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Homebrew Competition Now Accepting Entries

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FSB_Homebrew_Competition2016-1024x622The 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

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Entrance to McGillicutty's Pub

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.

Mug of beer at McGillicutty's

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

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Time Out Cavern Stairs

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.

Time Our Cavern Pool Tables

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.

Dayton Beer Co & The Bach Society Bid Downton Abbey A Fond Farewell

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s2ma20repgizb8iqt0dkiym6j8wo0r3rAttention Downton Abbey Fans!
It’s time to win fabulous local prizes, drink craft beer, and celebrate the series finale of Downton Abbey! Let’s raise a glass to this critically acclaimed and exceptionally popular show!! We gather on March 3rd, a few days before the final episode airs.

Use your well-earned

Dive Bar Tuesday – Sure Shots

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Sure Shots Exterior

Welcome to Sure Shots!

We love to get excited about things becoming bigger and better. We watch the places that follow all the trends, trying desperately to either keep up with them or get ahead of what they are doing. More craft beers, larger cocktail menus, more and more food options. All of it in the name of trying to attract more customers. That may be the expected thing to do when you own a bar or restaurant, but it is not always the right thing. Occasionally the right thing is to be the solid rock in a sea of changing tastes. Sure Shots has been following this path for as long as I have been stopping in, and they must be doing something right. Approaching the bar from the outside, you can tell this is a no frills place where people just come for a good time and a cold beer.

The first thing that is going to strike you when you open the door to Sure Shots is a whiff of cigarette smoke. As long as it has been since the smoking ban settled on the state of Ohio, there are still bars out there where that oddly comforting aroma still lingers. The second thing that struck me is the lack of light. This is a bar where, once you are in, hours can fly by and you would not know it. The main source of lighting was focused on the pool tables and dart boards, and a few large television screens around the perimeter. There is also a nice selection of music on the juke box, and the soft glow of a Jägermeister machine and a drink mixing machine preparing Apple Pie Shots for the unsuspecting masses. A few portions of the wall are also well lit that show off their community outreach by supporting local teams, or dart and pool league champions.

Sure Shots pool table

Time for some beers and some pool. Not in that order.

Sure Shots is a nuts-and-bolts bar. Minus the Jaeger machine, nothing is on tap, all the beer is by the can or bottle. They like to support locals in their drink selection when they can, offering Warped Wing favorites behind the bar and some Belle of Dayton for all your vodka sipping needs. They carry a few nice liquor choices, like Hennessy and Johnny Walker Black, but there are no rarities or odd flavors that beg to try something new. The Everclear may give you a few dirty looks, but that is really what Everclear does. Every night there is a different drink special, from $5 Root Beer Floats on Mondays to $3.50 Caramel Apples on Wednesday and Saturday. The food menu, like the bar, is also no frills. Come on in for a pizza or a soft pretzel, but that is all you are going to be able to find. That being said, is there anything better to soak up drinks like pizza and pretzels? No, no there isn’t.

The best part of every place we visit are the surprises. Are you a third shift worker? You can swing by Sue Shots when you get off of your shift, since they are one of the few local bars that are open at 5:30 AM. In the area early on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning? You can enjoy a little breakfast while you are there. Eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, all of the basics one would expect for a morning meal.  This is also the official Home of the Apple Pie Shot. It has an impact similar to a Bad Juan; you do not feel it at first, but it is something that packs a punch. Apples and rum pair very well together, but one would think that 151 would make its presence more known than it does. Slide in a little of that shifty Everclear, and you have a shot that will definitely grabs your attention.

Many of my friends have stumbled out of this bar in the wee hours of the morning after a long night at work. Every time I have been there the atmosphere has been cheerful, if not fairly boisterous from time to time. There is always a pool game in the corner, and the bar staff is hustling hard to make sure beers everyone has a drink and is having a great time. What more do you want from a local watering hole? Cheers!

Sure Shots is located at 3121 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, OH 45420. They are open daily from 5:30 AM to 2:30 AM. You can like them on their Facebook page to stay up to date on their specials and other events. 

