Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

Alefest

21st Annual AleFest

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After 21 years organizer Joe Waizmann is taking a different approach to Dayton’s largest and longest running beer festival. This year beers will be arranged by categories, so beer lovers can taste and compare their favorites rather easily.

Categories include Barrel Aged, Belgian, Cask, Cider, Hoppy, Malty, Sour, Quaffable, Fruit, Vegetable & Herb and a special section for Wine and Dayton Brewed beers. The event opens for VIP guests today, Aug 24th at 3pm and for general admission at 4pm and runs through 7pm at the Dayton Convention Center.

 

Below is the list before being categorized:

7 Festivals To Celebrate Your Weekend

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As we all try to hold on to the last bits of summer, it’s easy to spend time celebrating music, culture and great food at a variety of area festivals.  This weekend is chocked full of fun for everyone, just check out all your  options for this weekend in the Miami Valley:

Clifton Gorge Music & Arts Festival

Clifton Oprea House
August 24 from 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm .  August 25 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
Free

The event will feature back to back live music, displays of arts and crafts as well as vendors for shopping and food, plus a beer tent.

Find out more »

2018 Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival

St. Ignatious of Antioch Church Grounds –
August 24 @ 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm, August 25 @ 11:00 am – 11:00 pm, August 26 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING!

The Festival will feature Middle Eastern dancing and entertainment, cultural displays, craft booths, and amusement rides for all ages.

Find out more »

Sweet Corn Festival

Fulton Farms

August 25 @ 11:00 am – 8:00 pm August 26 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Free

Fun, food, games and live music all weekend. With local vendors selling food and hand made crafts. Don’t forget to try some roasted sweet corn! The Fulton Farms sweetcorn festival is a free family friendly event with plenty to offer for every member of the…

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20th Annual AleFest Dayton

August 25 @ 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

$40 – $45

Ohio’s longest running craft beer festival featuring over 130 breweries – including all 20 Miami Valley craft breweries!

With over 300+ curated and hand selected craft beers from across the world. You are sure to discover a new favorite!

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Home Grown Tomato Fest

Downtown Tipp City
August 25 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us downtown at Canal Lock Park for the 2nd Annual Home Grown Tomato Fest, sponsored by Tip Top Canning, where tomatoes are the center of attention and all activities are BYOT (bring your own tomato).

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Dayton Porchfest

St. Anne’s Hill Historic District
August 25 @ 1:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Free

Dayton Porchfest is a FREE, family-friendly music festival in St. Anne’s Hill. Dayton has a rich musical history and active…

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The Ohio Valley Indigenous Music Festival

Patricia Allyn Park
August 25 @ 10:00 am – 8:00 pm    August 26 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Free

A weekend of world class award winning music featuring the Native American flute and folk singers, Free and open to the public. Family friendly.

Find out more »

Quick Guide to 10 Weekend Festivals

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FestivalsIt’s another Miami Valley weekend full of festivals!  DMM has your quick guide to help you discover new experiences, tastes and sounds all around town. For more detailed info, maps and more, click the festival name that is linked to a full listing for each event.

And don’t forget it’s still Dayton Beer Week, lots of tasting events all over town!

For even more ideas of what to do this weekend, check our our DMM Calendar.

Friday August 26, 2016
Annual Egyptian Festival Annual Egyptian Festival
free admission & free parking
sample stuffed grape leaves, grilled shish kabob
and baklava, shop ofr Egyptian jewelry,
arts & crafts. Family friendly carnival games.

St Mina & St Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church
Friday August 26     4-9pm
Clifton Gorge Music & Arts Festival

Clifton Gorge Music & Arts Festival

Free admission Vendors & Artisans!
Fun activities for the kids!
Good Food!Lots of GREAT MUSIC!
Village of Clifton
Friday August 26     4-11pm
Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival

Middle Eastern dancing and entertainment,
cultural displays, craft booths and amusement rides
for all ages.  Authentic hand-made Lebanese foods.
Free to attend

St. Ignatious of Antioch Church Grounds –
Friday August 26     6- 11pm

 

Saturday August 27, 2016
Annual Egyptian Festival Annual Egyptian Festival
free admission & free parking
sample stuffed grape leaves, grilled shish kabob
and baklava, shop ofr Egyptian jewelry,
arts & crafts. Family friendly carnival games.

