Just twelve months ago, if you were driving through Yellow Springs and had a yen for a brewery-fresh craft beer, you had exactly one option: Yellow Springs Brewing. Now the quaint and quirky town of Yellow Springs has become a beer destination with three craft breweries to check out.
Yellow Springs Brewery
Start with the original, Yellow Springs Brewery. Opened since 2013 and a significant force in the Ohio craft brewing industry with 2020 production levels exceeding 5000 barrels and a strong retail presence in central-Ohio. Their brewery and taproom is located in the Mill Works Industrial Park and features seating for 50 or so inside and room for another couple dozen on their patio (which overlooks the Little Miami bike trail). Twelve taps are all house beers, headed by their flagship Boat Show IPA, and of course, including their well-regarded Captain Stardust Saison. Also recently on tap was a Golden Ale, a trio of Pale Ales, a couple more IPA’s, and a trio of stouts including a German Chocolate Cake Stout. Beermosas, cider, wine, and pop are also on the menu. Snacks and charcuterie are available, and a food truck may be found in the parking lot. The taproom décor reflects the attitude and character of the brewery with their monthly “Art and Ales” exhibit. This month’s featured a collection of hand painted guitars from the Passion Works Studio out of Athens Ohio.
Yellow Springs Brewery is located at 305 N. Walnut Street and is open Monday- Thursday from 1-9, Friday 1-10, Saturday 12-10, and Sunday 12-8.
Trail Town Brewing
Next stop is down the street and around the corner; a one-minute drive to Trail Town Brewing. Located in downtown Yellow Springs, Trail Town opened last fall. A small brewery with a taproom that, at first look, seats only about two dozen. On closer inspection, you will find another, larger room around the corner. This second seating area accommodates about four dozen more, plus patio seating when weather allows. The brewing system sits in the taproom just across from the bar. Currently on tap are four house beers including a Mexica-style porter with chocolate, cinnamon, and chipotle peppers, an IPA brewed in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, a Golden Ale, and an Imperial Coffee Cream Stout. Additional guest beers are also on tap including from Alesmith, Yellow Springs, North High, and Urban Artifact. Wine, liquor, and house-made Margaritas are available as well. Food is freshly-made in house from Miguel’s and includes tacos, bowls, and burritos.
Trail Town is located at 101 Corry Street and is open Sunday – Thursday 11-9, and Friday – Saturday 11-10.
Yellow Springs Barrel Room
The final stop is a three-minute drive straight down Rt 68 to the Yellow Springs Brewery Barrel Room. This space has been part of the brewery since 2016. Know as “The South House”, it served only as warehouse and barrel aging space until it was renovated and opened as a second taproom last April. While there are several of Yellow Springs traditional beers on tap here, this location is founded on producing beers using mixed fermentation. That is evidenced by the racks holding 18 oak barrels, and the pair of 15-bbl oak foeders. The current line-up of mixed fermentation beers includes a Witbier with Brett, their Saison-style Table Beer, a Saison fermented in wine barrels with pineapple, mango, and Passionfruit, and another Saison fermented in wine barrels with blackberries. And my favorite (not mixed fermentation), a barrel aged Barleywine. The taproom is a modern space with the bar set in a cut-open shipping container. Seating for 120 is available in the taproom with room for more on the patio. This location was once a bowling alley and you will note some of the wood has been repurposed here. There is shuffle board and board games available to enjoy if interested.
The taproom is located at 1475 Xenia Avenue and is open Friday and Saturday 1-9, and Sunday 1-6.
Bonus: Young’s Jersey Dairy
Your road trip may or may not be done yet. If you were longing for a Milkshake IPA and didn’t find one, just three-minutes out of town on Route 68 as you are heading back to Cbus, there is Young’s Jersey Diary. Easily one of the best ice cream shops in the state; stop in Young’s for an actual Milkshake. On the weekend expect to wait in line and then be given a pager to alert you when your ice cream or milkshake is ready. I assure you, it is worth the wait. Young’s is located at 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road (Route 68).