Beer & Brewing with A Taste of Aullwood

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Join us at Aullwood’s Charity A. Krueger Farm Discovery Center, 9101 Frederick Pike, for Beer & Brewing with A Taste of Aullwood! This event happens on February 20th, 2016 from 6:30-9:00 PM. Enjoy a relaxing and fun atmosphere along with delicious samples from local restaurants and caterers who will provide tastes of their favorite recipes. Drink amazing beers and take part in informative beer tasting sessions with knowledgeable staff. Hairless Hair, Fifth Street Brewpub and beers from Bonbright will be available for tasting. Learn about home brewing from the brewers themselves!
 Beer & Brewing with A Taste of Aullwood Logo

Sugar Grove Bluegrass will delight with great music. Patrick Turnbull and Kirk Nichols, home brewers for over eleven years, will demonstrate the beer making process using locally grown ingredients. Sample their latest batch of freshly brewed ale and taste scrumptious culinary delights from these fine participants:

Grand Patron attendance is $50 per person, and Patron attendance is $35 per person. Reservations for this event are limited to 175 people, so make plans today! See the Beer & Brewing with A Taste of Aullwood brochure for a registration form and more details. RSVP by February 15, 2016 or reserve by phone at (937) 890-7360.

Beer & Brewing with A Taste of Aullwood participant     Sugar Grove Bluegrass

AleFeast – Beer & Food Pairings Galore

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Dive Bar Tuesday – Phone Booth Lounge

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And the the night began: with a cocktail or two).

And the the night began: with a cocktail or two).

Since the team started working on Dive Bar Tuesdays, one bar has been at the top of our list to get to sooner than later. It is one that we all discovered while working together and we had been attending for a while. The location was relatively central to where we all lived, the food and drink prices were right, and the atmosphere was incredibly relaxed. Schedules did not align, especially since on Tuesday nights the bar was packed. Packed to the point people were making reservations. Reservations? In a dive bar? When Tuesday Night Trivia is so popular that majority of the tables in the place are set aside, something special has to be happening. This week we were finally able to make it to the Phone Booth Lounge in Kettering. It was much quieter than the last few times we tried to enjoy the calm atmosphere we were accustomed to.

The Phone Booth just exudes calm. It could be the fact that they have been serving customers for the last five decades. That’s right, they have been sitting there taking care of customers since 1964. The wood paneled walls and stained ceiling tiles tell that tale well. And not in a “this place needs an update” way. It is just comfortable, like a well-worn sweater. The bartenders are friendly, going the distance to help me find a whiskey I enjoyed (I was feeling some Bushmill’s) and rooting through the beer cooler for me. There were photos of bands surrounding the stage, and lit signs indicating all of the upcoming events being held there. There is live music all weekend, including a Blues Jam on Thursday nights. Monday through Wednesday they have beer specials and something different each night; Wii bowling on Mondays, trivia on Tuesday, and warm up the stage on Wednesday with karaoke. This month they will also be teaming up with the Dayton Blues Society for their Second Annual Youth Showcase on February 20th.

Their cocktail menu reflects their claim of being the Home of Kettering Rock and Roll. The shot list falls on the more traditionally named side, with Black and Blues, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Sweet Tarts. When you look over to the cocktail menu, however, the rock comes out. You can find some Sweet Emotions, possibly Blinded by the Light, or end up Knocking on Heaven’s Door. There is a list of beers, wines, and other liquors they have on the back, but it is not a complete list. There is one thing that they took down that I really enjoyed using to see all their beers; a beer shelf that hung over the bar. It allowed you to look at the selection of specialty beers and be ready to order on a moment’s notice. This is also one of the few bars I have been to where all of the liquor is not up where it can be immediately seen. The hiding of the complete beer and liquor menu may just be a clever ploy to get you to chat with the staff.

So. Many. Nachos.

So. Many. Nachos.

The food menu is a perfect complement to the space. It is all very comfortable food. You are not going to hit many surprises on it, unless you order the nacho platter without understanding what you are asking for. There was other food on the table, like hot dog pretzel bites and fried mushrooms, but we all turned our heads when the nachos came. It was big enough to serve the five people that were sitting there, and there were enough toppings on it to hold it all together. Even after nibbling on it for the better part of an hour, we did not finish it. It was one hell of a surprise to see on the table, and makes me curious as to what other surprises may be lurking in that kitchen.

Why is this place packed on a Tuesday night? It is definitely more than for just the trivia. Good food and good company are part of the equation, even if you come alone. You have great bartenders to talk with, and there is pool, darts, and on Monday nights, bowling to keep you occupied. You can admire the art show on the ceiling tiles through the building, some of which has been there for years. In the warmer months there is a patio for your enjoyment. For a low key night with friends, it is the perfect place to meet, get cozy, and hang out for a few hours.

