Dayton On Tap

Get Your ‘Spring’er on with Yellow Springs Brewery

March 8, 2017 By Dayton Most Metro

Come ready to party Yellow Springs-style wearing your tie-dye, flowing skirts and Birkenstocks. On Friday, March 10, 5:00 pm, Yellow Springs Brewery is throwing a party in their taproom to celebrate the release of Springer Golden Ale in 12-ounce cans. It will be distributed to restaurants, bars and retailers starting the week of March 13th, six-packs will retail for $9.99.

This signature beer is made with local Cascade hops from Heartland Hops in northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery. At 5.4% alcohol by volume, it is light, floral and perfect for drinking anytime. Springer Golden Ale is one of the originally brewed recipes at Yellow Springs Brewery and continues to be a customer favorite, especially as the weather turns warm and the world once again becomes green.

In addition to releasing Springer Golden Ale in cans and in honor of the spring equinox, the brewery also plans to have special variants of Springer Golden Ale on tap that day. “We are planning to have a few twists of Springer on tap that we believe not only enhance the beer but will also help welcome the long awaited coming of spring” says Chris Hutson, event coordinator at Yellow Springs Brewery. “Customers will be able to experience all things Yellow Springs at the release party, after all Springer was aptly named for the local residents. It’s our hope to offer folks a chance to come out of their winter hibernation as we usher in the changing of the seasons. Along with our special variants there are also plans for live accoustic music, food, flowers and a few tricks up our sleeves,” says Hutson. Springer Golden Ale will be Yellow Springs Brewery’s fourth beer to be canned and the brewery has no intention of slowing down, with future can and bottle releases on the horizon.

It’s time to welcome spring with open arms and get your ‘spring’er on with Yellow Springs Brewery. Peace, love and Springer!

Ale Feast 2017: “Must Drinks” for Feb. 4th

January 29, 2017 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Feb 4th, 2017: Ale Feast

We are foodies. We embrace craft beers. There is an event that combines these two passions…

Jennifer Dean & Amanda Pond and crew are presenting 2017’s Ale Feast on Feb 4th at the Masonic Temple again this year. The always filling, always popular event is a chance to sample some local restaurant tastes, while sipping local and national beers. It is always a showcase spectacle as attendees go from booth to booth partaking in eating and drinking at each stop.

This year there will be 15 restaurant booths and almost 80 beer choices to sample. Each booth has wine options too !

Sounds like one hell of a Food Adventure….

Line to enter the event

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON ALE FEAST 2017:

—WHEN: SAT. FEB 4th from 4pm-7pm

—WHERE: THE MASONIC TEMPLE at 525 W Riverview Ave, Dayton

—COST: $40 in advance, $60 at the door – get tickets online HERE

—TICKETS: May be bought at Arrow Wine (Both locations), Belmont Party Supply, Dorothy Lane Market (All locations), Fifth Street Brewpub, Mudlick Taphouse, and Warped Wing.

Restaurants will be serving samples at each booth

Which Restaurants will be there? What beers will be available?

Food Adventures has some insight on what foods will be available and we have some recommendations on what beers are “MUST DRINKS”

Here is the lineup of foods booths with MUST EATS and MUST DRINKS:

Table 1)-DOROTHY LANE MARKET:
MUST EAT: A complete spread of cheeses, including these diverse choices: French Raclette, Champignon Grand Noir, Barber’s 1833 Vintage cheddar, Laura Chenel Fresh Chèvre, Comte Gruyere, Wisconsin Cheddar cheese curds, Belletoile Triple Cream Brie.
MUST DRINK: You have to go local here with a Lock 27 Citra Hopped Sunfish, a rare, citrus infused version of their pale ale. Honorable mention to a beer at this booth called Unibroue’s La fin Du Monde, a rare golden ale brewed the way of the Trappist monks.

Table 2)-FIFTH STREET BREWPUB:

Over 75 beers to try, and wine selections too !

MUST EAT: Pork Sliders with Chimichurri and Jalapeno’s. Oh Fifth Street Brewpub, we love your food…
MUST DRINK: Rhinegeist’s Andromeda, this Cincinnati brewery touts the beer as having freshly cut grass flavor as well as peach and orange. This Pale Ale also uses a rare Australian Galaxy Hops. Sounds like a unique choice to us!

We love that this new BBQ place in Lebanon will be at Ale Feast

Table 3)-DOUBLE D’s BBQ:
MUST EAT: Hickory smoked pulled pork slider and a beef brisket slider. We love this place out of Lebanon. Top your sliders with a choice of house made sauces including a Sweet BBQ , Spicy BBQ or Carolina spicy mustard sauce.
MUST DRINK: Two stick out here. Deschutes Black Butte Porter from Oregon, with hints of chocolate and coffee. Also, Avery Out of Bounds Stout, brewed in Colorado promises a more flavorful stout than you are used to.

There will be chocolate

Table 4)-ESTHER PRICE CANDIES:
MUST EAT: Beer Brittle and Dark Sea Salt Caramel. Prepare to get lost in iconic, local chocolate bliss.
MUST DRINK: Go local then go Alaskan here. Hairless Hare Brewery‘s Buckeye Nation, a chocolate peanut butter porter, will be on draft out of Vandalia. Also try an Alaskan beer called “Hopothermia,” a double IPA.

