Thursday 27th of October 2016 12:37:35 PM

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In the Fall of 2016, wife Persimmon and I left the confines of comfortable Southern California (and our jobs behind managing an apartment building) to travel across and throughout the United States to see....just see what was out there.

No, we didn't (and don't) have millions of dollars but rather went depending on friends and our own capabilities to see us through.

As I write this after 2 months on the road (and now in Pittsburgh with a dear friend) I can only say what a grand time we've had so far...an adventure beyond measure and very difficult to describe. Too many things on daily basis to convey in all their beauty and humanity.

However, this is a beer "blog" and one of our "goals" (since we really don't have demands on our time now) was to visit all of the "under-appreciated" breweries in each state and, the so - called "hippie" burgs as well.

We missed some. To catch them all would have required a itinerary that, on a map, would have looked like a Looney Tunes cartoon chase from West to North to West to East to South to West to North; a zig-zag line reminiscent of someone attempting to draw a straight line on a roller coaster.

But we had friends in Yellow Springs which just happened to boast not only the "hippie" label but also that under-appreciated brewery as well.

What a find!

Yellow Springs (named for the "yellow" {rust colored actually from iron in the water} springs) is a 2-block downtown college burg that boasts glass and art studios, street sellers of afghans and tie-dyed shirts, bakeries, 1 eatery, 1 coffee shop...and more than a few tourists.

It also houses, right by a bike-hike trail the brewery.

And on a Saturday afternoon around 1:00, it was just starting to see some life. We found a table
and ordered up their Prowler, an Oatmeal Stout clocking in at a whopping 11% and was, without a doubt, the best I've ever tasted. Full and malty, as opposed to most Oatmeal stouts that come in around 5--6% and taste weak and watery, this rolled around in the mouth like a thick molasses leaving a trail of slightly sweet bitterness in the throat.

Their double IPA (Wobbly Wheel) was quite good -- and this coming from an advowed opponent of IPA's in all their varieties. The saison (Captain Stardust) was a well-seasoned and balanced brew as well.

They have snacks here, not food...a beer garden that was at first populated then, as the weather cooled, became a bit deserted but it sits right on that aforementioned bike path and has a delightful atmosphere.

The one shock you need to be aware of...the door to the bathroom opens into the brewery! Bam!!! There are the mash tuns and fermenters but where, oh where is the...oh! There, in the corner. You've got to make major water and the folks are tour are wondered if you about to join in?

Yep, Yellow springs brewery has a good thing going and if I could pick it up and carry it around with me in my little red Jeep for the rest of the journey, I would do so.

But alas, no. Can't...but I can come back.

And to finish this little piece of doggerel in the vernacular of past times....

Duuuuuuuuuude! It is just so bitchin' and gnarly! (Yes, we did talk like that!)

Sunday 28th of July 2013 09:12:12 AM

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Very nice brewery and tasting room. Very clean, organized location and setup. They always have a ample selection of their beers on tap, no less than 5 at a time. Good spectrum of beer styles too. Ample seating with the soon to be outside patio-deck, probably in the fall of 2013. YSB is one of the leaders in the beginning of the craft breweries coming to our area. It's a bit of a drive from the city of Dayton, but it is very much worth the drive.