Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. is known for its dog-themed beers.
There’s Citra Dog, Labrador Lager, Cerberus and Siberian Night Imperial Stout, just to name a few.
Given the pooch-inspired lineup, it’s no surprise that the Akron brewery is being playful with its 20th anniversary this year.
“We’re 140 years old — in dog years,” co-owner John Najeway said with a laugh.
Kidding aside, Thirsty Dog, one of the oldest craft breweries in Ohio, isn’t resting on its laurels as it commemorates two decades of beer production.
The brewery is embarking on several major projects this year — everything from an updated brewing system to a new off-site tasting room and kitchen in Akron. The goal is to keep Thirsty Dog relevant in a growing and often fickle $22 billion craft beer market in the U.S.
“It’s nice to be the lead dog out there but you have everybody nipping at your heels,” Najeway said.
A little history
Thirsty Dog began in 1997 as a brewpub in suburban Canton.
It added two more brewpubs in subsequent years, one in the Dayton area and another in suburban Akron. But by early 2005, they had closed.
The brand survived with its bottled beer being made on contract in Fredericktown, Md.
In 2007, Thirsty Dog brought production back home, opening its own brewery at 529 Grant St. in Akron, the former headquarters of the Burkhardt Brewing Co. — meaning the brewery is celebrating not only 20 years as a brand but also 10 years of producing beer in Akron.
At the outset, Thirsty Dog made eight different beers. Today, it pumps out nearly 75 each year and is distributed in 15 states. It’s looking to expand its territory this year, hoping to move into the Maryland, Illinois and South Carolina markets.
To help with the expansion, the brewery recently added equipment that allowed it to double its production. The brewery says it now has the capacity to produce up to 30,000 barrels a year.
Thirsty Dog was one of only about a dozen craft breweries in Ohio back when it first opened. Today, there are more than 200.
“We make it look too easy for everybody else,” co-owner Ulo Konsen said.
Effect on Akron
Thirsty Dog has made a big impact in Akron over the years.
It launched the Blues & Brews beer festival, which takes place every August and will celebrate its 13th anniversary this year.
It has hosted numerous fundraisers for local groups such as Child Guidance & Family Solutions’ annual Growing Up Akron event.
And it has partnered with local institutions and restaurants for specialty and limited-edition brews. It made beers commemorating the 125th anniversary of the city of Barberton, 200th anniversary of the city of Cuyahoga Falls and 175th anniversary of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Najeway also helped found the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.
Along the way, the brewery has won numerous medals at the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup and other events. It also made an appearance — albeit for only one year — on RateBeer.com’s annual list of the Best Brewers in the World in 2015.
“Thirsty Dog has been a leader and standard-bearer of the Ohio craft beer community for the past two decades,” Ohio Craft Brewers Association spokesman Justin Hemminger said. “The awards and accolades that John and his team have racked up have helped draw significant attention to the quality work being done by Ohio’s craft brewers.”
Full circle
Thirsty Dog is coming full circle with the opening next month of the Thirsty Dog Taphouse, a taproom and kitchen at 587 Grant St. in a 3,000-square-foot building that for years housed Glen’s Train Shop.
The space is just a few doors down from the brewery.
It will feature 24 taps of Thirsty Dog beers, with 12 of those dedicated to rare, barrel-aged and sour beers.
The Taphouse also will be home to a small bar with a granite countertop, tables, a party room, regular cask ales and a 55-inch flat-screen television, which is missing from the current taproom.
The food menu will showcase local meats and cheeses from places such as Duma Meats and Lucky Penny Farm, sandwiches and soups. The taproom and kitchen also will sell six-packs, growlers and kegs.
There’s no specific date yet for it to open. The Taphouse will essentially replace the bar at the brewery, which has limited hours now.
The new space will be open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. The bar at the production brewery will remain open but only on Saturday afternoons as part of tours.
Part of the charm of visiting the current Thirsty Dog taproom is being immersed in a working brewery. The bar sits in the middle of the brewery and it isn’t unusual for a forklift to buzz by.
No one has ever been run over, but Thirsty Dog believes it’s best for everyone’s safety that people aren’t milling around the brewery. There are other reasons as well, including better parking at the new site.
Thirsty Dog took an old brewhouse door from the brewery and installed it in the new tasting room to bring in a little bit of the old flavor.
The Taphouse isn’t the only new venture in the works. There’s talk about opening a brewpub in the Flats in Cleveland, but the owners have been quiet about their plans there, saying nothing has been finalized yet.
Celebratory beers
Thirsty Dog, which has brewed many special beers for others over the years, will release a slew of new offerings to help celebrate its anniversary.
A barrel-aged version of Bernese Barley Wine Ale will be released next month in 750-milliliter bottles. A barrel-aged Old Leghumper is coming in four-packs in August. Barrel-aged 12 Dogs of Christmas will be available in four-packs of 12-ounce bottles for the first time at the holiday.
A barrel-aged version of its Pumpkin Ale will hit the market in 750-milliliter bottles and draft in August, and Cerasus, a Flanders-style red ale, will make its debut in bottles.
Given the opportunity to reflect on his career, Najeway, who started at Thirsty Dog when he was 27 years old, was asked what he would tell his younger self.
“Be prepared to work hard every day,” he said.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his beer blog at Ohio.com/beer. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .