherwise didn't interest me: Flowers in the Midst of Hell, Help Me Father, Resurrected by Vikings (an imperial milk stout), and Snaggletooth Bandana. Maybe some day I'll develop a taste for porters and stouts.....for now I'm sticking with ales, lagers, and my beloved pilsners. My wife (who isn't a huge fan of the brewski) found herself sipping water because Solemn Oath has nothing else for non-drinkers. No pop, ciders, seltzers, nothing. This is a missed opportunity that if addressed, could net them a lot more business. There's a food truck on the premises although it's first-come first-served, and I'm told they run out pretty quickly. * TL;DR * You'll definitely need to take advantage of Solemn Oath's "BYOF" policy and bring in snacks from outside, as the food options are limited/non-existent. Beer prices were fair and the employees seemed chill. They had a couple firepits going, which would've been perfect to huddle around were it not freezing rain. They also gave us a portable heater which kept us warm, that helped to make up for the leaky domicile. The variety of brew was great, but that's all they have so anyone not feeling the IBUs could struggle to enjoy themselves. Here's to returning on a warmer, sunnier, less pandemic-y day.

This would be a five star but they need to do something about the music. We stopped here on a late Saturday afternoon and the patio was mostly full with a good crowd at shared tables. There's always such a fun crowd at Solemn Oath and this time was no different - all different ages from late 20s up. The music was headbanging 80s/90s but didn't fit the crowd. Now granted I'm in my 50s and that's not my favorite genre, but the music just doesn't fit the clientele at least not on a Saturday afternoon. I definitely heard others complaining about it (and these were way younger people than us). A brewery needs to play to the crowd and they're missing the mark here. Country, rock, jazz, anything else but heavy metal. We left after one drink mostly because of the music. Beer and service are always good. There was a food truck with BBQ that many seemed to enjoy but we didn't eat. We will be back but hope there are some changes with music.

Went to the Solemn Oath Brewery Halloween Family Fun Party on Oct 28th from noon to 5 we left at 3:30 But the Beer was great ! Food was excellent ! The games for the kids were a lot of fun. The many misc. vendors were super! Kid friendly games and events Dog friendly Family and Friend friendly an event from kids to grandparents to enjoy! Great time had by all!!!

They have a nice variety of beers, my favorite is Small Wave. You can get beer flights to sample and buy beer to go. They have a very spacious and cozy outdoor area. They don't serve food, but you can bring your own! It's kind of hard to find at first, it's a bit tucked in (there's signs). The service is friendly

My main reason for wanting to go to this brewery was definitely its unique outdoor seating setup - I've never seen a brewery do it like this and I was definitely not let down! They had 6 tents with a gas tower heater inside so it was pretty bearable to sit outside even in January. There were also campfires in the middle and a cute national park sign that made the place feel extra special. As for the beer, I think you partly pay for the atmosphere because $9 for a pint is a bit too much for me, and the ales didn't stand out exactly. Overall still a fun experience and a great place to hang out in the suburbs.

A friend of mine, a 10 year patron went made a BEGNIN comment to a waitress about her jeans. They were mom jeans. Nothing insulting (we are in our 60s) merely a question. He's now banned. No warning, no "probation" just cannot go in again. Ever. How pathetic. He's the best kind of human and this is ridiculous. Shame on you all.

Really great place. Had an hour to kill getting my car serviced and Solemn Oath was within walking distance. Excellent beer and a really cool place, I'll be back!

Coolest place ever! It makes you feel like you're in the city. I love being in Naperville even more because of them. They have food trucks, innovative beers and that's coming from someone who doesn't drink beer (yes let's laugh together), they have hard seltzer (city water), and a kick ass Lu Radler, sometimes live music, a popcorn business that comes, it's kid friendly, dog friendly, they now have igloos and a fire pit AND they let you roast marshmallows. The staff is a great group of dudes. Really doesn't get any better than that.

