Barley's Beer (and other history) Timeline Columbus, Ohio
and a selective look at Barley's history
This timeline is Brewdood's project, mostly because he's starting to forget the details. Though principally a Barley's ale history journal, other events, moments and amusements may be added at the whim of the author. The beers listed below represent the first time that beer was put on tap. An asterisk next to the beer means it is likely it is currently retired.

Click on a beer link to read about a specific ale, get some food pairing ideas and such. Beers with an asterisk (*) are either "one-off" special brews or beers no longer made.

If you have any personal recollections, moments, pictures or other contributions, please submit them here, and we may add them to the mix. And, yes, we know not every beer is linked yet. Send submissions to: timeline@barleysbrewing.com.

Cheers!


Barley's Brewing Company
Ale House No. 1

Celebrity sightings:

  • Jeff Smith, the "Frugal Gourmet"
  • Cheap Trick, before a concert at Polaris Ampitheater
  • James Doohan, Star Trek's "Scotty"
  • Stephen King, on his motorcycle book tour
  • Eddie George, with his mother
  • various members of the Columbus Blue Jackets
  • Coach Earl Bruce, as master of ceremonies and guest Christmas Ale tapper, at one of our anniversary parties

Somethig you didn't know:

  • The beautiful mahogany back bar, already over 100 years old and hand carved, was brought to this country on ship in the 1930s by the Owner of the Gambrinus Brewing Company, for a bar he also owned across the street from the brewery called The Grotto

    When the land was taken by eminent domain for a Saint Ann's hospital expansion, the bar was moved to The Grotto II, at the current location of the Japanese Steakhouse

    Being next door and close to seeing its end with a wrecking ball, we rescued it and gave it its new home

    The two vertical beveled mirrored glass pieces are not original; when we inherited the bar, it had a bullitt hole in it; mirrors are not made this large any longer    , so we added one vertical piece to hide the wound, and the other for symmetry

    In 1992, someone came in and said he had pictures of the bar at its original Columbus location. He promised to bring them in, but never did
  • Someone once crashed the back end of a pickup truck into the back entrance to steal the cigarette machine. No suspect was ever found, and we don't sell cigarettes, nor permit smoking any longer

Barley's Smokehouse & Brewpub
Ale House No. 2

Celebrity sightings:

  • Dave Thomas enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich by himself
  • Fairport Convention, prior to a concert
  • The Stylistics, take out order
  • ***, at a special breakfast CD party
  • Kirk Herbstreit, for a business lunch
  • We came "this close" to catering a private event for Bette Midler

Something you didn't know:

  • Our location, when it was Jack Bowman's Steakhouse in the 60's, was the first place in the country to offer a salad bar; now, you can enjoy a salad at the bar

    It was located about where the brew house is now, according to the Grumpy Gourmet, Doral Chenowith
 

Barley's Brewing Company
Ale House No. 1

 

 

2007

  • Barley's Mother Earth Fifteenth Anniversary Ale 11.15 Our first totally organic beer. A strong ale to show off what we've learned in fifteen years!
  • Barley's Smirking Emperor Imperial Pilsner preview firkin 10.12 We may have gone over the top with this one...
  • Meister Eckhart Spark of the Divine Barleywine* 06.21 Barley's 2006 Homebrew Competition winner, Joe Eckhart

2006

  • Barley's fourteenth anniversary party with guest Christmas Ale tapper Andyman, CD101 FM 11.16
  • Heavy Horses Strong Olde Ale* 06.1 Barley's 2005 Homebrew Competition winner, Jeff Hornberger

2005

  • Jay's Ain't Just Blowin' Smoke Porter* 06.21 Barley's 2004 Homebrew Competition winner, Jay Wince
  • Four Seas Imperial IPA 05.20
  • Barley's Rye IPA 04.14

2004

  • Anastasia Russian Imperial Stout* 06.21 Barley's 2003 Homebrew Competition winner, Jay Wince

2003

  • Matt's APA* 06.21 Barley's 2002 Homebrew Competition winner

2002

  • Barley's Barley Wine! (11% ABV) 10.11 Barley's first offering since repeal of-strong --ale prohibition in the State of Ohio!
  • Devil's Moon Weisenbock* 06.21 Barley's Homebrew Competition winner

2001

  • Bambino Signorino Stout 11.09

  • Full Moon Ale* 06.05 fifth Barley's Homebrew Competition winner
    Stoutasaurus Rex 06.26

