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Craft Beer

Sixth Annual Brew-Ha-Ha: West V. Midwest

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Brew Ha Ha LogoDayton is in the midst of a craft beer explosion. There are daily notifications that new breweries are opening or that current breweries are planning to expand. In Montgomery county alone, there are well over a dozen breweries. From Crooked Handle in the south to Hairless Hare in the north, breweries are popping up all over. However, the fuse for the craft beer movement was lit on the West Coast. Anchor Brewing Company was bought by Fritz Maytag in 1965, just as the brewery was going to sink quietly in a sea of macrobrews. He resurrected the brand, inspiring other west coast beer enthusiasts to take their home brews and start offering them to the public. It has now been fifty years, and the west coast still rules the roost when people look at raft beers. As of 2014, roughly one of every four breweries were located in California, Oregon, and Washington. It would take all the breweries in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio to make a comparable amount. That is a lot of breweries. A wide variety of beer. The Montessori School of Dayton thinks that the Midwest has come a long way in the craft beer game, and is ready to put breweries head to head at the 6th Annual Dayton Brew-Ha-Ha on January 28th from 6 to 9 PM.

We all know the Midwest is best. Time to prove it!

Most years have had a theme focusing on the flavors of the Midwest. Kevin J. Gray, curator of the beers and co-chairman, laid out the format: “We thought it was time to go head to head with the giants—to pick a bunch of really interesting beers from the Left Coast and pit them against the best that Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and the other Midwestern states had to offer.” In a Montessori school, the environment is important. They want students that are “eager for knowledge, who will initiate learning in a supportive, stimulating, and thoughtfully prepared learning environment.” Mr. Gray asserts that they will be creating an environment that is welcoming to everyone, from those just dipping their taste buds into craft beer to those who have explored every style and flavor profile. There will be Beer Ambassadors there to answer questions and direct you to the beers best suited for your tastes. For the home brewers looking to do a little research, members of DRAFT will be there to answer any questions you may have.

Three hours is a long time to be sampling beer. Fortunately, there will be some other events at Brew-Ha-Ha. Chicago’s Gyros And Dogs will be offering hot dogs, gyros, pita sandwiches, and other delights to compliment the beer. There is an online silent auction running now through the end of the event, where you can pick up some fantastic gifts and help support the school. Some items listed are from Proto Build Bar, Day Yoga Studio, Sherwood Florist, Dayton Funny Bone, and more! This festival has been growing every year, bringing beer lovers together from all over the Miami Valley and educating them about the amazing craft beer options in the region.

Dayton Brew Ha Ha

Eat, drink, and support the Montessori School of Dayton!

This year, they are working hard to expand that knowledge to the fine breweries on the Pacific coast.

Tickets for the event are on sale right now! General Admission is going to be $40, with a limited amount of VIP tickets costing $50. That extra $10 get you in to the event at 5 PM, giving you one more hour to sample the beers they are providing. Proceeds from the event will go to the school’s improvement fund. The funds from this year’s event will be going to help install an energy efficient roof on the school.

While the west coast has created some iconic beers, the Midwest has crafted beers that can stand up to anything that is being brewed there. On January 28, the Montessori School of Dayton hopes you join them in deciding where the best beer in the country is brewed.

Being A Nerd Is Not Dead: Welcome D20!

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D20 Opening Night

This place is going to become a critical hit.

Anyone who has ever sat down for a session of games knows the drill. The players all gather around a table, or several tables, and start to spread out cards, dice, and meeples. Beverages are chilling in the fridge, and friendly banter is flowing. Then the games begin. Sometimes you sit down to a long, intense game of Arkham Horror. It could be a night of a few quick games of Ticket to Ride, Smash Up, or King of Tokyo. Or you look at the four games just mentioned and wondered what the hell are you playing. When you started gaming, it was Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Of course, when you started gaming the drink options were Mountain Dew or Coke. Board games have expanded in the last five years like craft beer started to in the mid-to-late 90’s. There are stores full of European style and other modern games like there are stores full of craft beer from all over the world. These two forces have been emerging in other cities, and have finally made it to Dayton in the form of D20: A Bar with Characters.

The story above is probably familiar to Andrew Sparks, co-owner of D20. He has been a game enthusiast for as long as he could remember. His D&D game was strong, and it grew into a lifelong love of games and gaming. It is something that his wife and co-owner Chrissy Sparks have in common. They also share a love of craft beer, something he developed during his time managing Belmont Party Supply. D20 emerged from the realization that if this was something their friends enjoyed doing, why not invite other people to do it as well? After another bar concept had fallen through, he found a vacant cell phone store on Whipp Rd. to be the perfect place for his new concept. Then Andrew and his crew went to work.

D20 Games

There is a little something for everyone!

When you walk in and look around, everything in the bar was hand selected and hand made by Andrew. Even the stacks and stacks of games were brought in from his collection. There is a handful that are donated, but the vast majority are his. The tap list, covering twenty taps in all, were also hand selected by them. Not a beer person? They have already thought of that. Knowing that a gaming place was going to attract a wide variety of people, they offer a selection of cocktails and mocktails. Mead and ciders are available, as are teas and other non-alcoholic options. You need to pace yourself when someone pulls out Carcassonne. If you are planning on playing through dinner, have no fear. The owners have worked that out as well. Their neighbors at Peking Garden are willing to walk next door to deliver, and a wood-fired, artisan pizza place will be moving in soon. During their soft opening, they had more than a few visits from Cousin Vinny’s.

Their soft opening was a huge success. So much so that the owners extended it an extra three hours to accommodate all of their guests. But they are not going to rest on the huge buzz of opening night. They have events planned soon. They are working with the Ohio Pathfinder Society (Dayton Chapter, of course) to set up some game nights at their venue. They are also planning their affairs, introducing people to games like Cards Against Humanity and Settlers of Catan. Andrew is looking for games that are easy to explain to new gamers, introducing them to games that are different that old standbys. Though if you want, Monopoly, Life, and Stratego are available for you to play. There are games for everyone.

D20 Beer Menu

Roll a twenty-sider to decide your next beer…

Andrew and Chrissy want to turn D20 into a gathering place. With comfortable couches and plenty of tables, seating and unique games to explore, they are well on their way. The air was thick with chatter, and the bartenders were keeping busy with patrons celebrating a victory or tending the sting of a narrow loss. Craft beer enthusiasts in the area can come in and enjoy a few pints, and gamers can sit down and either learn a new game, like Hive, or play a familiar one with friends. Either way, Dayton has a great new hang out south of town. Game on!

D20: A Bar with Characters is located at 2144 East Whipp Rd Kettering, OH 45420. You can contact them at (937) 221-9873. Information about the bar, their tap list, and coming events is listed on their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

 

Grover Plays Free Show at Trolley Stop

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Screen Shot 2016-04-26 at 7.32.21 PMInsider tip! There is a FREE show at Trolley Stop this Friday April 29th, 2016 with two incredible bands, Grover and Common Center. Plus that fabulous patio? It’s a no brainer for Friday night fun!

On the fringes of the jam band scene, local rock quartet Grover, blend funk, soul, and jazz, in a down and dirty rock band that comes across unpolished and “garage” as much as they do highly-skilled, almost veteran.

Common Center is a group of individuals from Covington, Kentucky that gather to form a collection of sonic exploration. Their all-original material arises from a vast array of influences morphing together to create a unique sound previously unheard, but longed for, by the ear. They combine powerfully upbeat as well as tranquil themes with mystic, other-world intertwining melodic elements from instrumental and vocal harmonies.

Enjoy a beautiful evening with some of the region’s funkiest talent!

Performance Schedule: 
Common Center – 9:30pm
Grover 11:30pm

Grover performs free at the Trolley Stop (Photo by Dayton Music Connection)

Grover performs free at the Trolley Stop (Photo by Dayton Music Connection)

Make dinner in 180 seconds? Rapid Fired Does!

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Traditonal! An old classic, the Pepperoni Pan Pizza

We’ve all lived this scenario in one form or another: You’re hungry. Your kids are hungry. Your spouse is hungry. You look in your pantry and you’re dreading making dinner and how long it’ll take to cook something that everyone will actually agree on.   People in your house are getting hungry, and angry … Yes, “Hanger” is setting in.  Things are about to get ugly…  (learn how to win a FREE PIZZA below).

 

Have no fear! Rapid Fire Pizza is here! Finally a place where you can get a personal sized pizzas made your way, fast and fresh and affordable! It’s no secret that our crew of Hungry Jax, The Big Ragu and Chef House love pizza and Rapid Fired not only puts out a great product, but every time you go it’s a new Food Adventure created by YOU!