What a cool and hidden spot! We stopped by since we saw this spot was dog friendly and after noon on a Saturday calls for beer. We were heading back from a weekend in Chicago and wanted to break up the trip for our pups and give ourselves an excuse for beer. This place is tucked away on the back side of an industrial park. We brought our two well behaved dogs who got some pets and settled down for a nap in the taproom. We tried the butterfly flash mob, friendship bracelet and goldmund. All were so delicious! This is a small taproom but a decent brewing operation. They don't do growlers but you can get some 4 packs, 6 packs and limited bottles to go!! Can't wait to try the Punk rock for rich kids 4 pack we got when we get back home.

We were actually really impressed with the outdoor seating set up they have. There were a bunch of picnic type tables and every table I think had an umbrella on top of it which is so nice when it's super hot out. They had signs before walking in that said you must wear your mask but there was no one checking. Their outdoor area is also dog friendly but there wasn't too much space between tables so I'm not sure if I would bring my dog unless I absolutely had a table on the outside area. We came on a Friday night and we ended up finding a spot to stand at near the ordering area. We thought we saw a food truck leaving right as we were arriving so that's nice that they have food options also. They had drink menus posted up along the line and everyone working there was wearing a mask. We tried The dank Loyd Wright Pineapple Express hazy IPA. It was cold and refreshing but just a typical IPA flavor really. I also tried their coconut lime seltzer and loved how strong the coconut was! Quick note about the bathrooms is that there's only three total I think and they got messy quick with how many people were outside. Later on In the night we ended up grabbing a table after people left we probably only sat there about 20 minutes. If you are wanting to sit outside, make sure you get there early to grab a table or expect a wait until you got one. We will definitely come back!

Great brewery with good beer and an awesome atmosphere. I LOVE their outdoor patio. Photos don't do it justice. Sipping on a Solemn Oath beer in the Dome Forest is bliss on summer nights. Best part ... they're dog friendly!!

With the weather warming up, this establishment is a great place to enjoy a few cold ones outdoors with friends. The staff is always nice and friendly. The crowd is very diverse. Will be back again.

6 years after my initial review and it's due to a combination of evolving beers and the COVID-era outdoor model including domes! Several varieties of hazy IPA, some of the better ones being dank, i.e. Grape Ape in the spring and other varieties through the summer and fall.

They take beer very seriously here- they took not just any oath, but a Solemn one, to make excellent beer and I'm glad to say, yes indeed they do! Was in town form my first visit to open a new business and was not disappointed with my discovery. Visited this place 2x, even bought a tee shirt, that's how damn impressed I was with this group of merry Alchemists of the dark fermentation arts. Perky bar keeps, were easy to chat with and allowed me to taste everything on tap that night. It was as good as it gets...they have a cool program which allows you to buy a drink for someone who isn't there with with you physically, but will visit soon. Its big board with many a drink waiting to be consumed...

With the health crisis the outdoor seating is fantastic and they seem to be taking it seriously with line control and respecting space for all. We got some beers to go and had a few there. Really great place to enjoy the outdoors and be out for beers! Loved the Oktoberface and the Radth!!

While I'm a huge fan of their Butterfly Flashmob, a trip out to the actual brewery in Naperville was kinda meh to be honest. The brewery itself is located in a business warehouse district just at the end of a car mall. Random, but not so uncommon as I feel like I've been to just as random of brewery locations. Location is not difficult to find and plenty of parking... great! However, once I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by the aroma of trash. Not sure if it was just the wind carrying the smell but it literally smelled like a dump just outside the entrance of the brewery. No idea where that was coming from. Once we got in, the place was slammed. Tasting room or more of the tasting area, which essentially a corner of the brewery was carved out to make space to try their beers, is definitely on the smaller side. With the place being slammed and only two people working the bar, service was slow and plenty of taps were "kicked" or donezo. Bummer and only 6 beers to choose from. Anyways after making my choice to do their pale ale "Old Faithorn" it took awhile for me to get my beer as they were replacing the tap. So long that the fiancee finished round one by the time I got my first beer and ended up ordering another round for her. Pale ale was solid but definitely enjoy their Butterfly Flash Mob much more. If you've never tried any of their beers definitely the Butterfly Flashmob should be on your list. Lastly, some things to note. All beers run at $6.50 a pop and no tip is required or taken. And Naperville has a 3 beer limit, so once you hit that third you're done. Not such a bad thing. That's all I got on this one, wish it was a more enjoyable experience. 'Til next time. 194/365

