Dayton On Tap

A New Peoples Choice Voted In At Beer!

July 16, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

Over 500 beer lovers gathered today at The Yellow Cab Tavern for the annual annual beer tasting event that is a celebration of Dayton brewing culture. All of the Dayton area breweries submited one beer for tasting and attendees were able to try a 6oz pour from all 13 breweries. Then you get to vote for your three favorite in this unique “people’s choice” event.

Musical entertainment by Todd The Fox, and outdoor games like cornhole and giant jenga kept the crowd entertained and food trucks kept them fed, as they worked their way through the following beer list:

Star City Brewing Adena APA American Pale Ale

Hairless Hare Brewery Strawberry Kolsch

Crooked Handle Roadside Peanut Butter Porter

Dayton Beer Co Upright Kolsch

Fifth St Brew Pub Mango Cure All Cream Ale

Brewery representatives.

Carillon Brewing Co Berliner Weisse

Lock 27 Wicked Hopsta IPA

Warped Wing Trotwood Lager

Eudora Mother Fuggle Brown Ale

Toxic Brew Brunette Belgian Brown

Nowhere in Particular Beat You Wheat

Yellow Springs Grapefruit wobbly wheel

The camaraderie of the local brewers was obvious, as many of the owners and managers were on hand, sharing insights on their beers, the industry’s explosive growth and upcoming plans for August’s 7th beer week celebration.

“Considering that there were no breweries in the Dayton area just four years ago, it is great to see the number of breweries growing and that they all have so much support,” shared event organizer Brian Johnson.

In the first year of this event Fifth Street Brewpub was declared the people’s choice. Last year Hairless Hare Brewery edged out the first champ by just 7 votes. Tallying the votes this year put Eudora in third, second place went to Yellow Springs Brewery and for 2016 the popular vote was in favor of the Peanut Butter Porter from Springboro’s Crooked Handle. “With Crooked Handle being the newest brewery and taking home the people’s choice award just goes to prove that Dayton’s a region that supports all of our great breweries,” Johnson says.

Votes were counted after the event was over, so no trophy photo was available, but we’re sure you’ll be seeing this big stein behind the bar at Crooked Handle, when you visit them at 760 N. Main Street, in the same shopping center as Dorothy Lane Market, just off St Rt 741.

Crooked Handle is open

Tuesday – Thursday 4 – 10PM

Friday – Saturday 12 – 11PM

Sunday 1 – 8PM

Belgium by the Pint and Plate: The Belgian Ale and Food Festival

July 11, 2016 By Kevin Gray

Belgium comes to Dayton on July 30th with the 5^th annual Belgian Ale and Food Festival (BAFF). Arguably one of the most underrated beer fests in the Gem City, this high-end festival pairs some of the best Belgian and Belgian-style beers in the world with quintessentially Belgian dishes in the beautiful 1920s setting of the Miami Valley Golf Club. Explore the wooden walls of the grand ballroom while quaffing a St Louis Fond Tradicion Geuze paired with Roast Lemon & Rosemary Chicken. Or, if you want something heftier, how about a St. Bernardus Barrel Aged ABT 12 with a beefy, carmalized Carbonnades Flanandes? Go classic by pairing a saison with Moules Frites, Belgian steamed mussels and fries. And sample the best local interpretations of Belgian styles with beers from Toxic, Warped Wing, 5^th Street Brewpub, Eudora, Yellow Springs Brewery, and Dayton Beer Company.

Founder Jule Rastikis and Treva Jenkins

The BAFF is the brainchild of Jule Rastikis and is a fund-raiser for Salem Avenue Peace Corridor, a neighborhood non-profit with the goal of revitalizing the Salem Avenue area. Rastikis, a local entrepreneur and the president of the Peace Corridor project, is passionate about reestablishing Salem Avenue and the adjacent neighborhoods as a thriving community. In the group’s mission statement, they draw upon the United Nation’s definition of peace, calling for “a vitalization effort to intentionally cultivate our Shared Destiny of safety, prosperity, a great quality of life, and a strong spirit of community.”

Rastikis is a bona fide beer geek who, five years ago, realized the craft beer renaissance was leaving Dayton’s west side largely behind, despite the region’s stabilization and its nascent revitalization efforts. Rastikis wanted to share the vision of his neighborhood and was motivated by “getting people to cross the bridge.” Channeling Kevin Costner in Field Of Dreams, Rastikis explains that, “If you do the right event, people will come.” He wanted to prove that he could draw attendees from more than just the immediate area, and has been overwhelmingly successful. Attendees from each of the last four events have come from 25 different ZIP codes.

As for why Belgian beer? “Because that’s what I like,” quips Rastikis, adding that “no one else is doing it.” His love for all things Belgique began with a Beer Bon Voyage trip through the country, where he and his wife sampled beers from monasteries and centuries-old breweries. An evangelist for the beers, Rastikis has lined up a tasting list that includes the best of Belgian styles (including Piraat, one of his favorites) and foods that accentuate the beers. Attendees can also purchase raffle tickets for the Holy Grail of Belgian beers, a beer package that includes brews from nine Trappist breweries: Spencer, Gregorgius, Achel, Chimay, Rochefort, LaTrappe, Orval, Westmalle, and Westvleteren. (The raffle includes the highly sought after and hard to obtain Westie 12). The event also offers attendees the chance to experience Rastikis’ life-changing trip for themselves—the purchase of a ticket enters the ticketholder into a drawing for a Belgian beer cruise, with airfare for two from New York, this October.

