My wife and I are driving from Michigan through Ohio to Charelston, WV for a wedding memorial day weekend. Our route will take us through Columbus and Athens on the way there and Akron and Cleveland on the way home. We will likely only have time to stop at one brewery each way and probably a bottle shop as well. On the way there, I am between Jackie O's and Columbus brewing. Which one has better food? Do both of these breweries have distro to all of Ohio? On the way home I am between Fatheads and Thirsty Dog (already been to Great Lakes). Are both of these beers available at bottle shops? I would love to bring back some White Rajah, Bodhi, Head Hunter, and other seasonal stuff. Will I have to go to the individual breweries for those beers? Also does anywhere in Ohio get Prairie, Three Floyds, Against the Grain, or any North Carolina distro? Thanks for the help!
Fat Head's, Jackie O's and JAFB; pick two. JAFB has odd hours and no food, but they are one of the best breweries in the state. Rajah and Head Hunter are all over, freshness will vary. Head Hunter is at least bottle dated. Bodhi shouldn't be hard to find.
I stopped in Columbus on the way back from Indy several months ago. I'd do Seventh Son or Land Grant, if I was going to pick just one.
Jackie O's HANDS DOWN. The Columbus restaurant isn't a brew pub; it's owned by another company. The food at Jackie O's is great, albiet a limited menu right now. Also, walk down Court Street 2 minutes and there's a store (I think it's called "and BEER") that sells a ton of Ohio singles. And stop at Jackie O's production across town to buy their bottles. Fat Heads HANDS DOWN. Thirsty Dog is a dingy brewery building with a bar in the corner, maybe 1-2 exclusives but no vibe IMO. Fat Heads is likely my vote for Ohio's best brewery, tons of pub exclusives. Depending on time of day, hit North Olmstead Fat Heads for more drafts and food selection, but go to the Fat Heads Middleburgh production brewery if you'll be around anytime "peak" hours. You'll be able to grab Fat Heads and Thirsty Dog bottles at any better bottle shop. If you're coming up I-77, stop at Lizardville in Copley (near Montrose/Akron) for all your bottleshop needs. It's 2 minutes off 77, everything is available as singles. Yes. Lizardville should have some Prairie but nothing crazy rare (gets snatched up the day its released). You'll have a tough time finding Three Floyds - sells out instantly except for Robert the Bruce and Backmasking. No North Carolina beers I can think of off top of my head. And Against the Grain rots on local shelves because their beer is overpriced and shitty.
While Jackie O's is a nice place (haven't been since the fire) and JAFB is very good but off your route quite a bit, I'd say Columbus (the city) offers more options on the way down. The Ohio Tap Room serves nothing but Ohio brewed beers, so you have a good chance to try something you can't get in Michigan: http://theohiotaproom.com/ On the return trip, I'd hit Ohio City (in Cleveland) which will also give you the opportunity to try several places within walking distance including Great Lakes, Bier Markt, Market Garden and some other good local bars/brewpubs I can't think of off the top of my head.
He's already been to Great Lakes, Fat Heads crushes Market Garden and all the West 25th street crap. Hell, Fat Heads crushes Great Lakes.
Missed the part about having been to Great Lakes. My error. Which, of course, is your always humble opinion. Others may differ. And if the OP is heading back on I-90 he could just as easily stop by Brewkettle and get some fresh Rajah on tap and in growlers or bottles.
W. 25th has plenty of options but I will always suggest someone check out Fat Heads instead if they are traveling through the area. If they're staying in town for the night I would probably say the opposite.
Currently on tap at the Brewkettle are both White & Black Rajah. I imagine those are pretty standard. I never asked if they fill growlers, but I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't. http://www.thebrewkettle.com/shop/ontap.asp
Brew Kettle and Fatheads will definitely do growler fills of any of their own beers they have on draft. You're also going to get the freshest kegged & bottled product in the gift shops or on draft. We're spoiled here in Cleveland, you really can't go wrong with either of them. Only reason outside of GLBC I would stop on W25th is to head to Town Hall to get a Crowler of Willoughby PB Cup Porter.
In NEOH, I'd recommend Lizardville in Bedford or Lakewood for a bottle shop. They have tons of bottles, all singles so you can get build some local mixed packs. There is some mark-up but it's worth it for the variety. They should have plenty of Fathead's, Brewkettle, Thirsty Dog and possibly some Jackie O's and 3F. White Rajah and Head Hunter bottles are everywhere. Any large grocery store (Acme, Giant Eagle, Heinens) should have them, but freshness varies. Actually if you can stop in Lakewood, I would just go down Detroit Ave. There are a number of good bottle shops (Simone's, Ross's, Rozi's, Lizardville) all within a few minutes of each other.
Do Jackie O's for sure. You can hit up the taproom to buy some bottles and drink some beer, and just a few mintues away the Brew Pub and Public House are connected to each other. I would do Fat Heads over Thirsty Dog because TD does not have food. They sell bottles there, but you should be able to pick up anything (even Wulver) at a good store. You can find Bohdi on tap all over Columbus. Use beermenus or go on the "New to Ohio" forum. White Rajah is everywhere, but they dont bottle date so I would get it from a cooler or look for the all green caps with script (new) without the yellow ring. Check out the "places" forum for good shops. Based on your route, I would say hit up The Andersons (west) or any of the places on Indianola Ave in Columbus, and 62 Butts and Brews in Canton (just a few miles off 77).
^This guy knows. You can hit 5 bottle shops in probably less than 5 miles on one street if you head to Detroit Ave in Lakewood. If it's in stock in the Cleveland area, one or more out of five probably have it. Rozi's probably has the most thoughtful, well-curated selection, but Lizardville is great and Cap&Corks is the sleeper store of them all. Simone's is last in line (heading west) and my last resort considering the troll-like manager/owner (idk which he is).
A lot of bottle shops get their deliveries in on Thursdays, so I'd check Rozi's Instagram or Twitter account. If you are taking 71 south I'd check Circle A Beverage on facebook or Royal Vine', both are on North Royalton. Brew Kettle is less than 5 minutes away from the 71 Pearl Road exit