Craft beer + Dog Fundraiser, of course I'll be there! I'm so glad my friend invited me to the Chi Town Pitties fundraiser at Solemn Oath Brewery. As the previous Yelpers mention, the location is a bit odd since it's in an Industrial area, but Siri had no trouble finding it -phew! The bar area is small but luckily it's summer and the patio was open, plus there are booths on the other side as well. The bartenders were cool and I love that they support my friend's fundraiser. I thoroughly enjoyed the Butterfly Flashmob IPA and my friend liked the End All IPA. I ended up buying a 4 pack cans of the Punk Rock for Rich Kids pale mainly because I love the name ;) plus I heard others said it was good. I will definitely come back to SOB and check out their other brews when I'm back in the the Naperville area.

A very unique concept all outdoor seating with the igloos and fire pit.....tucked inside a industrial park I mean literally tucked behind took a few minutes to find it but the search was worth this experience. They have both can and draft which gives a great selection beers

I have been a Solemn Oath beer fan for quite a while. Although, I am much farther away from them now than I used to be, so it's much more of a hassle for me to get there. Obviously, that's my fault and not theirs, but I digress. I visited here the same day that I visited Two Fools Cidery, so if you're into cider go check them out too because they are also excellent. Now back on to the review... My significant other and I were lucky and able to snag bar seats. Solemn Oath expanded their outdoor space, but that's not useful in November, so be prepared for it to be crowded. Come right when they open if you do not want a crowd as it's very pleasant to be there with so few people before it started getting packed in the evenings. The night we were there, the Naperville city tour was bussing people in, so it got crazy, real fast. Onto the beer. They have many different styles that I enjoy. One of my standards is the Butterfly Flash mob which I used to get growlers of all of the time, but growlers are getting phased out here for cans and bottles to go instead, so that was kind of a let down. I also enjoy their Vikings Series: Kidnapped by Vikings, Death by Viking, and Ravaged by Vikings. One of my favorites of theirs though is Kavorka which is a seasonal and the rare time I had their "La Grippe" which will always be on my list of favorite beers that I have had. Overall, I LOVE Solemn Oath and when in the Naperville area will try to visit. It does get crazy busy in the late afternoons on the weekends though.

In town visiting family and tried the Small Wave IPA at a local Naperville restaurant. The beer was so good that I looked into the brewery and was happy to find that it was also located in Naperville. We visited mid-afternoon on a Wednesday and had a couple beers while doing some work on our laptops. The wifi was good, the service was great, the beers were awesome, and we plan on returning every time we're in town!

I've been here twice now, once pre and once post pandemic. Normally they just have indoor seating, not a whole lot, but enough. And now since this year with the shutdown happened, they set up temporary outdoor seating in the parking lot, with plenty of seats and tables. I'm glad they set it up, not all breweries have, so thankfully I was still able to stop by and have some beers there and pick some up to go. You can get the staple beers that you usually see in stores in cans, or some that you don't see too often, like el rey del tamal. If it wasn't so far from the city, I'd probably come more, but if they make it through the pandemic I'll definitely try and come more in 2021.

I went with my fiancé and my brother to check out this Naperville brewery. It was busy the day we went due to a Santa event; however staff was very efficient with serving patrons. The brewery is small but had a cool Viking theme with wall murals! The beer names are quite interesting! We tried Punk Rock for Rich Kids (APA), Hand in Hand Into Oblivion (Blended Yeast Saison Ale) and Ravaged by Vikings (Double IPA). We were impressed with the flavors! Ravaged by Vikings was very hoppy. Staff was very friendly and offered great suggestions! Overall, great beers and I would need to do another visit to Solemn Oath to try more of their beers when it is not super busy.

