After months of renovations and anticipation, Brother Chimp Brewing is ready to pour its first pints in downtown St. Charles at 303 N. 4th Street.

It will be the second location for the popular North Aurora taproom — complete with new beers, live music, and a familiar laid-back vibe inside the former D and G Brewing space.

Owner Steve Newman confirmed the new taproom will celebrate its grand opening this Friday, October 17. The weekend lineup features food trucks, live music, and several limited-release beers from the brewery’s North Aurora home base.

He said the goal remains simple — to make great beer that tastes like beer and share it with more people.

It’ll be a full weekend of local favorites on both the music and food fronts. Here’s the schedule:

Inside, visitors will recognize Brother Chimp’s comfortable, unpretentious feel — along with a fresh coat of light blue paint, black-ceiling accents, and gleaming epoxy floors.

Newman kept D and G’s classic “Love and Beer” mural, added new (super comfortable) bar stools and freshly lined taps, and says acoustic treatments and wall art will continue evolving over the coming weeks.

“We’re calling it a work in progress — but the beer is flowing great, and that’s what matters most,” he said.

One new wrinkle for St. Charles space: All of the live music from local artists will be original. That’s a departure from the norm at establishments across the area, where you’re more likely to find an original song or two sprinkled into a performance of mostly covers.

The new taproom will initially serve beer brewed at the original location, but eventually, Newman hopes to shift brewing operations entirely to the new space to help keep up with growing commercial sales.

The St. Charles location will initially pour a variety of recognizable brews, including fan favorites like Tropical Chimp (New England IPA), Homer (pilsner), and For the Masses (West Coast IPA).

According to Newman, their “Cheers to Five Years” special anniversary release imperial porter may be available over the weekend along with other special releases. Select to-go options will come exclusively in four-packs.

Regular Saturday live-music nights will continue after opening weekend, and the team plans to add trivia, music bingo, and makers’ markets events in the future — popular staples at the North Aurora taproom.

A formal ribbon-cutting with the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce may follow later this fall once interior finishing touches are complete.

“We’ve got our licenses, the beer’s cold, and we’re ready to open the doors,” Newman said. “I’d rather have people enjoying a pint now and keep improving as we go.”

To learn more about Brother Chimp Brewing, visit their website.

Please feel free to reach out to [email protected] with questions or comments.

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