St Mina & St Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church
Saturday August 27     10am – 9pm
Clifton Gorge Music & Arts Festival Clifton Gorge Music & Arts Festival

Free admission Vendors & Artisans!
Fun activities for the kids!
Good Food!Lots of GREAT MUSIC!

Village of Clifton
Saturday August 27     10am – 11pm
Monarch Butterfly Festival Monarch Butterfly Festival

Monarch Education, Live Bluegrass Bands,
food trucks, children’s crafts, youth poetry contest
free to attend

Buck Creek State Park
Saturday August 27     10am – 5pm
Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival

Middle Eastern dancing and entertainment,
cultural displays, craft booths and amusement rides
for all ages. Authentic hand-made Lebanese foods
Free to attend

St. Ignatious of Antioch Church Grounds –
Saturday August 27   11am – 11pm
The Grape Escape The Grape Escape

a festival with homegrown grapes, grape pie,
grape ice cream, grape juice, and u-pick grapes

Hidden Valley Fruit Farm
Saturday August 27     11am – 6pm
Dayton African American Cultural Festival Dayton African American Cultural Festival

Celebrate the African American experience
through culture, arts, education and live
R&B, Gospel and Jazz.  Free to attend

Island MetroPark
Saturday August 27      noon – 8pm
11295798_10152927653893295_7712790895051123497_n Alefest

Annual  beer festival showcasing
over 400 craft beers

Dave Hall Plaza
Saturday August 27   3- 6pm  VIP starts at 2pm
The Ohio Valley Indigenous Music Festival
Native American style flutes, crafts, clothing, and jewelry.
Patricia Allyn Park
Saturday August 27      10am – 8pm

 

Sunday August 28, 2016
Annual Egyptian Festival Annual Egyptian Festival

free admission & free parking
sample stuffed grape leaves, grilled shish kabob
and baklava, shop ofr Egyptian jewelry,
arts & crafts. Family friendly carnival games.

St Mina & St Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church
Sunday August 28       11am – 6pm
Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival

Middle Eastern dancing and entertainment,
cultural displays, craft booths and amusement rides
for all ages. Authentic hand-made Lebanese foods.
Free to attend

St. Ignatious of Antioch Church Grounds –
Sunday August 28      11am – 6pm
The Grape Escape The Grape Escape

a festival with homegrown grapes, grape pie,
grape ice cream, grape juice, and u-pick grapes

Hidden Valley Fruit Farm
Sunday August 28   11am – 6pm
13958248_1027397484045663_7205794851086329703_o District Day

Sample food from participating restaurants,
browsing through retailer’s sidewalk sales,
and enjoying live music from local bands and DJs.
Free to attend

Oregon District
Sunday August 28, 2016 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Ohio Valley Indigenous Music Festival The Ohio Valley Indigenous Music Festival

Native American style flutes, crafts, clothing, and jewelry

Patricia Allyn Park
Sunday August 28, 2016 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Drink Up Summer At AleFest ** Ticket Giveaway**

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alefestHome9_DAYTONThe 16th annual AleFest Dayton returns to the Miami Valley on Saturday, August 23, 2014 showcasing over 400 unique beers and ciders from more than 180 craft breweries around the world with a special focus on Dayton area breweries.

This year’s event offers exciting changes starting with new owners, Jennifer Dean and Amanda Pond, a new venue, Wegerzyn Gardens (1301 Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414) and a brand new VIP ticket option.  Up to 500 beer enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enter at 1PM to mingle in a relaxed environment with brewery representatives and industry experts. Special cask tappings like abby XXXX from  Toxic Brew Company will also be a part of the VIP experience.  VIP  tickets are $50 and only available for purchase online here!.

General admission tickets, which run $40 at the door or $35 in advance, include 20 tasting tickets, a commemorative glass, and program guide. Designated drivers will be admitted for $15 and will receive a commemorative tasting glass as well as complimentary soda and water. No one under 21 will be admitted.  All guests can  enjoy the  live music and a variety of food from some of the Miami Valley’s favorite local restaurants will be available for purchase.  A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio.