I wanted to love this place so much - I drove in from Chicago, and was greatly disappointed. Unlike most others, I didn't think this was hard to find at all. Nestled behind some car dealerships, it was in the back of a large parking lot. What was disappointing, however, was that there was some kind of garbage disposal crate located right in front of Solemn Oath - holy goodness did that stink! Not a good note to start. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and was kind of surprised at how small and crammed the tap room was. And only 2 bartenders were working. We waited for 10 minutes before being able to order (about six beers were already sold out), and upon ordering - I got my drink, but my fiance's beer had just tapped out. One of the bartenders went to go change the keg - leaving a single bartender to fend for himself. I had finished my beer already and my fiance was still standing there waiting for his beer. Finally, the remaining bartender asked him if he could help him - he grabbed the beer he had ordered (I'm assuming the tap was changed out), and we scrambled to find a place to stand or sit. We grabbed another round, and tried to close out our tab. Turns out both bartenders, despite making my fiance wait approximately 30 minutes, double charged us. They already processed our cc and suggested we "gift a beer" instead of a refund. Um...we won't be back. So we asked for the refund and left. It was a weird experience. Only thing I liked was that tip was already included.

The wife and I finally had an opportunity to drop in to finish out a date night and I was pleasantly surprised with this place. First impression - kind of your typical appearance for a smaller operation - industrial - equipment everywhere - loud music - chalkboard menus - hipster staff. But still.. it was cool, and even cooler was that the beer was really freaking good. Now I've been to quite a few breweries and to be honest I feel like a lot of the beer starts tasting the same. But this place seemed to have a bit of a twist on things that had a tendency to set them apart. Take for instance their barrel-aged horchata Goldmund. They describe it as vanilla, cinnamon, and the uniqueness of Horchata-inspired flavors joining in the mix of chocolaty milk stout aged in bourbon barrels. And that's about right. It's simply amazing and I struggle to describe it any other way. And I had several. All in all - I dug it and I think you will too. Definitely recommend it if you're looking for a chill place to chill and drink a few.

Igloos are a lot of fun for small groups and the heater (for rent) definitely helped! They let us bring our own food and their drinks were awesome! We loved the City Water and their beer! Their tables are good for playing cards too for some family fun!

Beer. Nothing else. Before you head over make sure you plot the address on your phone map first. This place is hidden, even for those who 'think' they know where they're going. When you see the garage door logo, you're good. Once you arrive you'll find that Solemn is a very small space inside. The bar seats about ten and they have a few table tops that you can use. A couple buddies and I met here for happy hour on a Thursday and it was busy. I'm sure weekends are high traffic so you might consider the size constraints prior to your visit. The bar staff here Thursday were two very knowledgeable, very friendly people. My buddies and I got great feedback on their existing line as well as what's coming down the road. I went with a flight and a beer on the side. Look, I'm terrible when it comes to remembering all of the names..so I'll skip that part. You'll drink what you like anyways. The bottom line...every single last one of them were excellent. This is where I insert the *. Most reviews probably state this..Solemn's * is a 3 beer limit. I wasn't fond of the rule but that's Naperville being the obnoxious city that it is. It's not Solemn's fault. One more oddity, Solemn doesn't accept cash. Only plastic here. And even odder, they don't accept tips. Bartenders will accept 'a drink' in the form of tip. One last thing..no food. Wish we could have extended our stay the other night but 3 beers doesn't last long. Still, we had a good time here and loved the beer. Cheers.

Alex is such a great bartender! We had an awesome time talking with him and learning more about their beers. He takes his job seriously which I appreciate (although the people getting carded mostly didn't haha). Seating is very limited and pretty cramped. In the summer it's expanded a little ways out into the lot. Like other reviewers have mentioned, it was a little hard to find, but the lights strung up outside helped us a lot. My fiance LOVED their Oktoberface. Definitely one of his top Oktoberfest beers. Sadly a couple of their other beers which sounded great were all out already. It's good that the demand is high, stinks when you get there at the end of production haha! Also, please bring back fun sponge!

