Carillon Historical Park is home to a one-of-a-kind brewery

Gas copper lanterns light the walkway outside Carillon Brewing. Beyond the large white oak corridor doors—sash-sawn in period fashion with blacksmith-forged hinges and handles—the smell of wood and charcoal fire, timber and sugary wort fills the air. On a brick furnace, 14 feet above a bustling crowd, costumed interpreters draw water from a handmade copper kettle before beginning the process of mashing and lautering. Nearby, a growler of ale is filled, malt is milled by hand, oven-fresh spent-grain bread is baked, volunteers mend trousers with threads and needles, and costumed servers present German, Irish and English fare that pays homage to Dayton’s early settlers. American oak barrels line the lower floor, each one capped by an educational panel detailing the history and science of brewing.

“Carillon Brewing Co. creates historically inspired ales using recreated equipment and techniques from the 1850s,” says Kyle Spears, historic trades manager at Carillon Historical Park. “We use brand-new American white oak barrels from California, Bucyrus Copper Kettle made the copper kettles and Hoffman’s Forge in Barnesville, Ohio, did all the blacksmithing work—nails, hinges, door pulls, fireplace tools and the like.”

Housed on the campus of Carillon Historical Park, Carillon Brewing Co. is not only the nation’s only production brewery in a museum but also the only U.S. brewery replicating the historic brewing method—a singular establishment that offers guests a glimpse into mid-19th century Dayton, Ohio, life through the authentically prepared food and drink of the times.

“We brew in handmade copper kettles over a wood fire and everything is fermented in wood barrels,” says Spears. “All of this is carried out in front of our patrons with a heavy focus on historical education.”

In sourcing city directories, canal records, farmers’ reports and the like, Carillon Historical Park carefully analyzed the influences of breweries on the city’s evolution during the latter half of the 1800s. As brewing industries grew, so did agriculture, transportation and numerous other industries. By recreating 1850s Dayton life via exhibits, presentations, brewing production and a full-service restaurant, Carillon Brewing Co. tells the story of a developing Midwest city in a growing nation. It’s a tale that spans agriculture, industry, science, immigration, civilization, progress, culture and more. And all of it is told through beer and food.

Summer Fun, German-Style

With the days getting longer, and the sights and sounds of summer in the air, now’s the perfect time to explore the historically inspired Bier Garden at Carillon Brewing Co. Like many features of Carillon Historical Park’s 65-acre campus (especially in the early settlement area), the Bier Garden tells the tale of Dayton’s early immigrants. And one of the first, and largest, groups to settle the city was the Germans.

In the mid-19th century, Germans flocked to Dayton, often traveling north from Cincinnati; when they arrived, they were surprised to find bier gardens absent from the landscape, so they built their own—places where family and friends could gather outside and enjoy one another’s company. Hearkening back to the traditional beer gardens of Germany, the Carillon Brewing Co. Bier Garden is the perfect place to relax in the summer weather. And while you’re relaxing, why not enjoy one of the brewery’s award-winning beers?

“Our Ginger Pale Ale won a gold medal at the 2021 U.S. Open Beer Championship, and our Beet of My Heart Ale took the silver,” says Spears. “And our Carillon Porter won a silver medal at the 2020 Ohio Craft Brewers Cup.”

Located under the sprawling sycamores behind Carillon Brewing Co., the Bier Garden features 100 seats, an outdoor bar that opens during busy spells (with seven beer taps), and a historical nine-pin German bowling game called Skittles.

With every grain of hand-milled malt, with every batch of boiled wort and with every pint enjoyed in the Bier Garden, not only is history replicated, but Carillon Brewing Co. tells Dayton’s story in a new and fun and fascinating way.