Craft brews, TVs the main attractions at Schaumburg Ale House
The owners of Spotted Fox Ale House in St. Charles are behind Schaumburg Ale House, which opened its doors at 1817 W. Golf Road in July. Owners are hoping their bar becomes a new destination this football season by offering a big selection of brews and plenty of TVs.
Motif: The décor here is pretty basic. Some of the walls are brick, while others are painted black and white to match the referee shirts sported by servers. A few sports-themed photos decorate the space. The 30 TVs, including a huge projector screen, will show all NFL and college games for football season. They also plan to add UFC matches.
Crowd: Business has been a bit slow so far, but the bar has been bringing in casually dressed drinkers in couples and small groups. Families often stop in for lunch, taking advantage of the bar's kids' menu.
Food: The most popular food option is the Angus burgers, served on a pretzel roll with toppings like blue cheese, Cajun seasoning and butter-poached jalapeños on the Black & Blue. The house-made buffalo chicken dip is a hit on the appetizer front, mixing herb cream cheese with breaded buffalo chicken pieces, cheese and pico de gallo. You can eat on the cheap by taking advantage of specials like $1 burgers Mondays and 50-cent wings Sundays.
Liquid consumption: Craft beers are the focus of the drink menu, with 24 on draft including plenty of local favorites like Goose Island Matilda and Two Brothers Sidekick along with options from more far-flung breweries such as California's Lagunitas Brewing Company and Stone Brewing Co. The Monday night $3 draft beer special is a great deal with other drink specials including $3 well drinks Tuesdays, $5 select martinis Wednesdays and $10 domestic pitchers Sundays.
Service: A friendly bartender greeted us shortly after we sat down, offering a sample of the Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat beer when I asked what it was like. She also explained the night's specials and introduced herself so we could flag her down for further orders, though we never had to since she checked in regularly throughout our visit. A second bartender recognized us as newcomers and offered a welcome shot on the house, suggesting a really tasty mix of Rumchata and Frangelico that could have easily been served in cocktail form.
Parking: There are plenty of spots in the strip mall's free lot.
Overall: The friendly service at Schaumburg Ale House will make you feel right at home whether you're just stopping in for a drink or looking for a new place to spend your weekends this football season.
Schaumburg Ale House
1817 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 519-0044, <a href="http://schaumburgalehouse.com">schaumburgalehouse.com</a>
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday