If cider is your thing, Naperville's 2 Fools Cider is your place
As a craft beer girl, my first choice of drink doesn't usually involve cider. But that's exactly why I wanted to give craft cider a whirl, and Naperville's 2 Fools Cider - one of only six cider makers in Illinois - seemed the perfect place to start.
<b>Motif:</b> 2 Fools Cider has been open since 2016 in an industrial park. The taproom interior is a mix of urban and country. As a way of paying homage to farmers and orchardists, the walls are adorned with barn wood and a large set of barn doors from a farm in Galveston, Indiana. The taproom is small with eight seats at the bar and five high-top tables. It's a nice, comfortable setting to relax, and board games are available, too. The 2 Fools Cider logo is adorned on a rolling door, which could make it difficult to find the place when the door is up. The brewing equipment is just beyond the taproom and clearly visible.
<b>Liquid consumption:</b> There are eight taps and two alcoholic slushees. The cider selections are mildly varied - sweet and tart dominate. We ordered a flight of five ciders, plus both slushees: tart cherry and manzana coolada. I'm here to tell you, alcoholic slushees are a brilliant idea. I could easily see myself sipping away at one on a hot day.
The ciders that caught my eye and won over my taste buds were the most like beers - which figures. Hopped and Pinehopple are both brewed with a blend of hops, making them less sweet and more similar to a mild IPA. Pinehopple was refreshing and would make a great summer sipper. All of the ciders had a little kick with a 6 percent ABV. Glasses are $6.50 or more, and you could also bring home a growler, crowler or a four-pack of cans.
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Food:</b> There is no food served here, but a couple sitting at the bar did order in a pizza.
<b>Service:</b> My companion and I visited on a Tuesday evening. Only two other couples were at the bar top. The bartender was attentive and kind, and he checked in with us several times. He talked very highly of 2 Fools Cider, speaking to the upward momentum he saw in the cidery. The bartender also spoke of Naperville ordinances that set a three-beverage limit because the taproom does not serve food.
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Crowd:</b> Since we visited on a weekday evening, 2 Fools was not crowded. The atmosphere is welcoming for people of all ages.
<b>Music:</b> A mix of 1990s rock music was playing at medium volume, making conversation moderately louder. Like many taprooms, the bartender controls what is being played.
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Parking: </b>There is a lot in the middle of the industrial park just steps away from the cidery.
<b>Overall: </b>2 Fools Cider is across from Solemn Oath, a craft brewery and taproom, and the industrial park setting complements the duality. I will be rooting for the success of this small craft cidery, and believe it will make a great summer destination for refreshing drinks.
2 Fools Cider cidery and taproom
1665 Quincy Ave., Naperville, (630) 995-9973,
Hours: 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 7 p.m. Sunday