Saturday marked the culmination of Dayton Beer Week with the annual craft beer event, AleFest.

Nestled within the grounds of the historic Carillon Park, AleFest shared space with an old time baseball game, the original 1905 Wright Flyer III, and throngs of beer lovers.

In fact, when we pulled up just past opening time, the lines to get in weren't just long, they were staggering. Thankfully, things moved quick and I can about guarantee that when everyone left at the fest's conclusion three hours later, the opening lines were a distant memory.

As we made our way through the opening gates, we were handed our tasting glass and tickets. We were off.

Drew arrived before us. He had a plan and by the time we had rolled through, he had already hit the highlights and cheerfully passed on his reconnaissance. The rest of us were less prepared and although armed with a map, opted for the leisurely random stroll.

Although AleFest was packed, and at times difficult to navigate, everything moved smooth. As history has proven before, our first actual taste is usually a big miss. One year we inadvertently stumbled into the Pabst Blue Ribbon line. What a way to start. This year it was worse: Peroni. What are the odds?

Even with a rickety start, things picked up fast. Outside the huge and varied amount of beer, there was a lot of cask this year, too.

Anytime I see a tapped firkin, it's a moment of joy. When I received my pour of Heavy Seas Loose Canon American Hop3 IPA, I could smell the hops before I even had the glass in my hand. That's a fresh beer.

We visited with New Holland, Troegs,

and Sam Adams, as well as several, several others.

Gary equated a trip into the tasting lines like a bombing run. How much fun was he having?

Yeah, "that much".

As we worked our way through the grounds, we happily ran into Maureen & Brian from the Fifth Street Brewpub. Ohio, and especially Dayton, is undergoing a beer renaissance. In just the last year, at least four brewpubs have either opened, or slated for opening, in the coming months. The Fifth Street Brewpub is one of them. However, unlike the rest, the Fifth Street Brewpub is a cooperative. It's the first in Ohio and as of yesterday, we are all now "owners".

Initially hoping for 300 charter members by the end of July, here it is in late August and they are already over 800.

It's not everyday you can buy an interest in a brewpub for $100. The idea is novel, contagious, and very exciting. The membership drive is still open, so if you want in on a pretty amazing adventure, check out their website and sign up. You will be in great beer loving company.

We had an absolute fabulous afternoon, even though it was unbelievably hot. I found sweat in places I didn't know existed.

The grounds of Carillon make a convenient and wonderful destination. Not only do these memorial grounds mark Dayton's rich innovative and engineering history, they set the stage for the legacy of beer in the Miami Valley. Plans are in the work for a $2 million historic brewery on this very site.