Dayton, Ohio
What it is: The Barrel House focuses on quality and comfort over capacity, filling the bar with overstuffed couches and chairs and only a few conventional tables. The relaxed atmosphere and disheveled-chic hangout space belie the careful strategy behind the bar’s tap list and bottled offerings. The twenty rotating taps feature seventeen thoughtfully curated beers, two wines, and a cider. Featured brews range from easily accessible standards to sought-after rarities to one-off kegs brewed specially for the bar by local breweries. Food trucks in the parking lot and a great Colombian carryout across the street provide food options, and the walls are lined with excellent bottles and cans to go, including the occasional unannounced whale.
Why it’s great: The focus on a chilled-out lounge vibe makes The Barrel House one of the most relaxed beer bars in Dayton, a characteristic amplified by the affable owners and their love for music (bring your own vinyl on Sundays to spin for the whole bar). Regular events range from open mikes to a weekly multigenerational knitting group to “Wu-Tang Wednesdays,” on which the iconic hip-hop group’s music thumps through the bar.
Details
Hours: 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Monday–Wednesday; 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m., Thursday; 11 a.m.–1 a.m., Friday–Saturday; 11 a.m. –9 p.m., Sunday
Address: 417 E. Third St., Dayton, Ohio
Web: barrelhousetap.com