Where To Find The Sourest & Most Unique Craft Beer In North America

Craft beer is making a scene everywhere you look these days. It’s made a splash in Korea in recent years (finally) and when I arrived back in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio recently, I was happy to learn that there are now fifteen breweries in the region. Looking for something unique to do in Dayton, Ohio? Or maybe you just want some unique beer?

The Carillon Brewing Company located in Carillon Historical Park and built in 2014 produces the sourest beer I’ve ever had. Before you make that sour lemon face and squeeze your lips together though, let me just assure you that it is good and I honestly have dreams of the stuff now… It’s that good. Looking for a place to eat and drink in Dayton? This is it!

Skip around and see what there is to see!

Basic Information
Where To Stay Nearby
The History Of The Carillon Brewing Company
What You Will See Today
Food and Drinks

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Basic Information

Address: 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, Ohio
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday: 11:00am ~ 7:00pm
Email: info@carillonbrewingco.org

Where To Stay Nearby

Marriott at the University Of Dayton

If you’ll be passing through Dayton and want to stay in the area, look no further than the Marriott. Down the road and within walking distance of the Carillon Brewing Company, this hotel has an indoor and outdoor pool and beautiful views out over the Great Miami River. The hotel is a great option if you’ll need to be downtown because it’s just a few kilometers away. We’ve stayed here at least four times and had a great time every time. It’s not RIGHT downtown, but is right on the metro parks.

You can book a stay at Marriott at the University of Dayton on Booking.com or on Agoda.com

The History Of The Carillon Brewing Company

The Carillon Brewing Company is the first licensed production brewery in a museum and more than that the entire brewery replicates a restaurant and brewery straight out of the 1850s. Located in the beautiful Carillon Historical Park, it’s an apt location to make a day of learning about Dayton’s historic greats including the Wright Brothers (inventor’s of the airplane) and see all of the numerous inventions that were made right in the Dayton area and then head over to the Carillon Brewing Company to enjoy some beer straight out of the past.

In the 1800s, beer was enjoyed daily by almost everyone and it was seen as a nutritious not to mention sanitary refreshment because it was cleaner than water! The breweries in the Dayton area at this time were also a sign that the brewing process was changing from the job of the housewife to a business endeavor. The population of the area was growing and more and more people were coming so it became big business to own a local brewery open to the public.

At its peak, there were 14 breweries in the Dayton area in the 1880s. Brewing became mechanized, bottles were being filled and shipped out of town and there was competition within the market to produce and sell the most beer. Smaller breweries partnered with or were bought out by larger breweries and it was during this time that big beer names like N. Thomas, Hollencamp, Sachs-Pruden, and Schantz-Schwind came about.

Most brewery owners in the early 19th century in Ohio were of English descent and were primarily interested in making ales, their drink of choice. Ales were perfect for the time considering they required little to no refrigeration during fermentation. The yeast could ferment relatively fast which meant there was a product to sell in a short time frame. By the 1840s and 1850s, more German settlers were taking up residence in Ohio and in addition to producing ale, they were also making a lager.

Lagers were different in that they required cooler temperatures and longer time to ferment but thanks to J. & M. Schiml Brewery, lagers were first brewed in the area on December 13, 1852 and completely changed the heritage of the brewing industry in the area.

What You Will See Today

Because the Carillon Brewing Company is a museum as well as a restaurant, there are placards strategically placed with information and the menus come with more info so that not only can delicious food be enjoyed and interesting brews be had, but there’s also an educational opportunity. The Carillon Brewing Company, a living history exhibit, is the only exhibit of its kind in North America which should mean that any local and definitely any visitor or tourist to the area NEEDS to have this on their list of places to wine (er beer) and dine in Dayton, Ohio.

Bakers and brewers adorned in era-appropriate attire wait on tables and demonstrate 1850s baking and brewing methods using historical tools and techniques right in the dining room. Food that is served up is era appropriate as well with fare that has been produced locally or would have been preserved and delivered via the Miami-Erie Canal or the National Road.

According to their menu, food that has “been baked, brewed, dried, distilled, smoked, salted, fermented, brandied or candied” is served up in the spirit of celebrating the history of Dayton. The atmosphere of the restaurant and brewery is extremely unique and in a very good way.

While kids won’t be able to sip the historic-inspired brews, they can still be in on the conversation when it comes to the ambiance and history within. Gas copper lamps light the space and doors are white oak with hand-forged hinges and handles. The smell of charcoal and wood fire fills the space and if you’ve got kids with you, have them look around to pick up on other historic amenities we don’t have today.

Food and Drinks

German delicacies like soft pretzel braids, saurkraut balls and wurst platters along with ruebens, schnitzel and more compliment the sour brews that will satiate any beer need. Get a flight and sit down to enjoy their Sour Porter, Coriander Ale, Berliner Weisse and their current specialty, a Squash Ale.

(From left to right in the photo below.) The Sour Porter is described as a mixed roasted malts with a thin body. The Coriander Ale is a pale malt with coriander and pepper and my table agreed was the sourest of the brews. The Berliner Weisse is a crisp and light wheat malt and wasn’t as sour as the others. The fourth is the seasonal Squash Ale fortified with locally grown from the Little Miami Farms roasted butternut squash, along with barley and Appalachian Wheat and some brown sugar and cinnamon. The waitress let us know that historically during grain shortages this ale was brewed and boy is it delicious.

The sour taste of the brews might be off-putting to some, though everyone at my table quite enjoyed them. Everywhere you look, there are signs and information that let patrons know the brews will most certainly be unlike what they are used to from other establishments. What else can be expected when it’s brewed to be historically accurate though?

After a few sips and a taste test of the four beers in the flight, conversation quickly ensued on the sourest and the most interesting/delicious of the lot. After a few sips too, the sourness isn’t as pungent but the other flavors start to come through as well so just keep sipping.

The house brews are said to have 4-6%ABV but our waitress let us know that that can vary. One of our ales, forgive me for forgetting which, had a higher alcohol content than normal and our waitress explained that one of their batches came out a bit higher than normal. There’s a bit less control in a historic brewery than in the ones today it seems. As if that was unexpected.

The rustic ambiance of the restaurant and brewery and the live “performances” which are actual brewing and cooking techniques done in the dining room combined with the delicious German fare and sour brews make the Carillon Brewing Company a MUST SEE AND EAT place in Dayton, Ohio. Learn about it and 20 other things to do in Dayton, Ohio to plan your trip.

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