The event takes place Saturday, July 30^th from 4-7 pm at the Miami Valley Golf Club (3311 Salem Avenue Dayton, OH 45406). The event is limited to 200 people, so get tickets early or risk the event being sold out. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased online at www.daytonbaff.com. For more information about the Salem Avenue Peace Corridor, visit their website at www.peacecorridor.com.

BEER! A Celebration of Dayton Brewing is Back

July 9, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Heralded by Paste Magazine as one of the country’s most underrated beer destinations, the third annual BEER! A Celebration of Dayton Brewing is set for Saturday, July 16 at The Yellow Cab from 1-5pm.

“It’s crazy to think that four years ago Dayton didn’t have a single operating brewery,” Brian Johnson, Organizer said. “Even more amazing is the quality of all of breweries that have popped up since then. Whether you like hoppy, dark, experimental or a more traditional style, it’s being brewed here and it’s being brewed well.”

Each ticket for BEER! is good for a 13 – 6oz pours and serves as your vote in the coveted “Dayton’s Best Brewery, People Choice Awards.” Defending champs Hairless Hare Brewery beat out 2014 years champ, Fifth Street Brewpub, by just 7 votes. The beers the winning Vandalia brewery served up were Hoppicrisy Session IPA 5.2 ABV, IBU 64 and Strawberry Saison ABV 7.7, IBU 19. Can’t wait to see what they come up with this year. Springboro’s Crooked Handle will be a new addition to this years competitors. Read more about last years event here.

“It’s fun to see what people are up to,” Johnson said. “There are a number of brewpub favorites showcased, but there have also been a few surprises just for this event.”

BEER! is about more than just great local suds though, with live music, food trucks and an official after party at Yellow Cab. Participating breweries for BEER! include all 13 Dayton local breweries. All breweries are subject to change.

For those interested in attending BEER! A Celebration of Dayton Brewing, the event takes place on Saturday, July 16 from 1-5pm and is $25 in advance and $30 at the doors with $5 designated driver tickets available. Tickets can be purchased at all Dayton local breweries and online. This event is 21 and up only.

Event Details:

BEER! A Celebration of Dayton Brewing

$25 Advance / $30 Door – 13 6oz pours

Saturday, July 16 from 1-5pm.

Yellow Cab at 700 E 4th Street Dayton, OH

Dive Bar Tuesday – Mack’s Tavern

June 28, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to Mack’s Tavern!

Scouting locations for Dive Bar Tuesday is usually pretty straight forward. We listen to the readers, make lists, and visit the sites as time allows. More often than not when we arrive, there is no doubt we are going to a dive bar. The location is small and usually hidden, there is not lots of light, and the people we see know each other. The first one we attended, Miami Valley Sports Bar, was the only venue we visited where we started to question if it had jumped to the next level. There was good food, plenty of room, and they were in the process of expanding and making the place better. Is there an upper ceiling to what can be considered a dive bar? Where does “dive bar” end and “nice place to go for a night out” begin? This conversation continued even as we walked into Mack’s Tavern, ready to get some drinks and have some of their delicious pizza.

Mack’s Tavern (381 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Washington Township, OH 45459, (937) 813-7217) failed the first test of what we have come to expect from a dive bar: difficult to find. It is just sitting there next to Big Lots on Miamisburg Centerville Rd., begging for you to pull up and visit. The place is well lit too. Not too bright, because no one wants that in a bar, but just enough light to see the vintage décor on the walls and the games that are lined up and waiting for you to play. There are still some nooks and crannies you can scurry off to for a private discussion or a first date, but the floor is set up, so it is easy to meet people. That is not by accident. MacKenzie Manley, the owner of Mack’s, wants people to come in as strangers and leave as friends. If that is something I have written before, there is a reason. It is one of the charms of the dive bar. Or, if you want to be politer with the naming, the neighborhood bar. It is working. Everyone was chatting and having fun. And MacKenzie knew every regular.

We could not even fit the food into the frame.

If you have not heard of MacKenzie, it is possible you have not been near a computer for a very long time. MacKenzie won the first annual Bloody Mary Showdown with a Barbecue Burger Bloody Mary. Media monolith BuzzFeed picked up a story about the tavern leaving coupons on cars left overnight for responsible drivers. She was a bartender at the Pour Haus for years and was voted one of the top dive bars in the city in her first year of operation. She understands both sides of the bar business: making great drinks and providing a comfortable environment for the patrons who show up. She was inspired by the venerable Cubby Hole and the Pour Haus from years gone by. Does your company need a place to have a lunch meeting? Call Mack’s. Do you want to throw that big party for the holidays, or maybe a small class get-together? Call Mack’s. Did your plans at a different bar in the city fall through? Call Mack’s. Talking with her, exploring the space, you start to wonder if you can call this a dive bar, or are we in a whole different place? This is a dive bar. MacKenzie was emphatic about it.

Their menu is filled with food and drink delicious options. Just recently she added ten more specialty pizzas and wings to go with the sandwiches and meal-sized plates of Mack and Cheese. There are many beers on tap and bottles she offers, and all of them at a reasonable price. Good luck finding any beer over $4 (but they do pop up from time to time). They offer cocktails as well, which they are happy to create to your taste. They do have some standards that they will pour for you, but for the most part that menu is a bespoke one. And after a meal and some drinks here, your wallet will not feel that much lighter. The philosophy that drives the atmosphere at Mack’s is that she wants you to have a good time without breaking the bank. The inexpensive menu and the really friendly workers there ensure that the experience will be a pleasant one. They have thought it out right down to the restrooms, which may be the cleanest, most attractive ones I have seen in a while.