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Rapid Fire Pizza is the newest endeavor by a collaboration of restaurant entrepreneurs! This foodie dream team consists of Ray Wiley (Co-Founder of Hot Head Burritos) as well as Kelly Gray, Matt Curtis, Tim Tefs, Peter Wiley, and Jim Savakinas all of whom have years of experience in developing local franchises in the Dayton area. This newest pizza endeavor was inspired by the growing popularity of “quick-serve” restaurants that allow for the consumer to have the options of choosing fresh ingredients, fast service and at the right price!

The Sky is The Limit with Toppings

—Rapid Fired Pizza starts you out with choosing your crust (“thin”, “pan” or even gluten free), and all dough is made fresh and in house. Next you have multiple options of toppings including 8 different sauces, 7 varieties of cheese, 9 kinds of meat, and 17 different veggies!  Oh! And Tofu too! They then send it through the rapid oven and BAM! 180 seconds later you have dinner!

— But that’s not all! You can also finish off your pizza with one of 8 different spices and indulge in 14 different dipping sauces!

— Overwhelmed by the options? Don’t worry, the pizza gurus at Rapid Fired have also created 10 different “Craft Pizzas”  and take the stress of the decision making.  There truly is something for everyone!

 

Wait, there’s still more! Let’s just start drooling over our “Must Eats”, shall we?  Drum roll please …..

 

MUST EATS: 

— CREATE-YOUR-OWN PIZZA: Obviously the biggest bonus of indulging in Rapid Fire Pizza is the option to create your own pizza. And at $7.25 each, you can feed your family a dinner that pleases everyone while still keeping it fresh and budget friendly.  They will even split pizzas for you, so you can try one half one way, and the other half another!  Chef House loves loading up with the fresh veggies and hot sauces, Big Ragu is obsessed with putting ricotta cheese on his pizzas, and Hungry Jax has been experimenting with sauces and has become a “regular.”

 

— CRAFT SALADS: Oh yes, you read that right, there’s a salad option too… And they are HUGE! Not only do these guys know how to make a good pizza, they’ve also created 4 different Craft Salads, all under 400 calories. Wanna create your own? You can do that too! For $7.25 you can get a salad big enough to share or fulfill a healthy appetite. Hungry Jax has really been hooked on these,recently.

 

Craft Salads are chopped to make it easier to eat!

Craft Salads are chopped to make them easier to eat!

— WHITE OUT PIZZA: There are 10 “suggested craft pizza recipes” to choose from, but we gotta say that The White Out is a favorite. Topped with their white sauce, mozzarella, feta, grilled chicken, garlic, the White Out is then loaded with fresh arugula after it comes out from the oven!

 

— TACO PIZZA: Want something with more kick? Then the Taco Pizza is clearly a winner for you! This pizza is layered with the taco sauce, Monetary Jack cheese, Cheddar cheese, ground beef and then topped with fresh tomatoes and lettuce after it’s done baking

 

— GARLIC BUTTER DIPPING SAUCE:  A creamy, garlicky dip that will embrace just about any combination on their menu!  You have 14 dipping sauces to choose from, and our favorite is the Garlic Butter, but the key is to experiment yourself.  Not sure what sauce to try? Well for one thing, there is no limit, so try them all! But to further assist you on this Food Adventure, they even have a sign identifying pizza and sauce parings that the creates have personally taste tested and approved for your culinary pleasure!

 

The one and ony: BlueBerry Delight Dessert Pie

— BLUEBERRY DELIGHT DESSERT PIZZA: Yup. It’s true, there’s even a dessert pizza! It is a warm, sweet and delicious way to finish off your dinner.  We like to get it to go and let the indulging continue at home. Glasses of Milk welcomed on this one.

 

— GOLDEN MONKEY BEER:  Beer and pizza are a match made in Heaven.  Chef House is a fan of the 24 bottled craft beer selection at Rapid Fired, and she says the best one is the Golden Monkey.  This beer is made in Pennsylvania by Victory Brewing Company, and is a Belgium Tripel.  It has a nice, deep flavor with subtle spices added.

 

— DIGITAL PEPSI SPIRE MACHINE: Not a beer drinker? Don’t worry, they have a state of the art Pepsi Spire (digital fountain machine) allowing you to choose from 120 different beverage combinations.

 

All in all, the folks at Rapid Fired Pizza want to give you a dining experience that can be new and different each time you go there.  They are also rapidly expanding their franchise.  Look for locations popping up in Fairborn, Sugarcreek, Huber Heights and Troy.

 

*** BIG NEWS ***  BEAVERCREEK LOCATION OPENS MONDAY, FEB 29th
2800 Colonel Glenn Hwy, Fairborn, OH – right across from Wright State University and in front of the Holiday Inn

TO CELEBRATE, Food Adventures and MOSTMETRO.Com  are GIVING AWAY 4 FREE PIZZA’s for either location.

TO ENTER, JUST COMMENT ON THE STORY BELOW, ON WHY YOU WANT A PIZZA.. A random winner will be chosen at the beginning of next week by random.

The original Rapid Fired Pizza is located at 1008 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, in Washington Township and  coming soon to Sugarcreek Township, Troy and Huber Heights.

So next time you’re out and hunger creeps up on you, just remember, 180 seconds is all that stands between you and dinner!

Please browse the photos below from our various trips to Rapid Fired Pizza.  Are you a Foodie?  Then join the thousands following Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

 

Created our own with Pepperoni, Onion, Ricotta, Green Pepper, Mushroom, Tomatoes and Banana Peppers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids Love Rapid Fired, because they can make the pizza their way, and it is fun !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside the Centerville Store

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chef House loaded up on Veggies for the “Create your Own” option

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "White Out"

The “White Out”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Ragu always goes Sauce Crazy

Artichokes, Chicken, Peppers and more for Hungry Jax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create your own salads! Hungry Jax with another nice creation.

Signage – custom and clean

Sauces / and pairings

Sauce Zone !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rapid Fired Pizza= Happy kids

Lots of options and hot sauce drizzle

now entering the SAUCE ZONE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many good sauces…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mozzarella and Ricotta? HELL YEAH

Careful, some have a kick to them

Decorating it …. our waaaaaaaaaay

Ragu’s Pizza this week….

The Magic Mushroom Pizza

Taco Pizza

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Downtown Businesses Here To Rescue You From Lame Valentine’s Day

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Skate with your sweetie and pick up a Parker plush. Photo courtesy Five Rivers MetroParks

Whether you truly “heart” Valentine’s Day, shun the celebration, or are simply ambivalent to arrow-slinging amoretti, if you’re looking for heartfelt gifts, awesome dinner specials, or great local music, downtown Dayton has you covered. Choose your own adventure in today’s post to create the best weekend experience plopped in the middle of a frigid February.

Date Night

Find out why Amazon.com rated Dayton in its top 20 list of most romantic U.S. cities. If you need gifts and activities for you and your sweetie, here are a few suggestions to squeeze every last drop of romance out of your city:

  • Sweetheart Skate, Feb 13-14, MetroParks Ice Rink: Spend Valentine’s weekend at RiverScape MetroParks Ice Rink! During regular ice rink hours Friday through Sunday, you can purchase the “Sweetheart Deal” and get two rink admissions, two ice skate rentals, two cups of hot chocolate and a Parker the Penguin plush for only $20.
  • February Fantasy, Feb 13-14, Victoria Theatre: The Dayton Ballet presents a powerful ballet program with four diverse works, including two world-premiere ballets. A pre-performance talk will take place 45 minutes prior to each performance. Visit com for details. Don’t forget to bring your receipt from your recent purchase at a downtown Dayton business for discount tickets to this performance!
  • Valentine’s Day Gift-Making, Feb 13-14, Proto BuildBar: Nothing says “love” like 3D printing your own customized Proto Heart and filling it with gifts. Proto also offers pre-stuffed hearts, full of sweets and a piece of locally made, handcrafted jewelry by Brooke Medlin!
  • Super Saturday Family Days, Feb 13, Dayton Art Institute: Maybe your special someone is a little on the short side. Take the kids to create your own beautiful valentines using classic and vintage valentines as your inspiration. Enjoy a gallery hunt featuring some of the most romantic paintings at The Dayton Art Institute.
  • Salsa Saturday Valentine’s Celebration, Feb 13, Therapy Café: DJ Danny D plays a mixture of Latin dance music consisting of salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, dembow, line dance, reggaeton, soca, punta, and vallenato, music that will definitely heat up the dance floor. Learn the basics of this sexy, sultry dance with a free lesson at 9:45pm.
  • Annual Valentine’s Show with Touch, Feb 13, Gilly’s Jazz: Dayton-based Touch, a five-member, “old school” rhythm-and-blues band, covers baby-makin’ hits by the Temptations, the Stylistics, the Delfonics, and more at Gilly’s during the annual Valentine Party Saturday night.
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A night of hilarious improv beats a box of those chalky candy hearts any day!

