John Lane and his golden creation Winking Lizard has been a staple of the craft beer scene in Northeast Ohio for more than 25 years. Already known for their array of beers — more than 100 in bottles — and rotating taps of more than a dozen each month on draft, the inevitable next step was a retail store. In early 2011, Lizardville came to be. Housed in the original location of the first Winking Lizard in Bedford Heights and featuring over 600 rare and unique beers and another eight on draft, it became a mecca for beer aficionados. The Lizardville beer store and whiskey bar allows drinke...
Like my previous One Tanked Trip, this month's visit was to an establishment tucked away in the most unlikely of places. Just south of Youngstown is the city of Boardman. Nearly hidden in a sea of chain restaurants sits Vintage Estates Wine and Beer, a craft beer heaven known as the best kept secret in town. I stumbled across this little gem, earlier this year after Boardman's annual beer festival, The Big Tap In, and have been dying to return ever since. Containing over 900 craft beers and 1000 wines, Vintage Estates is one of those rare stops that bring a smile to the face of both craft ...
Benders in downtown Massillon was slightly more packed than it normally is on a Wednesday night. Perhaps it’s because last night was the second round of the Massillon Art Battle. On-lookers ate wings and pizza while sipping on draft beers waiting to see what these two artists were going to create. Jason Sigala was announced, and he entered the painting area, dancing a little and scrolling through his iPod. As Mike was announced, he entered the “stage” with determination, tearing his T-shirt off. The theme of “fast food” was announced, and the two artists began their work as the...
By Nicholas Saddleton The Tap House on Waterloo is rapidly becoming Akron’s best place for great food, good drinks and a touch of celebrity. The atmosphere is casual with sports on the flat screens and rock music playing in the background. Sit at the bar and enjoy one of the 36 draft beers or take the family and sit in the adjacent dining room. The servers and bartenders are always friendly, bringing their own personality to the job. Talk to the manager, Jamie Bartus, and he will never forget you. Service is clearly the #1 priority of the staff of 26. At The Tap House, the...