I do solemnly swear that Solemn Oath has some friggin' good beers, good atmosphere and just overall is a good time. I've been there a couple of times now and I wish I lived closer so that it could be a regular after work type of stop for me. Naperville has a limit of 3 pints which they impose on Solemn Oath. Some may see this as a deterrent but really when you are drinking beers that range from 5-10.5%, you shouldn't be drinking more than 3. The caveat to the rule is if you get a flight of their beers, that counts as 1 pint. I usually do this as every time I've gone they've had some new beers that I wanted to try. You get to try 4 generous servings of beers in wine glasses. I absolutely love their beer list as it provides great descriptions of each brew being offered. Seating is my only gripe with Solemn Oath. They don't have many seats at the bar and it seems to always be busy no matter what time I come. They have some barrels people can stand around & set their beers down at but aside from the bar, no other seating. It's a small tap room so there isn't much space...but I think there is enough space for some seats around the barrels. Or some small tables. It would definitely help in serving more people. Solemn Oath is BYOF (Bring Your Own Food) as so many breweries are which is great. They also have food trucks there every once in awhile serving the masses. I've bought bombers from Solemn Oath when I've gone because they are usually a couple bucks cheaper than buying them at liquor stores. Score! Now their beers are consistently pretty solid ranging in flavor and type. I've tried a number of them such as: Death By Viking, Ravaged By Vikings, Kidnapped by Vikings, Oubliette, ultrahighfrequency, Bier Der Toten, Pat, Ticklefight, None More Black. Hexafoos, Snaggletooth Bandana, Butterfly Flashmob & Scareball. Checking my Untappd, I rated all of them 4 bottlecaps (except for 2) or higher which is quite rare for a single brewery for me. Proof that they have really solid, reliably delicious beers. My favorites so far have been Skinny Jeans R Ridiculous & Death By Viking. I've come to Solemn Oath and sat alone at the bar & come with others. I felt completely at ease here when solo at the bar and there were others there alone, as well. The bartender was amazing and super helpful in my beer making decisions. Solemn Oath Quick Tips: +No Cash! Credit Cards only. +It's hidden in an industrial area. If you think you're in the wrong place, you're in the right place. +22oz-ers were $7-10 take-out. +Beers pints were $6, Flights of 4 were $9. +They do not take tips! But please buy your bartender a beer for $6. It's their way of tipping without really tipping. +B.Y.O.Food!

Great local beer joint in Naperville. Right behind Kidz Kabaret which is a great children's theatre. Solemn Oath always has a good beer list. It rotates thought I believe there are regulars that are always on the list. Definitely worth a few stops to try different beers.

Solemn Oath Brewery was different. I was headed over here to meet with some friends today because I heard Toasty Cheese was going to be there. It was really hard to find! I put it into the GPS which took me to this industrial area where Solemn Oath was hidden in the very back of a building in what looked like a garage (see picture). Honestly, I never would have guessed this was a brewery people could go to and drink with friends if no one had told me otherwise. So we got our Toasty Cheese and headed inside. This place was packed and it was extremely small on the inside. There was the bar area and maybe six or seven barrels stood up to act as tables. No seats. We snatched up a 'table' for the six of us which barely fit the food and beer. At least they were cool with us bringing the food in there though. We got the 'hexafoos' beer (American Farmhouse Ale) and it was decent. I actually liked it a lot. A small glass of it was 6 bucks. A little expensive for a small glass, but I guess that can be expected for this kind of place. I wasn't exactly crazy about the crowd in there either... there were a lot of stare-ers, probably just looking for a fight. Overall, I'm indifferent about this place. Apparently Toasty Cheese will be there every other Friday, so I may be back, but I wouldn't go here just to drink with friends. Better bars, better breweries elsewhere.

