Dayton Beer Bus Tour (Dayton, Ohio) - 8 MAR 2014

On Saturday, 8 MAR 2014, 40 intrepid souls set off on the adventure of a lifetime:  87 miles traveled, 12 hours in duration, 8 Dayton area breweries, and one bad ass bus driver named Ray.  The tour was set to leave from Boston's Bistro at 10:00am. 

However, as one might imagine, a 12 hour bus tour doesn't follow a rigorous schedule.  We had plenty of time for donuts and coffee, detailed instructions (don't spill beer on the bus), and plotting our strategy for the days events before we actually set off closer to 11:00.

Boston's Bistro:  The start of it all

Boarding the Beer Bus.

All bright eyed and bushy tailed.

The Dayton Beer Bus Tour was scheduled to visit 8 of the 9 Dayton area breweries that have sprung up during the last two years including Star City Brewing Company, Lock 27 Brewing Company, Eudora Brewing Company, Dayton Beer Company, Toxic Brew Company, Fifth Street Brewpub, Yellow Springs Brewery, and Hairless Hair Brewery.

The beer on the bus went pour, pour, pour

To keep us occupied during the nearly 2 hours spent driving from location to location, a unique draft system was set up in the middle of the bus and Cat was voted Beer Wench for our tour.  Two taps provided Fat Tire - the only beer that I didn't enjoy the whole day - and a very nice Rye IPA from Stone Quarry, a local homebrewer.

First Stop:  Star City Brewing Company

Star City is located in the historic Peerless Mill in Miamisburgh, OH.

The gang's all here

Sampler tray

A certified beer judge - at least that's what his name tag proclaimed - voted Star City Brewing Company the best complete collection of beers.  My personal favorite here was the Milk Stout with the Winter Warmer a close second.  Alas, you won't be able to try that one as the keg blew a few days later and next year they plan to revise the recipe.

Second Stop:  Lock 27 Brewing Company

The first of three Dayton area brewpubs located in strip malls

A comfortable atmosphere for the brewery and gastropub

Samplers laid out on the large high top table by the front window.

It wasn't clear to me if this is the extent of their brewery

Lock 27 Brewing Company doubles as a gastropub and we were ready for some food when we arrived. Everything we ordered was very good and served surprisingly fast given that 40 hungry souls arrived all at the same time.  I really enjoyed the large high top table that looked out the front window.  It was the perfect spot for folks on the Beer Bus Tour to gather and chat.  They serve several of their own beers as well as an assortment of other craft beers on tap and a large selection of bottles.  The selection this today was perfect for a Hop Head with three different IPAs, including a memorable pepper IPA that had just the right amount of heat.

Third Stop:  Eudora Brewing Company

The second of three Dayton area brewpubs located in strip malls

Eudora brewing equipment

Eudora brew-on-premise equipment

Eudora Brewing Company is unique among the Dayton area breweries for two reasons.  First, it includes a Brew-on-Premise (BOP) operation and second, it donates a percentage of it's sales to Charity Water whose mission is help those in need of clean water throughout the world.  Each month they update their Facebook page with how much has been donated.  It's a pretty cool thing.  The BOP operation is just getting started and we had the luxury of trying out an Imperial IPA that they are still tweaking the recipe.  Very good.  In addition, there was a Chocolate Milk Porter that received rave reviews.  N.B.  All of the Stouts and Porters on the Beer Bus Tour were excellent.

Fourth Stop:  Dayton Beer Company

Not in a strip mall, but darn close to it

Got pretty crowded with 40 of us from the bus tour - guess that's why they are expanding

The Dayton Beer Company can rightly claim fame to being the first in long line of Dayton area breweries opening their doors just a little less than two years ago.  I know that because I was one of first in the door when they opened.  At this point, the Beer Bus Tour realized that they needed to pick up the pace - "Bip-Bop" - if they were going to finish what they started.

Fifth Stop:  Toxic Brew Company

Located downtown Dayton in the Oregon District

Some of the brewing equipment

A repurposed building with exposed brickwork and beams

In addition to having the best name, Toxic Brew Company also had the most memorable beer of the day for me.  I can't stop thinking about the Orange Cream IPA.  I've been dreaming of that one and can't wait to try it again.  In addition, they have a large assortment of high gravity beers and I can pretty much guarantee you that they will have a number of things different than you've ever had before.

Sixth Stop:  Fifth Street Brewpub 

Neighbors pooled their resources to start this co-op in Historic St. Anne's Hill

They are not brewing yet, but the equipment is in place

Fire pit in what will become the beer garden this summer

Fifth Street Brewpub is unique in Dayton, and pretty much unique anywhere, since it is only the second co-op brewpub in the country.  Two years ago they began to solicit members to help fund the renovation of this abandoned neighborhood building.  (Disclaimer, I am one of the member-owners).  After a slow start, they quickly gained momentum and transformed this dilapidated structure into one of the most welcoming bars you will find anywhere.  I know that I am biased, but I really love this place.  It has a great feel to it that you will recognize immediately upon walking in the door.  They aren't brewing their own beer yet, but they have a great variety of craft beers on tap including ones from local Dayton breweries.  The brewing equipment is in place and they should be brewing their own soon.  Another cool thing - which I didn't know before - is that member-owners will be able to use the brewing equipment to brew their own recipes and if they make the cut some will be served in the brewpub.  Their business model includes having 6 of their own beers and 6 guest beers on tap.  In addition, they serve some of the best pub food around - even with a kitchen that isn't yet fully operational.