Who Needs Cupid?

Does that chubby cherub even have a license for his amorous arrows? If you’d rather avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous corporate holidays, here are a few ways you can still have a great time without a heart-shaped box.

 

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A romantic dinner is a great way to begin your Valentine’s experience. (Actual view at downtown Dayton restaurants may vary.)

Eat Your Heart Out

Coupled or not, everyone’s gotta eat! Here are a few drool-worthy dining specials this weekend:

 

Dive Bar Tuesday: Dog’s Breath Tavern

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Fat Heads and pool? What more do you need?

Fat Heads and pool? What more do you need?

Last week was cold. And snowy. So when we were looking for a dive bar to visit, we wanted something relatively central. There are many in the area that we have been to, but one I had always been curious about but had not explored. Well, not since I moved to the great city of Dayton, and it was better known as Alan’s Billiard’s and Brew. When it was Alan’s, I remember pool tables as far as the eye could see and beer that was exactly what beer should be: inexpensive and cold. I don’t remember much in the way of food, but who needed it? It would just ruin the flow of beer and pool.

Bits and pieces of it became the new Dog’s Breath Tavern (1912 E. Whipp Rd, Kettering, OH), which after a brief stint with a previous owner was relaunched under new ownership just over a year ago. This is where we chose to head over for our Dive Bar Tuesday. We had not heard anything about the bar, but the parking lot was always full when we drove by. People more hip to the Dayton food scene, namely The Food Adventures Crew, explored the food and gave it their stamp of approval. Normally there are football games on, people on stage belting out karaoke favorites, and bands testing the limits of the sound system. The bartenders would be taking care of customers like pros, and games of pool and darts would be going on.

Unless it is a week night during the first real snowfall of winter. Then there are a handful of people chatting warmly at the largely empty bar. Much of what we found out about the weekend shenanigans was from the bartender that night. He was incredibly friendly and informative, as well as multi-talented. Not only was he the bartender, but the cook as well. There are several dart boards for metal tipped play and some pool tables that were enjoying some action the evening we were there. Checking out the signs around the bar, there is something interesting going on every night; beer specials, trivia, 2 4 2’s Day (a wide variety of $2.42 specials on Tuesday evening, and karaoke to kick off the weekend. The one that caught our eye was the food truck rally. They have a kitchen (more on that in a few sentences), but they are willing to support local businesses and bring food trucks to a place where few are going to tread. The only other place I have seen food trucks in this area is Eudora Brewing.

So much room for activities...

So much room for activities…

During an evening of drinking, you are going to get hungry. Fortunately, they have a kitchen to take care of that for you. The menu consists of solid bar fare like burgers, wings, and appetizers like jalapeno poppers and cheese sticks. We had to try the burger (of course), their signature Dog Bones (egg rolls filled with an assortment of unique fillings), and one other thing. Since we were enjoying beers that night, we also added the pretzel bites. What goes better with beer than pretzels? The burger (which came with chips) was lovely. We tried the Barbecue Pulled Pork Dog Bones, and were impressed with the flavor, though there was a lack of traditional barbecue sauce. The pretzel bites…well, we were really unsure about them, so we had to get a second order. For evaluating purposes, of course.

Did we mention beer? They had an excellent selection of beer, from the ones you would expect every bar to have to local favorites like Yellow Springs and Warped Wing. Their selection of craft beers is a fine one, and the ones we had went down well. You have your choice of taps which are always rotating, bottles, and cans of other favorites. If you want to keep up with the beers they have, you can find them on BeerMenus and keep tabs on their changes. The bartender knew his way around the taps and bottles, which is a good thing. The impressive chalk board and printed menus on the table had not been updated in a while. There is a cocktail menu as well, filled with comfortable favorites like the classic Dirty Martini and Cosmopolitan. The staff has added their own unique cocktails like the Dog Gone Good Martini and the DBT Bulldog for good measure.

We are planning on making a return trip in the future, and not just because of convenience. The atmosphere was friendly and the food was delightful. Did we mention the pretzel bites? There will be other beers to explore the next time we step in, and a few cocktails to try out as well. I am not sure anyone in our group is going to step up for karaoke, but when the pool tournament starts up, count us in!

 

Dive Bar Tuesday: Miami Valley Sports Bar

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Miami Valley Sports Bar Cocktails

The bar is just as I remember it. The rest…

We love to talk about the crafted, well built side of the culinary world: fine dining, well balanced cocktails, and hand crafted beers. What we don’t discuss very often is the other side of the coin. The places where the food is comfortable, the shots are full, and the beer is cheap. Dive bars do not get the love that fine dining gets, and there is no good reason for it. There is a certain charm to loud and dimly lit places. You have some control of the music. They are a little more willing to serve one more (heavily poured) drink after last call. They have character, and there is nothing better for a drinking establishment to have than character.

The first of many Dive Bar Tuesdays happened at Miami Valley Sports Bar, a watering hole I remember from my days working at Jokers Comedy Cafe. It was a place we would periodically go to on a Sunday after work to unwind. There was virtual golf, pool tables as far as the eye could see, and some snacks to nibble on as we discussed the shift. It was smoky, and they had dart boards for metal tipped dart, not just electronic ones. If you ordered a shot of something, it was a double. I found that out the hard way the first time, but subsequent visits were not as painful the next morning. Good times were had by all into the wee hours of the morning.

Fast forward quite a few years to our visit. When we walked in the wooden trellis and candy machines were still there, as were the pool tables and game machines. It looked exactly as I remembered it from the last time I went. Even as I approached the bar with their variety of flavored whiskies and Skittles infused vodkas, all was familiar. Then I turned the corner and saw there were some huge changes. The space where the steel tipped dart boards and virtual golf had occupied was glowing purple with dozens of taps and bottles of liquor. There was a separate patio room with a few more pool tables and a kitchen. A kitchen I say! There was some serious remodeling of the building, and from chatting with some of the staff the changes had not stopped.

Miami Valley Sports Bar Tillie's Tavern Craft Beer

Thirty one taps is nothing to sneeze at.

The taps are part of Tillie’s Tap Room, a little slice of craft beer heaven. They currently have thirty two taps, thirty one pouring craft brews and one with Abita Root Beer for the designated drivers and children who visit the bar. The prices are reasonable, and the list is organized by color and tap location, with Ohio-brewed beers indicated with a state shaped magnet. The glassware is not fancy, but it really does not need to be. The taps had some delightful liquid coming out of them, like Warped Wing’s Whiskey Rebellion, The Brew Kettle’s White Rajah, Lucky Star’s Wicked Step Mutha, and other Ohio favorites. Have no fear, it is not all craft. I saw a few people while I was there with the old standbys of Budweiser and Michelob Ultra.

Cocktails. They have cocktails! A wide variety of Mules, including the classic Moscow Mule, are available. Some of them came in collectable cups, some came in the proper copper mugs (which are NOT collectible), but all of them stuck to the original formula while adding some flavorful twists. My friends and I sampled the Hawaiian Mule and the Canadian Mule. The ginger beer had the right snap to it, but did not overshadow the rest of the flavors that were in the drink. We did not get to the rest of the cocktails that covered a few pages in the menu, but it looked like there was something there for everyone.

And did you know that Miami Valley Sports Bar had food? Not the nachos with questionable cheese sauce and popcorn that you might expect, but pizzas, wings and sandwiches as well? We tried the wings and the pizza and were pleased with both of the offerings. I am going to guess that the kitchen will keep expanding its menu, as it is only a few months old.

Miami Valley Sports Bar

A cozy place to sit down with a good drink and better friends.

The food and drink offerings, as well as the large screen televisions on the walls and a few of the columns, make this a great place to watch the game of your choosing. For those in your party that are not sports fans, there are enough pool tables and dart boards to keep everyone entertained. They also have shuffleboard, air hockey, and skee ball. The air hockey alone is enough to tack on an extra star to the review, if giving stars was something I did with the reviews.

