Geneva Ale House

I've found that typical bar food can grow boring due to often being deep fried and this generally gives items the same taste. Everybody needs some variety. I'm here to provide that for you.

I promise to provide my honest opinion, but I still think this won't quite cover the exceptional food, drinks and service that this pub and restaurant offer.

Geneva Ale House


The Crowd
As many other restaurants have a variety in crowd, the Ale House follows suit. The patrons could be infants to senior citizens. If you're younger, 20's, the sound of children or an older crowd may push you in the wrong direction. I'm hear to say this isn't the case. Everyone has a smile on their face when you look around to observe the crowd. I must say it's true, and it's due to the service and incredible food.

The Drinks
I'll start by saying Ale House has over 100 beers to choose from, as well as 12 of these selections on draft. The prices vary from high to low pending on the quality of the lager you choose to imbibe on. The list is lengthy and can be found here. Just in case you may not have time to wander that way at this moment, I'll do you the favor of showing it here for you to glance over. Hopefully you aren't too overwhelmed. It's a beer lovers paradise.
ON DRAFT

De Glazen Toren Saison D'Erpe-Mere Belgium, 7.5% ABV - This is really something special. The saison from brewery De Glazen Toren is one of the best saison/farmhouse style beers available. The aroma is typical of a saison, earthy and yeasty, and little bit a citrus. The flavor is similar, with some peppery notes. Sorry, no tasters on this one. You'll have to trust us. Beer Advocate (A-)


Founders Centennial IPA Michigan, 7.2% ABV - Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head's floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry-hopping. This one's sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter. Beer Advocate (A-)

Two Brothers Cane & Ebel Red Rye Ale Illinois, 7.0% ABV - A fantastic red ale brewed with rye. Fresh piney hops pave the way for rich, buttery, caramelly malts. Super smooth and super warming. Beer Advocate (A-)

He'Brew Messiah California, 5.6% ABV - A deep, bold nut brown ale beautifully balanced with rich dark malts and a complex hop character converging to reveal a simply enchanting elixir. Beer Advocate (B)

Boulder Mojo Risin' Double IPA Colorado, 10.5% ABV - Only 120 precious barrels were brewed, adding more than half a ton of extra malt and twice the amount of Amarillo hops, so prepare your self for a full sensory explosion. The double dry-hop addition elevates the grapefruit-like aroma and flavor to an outrageous intensity. Beer Advocate (B+)

Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale California, 7.2% ABV – This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. Beer Advocate (A-)

Ska True Blond Ale Colorado, 5.3 % ABV - A crisp, light to medium bodied blond ale brewed with a touch of honey. Beer Advocate (B-)

Tripel Karmeliet Belgium, 8.4% ABV - This Belgian ale is still brewed to an authentic recipe dating to 1679 originating in the former Carmelite monastery in Dendermonde. Brewed with three grains - wheat, oats and barley. Beer Advocate (A-)

Left Hand Milk Stout Colorado, 5.9% ABV - Classic cream stout with strong roasted malt and coffee flavors. 2006 and 2008 World Beer Cup gold medal winner. Beer Advocate (B+)

Alagash White Maine, 5.2% ABV - Allagash White is unique and truly refreshing. Brewed with a generous portion of wheat and our own special blend of spices, this beer is light and slightly cloudy in appearance, with a spicy aroma. Overall, it is a beer that is very drinkable and smooth any time of the year. Beer Advocate (A-)

Tyranena Rocky's Revenge Wisconsin, 6.0% ABV – An American brown ale with a portion aged in bourbon barrels. Each bourbon barrel will contribute its own unique character to this rich, satisfying ale. Beer Advocate (B+)

Trumer Pilsner Germany/California, 4.8% ABV – This perfect balance of flavors is achieved by procuring the exact blend of malt and hops from Germany and Austria and fermenting the brew with proprietary yeast. Beer Advocate (B+)


IN BOTTLES

Lagers
Metropolitan Flywheel Lager
Stiegl Premium Lager
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Stella Artois
Negro Modelo
Burger Lager (can)
Bud Light
Coors Light
Miller Lite

Pale Ales & IPAs
Stone IPA
Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA
Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
Tyranena Bitter Woman
Green Flash West Coast IPA
Two Brothers Resistance IPA
Two Brothers Long Haul
New Holland Mad Hatter
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
Dogfish Head Raison d’Etre
Dogfish Head Aprihop
Flying Dog Doggie Style
Great Lakes Burning River Pale Ale
Ska Modus Hoperandi (can)
Lagunitas IPA
Lagunitas Censored Ale
Boulder Beer Hazed & Infused American Pale Ale
Boulder Beer Mojo IPA
Meantime IPA
Old Speckled Hen