So, after having tried a few of their beers during Craft beer week I HAD to go down there one to visit. Fortunately, I had some free friends so it worked out for everyone. Solemn Oath is 98% production brewery, 1.5% taproom and .5% merch store. Not that that's a bad thing. Obviously their focus is on getting beer out there instead of crowding people into a warehouse. The taproom has around 10 stools but more importantly, a 3 beer maximum, which makes me a little sad. However, they do have a great selection of stuff, mostly because of the 98% of the operation. Whisper Kisses-was no longer on tap but Snaggletooth Bandana and Famine were both delicious and after getting a tour from Paul, we went back out and tried Dude, Hold my Purse which is their Belgian blonde aged in Cabernet barrels with peaches. Despite the girly sounding name and description it was a tasty beer that smelled and tasted like fruit cocktail and a taproom only exclusive. Which leads me to wonder why have a 3-beer max when they have a substantial list of taproom only beers (and their regular line up isn't too shabby, either.) The taproom is run by nothing but plastic, but you can't add a tip either. Instead you can 'buy your bartender a beer' and while you're at it, buy a beer for a friend. You get a slip of paper, write down what beer and for whom and they put it on the board, (also digitally, in case someone smears the board.) If only they would let me drink more than 3 per visit.

ONE. OF. MY. FAVORITES. Let's start off with locations. This brewery is located behind some commercial industrial Park. The parking lot always has plenty of room. Other than the weird smell coming from old brewing waste (I'm sure it's removed frequently, but during the summer months can smell a bit odd), the patio is cute and filled with local doggies! Now to the beer, yum. I've tried plenty of their beers and majority are delightful. The brew masters know their stuff. They aren't afraid to try things and collaborate with other local companies. Food trucks on weekends, events like trivia and such, how could you NOT love this place!? Overall, as long as they keep doing what they're good at, I'll keep returning! Cheers and a shout out to Danny! Always a smile on his face!

Solemn Oath is one of my favorite stops in Naperville, but even as a huge SOB fanboy I've got to admit this place has a few flaws that are keeping it from being as awesome as it could be. Let's start with the bad news: First off, as mentioned in a few reviews, the growler rules are pretty silly, which I believe to be a City of Naperville thing. Basically, if you're getting a growler filled here it MUST be a Solemn Oath growler, they won't fill up anything else. I've got a cool vacuum thermos growler I love using and they won't touch it here. We don't go as often as we would because seating in the tap room is brutal. Unless you go at like 2:00 in the afternoon, chances are you're not sitting at the bar and instead are just huddling in a corner. "Prime time" hours, like closer to 7:00ish, are just insane. With how much SOB has been expanding throughout the rest of that industrial complex they're in, I've got no idea why they don't make the tap room way bigger and add more seating. But, like most things to do with beer in Naperville, it wouldn't surprise me at all if it was another City of Naperville thing. The three beer limit is silly too, as everyone's tolerances are different and like most craft brews, the ABV of SOB's beers can vary wildly. But, unsurprisingly again, this is a City of Naperville rule that I'm sure sounded really good on paper at some City Council meeting. All these things really add up to scratching your head as to why they chose to open in Naperville when there's so many other more beer-friendy suburbs nearby, but, I digress. Now, the GOOD news: The Solemn Oath crew are both super cool and incredibly tuned in to the local beer scene. Another up-side to showing up early in the day is not only getting seats, but it also being slow enough to be able to BS with the bartenders. Also, if you feel like getting internet stalker-y, a lot of them have real cool beer brewing-centric Instagrams where you can see a lot of neat behind the scenes stuff like them installing new equipment or brewing new beers. Their Old Order program is something I really hope catches on in a big way locally. Basically, once a year they open up membership and you effectively pre-buy a ton of barrel aged beer that gets released throughout the year, sort of like pre-ordering a bunch of video games. Instead of waiting in line like an idiot, your bottles are just reserved. They even do really awesome release parties whenever they've got a new beer. It's basically the best thing ever. Last, but not least, Oath Day is without a doubt the best beer festival I've ever been to. I'm not sure if it's intentional or not, but the amount of people they let in seems perfect. Lines are short, space is ample, and it's just a really cool day... Compared to a lot of other local beer events which seem to be wholly interested in selling as many tickets as humanly possible and packing as many people in as the fire chief will allow. Oh, and their beer is really good.