If you have not been to Miami Valley Sports Bar in any length of time, now would be a good time to revisit it. For those of you that are south of town, this is a great little bar that has something for everyone. It is just off of 75 if you live near downtown and want to make the ten minute drive and check it out for yourself. Head over on Tuesdays to take advantage of deals in Tillie’s Tap Room or have a few cocktails with friends. Just be careful with the shots. One thing they have not changed is the pours for the shots; they are still doubles.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 shot glasses.

Miami Valley Sports Bar is located at 930 Watertower Ln, West Carrollton, OH 45449. They are open daily from 4 PM to 2:30 AM. You can keep up with their specials on their Facebook page. 

Ketttering Gas & Growler Stop

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In the last several years the craft beer movement has found a solid audience in the Miami Valley.  With 11 local breweries (soon to be 12, as Crooked Handle Brewing Co will open in Springboro anytime now) and over 40 local places to fill growlers in the area, beer lovers have grown a more sophisticated palate. The way they drink beer has changed.  No longer content to pick up a 6 pack of what’s on sale, consumers are becoming much more discerning about the beer they want to drink at home.FullSizeRender 2

Realizing that, Andy Elshire of the Town and Country Shell has just opened up a growler fill station located inside the recently remodeled gas station located at the corner of Stroop and Far Hills Avenue. The station underwent a huge renovation in order to stay on top of the trends in the gasoline, convenience store, and car wash industries These renovations make it unlike any gas station you will visit in the Miami Valley. The store now features a state of the art car wash tunnel, a large wine selection, and  Krispy Krunchy Chicken and 15 tap handles of craft beer.

Elshire says it took over a year to get their D1 permit, allowing them to sell carryout beer.  While he was waiting, he began researching other gas stations selling beer, visiting the “The Growler Stop” Cincinnati’s first growler pouring station outside of a grocery store or a brewery itself.  They’ve been just over 2 years and Elshire just knew Dayton was ready to support one as well.

Opened just last Friday,  Elshire shares he wants to feature many local beers.  He says he’ll always have some Rhingeist and Madtree beers, and he’s looking forward to adding some Dayton Beer Company and Yellow Springs Brewery selections.   He also encourages tasting, offering a flight of 4 beers for just $4, knowing that once you find the beer you like, you’ll likely take home a growler.  He’s happy to fill any growler, or pick up one of theirs for just $5 plus the fill cost.  Speaking of costs, looking over his price list, this might just be the cheapest place in town to fill your growler. A growler of  Warped Wing Ermals was just $11, cheaper than you can get at the downtown brewery. The most expensive tap today was $16, which would get you a Troegs Mad Elf, Founders Breakfast Stout or Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

Elshire  even sprung for The Pegas Pressure filler, that eliminates oxygen which allows for a 30-45 day shelf life of your growler.  It pours with no foam, no mess and superior taste!  The Pegas system uses the same operating principle found in large beer bottling factories around the world, counter-pressure method. This method ensures the bottles are filled in the way that only automatic fillers can provide – without foam and at a rate two liters in sixty seconds. Pegas CrafTap gives the user the ability to use a wide variation of bottle sizes and shapes, so they can serve different sizes and bottle styles to fit the individual need of each establishment. The video below is representative of the Pegas system:

Another advantage for the Shell station, it will fill your growlers day or night, including Sunday’s whenever it is legal to sell beers.  For the full list of what’s on tap, check their website or Facebook page. And if you’d like to gift the beer lover in your life with a fill or two, the Shell gift card will cover gas, beer and even a chicken dinner.

 

Stone House Tavern & DMM’s Food Adventures Hosts Local Beer Tasting Dec 15th

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A Beer Event is coming to Stone House Tavern on December 15th

Calling all beer enthusiasts! Would you love to talk to the people that brew your favorite beers? Dec 15th will be your chance to mingle and drink with the owners of 5 area brewing companies.

Stone House Tavern is teaming up with the Food Adventures Crew for this one-night-only party!   They have pulled the chairs out of the bar, and will even host an after party with drink specials.

Stone House Tavern is only releasing 50 tickets for this pre-pay only event.  It is also a great chance to sample some of the best kitchen creations from Stone House!

You can only order your tickets online, by clicking HERE.

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

WHAT: “STANDING ROOM ONLY” – a night with LOCAL BREWERS (Finger foods and appetizers included).

WHEN: DECEMBER 15th, 7pm-9pm  “after party ” with drink specials and cash bar 9pm–?

WHERE: STONE HOUSE TAVERN at 258 S Main St WAYNESVILLE

PRICE: $30 per person, includes gratuity (6 beers, finger foods/appetizers).  

Pre-pay only, limited seats, TICKETS MAY ONLY BE BOUGHT ONLINE HERE

 

The area brewers to be featured:

They will be in attendance !

LOCK 27 BREWING CO. – The brilliant brainchild of businessman and home brewer turned  entrepreneur, Steve Barnhart.  Located in Centerville, Lock 27 has made a huge impact in the area with its European “Gastro Pub” feel.  Meet Steve and learn his story about how he followed his brewing passion, and took a chance to fulfill a dream.

 

THE DAYTON BEER COMPANY – Meet owner Pete Hilgeman, the trailblazer and the first in Dayton area to start the “rebirth” of brewing locally due to changes in state laws.  Hear about his original bar on Dorothy Lane and undertaking the project of opening a second beer hall type location at the corner of 2nd and Madison Streets in Downtown, Dayton.  They have also started canning their products for regional distribution.

 

The Dayton Beer Company is coming !

RIVERTOWN BREWING CO., CINCINNATI – Trend setting brewery owned by Jason Roeper, located in Northern Cincinnati.  Talk personally with Rivertown brewing managers, and discover their passion for beer, philosophy on brewing, and innovative ideas to expand his business in the future.  This brewery is becoming a “little giant” in Cincinnati, due to their increase in bottling production.  This is a great chance to learn about “whats next” in the craft beer scene.

 

YELLOW SPRINGS BREWERY – Another local brewery that is under expansion and has begun canning  their brews.  Meet the owners and brewers behind this popular brewing company.  Learn about their philosophy on beer and what is important to them, as they continue to achieve more and more success.

 

Rivertown from Cincinnati

WARPED WING BREWING CO. – One of Dayton’s more popular breweries, Warped Wing has been pushing the envelope in partnerships and distribution.  They were the first brewery to start canning beer in Dayton in over 50 years.  Nick Bowman, partner/owner always has interesting stories on what is coming next, and how their new kitchen offerings will  affect the growth of their brewery.  Learn about the company and their dedication to honoring famous Daytonians with their product.

 

Does this sound like a great Food Adventure event or what?

Time to get your tickets and get ready to mingle wells and jingle bells.  This is a great early Christmas gift for any craft beer lover, or treat yourself to a nice night out.

REMEMBER:  5 Breweries, 6 Beers, One night only – Gt your tickets before we sell this thing out !

In attendance will be the Food Adventures Crew : Big Ragu, Hungry Jax and Chef House, as well as owner/partner of Stone House Tavern, Dan Apolito!

A popular brewery

Want more beer, food and fun?

“LIKE” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

 

We pulled the chairs, its just beer and brewers !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow Springs will be in town !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parade Kicks Off 5th Annual Beer Week

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11892276_727429157385348_3897557589630179093_nFive years ago a couple of dozen folks made their way from the Dublin Pub to Thai 9 in the first ever Beer Week Parade. Today when the parade steps off at  4:30pm from the Dublin Pub, several hundred are expected to participate.  Many of the local breweries will participate, pictured left is the contingent from Fifth Street Brewpub last year.

Leading off the parade this year will be the Miami Valley Pipes & Drums. Special floats and vehicles like  Thai Rob’s VW Van with Nimrod Camper, The Radler from Warped Wing, Dayton Brew Tours & the Groove Machine Party Bus.  Participants are welcome to wear their favorite beer t-shirts, hats and bring signs!  Parade Viewers line Fifth Street patio’s and often are treated to give-aways from those in the parade.  As the parade turns into the Fifth Street parking lot on the west end of the Oregon District, the crowd will gather for a picture and then the official opening of Beer Week (thought this year is seems there were so many events that several started yesterday, like the Tomfoolery Outdoors Dayton Beer Milers at Dayton Beer Company).

