The Miami Valley’s newest brewery opened their doors up tonight for a friends and family preview in the Springoboro Settlers Walk shopping center. Crooked Handle owner and head brewer Jason Moore he and his partner Jeff Pedro Jr started shopping their business plan for the micro brewery about 2 and 1/2 years ago. They found two Springboro investors and signed a lease for their Crooked Handle Brewing Co. location at 760 N. Main Street, just around the plaza from Dorothy Lane Market, on May 1st and began ordering equipment soon after. 
And then they waited. Equipment they expected in a couple of months didn’t arrive in full until November, pushing their opening back. While waiting they finished all the construction of the 3,600 square foot brewery and tap room. Their occupancy has been set at 104, with plenty of seats at the bar and a small lounge area of leather couches and come spring they’ll add another 20 seat on a small patio.
Jason and his wife Kristy, who will run the tap room, used some of that waiting time to get their Cicerone Server certifications. The certification requires competent knowledge of beer storage and service issues as well as modest knowledge of beer styles and culture and basic familiarity with beer tasting and flavors and basic knowledge about brewing process and ingredients.
With all of the equipment finally in place, they began brewing. Tonight for the preview they had 3 beers tapped, one they called Batch #1, which Jason admitted wasn’t exactly what he planned, but that’s typical when home brewers go from 5 gallon batches to a 7 barrel brewing system.
The Farm Saison seemed to be the crowd favorite at tonight’s tasting. Coincidene that the Saison is Jason’s favorite beer style? We think not. Beers were available in 5 oz tasters, pints or growlers to go. The other beer on tap was Your Mom’s Oatmeal Stout, rolled oats with a chocolate, nutty finish.
Moore says the next to be added to the taps are an IPA and an Amber Ale. By then end of January he predicts they’ll have all 10 tap handles filled with their beers. A quick tour of the cold room filled with kegs and 26 six barrels, Jason shared they’ll be doing some local distribution. Later on they will add bottling or canning and down the road they will be looking for a larger production facility.
Dorothy Lane Market and Milano’s have already signed on to carry Crooked Handle brews. While the Tap House will not have a kitchen , a notebook of to -go menus was seen on the bar tonight.
You’ll get your chance to check out Dayton’s 12th brewery this Christmas, when they will open the tap room at 4pm. They will have limited hours during the holidays and start working a regular schedule after the New Year. Cheers to Crooked Handle!