When you head into Mack’s Tavern, you are heading into one of the best dive bars Dayton has to offer. From their mascots Chewy the Boar and MacKenzie’s pit bull Haze to the one-of-a-kind signs on the wall, you are going to have a unique experience. They offer pool and darts for entertainment on a daily basis with Monday being reserved for karaoke and Thursday being a trivia night. And come football season, have no doubt, this bar cheers for the Steelers. It is a dive bar by design, and the lead architect has done an excellent job. Head into the easy to find, spacious bar and spend the night enjoying the food, the beverages, and the fact you are likely to leave with more friends than you had heading in. And leave your car if you had a little too much to drink. They will take care of that, too.

Toxic Brew Company Throws Three Year Anniversary Block Party

June 20, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

The city of Dayton’s first brewery turns three this June and they’re doing it the only way they know how, with a Toxic Brew Company Jackson Street Block Party!

“It’s so fun. We basically look for any excuse we can get to shut down the street for a block party,” Shane Juhl, Toxic Owner said. “The Three Year birthday party is going to be special too. We’ll have one-off tappings in the brewery and under the tent outside, and music and food trucks and games. I think it’s safe to say that it’ll be the most fun you’ve had at a three year birthday party.”

In addition to great beers, there will be live DJs, street art done by the Mural Machine, food trucks and the return of street four square.

“The four square tournament was a big hit at the Dayton Brew Day Block Party,” Juhl said. “Like our shuffleboard league in the Fall, no one’s really a pro, but we’re all just out and having fun. The way it should be.”

The Three Year Anniversary Block Party also marks the completion of the draft expansion from 20 taps to 40 taps and the installation of a new tap sculpture created by local artist, Shon Walters.

“We’ve been working on the tap lines for awhile so it’ll be exciting to be able to get more beers and cocktails available,” Juhl said. “The bar back itself is the real show stopper though. Shon did an amazing job with it.”

For those interested, Toxic Brew Company’s Three Year Anniversary Block Party will be held June 26 from 1-9pm at the brewery and on the north side of Jackson St. in the Oregon District.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Dr. Doodles Lounge

June 7, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to Dr. Doodle’s Lounge!

There has been a theme in the last few dive bars we have explored. They are small and intimate venues, where is it hard not to meet know people because you were in pretty close proximity to them. Bar space was limited, and there was not much light in the room, which tends to bring people closer together. Space is expensive; unless you have a good deal, what you pay for the building, as well as its maintenance, can be costly. This could be a reason that dive bars tend to end up in places that are hard to find or out of the way. Many of the ones that are on our list are out of the way places that people almost have to draw us maps for to ensure that we find it. Had people not told us about Time Out Cavern or Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge, I am not sure we would have stumbled on them by just wandering down the street. In some ways, this week’s adventure to Dr. Doodle’s Lounge follows that script. In more ways, it breaks it.

Dr. Doodle’s Lounge (1510 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton, OH 45459) DOES have a sign on 725 that lets you know it is there. However, you won’t see it from the street. You need to go around the back of the Original Pancake House to find this delight. When you do head back there, the first thing you will notice is their nicely enclosed patio. It is spacious and covered, so as long as the weather is warm, you can sit out there with your favorite beverage. When you enter and pass a small shelf of books and a jukebox on the left, there is a good chance someone is going to say hello to you. And it may not be the bartender. Like most of the other bars we have gone to, we immediately felt welcome here. More than one person we spoke with mentioned the feel was very much like the beloved Cubby Hole, complete with several of the bartenders that made that venue great. It was also said a few times that “the stranger you are, the more you fit in.”

This place seems a little strict with rules.

The openness was not just for the customers and staff. The whole atmosphere was open, thanks in large part to the walls of windows on two sides of the building. The ceilings were high, and there was natural light (possibly Natural Light too, we did not check) pouring through space. The bar was tucked into the corner, so there was plenty of room for activities like darts, pool, trivia, the occasional Sunday karaoke night, and any other events one can imagine. Even on nights in the past, we were there, and it was busy, it did not feel like a cramped space. There is room for everyone to come in for a drink!

And come in for a drink you should! They have three taps for beer, but a much wider selection of cans and bottles for you to enjoy. There was a cocktail list, but it has been lost to history. The spirits they keep behind the bar offer an imbibing option for everyone and the bartenders there know how to use them. Specials, as well as food, depends on the night that drops in. Each man or woman handling bar duty that night will have their own special, from $3 shots of Fireball to $10 buckets of beer. The food menu is just as dependent on staff taste. One night could be pulled pork sandwiches; another they could be grilling brats on the patio. This is one of the beauties of small, independent businesses. There is always something different going on, and the staff has some leeway to cater to the customers. In fact, some of the customers will bring in side dishes depending on the night and the bartender. Who needs a regular menu?

What are you in the mood for today?

It would be easy to become a regular here. The whole atmosphere is a big warm embrace. There is going to be a motorcycle run in August to Indian Lake, starting with some hamburgers and brats on the patio and finishing with the ride. Last year over 200 people participated in the event, and this year will probably be bigger. Every night will offer a different experience, which means if you go often enough, you will find the right time for you. It does not matter who you are or what you do; there’s a bar stool and a cold drink waiting for you. Just a cursory look at the parking lot ran the gamut of styles, from hard working pick-up trucks to shining and stylish high-end cars. Stop by Dr. Doodles Lounge over a few different nights as the summer starts to heat up. Enjoy the patio, the food, and the friendly atmosphere. Pretty soon you too will be welcoming people as they walk up to the bar for a drink.