The 2015 Beer Week is a craft beer drinkers bonanza!  With over 150 events scheduled at over 65 locations, bars will be hosting tap takeovers, restaurants have planned beer dinners, and glassware giveaways are all over town.  Here are a few of the highlights:

Monday, August 24:

National Waffle Day at Fifth Street Brewpub  1908

Sam Adams Stein Hoist at King’s Point Pub

Heavy Seas Beer Dinner at Chappy’s Social House

Release of Big Hare American Barley Wine at Hairless Hare Brewery

Fat Head Tap Takeover at Bunkers

 

Tuesday, August 25:

Beer Dinner with North High Brewing at Spinoza’s

Troegs beer dinner at Archer’s Tavern

Sierra Nevada/Riegele Dinner at Whole Foods

Southern Tier Keep the Pint Night at Boston’s Bistro

Sour Beers of New Belgium at Pies and Pints

Star City Brewing Tapping at Ron’s Pizza

 

Wednesday, August 26:

Garden Station Summer Ale Release at Fifth Street Brewpub

Rivertown Beer & Cheest Pairings at A Taste of WineRTLOGO_wCincy3 copy

Clown Shoes Tap Takeover at Lock 27 Brewing

Bell’s Tap Takeover at 311 Drafthouse

3 Floyds Tap Takeover at Dog’s Breath Tavern

 

Thursday, August 27:

Dogfish Head Night at Proto Build Bar

Jackie O’s Beer Dinner at Ollie’s Place

Schlafly Pumpkin and Raspberry Hefe at West Milton IGADBW-AD-3.5X2

Rhinegeist Tap Takeover at Barrel House

MadTree Brewing Takeover at Mudlick Tap House

Pumpkin Beer Tasting at Oscar’s Bar

Unibroue Beer Dinner at Thai9

 

Friday, August 28:

Belgian Beers and Bowling at Poelking Lanes

Eight Ball Brewing Takeover at Arrow Wine Centerville

Jackie O’s & Girl Scout Cookie Pairings at South Park Tavernc81d4ma1b1k6mqopy4dda99eg9rm2d4k

Dayton vs Cincinnati Breweries Beer Showdown at Jimmie’s Ladder 11

Bottle release of Chai Samsara at Eudora Brewing Company

Founders Tap Takeover at Buffalo Wild Wings Troy

Trolley Stop Red Carpet Event

 

Saturday, August 29:

New Holland Brewing Co. Brunch at Lucky’s Taproom

Alefest at Dave Hall Plaza

Merchant du Vin Beer Dinner at Dublin Pub

For all Beer Week Events  check out our MostMetro.com calendar.

Welcome To Ohio Beers, Baseball Fans!

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Hello baseball fans!

Great American Ball Park

Welcome to Great American Ball Park!

We are at the midpoint of the season, and it has been an interesting start. Despite the loss of some key talent, the Cardinals and the Yankees are still holding on to their divisions. No one at the start of the season saw the Astros being one of the best teams in the league, or the White Sox being one of the worst. The Royals are proving they were not a fluke, and the Cubs are hoping this is the year they can get back into playoff contention. Experts saw the NL dominated by three teams, but the AL was anyone’s to take.  One thing that everyone knew was that this year, all eyes would be on our neighbor to the south Cincinnati for one week. That week begins today.

Great American Ballpark will be the center of the baseball world as it hosts the 2015 All Star Game. Cincinnati will be showcased in all her glory, and not just the stadium. We all know what an amazing city it is, but the thousands of people coming to visit may not see it that way. It was the second city founded in the state of Ohio, and the “Queen of the West” according to Longfellow. Before Chicago earned its reputation as a meat packing center, Cincinnati earned the nickname of “Porkopolis” because of its hog packing capacity. It is also the home of the first paid firefighting unit AND the first paid baseball team. That professional baseball team, the Red Stockings, evolved over the years into the team we see on the field today. And our own Dayton Dragon have had a hand in feeding that team some excellent talent.

National Prohibition Convention Image

The National Prohibition Convention was held in Cincinnati in 1892.

Many people also don’t know the rich beer and cocktail history that Cincinnati enjoys. Chicago and Detroit get most of the press as hotbeds of Prohibition activity, but the Queen City had its own bootleggers and criminals making sure that a thirsty nation did not got wanting. Samuel Adams founder Jim Koch is from Cincinnati, one of the first breweries to start building the craft landscape we see today. There are going to be tens of thousands of thirsty visitors milling around Cincinnati this week, looking for delightful beers to enjoy. The focus is on beer, because that is what goes with baseball. I have searched through the local beer scene (and by local I mean Ohio), and came up with suggestions for each of the teams represented this week at the game. I paid particular attention to the beers available at Great American Ball Park, and Cincinnati itself, before looking for other breweries to highlight.

Since this week’s game is going to be at a National League stadium, we’ll let the away team go first. The teams are in order of their standings as of this writing, and the number after the team is how many players represent them in the All Star Game. An asterisk indicates a beer that can be found in Great American Ball Park.

AL East

BORIS the Crusher Russian Imperial Stout

This is one tough frog out of Akron.

New York Yankees (3) – Chickow! by Triple Digit Brewing (10% ABV, 28 IBU) is one of the heaviest hitters on this list. Which is fitting, because the Bronx Bombers are close to the top of the home run leading teams in the league.
Baltimore Orioles (4) – Based in LeBron territory, Akron’s B.O.R.I.S The Crusher  by Hoppin’ Frog (9.4% ABV, 60 IBU) is an amazing Russian Imperial Stout, and another heavy hitter. It looks like you have to be to keep up in the AL East.
Toronto Blue Jays (3) – The Blue Jays have scored the most runs in baseball (470) at the break. They have been Rounding Third (Madtree (6.5% ABV, 51 IBU)) more than any other team in the bigs. And they are STILL third in their division.
Tampa Bay Rays (2) – The Columbus based Elevator Brewing’s Dark Force (5.9% ABV) came from out of nowhere in 2007 to win quite a few awards. The Rays can still take this division, but it is going to require some work.
Boston Red Sox (2) – The one exception to the Ohio rule. But not really. These boys of summer are sitting at the bottom of a tough division. *Sam Adams Summer Ale  (5.3%, 7 IBU) can keep them company while they are down there.

AL Central

Kansas City Royals (7) – Their fans are the kings of the ballot box. *Ermal’s Belgian Style Cream Ale by Warped Wing (5.4%, 20 IBU) has some similar qualities to Kansas City’s Tank 7 by Boulevard. And the can had a nice blue color, which their fans can appreciate.
Minnesota Twins (2) – I am not sure, but I think it is getting close to winter in Minnesota. Mt. Carmel’s *Nut Brown Ale (6.0%, 38 IBU) is a great beer to keep warm with, offering hints of maple syrup along with the rich brown ale.
Detroit Tigers (5) – Did you know that the state of Michigan produces the most blueberries in the United States? I am sure that Rivertown Brewing’s *Blueberry Lager  (4.3%, 19 IBU) has more than a few of them in their fruit forward beer.
Cleveland Indians (1) – Jason Kipnis was a beast in May. The seasonal Lake Erie Monster by Great Lakes Brewing Company (9.1%, 80 IBU) is a very appropriate beer from his team’s city. It is an Imperial India Pale Ale with plenty of bite to it.
Chicago White Sox (1) – Elliot Ness was a federal agent from Cleveland that spent some time in Chicago, helping to bring down one of its most infamous citizens. Great Lakes Brewing Company brewed a delicious amber ale (6.1%, 27 ABV) in his honor.

AL West

Rhinegeist Hustle, Zen, and Truth

A small portion of the Rhinegeist family of beers.

Houston Astros (2) – When you think success in baseball, you think money. The Astros are taking *The Lesser Path  (Blank Slate Brewing (6.5%, 70 IBU)) by being one of the best teams in baseball with the second lowest payroll.
Los Angeles Angels (2) – Californians seem pretty relaxed. A light sessionable sipper, Zen by Rhinegeist Brewing (4.8%, 45 IBU) is a perfect beer to kick back with while watching a baseball game.
Texas Rangers (1) – Is there any state that shows their independence like Texas? Divergent by Rivertown Brewing (3.8%, 10 IBU) is different, with sour fruit notes and a clean finish. It is a great beer to try if you have been considering sour beers, but just were not sure.
Seattle Mariners (2) – Coffee and Seattle go hand in hand. Named after the bridge connecting Cincinnati to Covington, KY,  Roebeling Porter by  Rivertown Brewing (7.9%, 35 IBU) uses local coffee and vanilla to enhance the roasted notes in the porter.
Oakland Athletics (2) – Fifty West Brewing created *Wire to Wire Wheat (4.8%, 18 IBU) to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Reds last World Series victory. Who did they beat in that series? I’ll let you guess…

And now, the home team!