Table 5)-MUDLICK TAPHOUSE:
MUST EAT: Flat bread topped with caramelized onions, goat cheese & bacon.
MUST DRINK: Alesmith Wee Heavy Scotch Ale, a sweet and malty choice from San Diego, California.

Dont miss this Feb 4th event

Table 6)-BRIXX ICE CO:
MUST EAT: Perogies with Wild Mushroom Gravy, a Polish specialty.
MUST DRINK: Three to highlight here – Okicim, a Pilsner from Poland. Trogenator Double Bock, a six month bourbon barrel bock from Hershey, Pennsylvania. Finally from Dayton Beer Company, an ale called “Blond Ale with Blood Orange.”

Table 7)-COLDWATER CAFE:

Thirsty Dog Brews will be on hand

MUST EAT: Chicken & Waffles with local maple syrup and a spicy honey mustard aioli. Are you kidding? How delicious does that sound?
MUST DRINK: Two local selections-Yellow Spring’s Night Dark Saison Specialty on tap (very rare), and Crooked Handle’s Short Fuze IPA, also on draft out of Springboro.

Table 8)-EL MESON:
MUST EAT: Chicken with Mole – Traditional Mexican chicken with chocolate and served with tortillas. A unique, delicious recipe from one of Dayton’s best.
MUST DRINK: Breckenridge Agave Wheat from Colorado is probably the perfect pairing, but the 5 Rabbit Vulture spiced beer, a South American amber ale brewed in Chicago is notable.

Table 9)-THE PUB at THE GREENE:
MUST EAT: Smoked Gouda Chicken Pasta. Wow, that sounds flavorful..
MUST DRINK: 10 Barrel Brewing Company’s “Joe IPA” out of Oregon or a local choice from Toxic Brewery on draft “Abby XXXX Quad”

Cheese, wine, beer

Table 10)-BROCK MASTERSON’S CATERING:
MUST EATS: Turkey & Noodles with locally raised free range turkey mixed with special giblet gravy and baked with house made noodles; Beef & Noodles with locally sourced beef brisket roasted with fiesta dust, simmered in its own juices and tossed with house made noodles.
MUST DRINK: Thirsty Dog’s Cerasus Dog on Draft, out of Akron. An oak aged, flanders style red brew, fermented with wild yeast and Michigan cherries.

Table 11)-THE WANDERING GRIFFIN:

You will love the variety of beer and eats

MUST EAT: Beef on Weck Slider – Thinly sliced slow roasted beef served on a kimmelweck bun with horseradish. Old school eats from the new kid on the block.
MUST DRINK: Dark Horse Special Reserve Black, it doesnt get darker than this rare beer from Marshall, Michigan. Want to go Ohio instead? Try North High Pale Ale out of Columbus, you guessed it, North High Brewery.

Local Breweries will be well represented

Table 12)-THE AMBER ROSE:
MUST EAT: Cinnamon Applewood Smoked Pork Loin. Amber Rose is one of the most unsung food spots in the Miami Valley.
MUST DRINK: First Press, a hard cider from Ciderboys Brewery out of Wisconsin. A tart, sparkling hard cider that is hard to find.

Table 13)-TWISTED RIVER COFFEE:
MUST DRINK: Coffee Station, if your butt needs to sober up.

All styles of brews

Table 14)-PINK RIBBON GIRLS– CHARITY PARTNER:
MUST DRINK: Cidergeist Bubbles, a peach and cranberry hard cider made by Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist Brewery.

Table 15)-MADISONO’S GELATO:
MUST EAT: Selection of Gelato from Cincinnati, including Caramel & Sea Salt, Madagascar Vanilla, and Double Dark Chocolate
MUST DRINK: Dayton’s own Warped Wing Pirogue w/cold brew coffee on draft, or Southern Tier Brewery’s Creme Brulee from Lakewood, New York.

Full House

WHEW! What a rundown for a Food Adventure.

Don’t miss out ! Get your tickets .. again, you can find them online HERE or at Arrow Wine (Both locations), Belmont Party Supply, Dorothy Lane Market (All locations), Fifth Street Brewpub, Mudlick Taphouse, and Warped Wing. Also keep your eye on DaytonDining’s Facebook page for a ticket giveaaway!

For more foodie fun, “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE:

Lots of choices

Goose Island will be on hand

Brews on ice

Welcoming the Pedal Pub & The Pedal Wagon to Downtown

January 26, 2017 By Lisa Grigsby

Earlier this week we announced the arrival of The Pedal Wagon in Dayton. This Cincinnati based business has been operating these mobile pub crawls in Over the Rhine since 2012 and recently expanded their territory to showcase more of the city. The Pedal Wagon operates fourteen wagons year-round in Cincinnati and Columbus and has around 50 seasonal employees. And this spring, they’ll be bringing two pedal powered vehicles to the Oregon District. Exact debut dates are awaiting approval by the powers that be at the City of Dayton, for licenses and routes.

“We aim to provide a unique experience for our riders,” says Jen, the manager of Columbus and the new Dayton market. “We owe it to our partnering bars & restaurants for providing great service. We have set up a variety of routes and keep a constant line of communication open with them in order for operations to run smoothly. We have been talking to a lot of bars and restaurants in Dayton for some time now, and are excited to bring them more business very soon!”

