BEST OF DAYTON: The 3 Dayton-made beers you love the most

If we’ve learned one thing over the last five or so years, it’s that Dayton cannot seem to get enough local craft beer.

Dayton’s breweries each have a loyal following, and so do many of their signature brews.

>> Warped Wing sweeps 3 big beer categories in Best of Dayton

We asked Dayton to tell us their favorite local beer flavors, and here are the top three winners in this new category:

🥇WINNER: Warped Wing’s Trotwood Lager

Warped Wing has been a success story from day one and has been one of the pioneers in Dayton’s craft beer renaissance.

Warped Wing opened its doors in January 2014 with a full production and canning facility and began self-distributing to retailers right away.

Less than a year after it opened, the brewery signed a lease on a second facility north of downtown to accommodate the stronger-than-projected sales of its beers, both in kegs and in pint cans for retail sales. A restaurant inside the brewery opened in 2015.

Hometown pride and Dayton history are still an integral part of the Warped Wing brand five years later. The Warped Wing name pays homage to the famous invention by the Wright brother’s called “wing warping.” The top-selling Trotwood Lager is named after Trotwood Trailers, a local company that manufactured unique camping trailers in Dayton for over six decades.

The description from the brewery:

A crisp, cold-fermented beer. Best enjoyed in the middle of nowhere with family and friends. ABV: 4%  IBU: 20

MORE INFO: 

What's on tap right now? Year-round beers and seasonal beersWhere to find Warped Wing beers in stores

26 Wyandot St., Dayton | 937-222-7003 | WebsiteFacebook

🥈SECOND PLACE: Yellow Springs Brewery Boat Show

Yellow Springs Brewery takes pride in offering refreshing brews and capturing the spirit of its hometown of Yellow Springs with an eclectic display of art. The brewery is located in a historic 19th-century industrial building that once housed a cannery and seed company. It also is conveniently located near the Little Miami Bike Trail and a perfect stop after a ride.

Now more than 100 area establishments serve its beer.

One of its most beloved brews is the India Pale Ale Boat Show.

The official description from the brewery itself:

Tropical fruit and citrus hop notes shine when paired with the sweetness of the Crystal malts used in this moderate body IPA. 7% ABV Moderate IBU

MORE INFO:

The beersThe taproom

305 N. Walnut St., Yellow Springs | 937-767-0222 | WebsiteFacebook

Credit: Jim Witmer, Contributing Photographer

Credit: Jim Witmer, Contributing Photographer

🥉THIRD PLACE: Warped Wing’s Ermal’s 

A first place win wasn’t enough for Warped Wing. It also took third place for another signature brew: Ermal’s.

One of Warped Wing’s top-selling beers, Ermal’s Belgian Style Cream Ale, is named in honor of Ermal Fraze, a local resident who invented the pull-top can in 1959.

The description from the brewery:

Ermal’s Belgian Style Cream Ale. Light, creamy, mildly spiced with a symphony of citrus notes. ABV: 5.4% IBU: 20

MORE INFO: 

What's on tap right now? Year-round beers and seasonal beersWhere to find Warped Wing beers in stores

26 Wyandot St., Dayton | 937-222-7003 | WebsiteFacebook

🏆 COMPLETE GUIDE TO BEST OF DAYTON 2018 WINNERS

>> Food & Dining winners

>> Bars, Beer & Nightlife winners

>> Arts, Music & Entertainment winners

>> Shopping & Services winners

>> Fitness, Outdoors & Recreation winners

>> People & Places winners

About the Author