 

AleFest Co-Owner Jennifer Dean shares, “We’re especially excited to be able to showcase so many of our local beers.”  The explosion of local breweries has added a plethora of new options for beer enthusiasts and here are the local beers you’ll  be able to taste:

The Dayton Beer Co. – Oregon Alley IPA, Broken Empire Russian Imperial IPA10514553_10152224993913295_1017374682595554103_n

Eudora Brewing Company – Summer Pilsner, Boomerang IPA, Oatmeal Stout, Blonde Ale

Fifth Street Brew Pub – Scottish 85, Jo’s Midnight Stout

Lucky Star Brewery – Wicked Mutha Milk Stout, We Eat Honey Wheat, Ojos Locos Pale Lager

Toxic Brew Company – Black Toni, Cap City Hustler, Porn or Pawn Pepper

Warped Wing Brewery – Ermal’s, Self Starter, Secret Hoperation,

Yellow Springs Brewery – Goats Eye Belgian Style Pale Ale, Smoking Handsome Brown Ale, Greeat Lakes Collaboration

Cellar Dweller – Copperhead APA, Look Out Dry Irish Stout

Rhinegeist – Truth IPA, Zen Pale Ale, Cougar Blond

And like those aren’t tempting enough, there will be selecitons for the following Regional Breweries: Mission, North Coast, Stone, Breckenridge, Great Divide, Left Hand, Boulder Beer Co., Dogfish Head, 5 Rabbit, Revolution, Two Brothers, Alltech, Jolly Pumpkin, Heavy Seas, Sixpoint, Fad Heads, Hoppin Frog, Hinterland, Madtree, Jackie O’s, Unibroue, Chouffe, La Trappe, St. Feullien, JW Lees, Greene King, Aecht Schlenkerla, Schneider, Weihenstephaner, Schneider, Riegele, Bards, Wyders, Original Sin, Virtue, Sonoma and many more!


6021303794171097364Tickets can be purchased at www.AleFest.com or at any of your favorite beer venues listed below:

5th Street Wine & Deli, A Taste of Wine, Archer’s Tavern, Arrow Wine Centerville, Arrow Wine Kettering, Bee Gee’s Market, Beer Barn, Belmont Party Supply, Blind Bob’s, Bottle No. 121, Brixx Ice Company, Bruning’s Wine Cellar, Buffalo Wild Wings Troy, Bunkers Bar, Cellar Dweller Brewery, Centerville Carry Out, Century Bar, Chappys Tap Room & Grille, Company 7 BBQ, Cuvée Wine Bar & Cellar, Dayton Beer Company, DLM Centerville, DLM Oakwood, DLM Springboro, Dublin Pub, Eudora Brewing Co., Fifth Street Brewpub Co-Op, FiftyWest, Flanagan’s Pub, Flyboys Deli, Hareless Hare, Jerardi’s Little Store, Jimmie’s Ladder 11, Jungle Jim’s (Cincinnati), Jungle Jim’s (Eastgate), King’s Table, Liquor & Wine Warehouse Miller Lane, Listermann’s Brewing Supply (Cincinnati), Lock 27 Brewing Company, Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery, MadTree Brewing, Manor Wine & Liquor, Miami Valley Wine & Spirits (Tipp City), Milanos Atlantic City Subs Beavercreek, Milanos Atlantic City Subs Brown St., Milanos Atlantic City Subs SR 741, Oregon Express, Piqua Beverage Center, Pour Haus, River’s Bend Wine & Spirits, Rivertown Brewery, Rhinegeist, Rumbleseat Wines, Slyder’s Tavern, South Park Tavern, Spinoza’s Pizza & Salads, Star City, Tank’s Bar & Grill, Thai9, The Market, The Pub at the Greene, Toxic Brew Company, Trolley Stop, Wine Works, Yellow Springs Brewery, and Warped Wing.

Special DMM Ticket Offer:  For our MostMetro.com readers we’ve got tickets to give away.  To be entered in our drawing, like and share this story, enter below and share a comment below on telling us about your favorite beer or  one you are looking forward to try! We’ll name our winners on Sunday! [form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

 

 

Hooray Beer!

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Dayton Beer Week

Dayton Beer Week 2012! August 18th - 24th! Our Festivus!

Next Saturday, August 25th, Dayton will mark the 14th time AleFest has been celebrated, and it has been picking up steam every year. Three hundred and fifty breweries are participating in the event taking place at Carillon Historical Park. It is the main event in an escalating series of beer celebrations around town that makes up Dayton Beer Week, August 18th – 24th. This is the week that every craft beer aficionado should be going out and looking to expand their palate. It would be harder for you this week to find a place that is NOT offering some sort of beer event.

There are going to be beer tastings, dinners, tappings, specials, and education all week long in the widest variety of venues. Places better known for wine or other spirits will be getting into the act, like the Century Bar, Thai 9, A Taste of Wine, Buckin’ Donkey BBQ, and Bruning’s Wine Shop. Beer dinners will be offered all around town to help improve your food and beer pairings at Rue Dumaine, Jay’s Seafood Restaurant, Dorothy Lane Market, Spinoza’s Pizza & Salads, Meadowlark, The Melting Pot, and Jimmie’s Ladder 11. Representatives from Samuel Adams, Stone Brewing Company, Duvel USA, Brewkettle, New Holland, Magic Hat, 21st Amendment, Goose Island, Sierra Nevada Brewery, and Unibroue will be in town to talk about their beers as well as show off some of their new products. All of the dates and times for these tastings are available on our event calendar under beer.

The festivities for the week officially begin on Sunday evening, August 19th, with the Beer Pride Parade, starting at the Dublin Pub. Line up through the Oregon District and show your craft beer pride!  The over 800 owners of the new Fifth Street Brewpub Co-op are invited to a pre-parade event and will walk in the parade en masse.  The first eighty bicycle riders to Biking for The Beer Of It in Miamisburg can participate in a nice ten mile ride on Tuesday, August 21st, sponsored by Goose Island. There will be some refreshments at the mid way point, and a little bit of swag for all of the participants. Five chefs and six beers will be featured on Wednesday, August 22nd, at the Dayton Art Institute’s Brewer’s Art dinner. Space is limited for this event, so you are going to want to make your reservations soon! Of course, the final event, the culmination of a week’s worth of fun and tasting and exploring is AleFest.

Dayton AleFest

For fourteen years, this has been THE beer event in Dayton.

While you are out exploring Dayton, there are a few things you should remember as you are out doing your tastings:

  • When you taste, it is very similar to tasting wine. You want a little foam on the top. You also want to look at and sniff the beer before you taste it, to see what aromas are coming off of it.
  • Do not hold the beer in direct light when you look at it. You get the best idea of color when you look at it in indirect light.
  • Give it a little bit of a swirl in your glass. This stirs up the carbonation a little, allowing more of the aromas to be released. Don’t underestimate the importance of scent when tasting your beer!
  • Hold the beer in your mouth a little bit, allowing it to roam all over your tongue. Enjoy the flavors that come out as it is in your mouth. Take a mental note on how thick the beer is. This is known as mouthfeel.
  • Allow the beer to warm up SLIGHTLY before you drink it. As with wine, a little bit of extra warmth unveils deeper flavors that may not be otherwise obvious.

And while you are going to Beer Week events:

  • Car pool. Parking is going to be very limited for some of these events, and the citizens are going to be out in force. Getting more people in one car is going to be helpful for everyone.
  • Get there early. You want to make sure you get there in enough time to get seats, be able to talk to the guest of honor, etc. Some events may even have limited seating. Make sure you call the venue and check out the details.
  • Drink plenty of water. This is going to serve a twofold purpose. First, water will help cleanse the palate between each beer, giving you a better idea of how each beer tastes. Secondly, it will help you avoid a worse hangover than you might normally have.
  • Do not eat spicy foods before you go to an event. You do not want your taste buds to be still burning from the Nuclear Hot wings you just ate. Eat a little something; just tone it down.
  • Go to the dark side. If you are not at a pre-set beer tasting, start off with some of the lighter beers, and go to the darker ones. The darker beers tend to have heavier flavors and be thicker, which can linger a little longer.
  • Designate a driver. No explanation needed.

Next week is going to be an exciting romp through the world of craft beer. Check out the list and plan you week carefully, participate in a few a events, and try out a few beers you have never thought about before, or may not get a chance to again. I am sure Max Spang (who helped me quite a bit with advice and research on this article) and I will see you out at some point around town. Cheers!

Jane’s Best Bets (8/24 – 8/28)

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Happy Beer Week Dayton!  Hopefully some of you have already started to sample some great beers in and around town.  If not, you will have plenty of opportunities to do so.  And if beer is not your thing, there are some other great options this week as well!