NL East

Washington Nationals (2) – A capital beer for the capitol’s team. *Leopold by Listermann Brewing (6.2%) is a blonde ale with Belgian spice notes. After a rocky start, they have finally climbed back to the top of their division.
New York Mets (2) – When I was doing research for another project, I discovered near where the Mets played there was a brewery dedicated to pale ales. *Altered Pale Ale by Christian Moerlein (4.3%) is a nod to that brewery.
Atlanta Braves (1) – I love peanut butter porters. Georgia grows the most peanuts in the United States. Is there any other beer for them than Nut Case by Listermann Brewing (5.0%)? If there was some sort of Waffle House beer (Waffle House is based in Georgia), that would be a close second.
Miami Marlins (2) – While doing research, I discovered that Dortmunder beers go very well with fish. Dortmunder Gold by Great Lakes Brewing Company (5.8%, 30 IBU) is one of the better examples of that style. It also represents the city the Marlins beat to get their first World Series win. They have that going for them.
Philadelphia Phillies (1) – When you are at the bottom of the league, you really could use a boost. Fortunately, Madtree Brewing has something you can use: a Lift (4.7%, 11 IBU). Light and delicious, you can enjoy a few of them in one sitting.

 

NL Central

PsycHOPathy by Madtree

A great local beer to enjoy at Great American Ball Park.

St. Louis Cardinals (6) – The entire division is looking to take over your throne. You have claimed it five of the last ten years. For that I give you Warped Wing’s Mr. Mean (9.7%, 96 IBU). It is named for the 13th album released by the Ohio Players. Lucky number for you?
Pittsburgh Pirates (4) – You may want to explore a different classically brewed amber lager while you are in town. Hudepohl’s  Amber Lager (4.7% ABV) is from a brewery established just twenty six years after Yuengling. Try it…you’ll like it.
Chicago Cubs (2) – It is crazy that this team is angling for a playoff position after last season. *PsycHOPathy by Madtree Brewing (6.9%, 70 IBU) is an amazing India Pale Ale, challenging Truth for the best IPA to come out of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Reds (3) – Was there really any other choice? Rhinegeist Brewing Hustle (5.4%, 35 IBU) was brewed for baseball season and given the nickname of one of the most beloved Reds players of all time. It is a nice rye spice pale ale that hits all
Milwaukee Brewers (1) – Back to the classics for one of the big, German beer cities in the country. Over-The-Rhine Ale by Christian Moerlein (6.0%) shows off the German heritage of the area with a traditionally brewed ale. It harkens back to a time when generous hop profiles were needed for preservation, not just flavor.

 

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (5) – California grows the most strawberries in the United States. Which is why the seasonal Sol Drifter by Madtree (4.3%, 18 IBU) was selected for any Dodgers fans that may be heading to the Midwest.
San Francisco Giants (4) – When India pale ales were initially developed, they were highly hopped for long journeys. For the longest trip to Cincinnati (barely edging Seattle), we give you *Truth by Rhinegeist Brewing (7.2%, 75 IBU). Fresh beer for the end of an almost 2,400 mile journey.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2) – There are a wide range of flavors and great depth to Mystic Mama (7.0%, 130 IBU), a local favorite from Jackie O’s in Athens. And there are snakes on the can, which may have had more influence than I want to admit.
San Diego Padres (1) – If there is one thing I know about San Diego, it is sunny and 75 F at all times. Fathead Brewing has created Sunshine Daydream (4.9%), something light and easy to drink for looking out over the Ohio River. It is no Pacific ocean, but it still offers a nice breeze and a place to dip your toes.
Colorado Rockies (3) – Do you miss the mountains, Coloradans? Chomolugma by Jackie O’s (6.5%) derives its name from what the Tibetans call Everest. It is a delicious brown ale flavored with wildflower honey.

If you are looking for places to enjoy these beers while taking in the atmosphere of the All Star festivities, Holy Grail Tavern and Grill, Arnold’s Bar and Grill, the Moerlein Lager House are just few in the Cincinnati area with great food and some of the delightful beers mentioned. Have a great time this week on the historic banks of the Ohio River, and enjoy the efforts of the talented local brewers we have in the Buckeye State. Cheers!

The Super Bowl – One Long Session for Beers!

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Super Bowl 49 logo

Super Bowl XLIX is here. Is your beer fridge ready for it?

The Super Bowl XLIX festivities begin at noon on Sunday, February 1. Pundits are going to spend the entire day analyzing the players, discussing past Super Bowls, and making deflated ball puns. The game itself starts at 6 PM, and will end around 11 PM after all the awards have been given out and more analysis of the game. That is a long drinking day for anyone. You have to pace yourself through a day filled with salty snacks, good friends, and lots and lots of fine, locally crafted beer. Fortunately, British brewers thought of this decades ago, and developed something called a session beer.

During World War I, production of material for the war effort was important. Parliament created a law that allowed for two drinking sessions a day; one at lunch and one at dinner time. Since drinking was much more limited, any typically could only be done at a bar, people would have a few more at lunch then they normally would. They did not want to go back work around dangerous equipment inebriated, so British brewers started to brew beers that were lower in ABV. They typically capped at 5%, but many went as low as 3%. Pilsners, bitters, and pale ales were the styles that were used, offering the most flavor while delivering a love tap of alcohol.

The United States does not have the same fondness for low ABV beers. The legacy of the “little beer” began just before Prohibition as a desperate attempt by then president Woodrow Wilson to stop the inevitable. He proposed that beers of no more than 2.75% ABV be brewed, minimizing the harsh effects of the terrible affliction of alcohol on a delicate public. Clearly, that did not work, and the country dried up for thirteen years. The first beer that came out after the Volstead Act was repealed but before the 21st Amendment went into effect? 3.2% beers. Our legacy with them is much more contentious, thus when the craft beer movement rolled forward, the LAST thing brewers wanted to do was create beers in the Budweiser range of ABV. The ABV War began, trying to create bigger beers, beers full of flavor and alcohol. The winning brewery at this point in time is Brewmeister’s Armageddon out of Scotland, ringing in at an overwhelming 65% ABV. Most beers like this are brewed once for effect, then retired.

A dark day in U.S. history, but a good time for session beers.

Session beers just came back into vogue in the last ten years as a reaction to all of the high ABV beers flowing through the country. Founder’s All Day IPA may be the beer that brought this type of beer to the general attention of the public. This great Michigan brewery sells this in a fifteen-pack, acknowledging that you can sip on this all day and still be able to function at your desk on Monday. It was mentioned more than a few times as a great session beer by the people I spoke with. The 4.7% ABV is perfect for a long session of drinking, and the hops ensures that it is not boring to drink. Fat Head’s Sunshine Daydream out of Cleveland is another highly recommended session beer, creeping up to 4.9% ABV and still delivering with refreshing flavor.

Looking for a local, low alcohol growler fill for the big game? Here is a list of what was found on tap (or in a can) around the Miami Valley. Not all of these fall into the session beer category, but they all hover around the 5% ABV range.

  • Lock 27 – Pugilist’s 4.7% ABV seems light for a beer with a fighting name. Session beers are not all light and hoppy. Here is an irish stout whose punch is in the flavor, not the spirits. Order some of their Smoked Wings while you are there. You will not be disappointed.
  • Yellow Springs Brewing – If you are going to go to one brewery for all your low ABV beer needs, this is the place to go. They have the biggest selection of tap beers that fall into this category. Their Kerfluffle, an English Mild beer, is the lowest on the list at 3.1% ABV. They also have Daily’s Comet Saison (3.8% ABV), Handsome American Brown Ale (5.5% ABV), Ryatt’s Eviction English Pale Ale (5.0% ABV) and Zoetic Citra American Pale Ale (5.2% ABV). A little something for everyone!
  • Dayton Beer Company
    Shelves of growlers

    This should be enough for Sunday, right?

    – Patterson Pale Ale, at 5.5% ABV, is higher on the list for a session beer, but a delicious option. While you are there, get a growler of their award winning Java Man Cometh (7.0% ABV) to help celebrate if your team wins, or cry into if they lose.