Dr. Doodles lounge is located at 1510 Miamisburg Centerville Rd, Dayton, OH 45459. Their number is (937) 434-8748, and they are open every day from 12:00 PM to 2:30 AM. You can find their upcoming events and other information on their Facebook page.

It’s Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp Flight Night Tonight!

June 2, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

Spinoza’s is the only place in town to try four of this year’s Beer Camp Across America Collaboration Beers from Sierra Nevada! In an incredible collaboration: 31 brewers together made 6 different beers for a one-time-only brewing.

You can taste those beers tonight starting at 5pm. And you can also enjoy live music from visiting Brazilian Jazz Guitarista Eudes Carvalho and the Brian Cashwell Trio from 6:30 – 9:30PM

Draft flight includes:
Sweet Sunny South (collaboration w/ Funky Buddha Brewery) Southern Table Beer
The south holds strong to its traditional flavors-tea, honey-sweet peaches and corn grits-so we looked at those culinary cues for this southern-inspired table beer. With a golden grainy malt body and complex tangy finish from the fruit, tea and herbs, Sweet Sunny South is perfect for sultry summer sipping.

West Latitude (collaboration w/ Bear Republic Brewing) Session Rye with Hibiscus
West Latitude combines our Californian Left Coast love of fruity hops with a touch of Hawaiian “aloha” from the addition of hibiscus flowers, all anchored by robust malts and spicy rye. This session beer is light in body but looms large, like the long shadows of a westward setting sun.

Pat-Rye-Ot (collaboration w/ Dogfish Head Brewing) Revolutionary Pale Ale
Pat-Rye-Ot is an “old-meets-new” take on a pale ale by brewers all located in the original 13 colonies. It features rye and apples, which were among the first ingredients used by American brewers in the colonies, alongside bold American hops-hallmarks of our modern craft beer “revolution.”

Stout of the Union (collaboration w/ Beachwood BBQ) Robust Stout
This stout hails from the land of sun, sand, and surf and proves that beach beer doesn’t have to be light colored and delicate. Stout of the Union is rich, roasty and full of deep malt flavor, creating a union of like-minded brewers together through beer.

Call 937-426-7799 for reservations or just stop by and catch a tasting flight! Spinoza’s Gourmet Pizza is located in the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge

May 31, 2016 By Brian Petro

That is the whole cozy space, ladies and gents.

In 1865, a mathematician named Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (His pen name was Lewis Carroll.) wrote a book about a little girl who has an amazing adventure in a faraway land. Alice’s adventures begin when she spies a white rabbit run by as she is drowsily listening to her sister. The rabbit is in a petticoat and muttering about how late he is as he stares at his watch. She follows him into his rabbit hole, and that is where her adventures in Wonderland begin. Ever since that book, the white rabbit has been a symbol of diving into something mysterious with a fantastic payoff. Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge was that for our band of merrymakers. This is the first dive bar we patronized that we were not overly familiar with. We had been told of it by Big Ragu and The Crew, but we did not know much. Now we do, and we did have a fantastic adventure.

You are not going to stumble randomly on Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge (889 South Main Street Centerville, OH 45458, 937-435-3150); someone is going to have to lead you there. It is located in a strip mall pushed away from the street. When we went in, there was a handful of people at the bar. The first thing we noticed is that the place was small. Performers would call the venue “intimate”, and they would not be wrong. The size of the space contributes to people being able to see and experience everything happening. There are some nooks and crannies, but they don’t offer much in ways of privacy. It was well lit, and the music that was playing was at the right level. You could have a conversation and still enjoy the jukebox. Televisions cover just enough of the walls to be seen from any point in the room. The ceiling tiles are decorated with advertisements and other patron artwork. There are still some spaces available for only $25 each.

Adrienne's White Rabbit Lounge Beer and Cocktails

Drink all the drinks!

The drinks here are well-priced. And by well-priced I mean inexpensive. That is not even taking into account the daily specials they offer, from shots based on the vodka flavor of the month to seasonal beer specials. There is also a Queen of Hearts game that happens on Thursday nights, where lucky gamers can win a nice sized jackpot. They have house-created cocktail specials, an excellent selection of domestic beers (some part of their daily specials), and something I have not yet found at other bars we have explored. They have a special cabinet filled with tequilas and other special liquors. A rotating list of unique bottles is one more unique things the White Rabbit offers. They even have events that feature these gems, like the tequila they event they are planning for June 3. The cocktails were tried were both tasty in their way; one was a refreshingly summery sour cocktail, and the other was a seasonal recipe. We asked Tori, our bartender that night, what we should try and she pointed us to the Merry Cherry. It was a Jägermeister cocktail where the spices of the liqueur came through just enough to give some zest to the cherry and raspberry in the drink.

If you are looking for a place to eat, there are many options nearby that will have a reliable menu. Like any real house of mystery, the food is a grab bag depending on the day and if there is an event. There are always some snacks in one of the nooks. Typical bar food that the regulars help to keep stocked, like pretzels, chips, and cheese balls. For special events, like Derby parties or events with customers (the bar, usually closed Sundays, can handle special events), you will find a more robust fare. Burgers, brats, pulled pork, and other staples of great get-togethers will be available.

The snack nook, complete with deer head wearing shades.

Above anything else, the thing we were most impressed with was how friendly everyone was. The bartenders treated us as if we had been loyal bar patrons for months, being very friendly to us and answering every question we had. We had multiple conversations with other bar patrons, from what we did as a business to the current state of Reds baseball. There was even a round of drinks purchased for the whole bar, which at the time was pretty damn full. It was not a bumping Friday night, but there were people there. It was a neighborhood bar in the best sense. A place where it felt like you could go at any time and either meet friends you already knew or make some brand new ones over some music and a round of darts.