On Wednesday, celebrate Dayton Beer Week with beer tastings at some of these fine establishments:  5th Street Wine & Deli for the Green Flash Brewery Tasting; Trolley Stop for the Off Centered Foot Stomp; The Pub at The Greene for the Belhaven Happy Hour; Blind Bob’s for the Mt. Carmel Brews; Chappy’s for the Sierra Nevada Tasting; or Spinoza’s for a Beer Tasting with North Coast Brewing Co. If you haven’t been to the Fraze yet this season, then here is your opportunity to do so for a FREE show!  Nicky Kay & His Fabulous Kay-Tones featuring Crazy Joe will be performing.  And if you are in need of some professional development (aren’t we all?), then attend Generation Dayton’s Business Ethics Event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

On Thursday, make your way to Courthouse Square for The Square Is Where featuring the Miami Valley Folk Dancers.  Sick and tired of men?  Have a Girls Night Out at The Melting Pot.  Sorry guys.  The beer tastings will continue at a variety of bars/restaurants, including Lucky’s (Firkin Drag Race), Spinoza’s (Ommegang Brewing Co.), The Pub at The Greene (Sierra Nevada Tasting), and A Taste of Wine (Mt Caramel Beer Tasting 7).  You will be able to have a complete Summer Beer Dinner at the Schuster Center’s Citilites.  While the weather is still nice, be sure to get outdoors and enjoy some live music down at RiverScape with their Big Band Nights featuring the Kim Kelly Orchestra.  If you’re in shape, then make your way to Fifth Third Field for the Dayton Dragons 5K Fun Run.  I can’t imagine that running would be considered fun, but maybe they know something I don’t.

On Friday, there will again be a Square Is Where performance at Courthouse Square featuring the Minions of Fate.  There will also be plenty more beer tastings for you, such as the Great Lakes Tapping at Lucky’s or the Red Carpet Rollout at the Trolley Stop.  Feeling a little clammy?  Make your way to The Dock for their Clam Bake Weekend.  Enjoy some Lebanese cuisine, Middle Eastern dancing and entertainment, cultural displays, and much more at the 18th Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival.  At the Dayton Theatre Guild, you will be able to see The Oldest Profession.  I don’t know why you would like Grease because it stains your clothes, but if for some chance you do, then you will be able to see it at the Victoria Theatre as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series at Victoria Theatre.  At Sharkey’s, dance to the music of the Webster’s, a super fun cover band.  And finally, I hope you are among the lucky few who have tickets to see Chicago at the Fraze!  If not, I’m sorry.  And by the way, if you know me, it’s really not hard for me to say I’m sorry.  Saying sorry would be a hard habit to break.

Saturday is AleFest!  This is without a doubt THE place to be if you like beer.  Just be sure to pace yourself and bring a DD!  If you have kids, you’ll be able to take them to Fifth Third Field for the Subway Fresh Fit Family Day, which will include inflatable games, appearances by Heater and Gem, and much more!  Support some great charities, including A Special Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics by attending the 1st Annual Lawmen’s Band Bash at the Clark County Fairgrounds.  If you enjoy festivals, the 18th Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival will still be going on.  The Dayton Diversity International Potluck Luncheon at the main branch of the Dayton Metro Library will provide another opportunity for you to participate in multicultural activities and taste some specialty dishes.  At Fifth Third Field, catch the Dragons play the West Michigan Whitecaps.  And if you prefer to be indoors, you will be able to see The Oldest Profession at the Dayton Theatre Guild or the movie  Grease at Victoria Theatre.

On Sunday, get your bike out and participate in the Tour de Dayton which is the 1st Annual Cycling and Destination Tour.  Check out some sweet rides at the 7th Annual Antioch Shrine Custom Car & Bike Show at RiverScape.  You still have some time to check out/attend some of the events earlier in the week, including the 18th Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival, the showing of the movie Grease as part of the Michelob Ultra Cool Films Series, and The Oldest Profession at the Dayton Theatre Guild.  Listen to the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight at Stubbs Amphitheater in Centerville.  At Fifth Third Field, watch as the Dragons take on the West Michigan Whitecaps.  And finally, to all you wine lovers out there – please don’t “wine” because this week has been about beer.  There is an event for you as well – Primo Vino Sunday at Arrow Wine in Kettering.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgxa_f9N5LY’]

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

A skeleton walks into a bar and says, “I’ll have a beer and a mop.”

