Fifth Street Brewpub ready for summer
When I heard that Ohio’s first co-op brewpub was forming in Dayton and it was looking for charter members to sign up, I happily paid the $100.
I didn’t know much about it except some St. Anne’s Hill residents had some big ideas for the property at 1600 E. Fifth St. and it sounded exciting. The dilapidated building they had chosen — once the home of a grocery store — didn’t look like much, but it seemed like a worthwhile investment to play a small part in a community effort to create a neighborhood gathering spot out of something that was once was an eyesore.
So in 2012 with that $100, I became a member-owner of the Fifth Street Brewpub (FSB) alongside hundreds of other Dayton residents and beer lovers and waited to see just what exactly that meant.
On Aug. 3, 2013, this labor of love opened to the public as a bar only, providing various craft beers with food provided by local food trucks. The kitchen opened on Nov. 17, 2013, and FSB beers were unveiled upon completion of a seven-barrel brewhouse on July 16, 2014. By then several thousand members were on the books and that number has swelled to 2,800. This weekend will mark the celebration of the co-op’s third birthday.
The lifetime membership now costs $125. The one-time fee gets FSB members one membership share. More importantly it gets them 50 cents off all draft beer, a beer for a penny on their birthday with the option to purchase a $2 Happy Birthday glass, $2 off daily food specials and discounts through FSB’s membership loyalty program.
When I think of great patios in town, several come to mind, and FSB’s biergarten is high on the list. It seats about 75 and the restaurant and bar inside seats the same.
It’s one of the best spots in Dayton to enjoy a craft beer or cocktail this summer and grab some lunch. With 15 large picnic tables, there’s plenty of room and the space is relaxing and transformative.
The menu is relatively small, but the kitchen, led by Chef Brandon Travis, executes on it well. They are gearing up for a kitchen expansion this year that will offer significant changes to the menu.
“Our menu is best described as upscale pub food,” said Tobin Denney, founding member of FSB. “It’s important that our menu is fresh and innovative, and we strive to break your local content as much as possible. Upon completion of our pending kitchen expansion, we will greatly broaden the scope of our menu.” The Buffalo Chicken Nachos ($10) are a decadent, tasty choice for sharing. A plate of tortilla chips slathered in housemade buffalo cream cheese sauce, grilled chicken, corn and black bean relish, and melted cheddar cheese are a crowd-pleaser that you won’t be able to stop eating once you start. Sandwiches like the Lurking Turkey ($12) are generously portioned and made with fresh, quality ingredients. In this case a mound of tender turkey breast, pecanwood-smoked bacon, provolone, lettuce, tomato, and onion topped with a housemade cranberry-jalapeno mayo and served on a toasted Telera roll.
The FSB Salmon B.E.L.T. ($13) boasts a nice piece of seared salmon, pecanwoodsmoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and an over-easy egg with a housemade creamy garlic-herb aioli, served on a toasted roll.
The Asian Lettuce Wraps ($9) that are made with either pork or chicken, are a refreshing choice for summer. On repeat visits the pork has been more flavorful. The braised meat is topped with a cilantrolime dressing, sesame seeds, julienne carrots, and diced scallion. Served with a sweet soy dipping sauce, spicy Asian mustard, and iceberg lettuce wraps. It’s a healthier option packed with flavor, although the portion size could stand to be beefed up a little.
There are several salad options including a Wedge ($7) and Caesar ($8) that can be topped off with grilled salmon ($5) or chicken ($3). There is also a very nice BBQ Ranch
Chicken salad ($10) that comes dressed with a corn and black bean salsa, cheese and tortilla strips.
The daily soup specials are worth inquiring about. FSB’s
Beer Cheese Soup ($5) is always available. It’s incredibly thick and rich — almost like a cheesy dip — mixed with vegetables and bacon, cooked up with FSB’s Deluge Pale Ale.
The Cure-All Cream Ale, brewed on-site, is a light, crisp choice that pairs well with almost anything on the menu. In addition to all of the FSB beers on tap brewed by Darren Link, there are also a nice variety of beers from other breweries ranging in styles and flavors on the 12 taps. Keep an eye on social media and the FSB website for tap takeover’s with other breweries — local and out of state.
If you haven’t tried any FSB beers before, it’s worth ordering the Sampler of 5 for ($8) featuring 4-ounce pours. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to FSB beers and find a favorite. Cocktails and a variety of wine are also available to order.