We left at the end of our time there glad that we found another lovely place to go for a drink in Dayton. Adrienne’s White Rabbit, which has been around in a variety of forms for almost forty years, is what most people are looking for when they are seeking a casual watering hole. There may not be any rabbits, hatters, living playing cards, or red queens, but you will have to enjoy a friendly experience when you go.

Adrienne’s White Rabbit Lounge is located at 889 South Main Street, Centerville, OH 45458. They are open Monday through Saturday from 1 PM to 2:30 AM, closed on Sundays. You can find them on the web at adrienneswhiterabbit.com, or visit their Facebook page for information on upcoming events. Their phone number is 937-435-3150.

Here Comes Big Brews and Blues!

May 17, 2016 By Dayton937 Leave a Comment

Drink up and help Dayton Diabetes

Big Brews and Blues for Diabetes, is back! 2016 marks the 7^th annual fundraiser, and it is going to be bigger and better than ever. The event features incredible blues music, and dozens of beers to taste. Dayton Most Metro will host one of the booths and will be pouring beers into the night… Food Adventures is proud to again be participating in the event.

Chef House, The Big Ragu and Hungry Jax love this event because 100% of the proceeds go to Dayton Diabetes. This is the blues and beer festival you want to support, because of where the money goes and because it is for a great cause.

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

—WHEN: Big Brews and Blues is Saturday May 21^st from 5-9 PM with a VIP hour from 4-5pm

—WHERE: Five Rivers MetroPark’s RiverScape Pavillion

Funky Blues, with a Horn Section

— WHY: To raise money for Dayton Diabetes while having a great time.

— COST: $35 presale

$40 at the door for regular admission

$50 for VIP admission, which gets you in one hour earlier, plus some additional tasting tickets.

Tickets are available on-line at www.bigbrewsandblues.com

THE BLUES:

4p-6pm Jimmy D. Rogers

6:15p-7:15p Micah Kesselring

7:45p-9p Shake n’ The New Senders

And emceed by Earl “Southside’ Hayes

THE BREWS:

— ALL BEERS ARE DRAUGHT BEERS

— ALL BEERS ARE AMERICAN CRAFT BEERS

— ALL OF THE LOCAL BREWERIES WILL BE REPRESENTED !

Rain or Shine – we will be pouring !

— There will be multiple CASK BEERS and LIMITED RELEASE BEERS

MUST EATS:

— BOSTON’S BISTRO and PUB: We have never had anything here we didnt like…

— BOURBON STREET GRILL: Get the Bourbon Chicken

— HEART’S HOT DOGS: The Chicago Style Hot Dog and The Steak Burger

— PITA POCKETS: Get the Gyro !

— THE ORIGINAL PIZZA FACTORY: Whether you get the Pepperoni or the Deluxe, you will have a nice thick slice on your hands.

Saturday’s Big Brews and Blues not enough for you??

Then get your thirsty mug to these related events for

American Craft Beer Week in Dayton (We love Craft Beer)

Tuesday, May 17th: It’s Taco Tuesday at Pour Haus. Starts at 5 pm.

Wednesday, May 18th: The American IPA Showcase at The Barrel House. Starts at 5 pm.

Thursday, May 19th: Ohio Beer Spotlight at Dayton Beer Company featuring MadTree, FatHeads, Jackie O’s, Dayton Beer Company, and others. Starts at 5 pm.

Friday, May 20th: Big Brews and Blues Pre-party at Boston’s Bistro & Pub, featuring Hungarian food. Starts at 6:00pm.

Brew it up with Food Adventures each and every day by “liking” us on Facebook by clicking here. No rules, no food critics, just serious eats and original photos! We leave no plate unturned!

Chef House serving up a thirsty customer

The Big Ragu Welcomes you to Fantasy Island

Chef House and the Big Ragu

The Goose is loose !

wasssup

Sold out of beer !

It is like the Olympiad, but for ,music and beer

We have been goin for years !

He’s got those blues !

Dogs, diabetes, Dayton

BBQ

Thank you Dave Boston !

cincy brew

MostMetro #1 –

Whippet good

So Good

Pins and Beers

Try em all

this guy was loving life

Blues Live

Clowns allowed

Matt Harris – and friend

Beer Release Blow Out At Hairless Hare

April 27, 2016 By Lisa Grigsby

Saturday will be a big day at the Vandalia brewery as Matt Harris, Master Brewer and Owner of Hairless Hare Brewery, hosts a special 5 beer release. Don’t let the strip mall location across from the airport fool you. These guys, who opened their brewery in 2013, make some awesome beers and were voted the Best Brewery in 2015 at BEER! A Celebration of Dayton Brewing.

On tap when the brewery, located at 738 W. National Road, opens at 1pm will be:

Maple Brown Ale: Made with Maple Syrup from Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, *100% of the proceeds of this first day of sales of the Maple Brown Ale to support Aullwood’s education programs.

GO2 Brew IPA: This IPA was made for GO2 Technologies which is a local company that builds custom machines for many types industries.
Barrel Age Barley Wine: This barley wine was aged in Weller bourbon barrel received from the Century Bar.

Brown Barrel Bomber: a brown ale aged in a Woodford Reserve bourbon. This is a 2nd release for this beer, it sold out in record time the first time and expect it will do so again.