  • Warped Wing Brewing Company – They have some heavy hitters in their line up (Baltic Argonaut at 11.5% ABV would make a short session), but they offer their own Self Starter Session IPA at 5.2% ABV. Ermal’s Belgian Cream Ale at 5.4% ABV and their delightfully unique Wedding Beer at 4.5% ABV are options for Super Bowl growler fills.
  • Fifth Street Brewing – For my money, kolsch is my favorite style of lighter beer. FSB’s 1600 Kolsch (5.0% ABV) and Deluge Pale Ale (5.4% ABV) are both excellent beers to add to the game day menu.
  • Star City Brewing – If you already have plans and will have to miss their Super Bowl Potluck Extravaganza, you can enjoy their kolschy Blonde Ale at 3.8% ABV or Weizen Star Hefeweizen at 4.8% ABV at home with a much different pot luck.
  • Lucky Star Brewery – While you are in Miamisburg, you can stop by this brewery as well and pick up their Ojos Locos Mexican Lager at 3.9% ABV or their Redemption Red at 5.3% ABV. Their Wicked Step Mutha Double Stout weighs in at 9.9% ABV, but would be a delicious late game addition to cap off the party.
  • Toxic Brew Company – Relax. There is always some Practice Yoga (5.6% ABV) to enjoy during an all-day football binge. Sign up for the Shuffle Board League while you are there so your sports enjoyment can last after football is over. Abby’s Cure at 9.6% ABV came highly recommended for Sunday, but as a tasty treat with your all day sippers.
  • Eudora Brewing Company – Another award winning craft brewery in Dayton, their Sundowner Blonde Ale weighs in at 5.0% ABV. Supporting them means you are also supporting charity:water, providing clean water to those with no access to it.
  • Hairless Hare Brewery – Hello friends up north! The American Ale here sits at a sessionable 4.9% ABV. And is there anything more American than watching the Super Bowl?
Patriots vs. Seahawks

Just discussing some dinner plans after the game.

Not enough options? Belmont Party Supply has many, many selections for session drinking. Cincinnati favorites like Madtree offers Lift at 4.7% ABV and Rhinegeist releases Cougar at 4.8% ABV for you to consider. Rivertown’s Little Sipa IPA at a nice and light 4.5% ABV is another Cincinnati option on the table. The new kid in Ohio, Boulevard Brewing Company, has their Pop Up Session IPA that sits at a respectable 4.3% ABV and 80 Acre Hoppy Wheat at 5.5% ABV. Fans of New Belgium Brewing can get their hands on Slow Ride Session IPA sitting at 4.5% ABV. You can also pick up He’Brew’s Dry Hopped Session Pale Ale (5.5% ABV) or Heavy Seas’ Cross Bones Session IPA (4.5% ABV) there. If you want a little more heavy in your seas, their Loose Cannon IPA is an amazing choice with a little more punch (7.25% ABV).

The Super Bowl has become more than just the championship game for the NFL; it is a cultural event that brings people together with friends for good food and good company. Whether you are cheering for the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks, or just a halfway decent Super Bowl ad, session beers are one way to sip on great beer all day and still be ready to shout, cheer, cry, and celebrate when the game begins. Now, time to start researching the wings and nachos. Cheers!

Thinking About a Stout? – National Stout Day

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Murphy's Irish Stout Pint

Murphy’s Irish Stout. The other well known stout from Ireland.

In September of 2014, there was a secret experiment going on at Starbucks. They have always been working with trying out new flavors, but this was different. They were not going for your traditional riffs on traditional coffee. There was a new demographic they had their sights on: the beer drinker. Starbucks dabbled in the liquor industry before with a coffee liqueur. It was not on the market very long, but it did deliver the rich Starbucks flavor people expected. The company that ushered in the craft coffee boom was looking to capitalize on the craft beer boom, and they knew their path in. It was not brewing Starbucks beer. It was going to brew a coffee that tasted like beer. The profile they were looking for shared many of the characteristics coffee already has; hints of bitterness mixed with rich complexity, a slight roasted flavor, and something with the same deep brown color as their core product. They were looking to make a coffee drink that tasted like a stout.

November 6 is National Stout Day, and stout is a fascinating beer. Stouts first gained popularity in the early 18th century, when it was discovered this hearty beer was a little tougher than the other ales, and had a little more kick. They were originally known as “stout porters”, since they were as dark as the porters being brewed at the time, but had a higher ABV. Eventually the “porter” was dropped and the style simply became known as stout. The question of “stout vs. porter” now causes some serious debate among the beer brewing and drinking crowd, some insisting the styles are as different as twilight and midnight, some saying that there is little difference other than a naming preference. The Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) notes a few general differences between the two. Porters are lighter in color, ranging from reddish brown to dark brown, where stouts are dark brown to black. Porters are usually sweeter, while the roasting of the barley for stouts can impart a bitter flavor. Porters roll crisply right over the tongue; stouts are thicker and tend to linger, using less water than their lighter counterparts.

Once you are past the “stout vs. porter” conversation, you can begin discussing the different ways stouts are brewed. It is generally agreed there are six distinct styles of stout:

    • Dry Stout – Because of a little Irish brewery named Guinness, this is the most widely known style of stout, though most don’t call it dry. Most people will call it an Irish stout, again because of Guinness. There are some bitter notes in this one coming from the roasted barley and some extra hops. Guinness’ IBUs (International Bitterness Unit) sits is around 47. For comparison, Dogfishhead’s 60 Minute IPA is 60 IBUs. It is usually thinner and lighter than other stouts, making it great to drink over time. Murphy’s Irish Stout is another fine example of this style.


    • Nitro Milk Stout

      Hello milk stout! Nitrogen is used to smooth out the beer even more.

      Sweet, or Milk, Stout – Advertisers are tricky. Trying to convince consumers of the healthy qualities of some stouts, they would add lactose, or milk sugar, to the brew to add sweetness. Milk is healthy, right? This type of chicanery caused the designation to be banned in England, but it can be used anywhere else in the world. The sugars mask the bitterness of the roasting and add some weight to the mouthfeel, leaving a rich and sweet flavor to embrace. Left Hand Brewing makes a delightful Milk Stout Nitro, and Southern Tier’s Crème Brulee Imperial Milk Stout are absolute delights to drink.

 

    • Oatmeal Stout – If milk is a healthy addition to the brewing of stouts, why not oats? Oat is a grain, and beer needs grains. You have warm water, oats, flavor…it is like oatmeal! A hearty breakfast in a bottle! They were most popular in Scandinavia, which maintained the tradition until beer explorer Michael Jackson reintroduced the nearly extinct species. The oats added to the mash add their own version of sweetness, while adding some thickness to the beer as well. If you are looking for a local one, you are in tons of luck. Warped Wing’s 10 Ton Stout, Eudora Brewing Company’s Thunderball, Yellow Spring Brewing’s Prowler, Star City’s Old Mill Stout, and Lock 27’s Oat Rodeo are just a few local selections for you.

 

    • American Stout – We have our own stout! American stouts shoot for the full, smooth mouthfeel of the richest stouts while adding extra hops, coffee, chocolate flavors to heighten the natural ones that emerge from the roasting process. They find their way to the higher end of the ABV scale, and are a product of brewers wanting to experiment with the traditional stout formula. The carbonation, usually not overly present in other stouts, emerges more in the American version. Dayton Brewing Company’s new Java Man Cometh would fall in this category, as would Deschutes’ Obsidian Stout and Revolution Brewing’s Rise.

 

  • Russian Imperial Stout – This was brewed in England for the Russian court of Catherine II. Since it was brewed for a country where vodka dominates all other liquor (they put down almost five times the vodka the Unites States does), it had to be stronger than normal and built for a long journey. Most stouts pack a reasonable 6-7% ABV punch. The low end of the spectrum for Russian Imperials is 8%, heading as high as 12%. Toxic Brewing’s Black Tonic sits in this category, as does Hareless Hare’s Rabbit Hole Chocolate Stout. A personal favorite, Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Blackout Stout (our own Max Spang has some thoughts on it as well) and North Coast Brewing’s Old Rasputin are other well respected versions of this strong style.

  • Great Lakes Brewing Company Blackout Stout

    Max Spang and I agree: This is a delicious Imperial stout.




    Foreign Extra (Tropical) Stout – The home of the stout is a long way from the tropics. Especially in the 18th century, when ocean going wooden ship was the only way to get there. It was brewed with some extra malt, making it sweeter and sturdier to survive the month long journey across the Atlantic. It was nicknamed “Tropical” because the earliest versions of this beer went to the warmer colonies of the British Empire. They are typically a stronger version of a dry stout, but any style can be made into a Foreign Extra Stout. The most well-known of this style is the Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, and most breweries dabble in this style, offering it on tap in smaller batches or seasonally. Ridgeway Brewing’s Lump of Coal is a tip top example of a seasonal foreign extra stout.