The Phone Booth Lounge is located at 155 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering, OH 45459. You can call for information at (937) 298-8712.

 

 

First Anniversary For Craft Beer And Fine Wine Bottle Shop

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12439249_1015360635168835_8560929092162583745_nWe first wrote about The Barrel House – Coming Soon To Third And Wayne in January 2013.  At that time, Olive owner Kimberly Collett had recruited her cousin Jeff Heater to move from Maine to come to Dayton as her partner and manage this coffee shop for beer.  Jeff jumped write in to oversee the remodel of the building as the GM & Chief Beer Geek.

It took a while, to maneuver through some construction and lease obstacles and The Barrel House officially opened on Jan 30, 2015.  On the eve of their first anniversary celebration on Sat, Jan 30th,  Jeff took some time to talk with DMM:

IMG_3142 - Copy

The picture that started it all.

While this is your first anniversary, when did planning for the BH start?
It really all started with a text picture of Chimay White, mid March, 2012.
When I lived in Columbus my favorite bar always had the beer on tap and I would tease my cousin with it. This particular time I was living in Maine and celebrating with a Chimay from my local bar. The reply text was “I have an idea if you want to come home”, and that got the ball rolling. The Olive had been open nine months or so and Kim saw the potential. Originally the idea was that by the time I actually made the move back, the store would be ready to open. I could live upstairs in the apartment, it would be perfect. We all know that didn’t happen!

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in the first year of business?
Facebook is a tool. No, seriously! A business tool. Social Media is an entirely different beast as a business. Alga-rhythms, paying to boost, who sees what, and on and on… One doesn’t want to be annoying yet it’s the way we keep up these days. It can be a double edged sword. Liking and sharing posts does a huge amount to spread the word. I’m trying to be better about tagging local breweries when we tap their beers or receive new package product.
We have such solid reviews, many sites contact us asking that we take it up a notch and pay to play.

barrel-house

What’s the biggest surprise you’ve had about the business?
We are not a brewery! We leave that to the other guys. We get so much mail trying to sell us forklifts and spill kits and all kinds of fun stuff, however, we will not ever need any of it!

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If you had it to do again what one thing would you change?
Absolutely nothing. I’m a firm believer in the here and now. All the what-if’s in the world wouldn’t result in the same end product. Part of our whole logic was to open when it was finished, nothing we had explain away. I distinctly remember the day i realized it was ready. Still, when we see necessary changes needed, we have evolved. We adapted to the needs of the customer. We will continue to evolve.


What can we expect new or different in year two?
More controlled events. My goal from the beginning was to have one wine and one beer event each month. However big or small. It’s time to focus on that. I want people to know that the second Thursday of the month is some11822570_10153532885514314_1360217017406453574_nthing at the BH.
When we were the new kid, breweries and distributors were throwing stuff at us so fast, we were not in a position to say no. Now I know to be patient. Maybe it’ll come back around? Maybe it’s not worth the hassle?  As I say this, I’m already eating my words because the Ohio Craft Brewers Conference is hot on the heals of our Anniversary party. So five long days later we will have a Fatheads Meet and Greet event.

I like to think this is the end of the longest, toughest year of my life. I know it’ll never get easy, there will always be stress, and I’ll never really get a day off. But with the support of my wife, family and friends, I’ve…, we’ve made it this far. There is a great community of support here and I am certainly happy to be a part of it. We have a great staff, delivery a great product, and are committed to making our mark in the local beer scene. Here’s to many more years, Cheers!


We hope you’ll check out the 20 taps which include  17 craft beers, one gluten free cider a red and white wine at The Barrel House at 417 E. Thirds Street in downtown Dayton.  You can fill a growler or howler,  enjoy a flight of beers or pick a bottle of wine  off the shelf, use the insta-chill cooler  to chill your bottle in 5-7 minu10151196_847038572001043_8316600365813678939_ntes  while you lounge in the comfy chairs and use their free wifi. You can even carry in your own food, or have it delivered.

