Dayton, Ohio’s Brewing History

Image by Firesign via Flickr

Prior to Prohibition, Dayton had a booming brewery industry.  The Dayton Brewing Company, Stickle Brewery, Wehner Brewery, Riverside Brewery and the Third Street Brewery boomed after lager was introduced in 1852.  Lager reminded the Germans of their hometown and the lighter taste appealed to everyone else.  “By 1908 more the 200,000 barrels were being made annually, with $300,000 being paid each year in wages.” Dalton, Breweries of Dayton (A Toast to Brewers from the Gem City 1810-1961).  Ohio, having one of the strongest prohibition movements, destroyed this “gem” of an industry, which never recovered after the Noble Experiment.  Let’s hope that we can get some new breweries in the coming years.