Tag Archives: stained glass windows

Former Church is now the Home of Father John’s Brewery

On this beautiful Sunday afternoon, my sinful urge to have a beer led me to Father John’s Brewery, the former Methodist church in Bryan, Ohio.  Originally built in 1867, this wooden church was later renovated in 1895 with a red-brick exterior, beautiful stained glass windows and the addition of a pipe organ, custom built.

Instead of waiting for a table, I grabbed a chair at the cross shaped bar and placed an order for a flight of brews.

A self-proclaimed novice to local craft beer, I tend to lean towards the light beers or ones that offer hints of fruit flavors.

My beer selections for my flight of 6 include:

  • The Venerable Bede IPA 1% – love this one
  • Sacrificial Goat Amber 66% – just a slight  nutty taste
  • Proverbial Porter 1% – grows on you; wasn’t my favorite at first
  • Michael’s Pale Ale 6.3%  a fellow bought the very first pint and they named this beer after him
  • Fresh off the Bine Fresh op Beer 5.3% – can taste the wheat
  • The Imp Imperial Rye 8,4%
  • Ranger IPA 6.5% – love this one

Enjoying my selection of craft brews, I grabbed a couple of my samples so I could walk around and browse the amazing set up.  I felt as though I was standing in the middle of a Renaissance castle with life-size armor, period furniture and Medieval embellishments.

Father John’s Brewing Company opened in 2012 to produce ales and lagers in addition to wine and meads.  With a brew-on-site operation, Father John’s includes eighteen draft beers.

Red hymnals rest on each table in lieu of the traditional church pew.

While indoors you may notice the dark, mysterious interior, a walk outside will have you feeling as though you have taken a seat among the French countryside.

The owners of Father John’s want visitors to consider their brewery as a place to discover.  One way is to roam both the beautiful exterior as well as the fascinating interior.  During my exploration, I learned that there is a crypt within the grounds of the church.  The space below the ground has been covered with a clear glass as it is thought to be containing remains, but out of respect it has been undisturbed.

Did you know that the first gluten-free craft beer made in Ohio came from Father John’s?  They appropriately named it Intolerant Ale.

Exiting the brewery, I found the beautiful garden with fire pits, flowers and tables to enjoy the outdoors.  What a change from the dilapidated structure that had lay empty over a period of time leaving the slate roof falling in and its foundation crumbling.   Saving the building, Dr. John Trippy opened the space as a brewery/restaurant in 2012.  Shortly thereafter, the Stoned Goat Inn was opened for visitors needing an overnight stay.

There is an incredible serenity at Father John’s.  Visitors are welcome to take a tour of the brewery, experience a wine tasting, book a private gathering or even a night at the inn for an immersive experience.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Father John’s Brewery in Bryan, Ohio? Did you stay overnight?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my exciting visit to Father John’s and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Father John’s Brewery
301 W Butler Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone:  419 633 1313

Tues – Thurs: 3pm – 10pm; Friday: 3pm – Midnight; Saturday: 11am – Midnight and closed Sunday and Monday

Where to Stay:

Father John’s Brewery
301 W Butler Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone:  419 633 1313

Tues – Thurs: 3pm – 10pm; Friday: 3pm – Midnight; Saturday: 11am – Midnight and closed Sunday and Monday

Where to Eat:

Father John’s Brewery
301 W Butler Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone:  419 633 1313

Tues – Thurs: 3pm – 10pm; Friday: 3pm – Midnight; Saturday: 11am – Midnight and closed Sunday and Monday

I ordered the Angelic Wings with the Sweet Thai sauce in addition to the Charcuterie Board with its many cheeses and meats.

Where to Drink:

Father John’s
301 W. Butler Street
Bryan, OH 43506
Telephone:  419 633 1313
Website:  https://www.fatherjohnsmicrobrewery.com/

What to Read:

  • A Sweet Century: The 100-Year History of Spangler Candy Company and the Spangler Family, Bryan, Ohio, by William L. Culbertson

And the Drive In Between: East Coast Driving (Massachusetts)

When my friend Dave asked me to join him on a trip to his childhood home, I was so excited to meet his family and to see where he had grown up outside of Boston. Our first day, we would hang out in Boston and Salem and then we had also made plans for a trip to Portland, Maine to meet up with his childhood friend, Alan.

We arrived early in the morning, loaded up the rental car and began our journey heading north.  The scenic coastline was dotted with historical buildings, beautifully built of stone and brick.  Reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting, we stopped on several occasions to take photographs and enjoy the scenery.

Stained glass windows, colorful siding and delicate roof tiles added so much character to our drive.  We played a game trying to guess the year in which each year they had been built based on their architecture.  From churches and chapels, we were completely entertained and amusing ourselves over the next couple of hours.

The further north we drove, the natural beauty of the coastal rock formations popped up along the Atlantic.  The occasional inlet would appear filled with yachts and sailboats and I wished we had more time to hang out or at least stop for lunch, but we decided that we would stop at Kelly’s Roast Beef in Saugus for their infamous roast beef and lobster rolls and I couldn’t wait.

I loved seeing all of the old signs in Saugus, like the Hilltop Steakhouse which had been opened by local businessman, Frank Giuffrida in 1961.  The restaurant was a popular spot from the 60s through the 90s expanding to 1500 seats.  I learned that it had recently closed and thought of all of the patrons the restaurant must have served over the years.  It also made me think of how hungry I was and couldn’t wait to order some lobster….are we close to Kelly’s?

It was such a great day driving the coast.  Do you enjoy road trips?  What is your favorite activity when you travel?  I would love to hear about your travels if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Thank you for reading about my drive around the NE coast and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and Do:

Take a Coastal Drive!

Where to Stay:

Red Roof Inn Plus+ Boston-Logan
920 Broadway, I-93 North to Rt. 1
Saugus, MA  01906
Telephone:  888 665 1356

Where to Eat:

Kelly’s Roast Beef
410 Revere Beach Blvd.
Revere, MA  02151
Phone:  781 284 9129

What to Eat:

    • Boston Baked Beans
    • Cape Cod Potato Chips
    • Clam Chowder
    • Fluffernutters – a sandwich with peanut butter and marshmallow fluff….amazing!
    • Fresh Seafood
    • Fried Clams
    • Grilled Blueberry Muffins
    • Hoodsie Cups – baby cups of ice cream
    • Lobster Rolls, of course
    • Seared Scallops

What to Read:

  • Mystic River, by Dennis Lehane
  • Sacred, by Dennis Lehane
  • The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood

Photo Guide for Boston:

  • Acorn Street
  • The Amazing Coast
  • Boston Athenaeum
  • Boston Common
  • Boston Public Library
  • Café Susu
  • Fan Pier Park
  • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
  • Louisburg Square
  • Marshall Street & Union Oyster House
  • Old Signs Along Saugus
  • Public Garden Foot Bridge
  • Rouvalis Flowers