Yellow Springs Brewery, Yellow Springs

Drive 25 minutes east of Dayton and you’ll find Yellow Springs, a small town that played an outsized role in the American counterculture, civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s thanks to the presence of Antioch College. Martin Luther King Jr. gave the commencement speech at the private liberal arts school in 1965, and rebellious thought leaders often frequented the scene.

Yellow Springs Brewery opened here in 2013 and has taken on the personality of this close-knit community that keeps its eyes on global affairs. The brewery uses the slogan “Crafting Truth to Power,” and celebrates Yellow Springs’ identity as a refuge for those who have taken the path less traveled and want to make it wider for those who follow.

“The longer you’re in the environment of the brewery, the more you feel the closeness of the town, especially since our taproom isn’t the biggest,” says Anna Teachey, head brewer at Yellow Springs Brewery.

The taproom is small, and most days it’s bustling with activity from open to close, making it somewhat difficult to find a seat during busy weekends. That is no problem when the weather is nice, as patrons can spill out onto the rear deck and patio. The outdoor space is partially shaded and sits alongside the very active Little Miami Trail. The route, which is popular with bicyclists, runs from the city of Springfield all the way south through Cincinnati.

The brewery’s taproom does not have an on-site kitchen, but it hosts a different food truck daily. Teachey and her team brew a wide range of beer styles, from the ever-popular Hazy IPAs to lagers to mixed-fermentation sours.

“Most people know us for Boat Show IPA, but we also brew foeder beers and everything else,” she explains. “We’re bringing a balance of recognizable styles for everybody and stuff for the beer geeks.”

The feeling of community present in the town permeates Yellow Springs Brewery’s taproom. It hosts a rotating series of works from local artists and does frequent collaborations with community organizations, including Yellow Springs Street Fair, Yellow Springs Pride and WYSO, the local public radio station. The brewery’s Stone Stepper tangerine pale ale is brewed each year in conjunction with the local Glen Helen Nature Preserve.

305 Walnut St., Yellow Springs 45387, 937/767-0222, yellowspringsbrewery.com