The Pedal Wagon was voted in the top three outdoor activities on Trip Advisor in Cincinnati and has become an icon in Cincinnati and Columbus. “We are looking to become a part of the Oregon District too and give back to the community; while having fun, of course! Our main goal is to bring business to businesses and help expose Oregon District’s new and old establishments. Riders tend to book for events such as birthday parties, bachelorette and bachelor parties, company outings, family celebrations, and much more. People seem to be smiling non-stop and having a great time while riding with us. It really makes the job a lot easier when you know people are truly enjoying the service we’re providing.”

Your’ll have the option of reserving a private ride for up to 15 or just booking a couple of seats on a public ride. For more details, or to book a ride on one of the Pedal Wagon’s cruises, visit www.PedalWagon.com or email Jen@PedalWa gon.com.

But wait, there’s another Pedaling Pub coming to Dayton

Just as I posted the picture of the Pedal Wagon on our DaytonDining Facebook page, I got an email fromLindsay Kleinhenz with her partner Chad Banter have been working for the last 8 months with the city to get approval and licenses for their Dayton Pedaling Pub. They’ll be partnering with Warped Wing, starting their tours their, heading to Toxic Brew Company and Dayton Beer Company.

Lindsay and Chad both work at Miami Valley Hospital and are excited to be young entrepreneurs that are sourcing much of their business needs locally, including signage, merchant services and more. The actual vehicle was hand built by a retired engineer in Jacksonville, FL. Their pub will have seats for up to 13 (with the 14th seat being for the sober leader). They anticipate a 2 hour pub crawl will run about $25.

We can’t wait for these two new businesses to start cruising through the Oregon district, and hmm wonder how many calories you burn pedaling for beer? This may become my new summer workout! Who’s with me?

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

January 17, 2017 By Brian Petro

Dayton 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 6^th Annual Dayton Brew-Ha-Ha on January 28^th 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.

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.

Cheers to The First Year at Crooked Handle

December 22, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Being A Nerd Is Not Dead: Welcome D20!

December 19, 2016 By Brian Petro Leave a Comment

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.

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.

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.

(Not A) Dive Bar Tuesday: The Dark Horse Tavern

December 6, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to the Dark Horse Tavern!

In 1831, Benjamin Disraeli wrote the book The Young Duke. It is a book about a young orphan who comes into a vast sum of money and starts to squander it before the love of a woman shows him the error of his ways. During his party days, he spent a good deal of time at the track, betting on the horses as he drank and wooed the ladies. There was some excitement at the track that day; “a dark horse which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed in the list, rushed past the grandstand in sweeping triumph.” Disraeli penned the first written usage in history of the term “dark horse” to describe a victory that comes from an unexpected place. The book became a bestseller, and the phrase entered the English language. Daytonians don’t think of obscure British literature when a friend mentions a dark horse. They reflect on some of the best barbecue in the city, well-prices drinks, and an experience that they thought they had lost three months ago.

The Dark Horse Tavern (209 Byers Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342) closed abruptly at the end of July when owner Dennis Williams discovered the difficulty of operating a thriving bar and a construction company. Something gave, and unfortunately for their loyal patrons it was the Dark Horse. However, people saw the potential of a favorite bar and restaurant in its just-off-the-beaten-path location. Nikky Vontz was an employee there many years back, in the heyday of the restaurant. She knew that with the right people in place, it could get back to those glory days. In the three months they were closed, she negotiated with Mr. Williams to get the Horse up and running again. Her persistence paid off; on November 19th, the Dark Horse Tavern was back and ready for business!

Patrons who were familiar with the previous incarnation of the space would not notice anything was amiss. The upstairs was clean and ready for patrons, and there were few cosmetic changes to the bar or restaurant area. The big smoker in the back was getting the meat ready as quickly as people were ordering it, covering a menu that is “tailored after the forerunners in the cowboy cooking method.” That method provides a little something for everyone, from fantastic sandwiches to plates covered in hickory smoked deliciousness and smothered with sauce. They have lighter fare if you are looking for a good piece of fish or a light salad for the evening, and a kids menu for the younguns. From what we tried, and heard from others, the food was fantastic. We heard that even some visiting Texans were impressed by the brisket and ribs the Dark Horse was serving. That says something about what you are about to experience when you eat here.

The drinks are where you may start seeing some differences. The whole staff here is new, and that is the way Nikky Vontz wants it. As the general manager, she is responsible for the smooth running of every aspect of the restaurant. She wanted a clean slate to work from, and she has it. Nikky is making sure that the cocktails, beers, and wines that flow from her staff are appropriately portioned and not too stressful on the wallet. The talent she is working with has hit the ground running. The bottles behind the bar are neatly lined up and ready for efficiency, and she is going to be running specials over the next few months to introduce us to the new menu. The first specialty: The Bad Lands, their house margarita. There are six taps and a wide bottle selection that will appeal to every palate, from Bud Light to local craft IPAs and stouts. The taps will constantly be rotating with the seasons and the tastes of the patrons.

The second floor is ready for the holidays!

