Traveling to Akron, OH...

Akron would have to say stop at hoppin frogs new tasting room, although I haven't been their i heard it was nice. Cleveland I would say go to Great Lakes brewing, market garden and maybe stop by the west side market for a crepe and beef jerky.

 

Akron proper doesn't have much in the way of great beer bars or brewpubs, but Thirsty Dog's tasting room is worth a stop.

If you're going to be near Great Lakes, travel a few minutes south to Tremont and hit up Lilly's for excellent chocolates and a huge bottle selection: http://www.lillytremont.com/

Travelling between Cleveland and Sandusky makes Brewkettle and/or Fatheads a must stop.

Have fun!

 

I can't believe you mentioned Thirsty Dog's shit hole, but failed to mention Hoppin Frog. Sorry if you excluded it because some one mentioned it before you. I love both breweries, but Thirsty Dog's tasting room is infested with gnats, dirt and sewer water. I love dive bars too, but going there during the summer can be scary.

There's Baxter's, Lockview, West Point Market and Acme. Outside the city, but practically in Akron you have Portage Lakes Brewing and Lizardville on Copley road. I'm sure I'm missing even more cause I don't live there.

 

Used to live down there, and visit occasionally. The only one I go to is the Lizardville that was mentioned. Great selection, and obviously Winking Lizard food, which I consider a must when visiting.

 

I would agree with riemster and say screw TD's and hit up Hoppin Frog's new joint just south of downtown...great in-house selection with a few guests brews and some good grub getting kicked out of the kitchen. I would also suggest 101 Bottles in Kent, West Point Market and the new Lizardville in Copley.

 

Well, I can't believe you think I should name a place that's already been mentioned. That's why I left off Hoppin Frog. Also, when I was at Thirsty Dog, it didn't have the problems you mentioned, so excuuuse me for that one.

As far as West Point goes, it's a nice upscale place if you want to spend a lot of money, but I think the beers are overpriced. I quit shopping for beer there when they wanted $3 each for a mixed six. Lockview's not bad.

Acme's are decent as is 101 Bottles, but once again like happens on these kinds of threads, we're talking about sending the OP all over the place to look for beers. Akron to Kent and back for 101 Bottles, depending on where the OP starts, could be a 30+ mile round trip. That's why I suggested Lilly's as long as she's going to be in Cleveland. I assume if a beer fan is going to Cleveland, they're going to hit up Ohio City and that round trip, Ohio City to Tremont, will only be 4 miles. Haven't been to Rozi's in Lakewood but it's rated as a decent bottle shop/eatery and is a 12 mile round trip from Ohio City, or just a few miles off the interstate if she stops there on the way to or from Sandusky.

The OP is driving in the Akron-Cleveland-Sandusky area. No sense in sending her east or south of where she'll be when there's plenty of good beer in the area she's covering

 

I just drove to Akron a few days ago to visit 3 breweries. Honestly Ohio Brewing Company had the coolest brewpub going on. You are sitting in the middle of their brewery drinking pints of beer out of plastic cups. The owner and staff are all very nice and will show you around the brewing equipment. Hoppin Frog is a very nice new place with some amazing beer. I would say it is definitely worth a trip or two. The food isn't as good as it sounds so just pick something plain and simple.

Also enjoyed Thirsty Dog as well but I would have to ranked it 3rd out of the the three I mentioned. It is almost a bar thrown in the middle of a brewery but still an interesting place. They sell all kinds of beer to go though.

 

Hi, hope you aren't traveling with children. My family was kicked out of Hoppin Frog this evening because we had our infant son with us.