Our fearless leader:  Dave Boston of Boston's Bistro
Thanks Dave!

I am somewhat embarrassed to admit this, but we bailed after this stop.  It was after 6:00, more than 8 hours into the excursion and this was a good spot for us to meet up with our designated drivers for dinner and then to go our separate ways.  So unfortunately, I can't lay claim to being one of the Dayton Beer Bus Tour survivors, but I can claim to having a great time and looking forward to finishing the final two stops -  Yellow Springs Brewery and Hairless Hair Brewery - as well as Dayton's most recent brewery Warped Wing Brewing Company.

What a great thing for Dayton to have such a great selection of local breweries.  Throughout the day, I had many great, memorable local beers.  Not a single one that I wouldn't order again.

Seventh Stop:  Graeter's

Graeter's:  Nothing better after a day of drinking

Pensacola Bay Brewery (Pensacola, Florida) - 3 MAR 2014





Eight samples for $9.50.

Finding this place was a real treat. Located in the historic district of downtown Pensacola, this is certainly a great place to stop for a beer and friendly conversation. The three year old brewery sits just a block or so away from the Pensacola Bay among historic houses and museums. It isn't fancy on the inside or outside, but they had about 15 of their own beers on tap. I started off with an 8 glass sampler for $9.50. I had the Kolsch, wheat, Amber, ESB.  brown, porter, IPA, and stout (follow clockwise from the top).
All of these beers were crisp and clean - totally enjoyable - though I wouldn't consider any of them exceptional. 




 

Lots of Pensacola Bay Brewery beers on tap.

The bad news was that I had forgotten my computer. The good news was that I joined right in with the conversation at the bar - which varied from 80's bands to academy award movies past and present. I didn't miss the computer one bit and enjoyed the camraderie of the folks who were there, obviously all regulars. Two bits of useful information: 1) when the Cincinnati Reds class Double A Blue Wahoos are in town, you can catch a trolley two blocks away that will take you to the ballpark, and 2) on Mondays, the Atlas Oyster House around the corner has $3/dozen oysters - though they had just run out when I got there, but they did have a couple of beers available on draft for $2.




 

Pensacola Bay Brewery brewing equipment.  Visible from the tap room. 

The tasting room has a nice set up. The brewery is visible through windows that separate the brewery from the tasting room. They have a nice bar with mulitple taps, all Pensacola Bay Brewery Beers except for a few commercial ciders. Interestingly, the beers are served with a mixture of CO2 and N2. I haven't seen this around in many places, it is usually one or the other.
This is definitely a place that caters to beer fans.  The bartender was knowledgeable about the beers and after my sampler, I asked to try several additonal beers.  Instead of a tiny pour, I was given a full sample of the following:  the Berliner Weiss, the special bitter, and the imperial stout.  I've only seen craft beer versions of Berliner Weiss twice.  This one wasn't as good as the Dogfish version, but it was made with real rasberries and would certainly be a great summer session beer.  It was interesting to compare the special bitter vs. the extra special bitter and who can complain about an imperial stout. 

Props Craft Brewery (Fort Walton Beach, Florida) - 2 MAR 2014




Props Craft Brewery brewing equipment. 

Props Craft Brewery is just minutes away from Eglin AFB - the Props theme seems quite appropriate.  There is a ceiling fan in the brewpub shaped like the prop from a large aircraft.  On this visit, there seemed to be a number of current or ex military sitting around the bar - the folks around me were talking tattoos.  They offer a 10% discount to military, police, and firefighters (which they were nice enough to extend to me. 

Sampler of 4 - 5.5oz beers for $8.00.

They had seven beers on tap. I tried a sample of 4 of their beers - Rye of the Tiger, Flying Coffin IPA, Four Kings Brown Ale, and Props Oil Porter. All were fine, but the Rye of the Tiger and the Four Kings were a little too sweet for my taste. The IPA was good enough that I ordered a couple more. 

I first discovered this place last August when I was here on vacation with my wife and daughter.  My wife - with brewery Eagle Eyes - spotted this place.  Since that visit they've expanded the place, adding extra fermenters - which I was told were not yet operational and were to supply off-site accounts.  Unfortunately, this addition has covered up their mural, but here is what it says:  "In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is bacteria" - Ben Franklin.



Fried Flounder with cole slaw, fries, and Props IPA.

In addition to the beer, I had a damn good fish sandwich (eventually see blog on my search for World's Greatest Fish Sandwich).

Props Craft Brewery is pretty friendly place. Everyone seems to know each other, be part of their beer club, and conversation flows easily among the folks sitting around the bar.