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Tuesday-Thursday 3p-10p
Friday & Saturday  12p-1a
Sunday                   1p-7p
Closed Mondays

DAYTON BREW HA-HA: A Midwest Mash-Up & Ticket Give Away

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1397659_1595460254023814_8207981117539499827_oFor the 5th year in a row The Montessori School of Dayton will host a craft beer fundraiser,  which will take place Sat, Jan 30th at the school. This year Dayton Brew Ha-Ha showcases world-class beer produced in the Midwest. Proceeds from the event will go to the school’s capital improvement fund.

While the East and West coasts are generally thought of as brewing epicenters, the Midwest has been not-so-quietly producing our own superstars. From established breweries like Founders, Bell’s, Jackie O’s, and Upland to rising stars like Rhinegeist, MadTree, and North High, to all of local breweries that dot the Miami Valley, the Midwest has become a beer scene that rivals both coasts. Kevin J. Gray, co-chair, explains that, “The goal of the MSD Brew Ha-Ha is to help showcase the remarkable brewing talent of our region. Most of the breweries at the event are easily within half a day’s drive from Dayton or less. There has been tremendous brewery growth in the region, so we’re pleased to present not only established breweries, but also newer ones that people haven’t had a chance to try yet.” The beer list will showcase approximately 50 beers from the region and is curated to appeal to those new to craft beer, hardcore beer geeks, and everyone in-between.

New this year, a VIP hour that starts at 5 pm. VIP attendees will receive an additional 5 beer tickets, appetizers, and will have early access to rare beers in a much smaller, more intimate crowd. We’ve been given an exclusive peek at some of the specialty beers you can expect:

Firkin of double dry hopped Head Hunter from Fat Heads
Maple Letters to the Underworld, served in a cask from Nowhere in Particular
2015 Kentucky Breakfast Stout
Bell’s 30th Anniversary
BA Siberian Night from Thirsty Dog
BA Total Eclipse from Maumee Bay
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The Brew Ha Ha Braintrust: Brandy Gorham, Michael Taylor and Kevin Gray.

The 5th anniversary will also see an expanded silent auction. Silent auction items include craft beer-themed gift baskets, as well as larger items like date night packages (that include dinner and babysitting), a meat smoker, a tennis club package, and an overnight in a local B&B just to name a few of the many items up for auction.  You’ll also find games of chance, like beer ring toss, spin to win and a floating beer pond for prizes to amuse yourself with.  You can also pick up a souvenir Brew Ha-Ha t-shirt.

With all the great beer available, you’ll want to grab some some good eats and One Bistro will be on site with a variety of beer-inspired food options available for purchase. One Bistro is a “pay it forward” restaurant located in Miamisburg, where patrons pay what they can afford or trade service for food.  The event will also feature complimentary desserts and coffee at the end of the evening.

Fitting for an event held in an elementary/middle school, craft beer education will be a focus of the evening. Curious about what to try? Tasting guides will be provided to help attendees navigate the room and find beers that match their favorite flavor profiles. Attendees can also talk to one of the roving Beer Ambassadors, who can steer them in the right direction. Those interested in beer history can chat with Carillon Brewing to understand Dayton’s role in brewing. Want to learn to brew beer? Members of DRAFT, the Dayton Homebrewing Club, will be on hand to discuss beer making at home. The program will also include clone recipes of several of the event’s beers, recipes put together by the staff of BrewTensils homebrew supply.

 

12304394_1703849799851525_3827552624413249908_oHow To Go:

The school is located in Kettering, at 2900 Acosta Street. The event takes place at the school on Jan 30, 2015 from 6-10 pm, with the VIP hour starting at 5pm. General admission tickets are $35 and VIP are $50 (while they last). Tickets and more information are available online at brewhahadayton.com.

 

About the School

Montessori-School-of-DaytonMontessori Center of Dayton (MSD) was originally founded as a non-profit Montessori School in 1964 offering a true Montessori education to children between three and nine years old (pre-K through 3rd grade). In 2008, the school made the decision to purchase the current building with the intention of further expanding the curriculum to serve students from the toddler years (18 months) through the eighth grade. Through the purchase of the building, MSD has been able to expand and modernize the classrooms, refurbish the gymnasium and school stage with new flooring, stage curtains and lighting, and add to the extracurricular activities including art, foreign language (Spanish), band, chorus, theater arts and will soon add sporting activities.

