Inside: Ohio Brewing Company

With its prime location next to the Akron Aeros' ballpark, the Ohio Brewing Company is one of the most popular hot spots for both dinner and drinking in downtown Akron. It’s not just for beer lovers either; the bar-restaurant has a full menu of sandwiches and pizza, along with a fun atmosphere for a night on the town.

Food: Typical of a brewery, the menu doesn’t stray far from bar dining favorites like burgers and pizza. Luckily, they do them well. I recommend trying the “beer pizza,” the tomato sauce has a touch of beer and it’s topped with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, green peppers and mushrooms. I consider myself somewhat of a pizza aficionado, and I can tell you that this pizza definitely did not disappoint. Although you don’t really taste the beer, the sauce is flavorful and the crust is done well.

If pizza is not your thing, there’s also an interesting variety of burgers to choose from. Most impressive is the "Cardinal Kegger," an all-beef burger mixed with an interesting combination of carrots, zucchini, on top of onion and bacon with the bar’s own Cardinal Ale and “firecracker” sauce.

Drinks: The bar boasts some award-winning brews including the popular favorite Cardinal Ale (an Irish Red Ale), which won a gold medal at the World Beer Championships. Along with the Al-ternative Amber, the Cardinal Ale is one of my favorites. Both have a smooth, not too dry taste and go along well with most menu items. The bar’s owners have an impressive background in the field of brewing. The head brewer served for a time at the Great Lakes Brewery in Cleveland and has won medals for his brewing skills. 

Décor: The first thing you notice when you step inside are the TVs. The bar definitely takes advantage of its location near the Akron campus and the Aeros' stadium to draw in area sports lovers. Everywhere you look there’s a flat-screen TV displaying whatever sporting event is on that night. The bar’s size, though, opens it up for more than just watching sports. There’s a dining area for those more interested in food than cheering on the Cavs or Indians and an upstairs and downstairs bar area for the younger crowd looking to socialize.

Crowd: The size and location of the brewery draws an eclectic crowd. In the dining area you’re likely to see families and couples enjoying dinner. Diehard sports fans of varying ages watch TV in the main bar area and college students usually hang out in the upstairs area separate from the families and diners. Overall the atmosphere is very laid back and unassuming.

Insider tip: The bar has specials almost every night of the week, along with live music on weekends. Monday through Friday from 3-7 p.m., select appetizers, along with beer, liquor and wine are half priced.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for burgers or pizza in Akron, along with some unique beers, this is the place.

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