Stouts, cream ales, IPA’s, ambers — these are just a few of the many styles of beer brewed at some of Dayton’s local craft breweries.
With close to a dozen craft breweries opening in the area, people are familiarizing themselves with the many different styles of craft beer. These breweries operate on a much smaller scale than typical corporate breweries. They are known for distilling and selling on location, while emphasizing the individual flavors and the importance of the brew process.
Craft breweries sell and serve only beers made in-house. Mostly served on draft, you won’t find bottles, big brand light beers or liquor being served.
The craft beer trend has been growing steadily in popularity since the 1970s, beginning in the U.K. and quickly spreading to other countries. The acceptance of craft breweries in Dayton has been enormous. With one opening up after another, it’s safe to say that there is an emerging trend of craft breweries in the area.
Opening their doors this past June, Toxic Brew Company, located in the Oregon District, is the first craft brewery in downtown Dayton in 52 years.
“The biggest night we’ve had was that first night,” Owner and Brew Master Shane Juhl said, attributing the successful opening to the rise in popularity of craft beer.
Describing the beer-making process, Juhl said a typical brew day can last up to eight to 10 hours, and involves a highly detailed process. Typical ingredients include water, malted barley, yeast and of course the flavoring, which comes mainly from hops. According to Juhl, this is one of his favorite steps of the brew process
“That’s when a lot of goodness gets put in,” he said.
Other sources of starch can be added such as corn, rice or sugar. After mashing, boiling and cooling the beer sits for two to four weeks before it’s ready to be served.
Toxic currently offers 10 beers on tap, including their ISO-Heaven IPA, Abby’s Cure Belgian Triple, Black Tonic Stout, Dank Dunkel Dark Wheat and most recently, the Practice Yoga IPA.
Warped Wing, located downtown, is the most recent craft brewery to open in the area. They offer several styles including their Flyin Rye, Belgian-Style Cream Ale, 10-ton Oatmeal Stout and the Maa Durga Red IPA. Warped Wing is located between Fifth-Third Field in the Oregon District.
However, the first craft brewery in the area was The Dayton Beer Company, which opened in Kettering in May of 2012, making it the first craft brewery in the area after 51 years. They are currently serving 10 different beer styles on tap, including their Mad River Milk Stout, Riverside Rye Indian Pale Ale and Patterson Pale Ale.
Just one year after The Dayton Beer Company, The Yellow Springs Brewery and Eudora Brewing also opened their doors to the public.
The Yellow Springs Brewery, located in the village of Yellow Springs is one of the larger local craft breweries. Currently, their tap includes names like the Goats Eyes, Belgian Pale Ale, Kerfuffle English Mild, Not Punk Enough Pumpkin Ale and the Wobbly Wheel IPA.
Eudora, like Dayton Beer Company, is located in Kettering. Both brew companies experiment in making many different beer styles. Eudora’s tap list includes titles like Motherfuggle Brown Ale, Thunderball Stout and the Sundowner Blonde Ale.
With all of the different styles available the possibilities are endless for experimenting with new creations within the brew process. As long as the doors stay open and the beer gets brewed, people will always be in the mood.