Moving forward, Ms. Vontz has big plans. She is currently booking bands for spring of 2017, and the spots are starting to fill up. Karaoke has come back to Tuesday night, and trivia will be returning on Wednesday nights. Ladies’ Night will occupy the Thursday night slot and some low-key musical acts on Friday nights. Large groups (up to fifty people) can use the upstairs space, complete with your bar and a food selection that you create from their menu. If you can’t make it to the tavern for the food, have the tavern bring it to you! They will cater off-site events. Ms. Vontz is looking forward to the Dark Horse Tavern offering their room for charity events, with one or two in 2017 that she already has in the works. The new management gives new life for this Dayton staple, and they are going to make the most of it.

When a restaurant closes that abruptly, it is a long shot that it will reopen. The new blood running the bar and ownership took that shot, and are going to work hard to make sure they are successful. The Dark Horse Tavern is open for business again. Everything has changed there, but nothing changed. Welcome back to the Dayton restaurant scene Dark Horse Tavern!

The Dark Horse Tavern is located at 209 Byers Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342. They are open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 12:30 AM, and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 AM until 2 AM. You can contact them at (937) 866-6960, or through their Facebook Page.

900 Bottles of Beer

December 4, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

The first Wednesday of each month Mike Schwartz from Belmont Party Supply picks 9 beers for folks to sample and then teaches beer school at Trolley Stop in the Oregon District. Novice or expert, there’s always something to learn about the beer, the hops used, the barrels used for aging or some other aspect in the process that affects the flavor of the liquid.

And this Wednesday, December 7th at 7pm will be Beer Tasting #100 and that’s a big reason to celebrate! That means 900 beers have been tasted and rated by the crowd’s that show up for this monthly event.

If you want to be at #100 plan on arriving early, these do sell out on a regular basis. We even hear there will be free t-shirts for the first 25 in attendance. Cost for the tasting is $25 and includes light snacks.

Check out the list of beers available for this tasting:

Heavy Seas Below Decks Barrel Aged Barleywine
NorthCoast 2016 Barrel Aged Rasputin
Mad Tree Bourbon Barrel Aged Axis Mundi
Against the Grain /Hoof Hearted Clearly Everybody Wants Some
Stone Unfiltered Enjoy By 12.25.16
Jackie O’s BA Noble Sorrel
Spencer Holiday Ale
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Three Floyds Dreadnaught

Beavercreek Brewery Sets Opening Date

November 21, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Wandering Griffin Brewery & Pub, the first independently owned microbrewery restaurant in Beavercreek, announced it will have a soft opening on Wednesday, November 23 starting at 6 am followed by its grand opening on Friday, December 2 at 6 am. During the grand opening, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon. The Mayor of Beavercreek will be in attendance.

Wandering Griffin, managed by principle owners Brian Young and Tony Griffin in conjunction with a number of investors, offers patrons a unique dining experience with its 1930s art deco dining room and bar, 1860s reclaimed wood taproom and coffee bar. It has extensive lunch and dinner menus and full bar service.

Chefs Kenneth Mangus and Jason Breitenstien, formerly of Coco’s Bistro and Winds Café respectively, head up the kitchen and have created lunch and dinner menus that feature locally-sourced and housemade appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches and entrées, including tater tots, beef on weck, pork belly grilled cheese, gourmet pizza and pan seared salmon. The bar includes handcrafted beers, an array of wine and signature cocktails. The brewery and pub also offers a large partially covered patio with a bar and outdoor televisions.

The full-service coffee bar, aptly named Wanderlust, is located in the heart of the brewery and pub. The coffee bar is open daily 6:30 am – 3 pm and will offer drive-through service from 6 am – 10 am on weekdays and 7 am – 10 am on weekends.

Wandering Griffin isn’t offering its own craft beer yet, but expects to start brewing mid to late 2017. Brian Young states that, “This is a very exciting time for the beer scene in the greater Dayton region, and we are happy to be a part of it. Our aim is to provide a variety of locally-brewed craft beers and guest taps until we’re brewing our own. When we do brew our own, we plan to offer a variety of styles, including lagers.”

Wandering Griffin is located at 3725 Presidential Drive, Beavercreek, Ohio 45324. It’s open 11 am – 11 pm Monday – Thursday, 11 am – midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 am – 10 pm Sunday. Wanderlust coffee bar service begins daily at 6:30 am. Food service begins daily at 11 am.

For more information, visit wanderinggriffin.com or call 937-956-5216.

Whiskey Rebellion This Saturday at Warped Wing

November 16, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

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Joe Head from The Century Bar with Warped Wing brewmaster John Haggerty

Warped Wing Brewing Co. will release Whiskey Rebellion and other rare Barrel Aged beers on Saturday, November 19rd. Festivities begin at noon at the brewery located at 26 Wyandot St, just north of the Oregon District.
Help celebrate the 2016 draught and can release of Whiskey Rebellion. A Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout, Whiskey Rebellion was born in collaboration with Dayton’s only bourbon house, The Century Bar. In addition to the can and draught release, they’ll be tapping some rare barrel aged beers from our Brewmaster, John Haggerty’s cellar along with other Whiskey variants. The special tappings will be on the hour from 12-5pm. They’ll also be serving up live Bluegrass music from local bands. For football fans they’ll be bringing in extra big screen TV’s for your viewing pleasure.
Attendees can also pick 2-Packs of 16oz cans of Whiskey Rebellion, that will be exclusively available in the taproom so pick them up while they last.