Breweries are popping out every where, but when you find a good one, you make sure you keep coming back. Solemn Oath Brewery is one of those breweries. To be quite frank, in my opinion, it's a beer lovers haven. What makes Solemn Oath so special? Well for one their beer is amazing. You can't be a great brewery without having great beer, and the quality of the beer at Solemn Oath is what makes it stand out. Their beers are well balanced and crafted in a manner where you can tell the brewers are conscientious about every detail they put in their product. The creativity of the flavor profiles and variety of beers is truly exceptional. From IPAs to stouts, this brewery has something for everyone. As for the brewery itself, it has a small tap room. It is intimate to say the least, but it provides a great atmosphere. The people who are there love beer and are more than willing to strike a conversation about the beer, and after a second or third beer (pending on the alcohol content) might be willing to also have a conversation about the meaning of life. The bartenders are knowledgeable, friendly, and are in charge of the music, so they bring their own little flair to the tap room. Though small, the tap room provides a great atmosphere and definitely enhances the Solemn Oath brand. Solemn Oath is a great brewery. It has great beer, friendly customers, excellent service, and terrific atmosphere. I'd highly recommend it to hang out for 1 or 3 beers (3 beer limit, and credit card only). I haven't yet been disappointed by Solemn Oath, and if you give them a try, I doubt you won't be either. Oh and I forgot one important thing. They have and awesome beer board where you can buy a beer for a friend. They put it up on the board and when your friend stops by, they can pick up the beer you purchased for them. So if there is someone you haven't seen in a while, buy them a beer and reconnect. I mean what's better than beer to help bring people together? Final thought... you should also buy me a beer for telling you about this (I enjoy Butterfly Flashmob). Put it under Arvin, there's not many Arvins out there, so I think the first name will fine. Haha just kidding you don't have to, but I would mind it. ^_^. Enjoy Solemn Oath!

This small brewery hidden behind the car dealerships in Naperville makes the best brews I've tasted in IL. The focus is around IPA's which are never boring in Solemn Oath. They have mastered a way to create unique IPA's while constantly keeping the rotation fresh. Inside the small industrial brewery room can fit probably less than 10 seats inside, but there's additional booth seating around the corner away from the action (I never sit there because you feel disconnected) and there's also around 6 picnic benches outside during the 2 months of the Midwest summer, so enjoy it while it lasts! This brewery has some of the best people behind the counter and they play loud music which is a huge plus in my book and ultimately makes me come back. Some of the other breweries I like don't play music and it definitely takes away from the vibe. Alex has been behind the bar for a few years and feels like the hub of positive energy everytime I visit. Snag a t shirt, hat, beer to go and buy the staff a beer on your way out. Solemn Oath doesn't allow tips and no cash is accepted, so bring your cards and leave the piggy bank at home. PS. I wish they would offer frosted mugs during the summer and have guest food trucks more often. Brews get too hot quickly sometimes and I'm forced to chug these craft brews like its bud light in the basement hour

The beer is amazing. The music is totally my vibe. It's a bit of a drive, but...it's worth it. Employees are super cool. And, they have a good rotation of stuff. And, if the bar is slammed...they have a nice seating room off to the side.

After visiting Colorado a few months ago and a few of the many breweries they have out there, I realized we have the same idea right in our backyard out here in the burbs. Industrial Park drinking on a Saturday night? Yes, Please! I had a groupon for Two Fools, and I decided to take a non-beer drinker here along with one the pickiest eater/drinker adults I know and even they found a beer in the small size to try, and actually enjoy! Very cool vibe here, cool staff...and good beer. A few rules... plastic only, limit of three. Other than that, they have indoor and outdoor seating, and is a chill place to hang out with a decent crowd in Naperville. Definitely check this place out if you haven't yet!

Words out-great beer; however, very under-staffed. 1 person serving a line 20+ deep. This individual took the order, went back to bar to pour or get cans from fridge. May suggest bringing the bar to her to keep the line flowing, wait short, & beers filled. Been coming to SO for several years, so I've seen the expansion. Appears brewery took on more of the parking lot to accommodate it's outdoor seating; however, the flow/set-up is awkward. Recommend outdoor game area (bags, connect four), eating area, sitting area. Missing it's stay-awhile & chill vibe like other breweries have. And no food truck...$12 thin burgers :(