Clown Shoes White Tail Unidragon: , a 12 percent ABV Russian imperial stout brewed with rye malt as well as Cascade and Columbus hops before being aged in bourbon barrels

Pairing perfectly with these beers, Hairless Hare offers some pretty tasty gourmet pizza. The Smoked Salmon Pizza, Spicy Buffalo Chicken Pizza and Chicken Curry Pizza are some of the most popular or you can munch on chicken wings, the BBQ Smoked Brisket Sandwich or just nibble on Hummus & Pita Chips. Don’t forget to bring a growler to be filled, or just pick one up there to add to your collection.

Dive Bar Tuesday – Diplomat Lounge

April 26, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to the Diplomat Lounge!

After an extended hiatus, we are back! Of course, that is one of the best things about any good dive bar you go to. Any bar, really. They become more than a place to just get a drink after work; you get to know the bartenders. You start to discover that other patrons are from a town near yours, or enjoy Game of Thrones as much as you do, or weep quietly every Sunday after a Browns loss. Whether you go to the best wine bar in town or a venue where their craft beer is Budweiser Lime-A-Rita, you are going for more than the product they are offering. You are going for the comfortable feeling it provides. Of all the bars my friends and I have gone to so far, the Diplomat Lounge has felt the most comfortable.

The Diplomat Lounge (2766 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH., 45419) was located a little further down the road on Smithville Rd., just past where it splits from Wilmington Pike. There was some major construction in the mall area they were located, changing an old Kroger and the surrounding stores into a small neighborhood. The Diplomat moved down the street and has been there since. Where many of the other bars we have gone to were more focused on pool, this is a place where darts appear to be king. They offer BYOP dart tournaments once a month on the second Saturday of the month (the next one will be May 14, 2016), and Luck of the Draw tournaments on Sunday nights. Have no fear, pool players. There are a couple of tables for you in the back half of the bar. But there are darts on both sides.

Back room pool tables, and the doorway to the “secret patio”.

When I say both sides, the bar cuts the space in half. If you are not familiar with the space, you may think that it is a little small, until you realize there is this great space on the other side of the bar as well. This is where the pool tables are, and it is a slightly darker, more intimate space. You are tucked away from the storefront windows and people coming in and out of the bar. Service was on both sides, which would be great on a busy Friday or Saturday night when you are trying to get a beverage while tossing darts or warming up your pipes for karaoke. The weekends may have all the action, but there are liquor and beer specials all week. Every night there is a liquor with a little discount and a beer that is just a dollar. My personal choices are fifty cents of tequila on Tuesday and $2 cans on Monday. Feel free to drop in and check out their other daily specials.

If you are looking for a menu, this is not the place. They do have a menu for their specials on their Facebook page, but that is the one menu we found. Their food options are limited to pizzas and chips (perfect fuel for long nights of drinking), but there are plenty of other food options nearby if you want to eat before you show up or stop somewhere after you leave. There was not a cocktail menu to be seen, and if you ask the bartender they will share the beer list with you. It offers little in the way of craft beers or cocktails, but it that really why you are going here? No, no it is not.

They have a few bottles for you to choose from…

Two things to note when you plan on making the trip to the Diplomat. The first is that motorcycle riders are welcome here. If you have been looking for a place to stop with your bike on a ride around town, we have found another place for you. Though you most likely knew it already. It is about three miles from 675 or 35, just a hop, skip, and jump. The other thing to note is that once you have discovered the back room, keep going because there is a patio! It is a great enclosed space that has a cozy feel to it, the outside world being held at bay by a wooden fence. One other thing I have found in every bar we have gone to is that each has a little surprise inside.

The Diplomat Lounge is a great place to hang out for a few hours, enjoy a few drinks on a quiet patio, and leave the world behind. If you are so inclined, they are creating summer dart leagues right now! What are you doing Tuesday nights that is more important? And who knows, maybe this is the comfortable after work spot you have been seeking. You know there will be some dart fans or motorcycle riders there to meet.

The Diplomat Lounge is located at 2766 Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH 45419. They are open 1 PM to 2:30 AM Monday through Friday, and 12 PM to 2:30 AM Saturday and Sunday. You can visit their Facebook page for more information, or call (937) 293-2508.

Lunch from a Gas Station?

April 14, 2016 By Bryan Suddith

When I lived in Baton Rouge it was common knowledge that the best Boudin Sausage could be found at a roadside gas station on Airline Highway between the capital city and New Orleans. Last year in Kansas City I had the best “burnt ends” at Joe’s. Joe’s is a working gas station where the line for BBQ is an hour long most afternoons. It should have been no surprise that the best Fried Chicken in Kettering can be found at Town and Country Shell Gas Station on the corner of Far Hills and Stroop Road.

For months, I have kept this little bit of information to myself. Great fried chicken and potato wedges that surpass everyday fast food offerings. Krispy Krunchy Chicken also serves up great wings, fried fish and cajun season fried shrimp. I casually mentioned that this fried food haven was now filling growlers with local beers to the Food Adventures Crew and my secret was out.

I unofficially joined the Food Adventures Crew this week and hosted them at my favorite gas station. Hungry Jax, Chef House and the Big Ragu joined me for lunch and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Ragu had the wings, both the bbq and buffalo, as well as the traditional breaded whole wings. Chef House was the most cautious, but with the help of her Housemade Thai Spiced Hot Honey she was quickly on board with the fried chicken fingers. Hungry Jax brought the kids and they approved of the chicken fingers and Mac & Cheese. I stuck to the Cajun fried chicken. We arrived at the end of the lunch hour and the fries were in short supply, so I opted for a side of Jambalaya.