Warped Wing Brewing Co. is a craft brewery inspired by Dayton’s rich history of innovation and invention. They are committed to carrying that spirit forward in today’s craft beer scene by brewing new proprietary beer styles and our own “warped” interpretations. They also focus on creating unique seasonal and specialty beers.

They have a full-scale production brewery in the heart of downtown Dayton in the site of the old Buckeye Brass & Iron Foundry circa 1938. They brew and distribute their beers to local restaurants, bars, grocery and retailers in the Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus markets.

Yellow Springs Brewery’s Cans Get a Redesign

November 9, 2016 By Kevin Gray

On Friday, November 11^th, Yellow Springs Brewery will be holding a Metamorphosis Party to celebrate the official unveiling of their new can designed. The can design will be an extension of the new logo the brewery unveiled late last month.

Why the makeover? Co-owner Lisa Wolters explains that, “We were not unhappy with the old logo, but when we tried to apply it to our package, it didn’t lend itself to what we had in mind.” Namely, while the cans themselves looked great, the brewery name in the logo was hard to read, obviously a situation not conducive to retail sales.

The new logo retains the eagle from the original logo, but in the update, the eagle becomes the main focal point. “Eagles can mean a lot of things — freedom, strength, vision — but to Yellow Springs Brewery, the eagle suggests a certain spirit. A spirit that means you have the freedom, strength, and vision to reach higher, to not just accept the status quo, to embrace new perspectives and to dream,” explains Wolters. “It a was simplistic idea,” she elaborates, “the American entrepreneurial spirit. That’s who we are.”

The brewery’s new logo and can designs are a creation of Don Pendleton, a nationally recognized artist residing in Dayton. Pendleton has a connection with Yellow Spring Brewery’s salesperson Shawn Combs, who worked with Pendleton at Alien Workshop. Nate Cornett, the brewery’s other co-owner, and Wolters were fans of Pendleton’s work and were eager to have his help on redesigning the cans.

With its geometric shapes and muted colors, the new logo is reflective of Pendleton’s work. The burnt yellow and the purple were retained to tie into the existing Yellow Springs branding (which will be slowly phased out). The new cans will feature a single signature color per brand, so consumers will be able to differentiate beers like Zoetic from Captain Stardust. The logo itself will tie the brands together and retain consistency among labels.

The brewery’s taproom doubles as a gallery for local artists, and at The Metamorphosis Party, Pendleton’s art will be on display and for sale (for a sneak peak, check out his website. < http://www.elephont.com>). The party starts at 3 pm with a lineup of special Captain Stardust and Zoetic tappings (the Stardust variants include versions with coffee, biscotti, strawberry daiguiri, grapefruit, and one served on nitro. There will also be a habanero Zoetic variant). Stick around as they unveil additional limited releases throughout the night: Gindust (5 pm), Zoetic with mango (6 pm), Captain Stardust with sour cherry (7 pm) and Zoetic with grapefruit (8 pm).

The party runs from 3-10 pm and will feature merchandise with the new logo, a photo booth, and food available to purchase from Harvest Food Truck. The brewery is located at 305 North Walnut Street, Suite B; Yellow Springs, OH 45387. For more information, contact Lisa Wolters at 937-767- 0222 or find them on the web at www.yellowspringsbrewery.com.

Holiday Beer Tasting To Benefit House of Bread

November 1, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

The winter season holds many gifts for beer lovers in the form of big, bold ales designed to fend off the cold chill of a long winter’s night.

The 2nd Annual Beerry Christmas Dayton has gathered up a couple dozen of these winter warmers for a joyous holiday celebration on Saturday, November 5th to benefit the House of Bread, a non-profit community kitchen serving hot, nutritious, lunchtime meals to anyone in need 7 days a week to anyone hungry that shows us at their door between 11:30am and 1pm.

There are so many holiday ales, porters and stouts to choose from every holiday season, this event is perfect to sample many of them before you commit to buying your holiday stash!

Here’s how the event works:

Buy a ticket (just $25 in advance- buy online, or $30 at the door)
A sponsorship from Westminster Financial has helped us keep our ticket prices low.

Show up at Kettering Tower (corner of 2nd & Main St.) between 4-7pm

Get your Souvenir tasting glass and 15 tickets, each good for a 4 oz sample
Thank you to Iworks Laser & Vision Center for our adorable glassaware!

Choose from 25 beer, each paired with treats from Whole Foods that include

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Ginger Snaps
Yogurt Covered Pretzels
Butter Toffee Peanuts
Milk & Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallows
Toasted Coconut Chips

Oh, and be sure and get your picture taken with Santa. Bonus- if the picture turns out great, you can use if for your Christmas Card this year- plenty of time to have them made! Our photo booth is run by Liftoff Entertainment and sponsored by the fine folks at Andrew Gaydosh & Asociates, the Real Estate Experts!

New Additions to the event this year include a Chinese Raffle. Buy tickets for $5, $3 for 10 or 8 for $20 and put them into the box corresponding with the prize you most covet. Some of the goodies include a deluxe beer cooler, Beer Advent Boxes, Restaurant Gift Cards and more.