Pilsners
Victory Prima Pils
Capital Pilsner
Trumer Pilsner
Pilsner Urquell
Left Hand Polestar Pilsner
Scrimshaw Pilsner

Ambers
Bells Amber
Rogue Dead Guy
Capital Wisconsin Amber
He’Brew Geneisis
Tyranena Headless Man
Dark Horse Amber

Red Ales
Green Flash Hop Head Red
Founders Red's Rye Pale Ale
Ska Pinstripe Red

Brown Ales
He’Brew Messiah
Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball
Tyranena Rocky's Revenge
Lagunitas Brown Shugga
Barley Island Dirty Helen
Abita Turbo Dog

Scotch & Scottish Ales
Three Floyds Robert the Bruce
Founders Dirty Bastard
Flying Dog Road Dog
Arcadia Scotch Ale

Porters
Bell's Porter
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Left Hand Blackjack Porter
Arcadia London Porter
Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter

Stouts
Founders Kentucky Breakfast
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout
Murphy’s Stout
Young's Double Chocolate Stout
New Holland Poet
Bell's Double Cream Stout
Victory Storm King
North Coast Old Rasputin
North Coast Old No. 38

Wheats
Breckenridge Agave Wheat
O’Fallon Weach
Bells Oberon
Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat
Flying Dog Woody Creek Wit
Two Brothers Ebel Weiss
Three Floyds Gumball Head
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Barley Island Sheet Metal Blonde
Wittekerke (can)

Belgian & Belgian Style
Brewdog Bashah
Witkap-Pater Abbey Single
Piraat Ale
Delirium Tremens
Delirium Nocturium
Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers
Brewery Ommegang Abbey Ale
Bornem Double Abbey Ale
Victory Golden Monkey
Allagash White
Duvel
Kwak
Saison DuPont

Trappist
Koningshoeven Trappist Quadrupel Ale
Chimay Red
Chimay White
Chimay Blue

Specialty & Seasonal
Stone 21st Amendment Firestone Walker El Camino
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot 2010
Sierra Nevada Glissade
Breckenridge Pandora’s Bock
Flying Dog Raging Bitch
Mendocino Bock
Hofbrau Maibock
Duchesse De Bourgogne
Redbridge (gluten free)
Clausthaler NA

Ciders & Fruit Beers
Original Sin
Original Sin Pear
O’Fallon Weach
Cherish Raspberry Lambic
Cherish Cherry Lambic

Bombers
Goose Island Demolition 22oz.
Goose Island NightStalker 22oz.
Southern Tier Unearthly 22oz.
Stone Smoked Porter 22oz.
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye 22oz
Arcadia Sky High Rye (Limited Release) 22oz
Three Floyds Brian Boru 22oz.


The Grub
I, like many other food lovers, have a love hate relationship with something called the hamburger. When done wrong, aka overcooked and over-garnished, it's hatred. But, when the Ale House cooks up their half pound $5.00 Burger Special (Tuesdays)and serve it up on a pretzel bun, it's nothing short of amazing. The burger is garnished with fried onions, smoked apple bacon, a fried egg, lettuce and tomato. The smell alone will catch your nose as you drive by and just begs you to stop to enjoy a succulent burger. Aside from my burger rant, many of their other dishes are top-notch as well. I'll let you be the judge, and will even be kind enough to give you the ability to see this extraordinary menu.




The Venue
Geneva Ale House is located in what used to be the old Geneva Theater. The warm and inviting atmosphere is provided by dim lights, dark rich woods and stainless steal throughout the bar decor.

Location
'Under The Marquee' (Geneva Theater Sign saying Geneva Ale House)
319 West State Street
Geneva, IL 60134

My Opinion
The service and beer selection, along with knowledge of these beers cannot be beat. Nor can this selection be found at many other bars within this area. I've never had a negative experience at the Ale House, aside from leaving extremely full. Which I never complain about. I was literally that full, and yet with the amount of food and drink consumed, my wallet was still full too. Always a plus. If you enjoy a wide selection of beers to accompany your dishes, you'll be in heaven. There are other drinks as well, but with the expansive beer list there is always something you haven't tried and typically worth the adventure for your pallet.