The chicken was cooked perfectly. Crispy flavorful coating and moist and slightly spicy chicken underneath. As a former Louisiana resident I can say the Jambalaya, sausage and chicken, was as authentic as I have found anywhere in Ohio. Two forks up for the spicy rice dish served inside a gas station.

The highlight of the lunch came in two parts. Chef House brought an empty 1/2 growler and

filled up with Warped Wing’s Gamma Bomb for only $8.00. Gamma Bomb is their American IPA and it really worked with spicy chicken. At 92 IBU it was a bit hoppier than I like but fit the bill for a lunch hour drink. The second surprise was the complimentary honey cheddar biscuit that comes with every order. The Big Ragu was a happy camper when he found the biscuit in his bag atop the wings. The biscuit is sweet and savory all in one buttery bite. This biscuit is almost a sweet dessert after the spicy chicken.

A two piece lunch with a side, biscuit, and fountain drink runs about $7.50. Fish and shrimp options can be a little pricier. Family packs and lunch portions are both available. There are only a half dozen seats in the station, but this food is perfect to grab for home or work when in a hurry. With 16 beers on tap and their own growlers for sale it is easy to find a beer to accompany lunch or dinner. You will find Dayton area favorites like Warped Wing, Toxic Brew and Yellow Springs Brewery as well as Rhinegeist, Mad Tree and my personal favorite, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, on tap for a glass, sampler flight or a growler to go.

If you find yourself south of town at lunch or in need of a quick grab to take home to the family, keep Town and Country Shell Station in mind. Sometimes the most unlikely of spots offer exactly what you are looking for. Order an extra biscuit. You’ll thank me later.

Find them on Facebook or on the web for a full menu and hours.

Homebrew Competition Now Accepting Entries

March 23, 2016 By Dayton Most Metro

The Fifth Street Brewpub’s 2nd Annual Member Homebrew Competition is now accepting entries! Bring your most creative brew to FSB and compete with your fellow member-owners. The competition is open to any amateur homebrewer age 21 or older who is a member of Fifth Street Brewpub.

THE DEAD LINE FOR ENTERING IS MAY 7, 2016. Winners to be contacted by Darren Link and announced later in May.

DOWNLOAD a pdf that contains everything you need to enter!

THE BEST OF SHOW AWARD!
Our Brewmaster, Darren Link, will work with the Best of Show winner to scale their homebrew recipe to be brewed in Fifth Street Brewpub’s Brewhouse. The winner will also be invited to join Darren on brew day to brew the recipe. The beer will then have a release party scheduled at a later date. Fifth Street Brewpub reserves the right to choose the beer to brew from the Best of Show table based on recipe reproduction, system constraints, or financial reasons.

NOT A MEMBER OF FIFTH STREET BREWPUB? Click here to join online so you can become a FSB Homebrew Legend!

Dive Bar Tuesday: McGillicutty’s Pub

March 15, 2016 By Brian Petro

Welcome to McGillicutty’s!

When the biggest bar holiday of the year comes knocking, you sit down with your team and have a serious conversation about the bar where you are going to celebrate. A lively discussion commenced and the finalists were chosen. The finalists all had certain merits in the dive bar designation. The Final Four bars we decided on were Flannigan’s Pub, Harrigan’s Tavern, Mack’s Tavern, and McGillicutty’s Pub. We look forward to visiting all of them in good time, but the one we went for this week just ahead of St. Patrick’s Day was McGillicutty’s Pub. It has been a staple in the community for over twenty-two years, and ready to go for a celebration of all things Irish.

What struck me first about McGillicutty’s Pub (1980 E Whipp Rd, Dayton, OH 45440) was their lack of pool tables. It is officially the first dive bar we went to that did not have one. But they did have one of the biggest virtual golf games I have seen, and plenty of electronic dart boards to spend some time with. There are plenty of televisions as well, perfect for coming in over the weekend and watching your bracket either slowly rise to the top or crumble into a thousand pieces as the Cinderella teams start to emerge. It is off the beaten path enough you should be able to find a seat with your twenty-two ounce beer without a problem.

Carolina BBQ Hot Damn Wings at McGillicuttys

So. Good.

The food menu is extensive. There is something for everyone, and it is all made to order in the kitchen. There is a wide variety of specialty pizzas, small appetizers, sandwiches, and wings. We did not get a chance to sample everything, but we know some people who did. The pizza was delightful, but I do not want to take anything away from the wings. The wings were delicious. The award winning Carolina BBQ Hot Damn Sauce was amazing. On Monday nights, the wings are $0.50 each, and we could not get enough of them. They were good enough to get one of our party that will not eat meat off the bone to dissect a wing so she could enjoy it. The sauce is on the spicy side, but not so spicy they will make you miserable. Even if they were, there is enough to drink to cool off your mouth.

The beer and cocktail menu…well, does not really exist. The beers they have on tap lean as far as this bar goes to the craft side of the spectrum: Blue Moon, Fat Tire, and some seasonals. They also have some classics on tap like Yuengling, which they were offering for $3.50 for thirty-four ounces on Mondays. They have tried offering more craft beers, but as we found out from our server and co-owner, the regulars like to stick to the basics. They have quite a few bottle offerings as well, including twenty-two ounce bottles of Bud Light for Sundays. Cocktails are more bespoke than anything else. They have their own unique specials, including a punch that sounds like a throwback to punches of yore: a variety of rums and available fruit juices, served so the whole table can enjoy such delights at a fair price. If you are there on Sunday, ask for their award winning Bloody Mary to get you through the morning.