 

DMM Ticket GiveAway:

We love to share Dayton’s best events with our readers, so if you’d like to enter our drawing for a pair of tickets to Brew Ha-Ha, just like like this article, fill out this form and leave us a comment telling us about your favorite beer or why you should win.  We’ll post our winner here Saturday, Jan 23rd. [form 55 “DMM Contest Entry – Generic”]

Dive Bar Tuesday: Dog’s Breath Tavern

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Fat Heads and pool? What more do you need?

Fat Heads and pool? What more do you need?

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

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

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

So much room for activities...

So much room for activities…

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

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

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

 

Dive Bar Tuesday: Miami Valley Sports Bar

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Miami Valley Sports Bar Cocktails

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

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

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

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

Miami Valley Sports Bar Tillie's Tavern Craft Beer

Thirty one taps is nothing to sneeze at.

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

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

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

Miami Valley Sports Bar

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

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

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

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 shot glasses.

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

Fifth Street Brewpub Brings Back The Drink Up Dayton Challenge

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FSB_BeerMonthFlyer_2016

Enter the Fifth Street Brewpub Drink Up Dayton Challenge! Just drink 18 great Dayton beers at FSB in January.

Earn your Drink Up Ohio t-shirt by drinking just 18 beers at the brewpub. Eight FSB Beers & one from each of the ten local participating breweries…you’ve got the whole month of January to do it!

How to play ~ First ask your server for an official Drink Up Dayton Playing Card. With each beer you drink in January, your server will “stamp it”. Then return your completed card with 18 beers stamped to FSB no later than January 31st and qualify to receive your Drink Up Dayton t-shirt. Please provide your name, email address and phone number when you submit your completed card. Your t-shirt will be ready for pick up March 1st.

Crooked Handle Brewing Co. Opens For Christmas

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11049571_448306348684413_3345127755144033815_nThe Miami Valley’s newest brewery opened their doors up tonight for a friends and family preview in the Springoboro Settlers Walk shopping center.  Crooked Handle owner and head brewer Jason Moore he and his partner Jeff Pedro Jr started shopping their business plan for the micro brewery about 2 and 1/2 years ago.  They found two Springboro investors and signed a lease for their  Crooked Handle Brewing Co. location at 760 N. Main Street, just around the plaza from Dorothy Lane Market, on May 1st and began ordering equipment soon after.  11231902_528348907346823_1487370294404874524_n

And then they waited.  Equipment they expected in a couple of months didn’t arrive in full until November, pushing their opening back.  While waiting they finished all the construction of the 3,600 square foot brewery and tap room.   Their occupancy has been set at 104, with plenty of seats at the bar and a small lounge area of leather couches and come spring they’ll add another 20 seat on a small patio.

Jason and his wife Kristy, who will run the tap room, used some of that waiting time to get their Cicerone Server certifications.  The certification  requires competent knowledge of beer storage and service issues as well as modest knowledge of beer styles and culture and basic familiarity with beer tasting and flavors and basic knowledge about brewing process and ingredients.

With all of the equipment finally in place, they began brewing. Tonight for the preview they had 3 beers tapped, one they called Batch #1, which Jason admitted wasn’t exactly what he planned, but that’s typical when home brewers go from 5 gallon batches to a 7 barrel brewing system.

The Farm Saison seemed to be the crowd favorite at tonight’s tasting.  Coincidene that the Saison is Jason’s favorite beer style?  We think not.  Beers were available in 5 oz tasters, pints or growlers to go.  The other beer on tap was Your Mom’s Oatmeal Stout, rolled oats with a chocolate, nutty finish.12240059_525598510955196_7053248934684660598_n

Moore says the next to be added to the taps are an IPA and an Amber Ale. By then end of January he predicts they’ll have all 10 tap handles filled with their beers.  A quick tour of the cold room filled with kegs and 26 six barrels, Jason shared they’ll be doing some local distribution.  Later on they will add bottling or canning and down the road they will be looking for a larger production facility.

Dorothy Lane Market and Milano’s have already signed on to carry Crooked Handle brews.  While the Tap House will not have a kitchen , a notebook of to -go menus was seen on the bar tonight.

You’ll get your chance to check out Dayton’s 12th brewery this Christmas, when they will open the tap room at 4pm.  They will have limited hours during the holidays and start working a regular schedule after the New Year.  Cheers to Crooked Handle!

 

 

Ketttering Gas & Growler Stop

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

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

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

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

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

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