Opened in 2015 by Austintown couple John and Abby Chandler, Paladin Brewing makes locally brewed beer on a 15-barrel system and serves it in a family-friendly tavern. John’s home-brewing hobby grew into what the brewery describes as the Youngstown area’s first 15-barrel brewery, with more than 20 beer styles on tap and a kitchen added in 2021. The Chandlers also use the tavern as a community gathering place, hosting recurring events and fundraising drives that have raised thousands of dollars.
Allegheny City BrewingSince opening in Pittsburgh’s historic Deutschtown neighborhood in 2016, Allegheny City Brewing has brewed its beer onsite at a seven-barrel brewery. The neighborhood-based brewery pairs traditional styles with experimental concepts and now serves them through taprooms in Deutschtown, East Ohio Street, and Brighton Heights—the neighborhood where its owners were born and raised. Its East Ohio location adds a beer garden and space for local food trucks, live entertainment, and fundraisers.PITTSBURGH, PA
The Dayton Beer CompanyFounded in 2010 by owner and brewmaster Peter Hilgeman, The Dayton Beer Company makes handcrafted beer in downtown Dayton, where its 2012 taproom and production brewery became the city’s first locally owned and operated brewery in 50 years. DBC grew from a one-barrel pilot system to a 15-barrel production brewery in less than three years, pairing its award-winning beers with a European-style beer hall, rotating Ohio craft taps and spaces for gatherings. The brewery also emphasizes giving back to its hometown as it continues to grow with Dayton.KETTERING, OH
Moo-Duck BrewerySince 2014, Moo-Duck Brewery has been a small family-owned and operated brewery and pub in Elizabethtown, handcrafting unfiltered beer in small batches on a hand-built brewing system. Brewer-owner Mike’s recipes respect traditional styles while making room for unconventional ingredients and techniques, with twelve seasonally rotating taps and a locally sourced food menu. The taproom also keeps community at the center through an ongoing charity beer program, live music, and a no-TV, conversation-first atmosphere.ELIZABETHTOWN, PA
Erie Ale WorksStarted by homebrewers Steve Anthony and Jeff McCullor in one garage and moved into a second, Erie Ale Works brews beer in an open-concept Erie taproom where guests sit beside the production equipment. The co-founders still shape the operation—Steve as brewing director and Jeff as marketing director and self-described floor sweeper—while the shop builds community through local events, charity fundraisers and donations of spent grain to a nearby farmer.ERIE, PA