Just getting started…

Is this an Irish pub that will be doing Kegs and Eggs? No. If you really want one you can start off your day there on Thursday (10 A.M.) with an Irish Breakfast. Then you will be ready for green beer and specials on some of their more Irish fare. The Reuben sandwich and pizza will be discounted, and there will be an Irish stew added as a special for the day. The staff will also be working hard on their specialty cocktails like the Shamrock and Lucky Charm for those that may need to switch it up from beer for a drink or two. It will be busy on Thursday, and with some luck, their large patio will be available for all the revelers clad in green.

McGillicutty’s Pub is decked out in green and ready for St. Patrick’s Day, but it is a place to come and enjoy some camaraderie any time of the year. Everyone we spoke with was very friendly and willing to answer any question. Their Facebook page is the place to go to find all of their specials and to keep up with the events going on at the pub, like their drop in dart leagues (Saturday night) and karaoke (Sunday night). And if you are looking for a challenge, there is a record for drinking their thirty-four ounce mugs. One bold patron was able to consume eighteen in a day, with help from a friend to get him home after the feat was accomplished. While we will definitely be back for the wings and the light atmosphere, we will leave that record for someone else to break. Sláinte!

Dive Bar Tuesday: Time Out Cavern

March 8, 2016 By Brian Petro

Descending into the very familiar.

There are many criteria on which you can judge a bar. Some people look for a certain selection of liquor, focusing on bourbon or wine or craft beer. Others go because of loyalty; your friend owns it, or bartends there, or they support a certain team you like. There is something to be said for the talent that they have hired. Finding the lady who makes your Manhattan with just the right amount of sweetness, or the gentleman who has a glass of wine poured and waiting for you at your favorite seat, is worth its weight in Pappy Van Winkle. All of these things are lovely, but the real deal is when a bar becomes as comfortable as a well worn sweater. Whether it is a high end bar where you can get a pour of that Pappy or a place where “Pappy” is the nickname of the guy that is ALWAYS sitting at the end of the bar, getting to that point where everyone knows who you are makes the best watering hole. Walking down the stairs into the Time Out Cavern (5543 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429), every step feels a little more like home.

Yes, you are walking down, like you are going into someone’s basement. The mirrors and metal signs on the wall span the gamut of styles, from old Apsen Edge (the Coors answer to Bud Platinum or Miller 64) to modern Stella Artois images. At the bottom of the staircase you turn to your right and you would swear you were in your friend’s kick ass basement. There are two pool tables (used for tournaments on Wednesday and are FREE to use on Sunday), two dart boards, a nice long bar, a jukebox filled with excellent tunes, and enough mirrors and beer signs on the walls to explore for majority of your stay. There is definitely a rich atmosphere that throws back to a simpler time in the American bar scene. If you are paying enough attention, you will notice that many of them revolve around the Kentucky Derby.

The owner, John “The Man” Seaman is a lover of horse racing. If you stop by while he is there, you may catch a race on one of the many televisions around the bar. He is such a lover of the sport that every year Time Out Cavern throws one of the best, if not best known, watching parties in the city. They ship in bottles of the official bourbon to serve in the official glasses of the derby that year (which they bring by the case). Of course there is the popular Mint Julep as the star of the night, but they mix up a few house specialties as well. They have a raffle where you can win one of those official bottles, as well as swag from Kentucky Derby’s past. Fancy hats are a must, but there is a low ceiling and not much lighting, so not too fancy.

Welcome to the Cavern! Make yourself at home.

Their beer selection is typical to what you would find in a proper dive bar with a few exceptions like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Samuel Adams Winter Lager. You can settle down with a Rolling Rock as well, or 22s of Budweiser or Heineken. The cocktail specialties they have are not limited to the Kentucky Derby; while they do not keep an up to date menu for them, they do have a secret menu you can ask for. I am going to go on a limb and say it is one of the few bars of its kind where you will find a Brandy Alexander on the menu. You can also find their signature shot, the Time Out, a combination of raspberry and orange vodka, orange juice, and a splash of sour and grenadine. While they have a good variety of flavored vodkas, whiskeys, and other liquors, their favorites seem to be Jameson and Patron. I am going to go even further out on that limb from earlier and say it is the only dive bar we will cover that you can get a Bénédictine and Brandy, also known as a B and B. It is one of John’s favorite drinks, and definitely a rarity to find.

One thing that really struck me was Bubba’s Corner. It is a baby bar within the bar. On a busy Friday or Saturday night, I could see it being used as a second stop for a beer or a shot of bourbon. It is a shrine than John keeps to an old friend of his who used to like watching the Derby with him. That would be Bubba’s spot in the bar to watch it. When he passed away, the spot was kept for him to keep watching the majestic horse race. In that area there is also a plaque with a dedication to Cpl. Richard Gilbert Jr., a Marine who gave his life in service of his country. He was a regular there, and it is a touching tribute to the sacrifice he and his fellow Marines and sailors made. They have a loyal base of regulars, and that is a sign of a great place to get a drink.

Descending into the Time Out Cavern takes you back. And it sucks you in. Why go back up into the world when there are good beers and plenty of drinks? Well, maybe if you are hungry. They do not serve food there. Plus it is a Browns bar, and we all know how friendly those fans are (Speaking as a life-long Browns fan). Talking to one of the bartenders, I learned that the main entrance near Meadowlark is where the new customers enter; regulars usually park in the back and use the back entrance. Enter where you want, just as long as you enter. A good time will be had by all.

Time Out Cavern is open 2:30 PM to 2:30 AM, Monday through Saturday and 7:30 PM to 2:30 AM on Sunday.