What it is: Beer enthusiasts in this small western Ohio town had to drive an hour to Columbus to find a decent beer selection until this charming bar opened in 2015. The bar’s 16 taps offer a constantly changing mix of top Ohio breweries such as Masthead and Seventh Son, plus national offerings from Bell’s or random surprises. A selection of wines, ciders, and cocktails cater to the non-beer-drinkers. The kitchen eschews typical pub fare in favor of thoughtful deli sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Why it’s great: Brewfontaine has become the social center for this small town, offering an intimate but convivial look at rural Midwestern social life. A given evening finds twentysomethings, families with children, and octogenarians enjoying a drink or a meal together inside the bar’s historic walls, which housed Johnson’s Delicatessen in the 1960s (the diner’s original glazed tiles still cover the walls). Despite the list of well-known beers, the most popular tap is Wally Post Red—an easy-drinking ale from local Moeller Brew Barn and named for a former major league baseball player born nearby.
Details
Hours: 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday–Thursday; 11 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday–Saturday
Address: 211 S. Main St., Bellefontaine, Ohio
Web: brewfontaine.com