Bonbright Distributors has donated lots of beer glassware and you can score some of these collectibles by bringing a donation for the House of Bread, from their most wanted list. Here’s what Executive Director Melody Bennett has told us they most need:

Coffee
Salad Dressing (Ranch & Italian)
Peanut butter and Jelly (in non-breakable jars)
Pancake mix and syrup.

Held in the heart of downtown, Beerry Christmas Dayton celebrates these winter ales created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season. From Belgians and Barleywines to Stouts and Sours, these beers are rich, robust and full of complex flavors.

While the beer list is not complete, we’re waiting on arrivals, here’s what we can confirm:

Ballast Point Cinnamon Raisin Commodore
Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale
Breckenridge Christmas Ale
Death by Coconut
CM Christkindl
Fat Heads Holly Jolly
Goose Island Festivity
Great Lake Christmas Ale
Great Lakes Ohio City Oatmeal Stout
Heavy Seas Winter Storm
Holly Jolly
Java Man
MadTree Thundersnow
Nutcracker Ale
Rhinegeist Dad
Sam Adams White Christmas
Southern Tier 2xmas Double Spiced Ale
Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale
Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs
Thundersnow
Warped Wing Esther’s Li’l Secret
Winter Storm
60 Minute IPA

So come toast to the spirits of the season. We look forward to seeing you on Sat, November 5th…Cheers!
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For the 3rd Year Warped Wing & Esther Price Brew A Beer

October 28, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

From left, Doug Dressman, Esther Price vice president of operations, Jim Day, Esther Price President and CEO and John Haggerty, Warped Wing Brewmaster

What’s this year’s Esther’s Li’l Secret creation? Sorry, we’re not telling. It’s a secret. But there’s one way to find out. Come to the official ELS release party at the brewery. Rumor has it you won’t be disappointed.

Esther Price had a dream. To open a store. And share with the world her made-by-hand, made-with-love confections. So for 30 years, to the bliss of taste-testers, otherwise known as family and friends, she perfected a timeless selection of delectable confections. In 1952, the doors to her first store in Dayton, Ohio swung open. And the world rushed in. Esther’s chocolates quickly became, and remain, the Midwest’s most beloved. Her Secret? Some things are better sipped than said.

This partnership created a Scotch Ale in 2014, last year it was a milk chocolate brown ale and we’ll have to wait another week to see what this year brings.

To celebrate the 2016 release, Warped Wing will be kicking off a sweet spun event on November 3 rd at the brewery beginning at 5pm. The party will feature the release of this year’s secret beer along with a special Esther Price Candy pairing to compliment this year’s offering.

This is the first opportunity to taste the beer before it hits the retail market November 7th. The beer will be available on draft in select restaurants and bars. It will also be available in one-of-a-kind collectable 4-Pack 16oz cans in retail establishments’ as well as our taproom.

Beer List for Dia De Las Cervezas Revealed + Ticket Give Away

October 25, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Ohio’s craft brewers are concocting frighteningly flavorful beers and the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is launching a haunting event to celebrate them. The inaugural Dia de las Cervezas, a costumes-encouraged beer tasting, will take place on Saturday, October 29 from 5:00 – 9:00 pm at the significantly-spooky Top of the Market in Dayton. Thirty-plus Ohio craft breweries will sample brews old and new at an event that will also feature live music, food trucks, a costume contest and more.

Schedule for Dia de las Cervezas
•4:00 p.m. – VIP and Enthusiast Member early entry and beer sampling begins
•4:00 – 9:00 p.m. – The Deli and food trucks open (Pa’s Pork and The Drunken Waffle)
•5:00 p.m. – General Admission entry
•5:00 – 9:00 – face painting, tarot card readings
•5:00 – 6:30 p.m. – music by Team Void
•6:45 – 8:45 p.m. – music by The AmpFibians
•8:00 p.m. – costume contest
•9:00 p.m. – Dia de las Cervezas ends…procession to Hauntfest on Fifth

General Admission: $40 advance, $50 at the door Includes 40 tickets for 2 oz. samples.

VIP: $60 advance, $75 at the door Includes the above, plus early admission at 4:00PM, access to a VIP-only area, and special beer.

Designated Driver Ticket: $20 (May enter with VIP or GA) Includes a non-alcoholic beverage and a food voucher. Sampling strictly prohibited.

You must be at least 21 years of age to attend. Buy tickets online.

DMM Giveaway: We’ve got a pair of tickets to giveaway- To enter our giveaway share this article on your Facebook Page and leave a comment below on why you should win these tickets! Winners: Tracy Hieatt & Power Skirt

Participating breweries include:
Black Cloister Brewing Company (Toledo): Barrel Aged True Scotsman Scotch Ale, Flapjack-O-Lantern Pumpkin beer made with Barrel aged maple syrup

The Brew Kettle (Strongsville): White Rajah, Strangeville, El Lupulo Libre

Carillon Brewing Company (Dayton): Sour Porter, Coriander Ale

Cellar Dweller Craft Beers (Morrow): Corporal Khaos Pale Ale, Eye Opener Hazelnut Coffee Cream Stout, Jeremiah Morrow IPA, Uncle Ronnie Pale Ale, Experimental Hop Ron Mexico.