2000

  • Pipebuster Brown 10.2
  • Primordial IPA* 06.09 fourth Barley's Homebrew Competition winner

1999

  • Barley's seventh anniversary party with guest Christmas Ale tapper Maxx Faulkner, WCBE 90.5 FM 11.18
  • Norma Iguana Pilsner* 06.09 third Barley's Homebrew Competition winner

1998

  • Barley's sixth anniversary party with guest Christmas Ale tapper Maxx Faulkner, WCBE 90.5 FM 11.19
  • Jimmy's Amber Haze* 06.09 second Barley's Homebrew Competition winner

1997

  • Barley's fifth anniversary party with guest Christmas Ale tapper Maxx Faulkner, WCBE 90.5 FM 11.20
  • 09.04 first firkin served in Columbus, Ohio, and possibly Ohio in the modern craft brewing era: Centennial India Pale Ale
  • Queen Ann Stout* 06.17
  • Al's American Pale Ale* 06.09
    first Barley's Homebrew Competition winner

1996

  • Barley's fourth anniversary party with guest Christmas Ale tapper Coach Earl Bruce 11.21
  • J. Scott Francis ESB 09.18 the beer engine makes its debut...first cask conditioned ale in Columbus 09.18
  • Auld Curiosity Ale 06.24
  • Bee's Wing Honey Wheat Ale 06.12

1995

1994

1993

1992

  • Hell Mary 11.27 With Brewdood working the bar, two lovely coeds invent the Hell Mary, Barley's versioon of the Bloody, using Gates of Hell sauce, itself formulated just three weeks earlier, prior to opening
  • Barley's Pale Ale 11.20
    Barley's Brewing Company
     Ale House No. 1 opens 11.20
 

Barley's Smokehouse & Brewpub
Ale House No. 2

2008

  • Barley's Droughtfire IPA 01.18
    previewed on the firkin. Our response to the global hop shortage of 2007/8.
  • Barley's Whitman Pale Ale 01.11 previewed on the firkin. Our Burton-on-Trent style pale ale

2007

  • Barley's Oktoberfest 10.03 Our first true lager, meant for celebraitons!
  • Left Coast Pale Ale late April A California style Pale Ale: blonde and great drinkability
  • Hoptopus late April A Pale Wheat with a huge dose of citrusy hops
  • The Highland Hammer 02.26 Our first blend experiment: an artful blend of Robert Burns Scottish Export Ale and Centennial IPA. We classify it as a peated bitter, meant to transition into the Spring

2006

  • Double Dog Dare Imperial IPA 07.25 An IPA that tips the scale at 11.5% ABV. Immediate hit, scheduled to be brewed twice a year hereinafter

2005

  • Saint Joan's Revenge 10.27 A decadent verision of Alexander's Russian Imperial Stout, matured in Jack Daniels barrels obtianed directly from the distillary
  • Barley's Blueberry Ale* 09.08 A one-off pale ale with blueberries

2004

  • Cup O Joe Coffee Porter* 10.11 Experiment modifying the coffee stout; stout deemed superior and will be brewed hereinafter
  • Pint O Joe 06.30 A coffe stout Made with Stauf's coffee Roasters special blend for Barley's; served at Cup O Joe at the Short North Cap very occaisionally

2003

2002

  • Old Oscar's Brown Sugar 04.17
  • The Ox Brown Ale* 07.25 a "one off" tribute ale to John Entwhistle, bass guitarist for The Who, who died in LasVegas on June 27
  • Saint Nick's Winter Warmer (9% abv) 11.21 Barley's second strong ale offering

2001

  • Mindola's Granola Oatmeal Stout 06.19
  • Paw's Alt* 05.02 xxx, guest brewer, Smokehouse

2000

  • Spring Bock* 05.24 Homebrew Competition winner, AJ Zanyk
  • first Oysters & Stout held on leap day 02.29
  • first Robert Burns Dinner and Robert Burns Scottish Export Ale Tapping 01.25
  • Robert Burns Scottish Export Ale 03.20
  • Lowe's Oatmeal Stout* 02.15

1999

  • Laurel's Cherry Wheat* 02.10
    Barley's Smokehouse & Brewpub
    Ale House No. 2 establishes 10.13

1998

  • Barley's Cherry Porter 09.16
  • Ol' 33 Tavern Ale* 08.26
  • Lil's Smokin' Stout* 08.07
    Barley's Smokehouse & Brewpub
    Ale House No. 2 opens 08.07