advertisement

Lake Zurich's new Roaring Table taproom a haven for beer lovers

Delicious beer, laid-back feel. You'll get that and more at the new Roaring Table Brewery taproom in Lake Zurich. Roaring Table opened in August and is operated by Barrington couple Beth May and Lane Fearing. Tucked away behind a massage business in a shopping mall, Roaring Table is truly a hidden gem.

Motif: The taproom interior boasts an open and simple concept with interesting accents. The bar top is carved from an incredibly long, single piece of wood. Modern mirrors and lighting frame a space that's comfortable and welcoming. An outdoor patio provides additional space - and a dog-friendly gathering spot - when the weather cooperates.

Liquid consumption: Eight taps ensure a variety of beer is always flowing, and you should take the opportunity to sample. My companion and I ordered a flight of four apiece. Amazingly, every beer we tasted was good - or great. We are not fans of sour beers. However, being adventurous sorts, we tried Tart's Desire. It is brewed with Greek yogurt and 250 pounds of berries. The result is a sweet, jam-like ale that stopped us in our tracks. The IPAs on the menu were tasty, and the only possible miss would be the oatmeal stout, Gravity's Mistress. I enjoy a thicker consistency in my stouts, and this one was more like a porter; that said, it was still quite good. We would return easily to enjoy their hefeweizen, Secret Beach.

  Roaring table opened its Lake Zurich taproom in August. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com, file photo

Food: Roaring Table offers a few munchies such as bar nuts and snacks from local restaurants. We had the delicious pretzel bites with beer cheese, which are brought in from Gnarly Knots. Other snacks include Wisconsin cheese curds, pork rinds, a bacon flight and more. The bar nuts are spicy and satisfying; the pretzels were tasty, as well. Menus are on hand for local establishments if you're in the mood for a full meal.

Service: Our bartender was attentive, kind and knowledgeable about the brewery. He was very friendly and made the customers feel welcome.

Music: There was no music playing while we visited. Instead the Cubs game was on several TVs and coming through the speakers.

Crowd: We found a laid-back crowd the night of our visit. We picked up the vibe that there were many Lake Zurich locals spending their Friday evening there. We believe this taproom is yet to be discovered by the large "beer nerd" crowd (with the exception of us).

Parking: The large parking lot had plenty of available spots.

Overall: My companion and I truly enjoyed our time at Roaring Table. The inviting space, friendly staff, satisfying snacks and delicious beers gave us every reason to make this one of our regular spots. And if you love beer, you should, too.

• • •

Roaring Table Brewing

739 W. Route 22, Lake Zurich, (224) 662-4562, roaringtable.com

Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 1 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Roaring Table Brewing

739 W. Route 22, Lake Zurich, (224) 662-4562,

roaringtable.comHours: 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 1 p.m. to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.