Christian Moerlein Brewing Company (Cincinnati): Shiver Chai Porter, Bay of Bengal Double IPA
Crooked Handle Brewing Co. (Springboro): Roadside Peanut Butter Porter, Witcher Pumpkin Ale

The Dayton Beer Company (Dayton): Midnight Dream Russian Imperial Stout, Codebreaker DIPA

Eudora Brewing Company (Dayton): Oktoberfest, Mother Fuggle Brown Ale

Fat Head’ s Brewery (Middleburg Heights): Pumpkin Chucker, Alpenglow, Head Hunter, Sunshine Daydream

Fifth Street Brewpub (Dayton): Single Hop Amarillo, Jo-Jo’s Midnight Stout

Fifty West Brewing Co. (Cincinnati): Doom Pedal White Ale, Punch you in the EyePA, Shred Red IPA, 50W Lager

FigLeaf Brewing Co. (Middletown): Basmati Cream Ale, Saison Rouge (Red Saison), Isotrope (IPA), Ponderous (Porter)

Four String Brewing Company (Columbus): Brass Knuckle, Payback Pilsner, Switchblade IPA

Great Lakes Brewing Company (Cleveland): Nosferatu, Eliot Ness

Hairless Hare Brewery (Vandalia): Barrel Aged Brown Barrel Bomber, Barrel Aged Buckeye Nation,
Hoppocrisy Session IPA, Dusty Roads Imperial Wit, Rye The Hell Knot

Homestead Beer Co. (Heath): Pumpkin Ale, Snake Oil Super Pale Ale

Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery (Athens): Dark Appartion (Russian Imperial Stout), Meigs County Black (Black IPA)

Lineage Brewing (Columbus): Passion Fruit/ Guava Berliner Weiss, Golden Brett ale aged in wine barrels, Spaceship #6 IPA

Little Fish Brewing Company (Athens): Notes from the Understory (Paw Paw Brett beer),

Woodthrush (Biere de Garde), Double Harvey’s (Imperial Milk Stout)

Lock 27 Brewing (Centerville): Mouth Breather IPA, Oat Rodeo Stout, Mashie Niblick 90p (Scottish Ale)

Lucky Star Brewery (Miamisburg): Mucho Michelada, OjOs LoCoS (Mexican Lager)

MadTree Brewing (Cincinnati): Blood Orange PsycHOPathy, BBA YOBR, PSA

North High Brewing (Columbus): Pale Ale, Thunderkiss Milk Stout

The Phoenix Brewing Company (Mansfield): Mary Jane Chai Baltic Porter, Black Aggie Russian Imperial Stout, Undertaker Imperial Red Rye IPA, Santa Muerte Spiced Imperial Chocolate Stout

Pinups and Pints (Medway): Pinup Pale Ale

Platform Beer Company (Cleveland): Lair Slayer, High Brow, Esther (Belgian Dark Strong Ale), Speed Merchant, New Cleveland, Palesner

Seventh Son Brewing (Columbus): Wilderman (Autumn Farmhouse Ale), Proliferous DIPA

Thirsty Dog Brewing Company (Akron): Ol Choco (Milk Stout), 12 Dogs of Christmas, Citra Dog (American IPA)

Toxic Brew Company (Dayton): Toxic Blonde, Uno Mas Mexican Lime Lager

Urban Artifact (Cincinnati): Whirligig (Wild Blueberry Ale), Finn (Berliner Pale Ale), Pickle Gose (Pickle Gose)

Warped Wing Brewing Company (Dayton): Creepshow Smoked Porter, Irreverent Red IPA, Trotwood Lager, Gamma Bomb IPA, 10 Ton Oatmeal Stout, Barn Gang Saison

Yellow Springs Brewery (Yellow Springs): Captain Stardust (saison), Zoetic (american pale ale), Barrel Aged Bloodsmoke (imperial smoked red ale), S’more Handsome (variant of our american brown ale w/ marshmallow, chocolate & graham cracker), Andy Paxitup (fresh hopped IPA – VIP ONLY)

Big Beers gets even Bigger!

September 26, 2016 By Kevin Gray

A preview to the annual rare beer festival, this time with no ABV cap.

Dayton has a lot of great festivals, but there’s one that stands above the rest in terms of selection of rare beers. Big Beers and Barley Wines, which returns this Saturday, October 1, to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds Roundhouse, is a festival for beer geeks, put on by beer geeks. Organizers work for months in advance with breweries and distributors to cherry pick the line-up of nearly 90 beers, carving out one-off beers, pub exclusives, and limited releases and combining them with vintages of old favorites, beers seeing their festival debut, and beers created exclusively for the event.

This year promises to be the biggest yet. While previous Big Beers have showcased giant barley wines and imperial stouts, those beers were capped at 12% alcohol by volume (ABV) by Ohio law. Not so in 2016—the cap was lifted on August 31^st. Mike Schwartz, a founding member of the event team and owner of Ollie’s Place, Belmont Party Supply, and BrewTensils, drove the planning team to think big for this year’s line-up. “Big Beers and Barley Wines’ goal is to bring as many rare beers to the beer connoisseur as possible,” Schwartz explains. “This year with the alcohol cap removed, we have put the emphasis on Big Beers!”