Starbucks may still be testing their coffee stout concoction for all we know. There is no need to wait for them to enjoy the hearty flavors stouts can provide. And some of them even have healthy ingredients in them (sort of)! Despite the heaviness of these beers, many of them are not much more calorie dense than light beers. Guinness has only 15 more calories per 12 oz. serving than Bud Light, and for the same ABV. Enjoy a stout or two on National Stout Day. You can drink a Founder’s Breakfast Stout or Southern Tier Mokah instead of the Starbucks, right?

 

An Evening of Beer Education with Joshua Bernstein

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The Complete Beer Course

One book for all your beer education needs.

It does not seem all that long ago, but it has been over thirty years since craft beers began to emerge. The beer scene in America, on rocky ground since Prohibition, had fully bottomed out in the 1970’s and looked like it might stay there. Fortunately, Jimmy Carter relaxed federal brewing standards in 1978, allowing people who may have just been tinkering with brewing beer or making their own wine become a little more serious about it. The movement started off slowly, but exploded in the mid-1990’s, with breweries and brewpubs popping up everywhere. The beer drinking public was introduced to styles of beer that had not been seen in America since the early 20th Century. With the number of breweries, and beers, that were springing up through the country, it became very easy to get lost in all of the styles and intricacies of the various beers. Hop varietals? Imperial IPAs? Lambics? What were all these new beer styles? And how were we, the drinking public, supposed to keep up?

With all of these new beers hitting the shelves, crowding out the large corporate beers and infusing a newurl interest in beer, people started to take notice. Especially the media. The New York Press was one of those media outlets. They put an intrepid young writer, Joshua Bernstein, on the bar beat. His adventures in the bar scene of the City That Never Sleeps eventually brought him to the restaurant beat, and an interest in the expanding craft beer scene. He has been exploring the beer scene since then for well-known publications like Bon Appetit, Saveur, Details, The New York Times, and is a contributing editor for Imbibe. The man knows, and enjoys, his beer. He used his experiences to write a pair of books to help those that have entered the world of craft beers find their way a little easier. His first book, Brewed Awakening, is an impressive tome for those looking to start exploring the world of craft beer and could use a guide to help them with the intricacies of it. The Complete Beer Course is a different kind of twelve step program, starting with the basics and leading the reader on to beer pairing and proper long term storage of beer.

Warped Wing Pirogue

Warped Wing has been crafting innovative beers for a thirsty Dayton population.

Dayton has been having its own craft beer boom. The Dayton Beer Company was the first to the party, and the number of breweries in the Miami Valley has been rising ever since.  One of the many breweries that have been born during this growth spurt is Warped Wing, who this year released their beers in cans and continues to brew beers that grab your attention, and your taste buds. Warped Wing knows that with all of the new beers in the city, patrons new to craft beer may need a primer.  Who better to offer that primer than a native son of the Gem City, now based in the Big Apple, Joshua Bernstein? He will be at Warped Wing this Monday, offering an educational evening of beer tasting and appreciation. Tickets are still available, and they are offering discounted rate for designated drivers. Purchase your tickets early, because the price goes up if you buy tickets at the door. From the most experienced beer drinker to someone just dipping their tongue into the beer pool, this is an opportunity to meet and learn from one of the top names in the field today. We will see you at Warped Wing Monday Night!

 

ShakesBeer: A Double Dose of Craft

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Question:

What is ShakesBeer?Shakespearecombined_HiRes

A) A casual mix and mingle for downtown residents and employees.

B) A fun way to enjoy Shakespeare’s Othello through a modern (and much shortened!) production.

C) An opportunity to go behind-the-scenes at one of Dayton’s local craft breweries.

Answer:

All of the above!

Dayton Metro Library is hosting a free after-work networking event on Thursday, October 9 at the Main Library (215 E. Third Street, Dayton) with a double dose of craft.

First up: Enjoy the craft of acting from The Human Race Theatre Company as they perform a shortened and modern version of Shakespeare’s Othello (40 minutes of tweets and deceit) at the Main Library in Downtown Dayton. Then: Head across the street to Warped Wing to enjoy craft beer. Take a tour, take home a special pint glass (first 50 attendees), and enjoy locally-brewed beer available for purchase.

Don’t miss this free event for your opportunity to mix and mingle with other downtown residents and employees in a casual and quick ShakesBeerian adventure.

What’s on tap?

4:30 p.m. – Mix and mingle with fellow downtowners at the Library while you peruse the diverse items from the ShakesBeer collection: plays, modern movie remakes, home brew how-tos, great soundtracks, best brewery guides and more.

5 p.m. – Showtime! The Human Race Theatre Company presents their original production #othello. Adapted and directed by Aaron Vega. All the knavery of this classic tragedy fits into a fast-paced 40 minutes.

5:45 p.m. – As the show wraps, actors will be available for questions and comments about how plays translate from the page to the stage, and you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the fine craft of acting.

6 p.m. – We got our Shakes in, now for the Beer. Head across the street as Warped Wing offers a tour of the craft brewery to see behind-the-scenes magic. First 50 attendees to hand in their ticket will take home a free pint glass!

 

 

New Beer Garden at Oktoberfest

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adult ice cream truckOur friends at Cavalier Distributing supply some of the most delicious craft beer around town.  You may have seen them at the monthly beer tasting at Trolley Stop, where they are often helping pour beer and kindly sharing their knowledge about ales, porters, stouts and the newest trends in craft brewing.

So when they shared with us that they will have their very cool draft truck in the new beer garden at DAI’s Oktoberfest, Friday, Sept. 25th – Sunday, Spet. 27th, we got very excited!  Cavalier is even making it possible for a couple of our readers to attend the Friday night preview party.  Check our Most Metro Facebook page for a chance to share your way to a pair of tickets for the VIP preview.

Here’s what will be on tap:

 

Revolution Oktoberfest -A classic German-style Oktoberfest beer that goes down smooth with a pleasant, toasty malt flavor. Hallertauer Mittelfruh hops give the beer a crisp, balanced bitterness and a spicy, earthy aroma

Reissdorf Kolsch – a minty, hop aroma; sweet, vanilla like, malt flavors; and a crisp, dry, cedar finish.  medium in color, slightly hoppy, has an ABV of 4.8%

Stone Go To IPA– an abundance of lupulin-borne bitterness into a “session” IPA delivering all the fruity, piney character of a much bigger IPA.

Jackie O’s Mystic Mama- Columbus and Warrior hops lend an assertive bitterness. Amarillo, Simcoe, and Centennial hops give this beer tons of great flavors of grapefruit, tangerines, and pine needles. beers on tap

Wyders Reposado – Pear cider infused with smooth subtle oak laden tequila notes. Refreshing pear cider crafted with some inspiration from south of the border.

Fat Head’s Bumbleberry – a light, refreshing ale with a nice blueberry aroma, crackery malt flavors, a hint of sweetness and a refreshing blueberry finish.

Madtree Pyschopathy -subtle malt backbone combats the bitterness and intensity of floral, grassy and citrus hop flavors.

Madtree PumpCAN – Really nice big pumpkin aroma, nice and hearty, with a balanced amount of spice. Spice does not overwhelm the pumpkin, it’s still allowed to shine here.

Schofferhoffer Grapefruit – unique combination of sparkling smooth Schofferhofer Hefeweizen with grapefruit flavoring. A refreshing well-rounded taste with tangy character and hints of sweetness.

Weihenstephan Original – yellow bright lager,  a flavorful beer with a mild hoppy note and a pleasant fresh spicy taste.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale – a unique sipping beer with the distinctive nose of a well-crafted bourbon. Aged for at least 6  weeks in freshly decanted bourbon barrels from some of Kentucky’s finest distilleries.

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter – An ale that has all the chocolate and roasted nut flavor of a classic Porter, with an enigmatic surprise thrown in for good measure, real vanilla bean.

 

And if that’s not enough to tempt you, the following brews will be available in bottles:

Weihenstephan Hefe, Weihenstephan Oktoberfest, Old Speckled Hen, Trooper Beer
Stone IPA, Arrogant Bastard, Zombie Killer, Carlsberg, Brew Dog Dogma, Triple Karmeliet

 

I’ll be hoisting a mug of brew at Oktoberfest  and hope to see you there.  Prost!