Trailhead Brewery

The Dobie and I have just returned from an 11 day mini "brewcation" road trip, so here come the reviews!  It would have been a full brewcation, but we had the dog with us and on top of that, the Dobie ended up losing his ID halfway through the trip, making it a little harder to get beer since he looks like he's about 17!  By the way, if any readers in Asheville, NC randomly find a wallet on some mountain trail, it might be his.  Whoops.

Our brewcation started (and ended) close to home, then moved out first to West Virginia and then into North Carolina, where we visited Beer City, USA.  But before we made it all the way down there, we first went where we always go - Trailhead.

Tucked away in Akron, Ohio's scenic Valley district, Trailbead Brewery is a four-tap nanobrewery that offers a frequently rotating selection of craft beers that range from dark and malty to light and hoppy and everything in between.  Trailhead offers a very friendly atmosphere where patrons can grab a beer, relax with a game of darts, and of course meet the Valley locals.  Sit at the bar, or make some new friends at one of the brewery's picnic tables.  Either way, you're sure to enjoy a great beer at a fair price!

One of my personal favorite Trailhead brews is the 15 Feet Wheat.  Each time it comes around on tap, it is something a little different - I've now had it with vanilla, blueberries, and cherries, and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of 15 Feet Wheat with Green Tea and Lavender!  A standard but flavorful wheat beer that seems to be extremely refreshing regardless of what is added to the secondary, the light tartness of the wheat combined with tasty additions of fruits or spices is sure to please and leave the drinker wanting more.

A newer crowd favorite is Trailhead's Stout and Out, a hefty bourbon stout with a big attitude and bigger flavor.  Put your chompers in kids, because you may need to chew this bad boy a little before you put it down.  Stout and Out might be a heavy piece of work, but a smoother bourbon stout you'd be hard pressed to find, at least at our other local breweries.  Rich malt notes combined with subtle oaky tones back up the flavor of the bourbon and balance out the alcohol, giving you all of the rich taste with none of the burn that some harsher bourbon beers often carry.  Watch out though - like many of Trailhead's delicious brews, this one can and will knock you on your ass without a whole lot of effort!

If you're checking out the up and coming northeast Ohio beer scene (why wouldn't you be) and you find yourself wanting something a little different from some of the hoity toity breweries that have been springing up all over the area, get yourself down to the Valley district in Akron, OH and grab a mason jar pint with some friends - you won't regret it!

Check out Trailhead on Facebook to keep up with their frequently rotating taps and see what's coming up soon! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trailhead-Brewery/313608432087809