Big Beers and Barley Wines will be the first regional festival to present these huge beers, and Gus Stathes, the main beer buyer for the event (and beer guru at Ollie’s Place) has been like a kid in a candy shop, lining up beers that were not available in Ohio before. “We’ve always focused on securing the most exciting and special beers that we can get our hand on for this festival,” explains Stathes. “This year’s list is more exciting in that without an ABV cap, we have access to a much more broad spectrum of options.” Beers like Hebrew Jewbelation 17 and Deschutes Abyss 2015 are scheduled to see their Ohio festival debut, alongside local and regional giants like Hoppin’ Frog T.O.R.I.S. The Tyrant triple oatmeal imperial stout, Dayton Beer Company’s Midnight Dream Raspberry Imperial Stout and a Evil Twin’s Molotov Heavy, an enormously hoppy triple IPA.

But don’t let the focus on huge beers prevent you from trying those with a more “modest” ABV. Look for cellar projects from Green Flash like Oculus Savage and Nocturna Morta Boysenberry. Quaff Brothers killed it last year with their Orange Melvin and are promising more of the same in 2016. This year, they’ve teamed up with MadTree to create Gus Juice, a Gnarley Brown barrel-aged variant with honey, cocoa nibs and cinnamon named after one of the festival’s organizers. MadTree also has three rarities on the docket under their own name: a brown ale called Ford the Mill, a wild ale named Chamomile Levanto, and a 2015 BA Coffee Axis Mundi.

Want to go even more local? Nearly all of the Miami Valley local brewers will be attending. Warped Wing BA Abominator was a hit last year and returns this year, this time infused with Maple. Toxic’s Barrel Aged Night Ender is also scheduled to make an appearance—a boozy variant on an already deceptively boozy imperial stout. Fig Leaf, which is opening in Middletown the first week in October, will debut their Ponderous Porter—try it at the festival days before you’ll be able to try it at the taproom. And when you’re ready for dessert, seek out Eudora’s Mother Fuggle on chocolate covered bananas—a dessert beer indeed.

What makes the event even better than the fantastic beer line-up is the worthwhile cause it supports. “Not only is Big Beers & Barley Wines the premier craft beer tasting event in the region, 100% of the proceeds benefit the Resident Home Association of Greater Dayton, Inc.,” explains Peter Roll, RHA Executive Director. “Resident Home provides services to people with developmental disabilities where the primary source of funding is Medicaid dollars. Those dollars do not fully meet the needs of the people we serve. Events like Big Beers help us provide for those unmet needs. This helps us buy clothing, pay for uncovered dental services, purchase new eye glasses, pay for leisure activities and other things on our clients’ wish lists.”

Established in 1966 by a group of parents with developmentally disabled children, RHA has expanded to now provide homes, daily living support and services to around 80 adult individuals in the community. Pam Skelly is the event organizer with RHA. She notes that, “Big Beers is near and dear to my heart as it is with so many other participants—Big Beers gives us the chance to enjoy and talk beer with fellow beer geeks.” Skelly also emphasizes how the event funds the RHA wish list: “The RHA wish list helps us to support the hobbies and individual interests of the people we serve. The people we serve derive so much joy from the little things in life—a country concert, a night out for pizza and a movie, jewelry-making parties and so much more; supporting these hobbies and interests is so very important. We could not do any of this without the support of the Dayton beer community.”

The Dayton-based non-profit employs a staff of full- and part-time resources and works with other organizations such as Sinclair Community College and Choices in Community Living to extend their reach into the community. The web of support that RHA provides their clients through their various programs and partnerships gives their clients the assistance to live and work with a high level of autonomy within the community. Roll adds, “When you support Big Beers, you are supporting a very worthy cause and we very much appreciate our patrons.”

All proceeds from the event go to the RHA. This year, Big Beer and Barley Wines Beer Fest will be held inside the Roundhouse at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on October 1, 2016 from 4 to 8pm.

Early ticket sales have surpassed previous years’ numbers, so the organizers are expecting a possible sellout and they are advising would-be attendees to get tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door (if available). Tickets may be purchased at Ollie’s Place, Belmont Party Supply, BrewTensils, 5th Street Wine & Deli, The Barrel House, Bee Gee’s Market, Chappy’s Tap Room, Kings Table, Lucky’s Tap Room, South Park Tavern, Thai 9 and Trolley Stop or on the web at www.bigbeersdayton.com.

Warped Wing Does It Again

September 20, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

When night falls, spirits rise. A ghostly figure, a redheaded woman, drifts the city tracks, eternally lost.
The anguish of the departed, a man who impaled himself on an orchestra pit chair, chills a historic theater.
Forlorn howls and scraping claws-wolves, buried with their owner, alive-seep from a nearby mausoleum.
CreepShow Smoked Porter. Smokey. Malty. Dark as Dayton without a moon.

Join Warped Wing at 26 Wyandot Street, for the CreepShow Smoked Porter Release Party on Thursday, September 22!

According to Ratebeer.com this seasonal smoked porter is tan/brown in color with dark malt flavors such as roast, chocolate, vanilla along with a mildly assertive smoked malt flavor and aroma. Finishes dry with a smoky after taste. ABV: 6.66% – IBU: 40