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!

12th Annual Dayton AleFest – Win Tickets!

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Dayton’s first annual Beer Week kicked off this past weekend with a “beer pride parade” down Fifth Street in the Oregon District, and it continues all week with several beer tastings, tappings and events happening at several venues across the Dayton Region.  The finale is of course the 12th Annual Dayton AleFest at Carrillon Park – one of the most popular festivals all year in Dayton (and if you’ve been to our many other festivals here you know that is saying a lot!).  Founder Joe Waizmann has been organizing these beer festivals in cities across the Midwest for many years including Columbus, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Chicago.  The festival’s homebase continues to be Dayton, with two additional annual festivals added here – Winter AleFeast (3/5/2011 – which pairs delicious craft beer with gourmet food) and Cask AleFest (4/30/2011).

The first Dayton AleFest was a small affair in Kettering, with 30 breweries, 60 beers and about 175 attendees.  This year, it is by far the largest beer event in Dayton with 100 breweries, 300 different beers and an expected crowd of over 4,500.  We have a ways to go before reaching the numbers of the Great American Beer Festival in Denver with over 2,200 beers and 49,000 attendees, but Daytonians do like their beer so anything is possible.

So how would you like to get your hands on a pair of free Dayton AleFest tickets?  We’ll be giving away a pair of free tickets ($80 value) to a lucky winner – simply take our DaytonMostMetro.com Reader Poll and choose your favorite place to drink beer, and then comment below that and let us know what YOUR favorite beers are.  Make sure you enter your email address – it won’t be published publicly but it is how we will contact you if you’ve won.  A winner will be drawn this Wednesday afternoon so be sure to check back.

Beer Drinkers Unite!

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alefestblog1This Saturday, Aug 29th, over 3000 HopHeads and Beer Geeks will head to Carillon Park for the 11th edition of AleFest Dayton.  Joe Waizman founded this festival “to share my love of beer with others.”  He hopes folks  “will discover that AleFest and craft beers are an enjoyable & educational culture.”

With over 100 beers to choose from, having a strategy on how to experience AleFest is best. I asked local beer expert, Aaron Spoores (who sells beer for Cavalier Distributing and hosts beer tastings across the Valley) for his suggestions:

TIPS FROM AN EXPERT:

  1. Upon entering make your first beer be the one closest to you.
  2. Find a place to sit and examine the tasting guide, highlighting beers you want to taste and map out a plan.
  3. Taste from light to dark.
  4. Drink lots of water, in between beers and take a break to grab some food, too.  There’s plenty of beer, so enjoy and remember to take care of yourself.

Waizman adds, “Talk to the knowledgeable pourers & let them know your beer, wine, &/or food tastes so they can make recommendations. This is an excellent opportunity to sample beers  & styles you’ve not previously experienced, so step outside your list of favorites.”

TIPS FROM A CASUAL BEER DRINKER- My suggestions from attending the fest in the past:

  1. If there’s a huge line, there’s probably something special being tasted- check it out.
  2. Create your own rating system and take notes on your tasting guide.  (Things you remember  may not help the next time you go to order-Wild Blue sticks out in my head- but it was because I hated it…too fruity!)
  3. Bribe a teenager to pick you up when the event is over- you won’t want to drive home.
  4. Don’t make plans for going out that night- you’ll probably want a nap and a mellow night on the couch.

Look for an expanded offering of draught beers this year – about 30 will be available including Great Lakes Oktoberfest, Grassroots Saison, Eliot Ness Amber Lager, & Admiral Perry IPA, Chimay Trappist White, Goose Island Matilda, Pere Jacques, & 312 Urban Wheat.

Special  LIMITED Goose Island EDITION DRAUGHTS:

  • 2:30-Night Stalker Imperial Stout
  • 3:30-Demolition Belgian Strong Pale Ale
  • 4:30 Fleur Belgian Sour Ale With Hibiscus

TO GO: Sat, Aug 29th 2-6pm (they often let folks in at 1:30 so arrive early)
$30 in advance-they can be picked up at 30 bars & wine stores around town or  buy online, $35 day of event.
Admission includes 20 samples of craft beer, tasting glass and guide & live entertainment. Designated driver/non-drinker $10.00 – purchase at the gate. Admission includes a bottle of water and an AleFest sampling glass as you exit. Must be 21 years of age to attend.