Bad Tom Brewing

In a very non desript building in Linwood, at the end of Bella Luna’s parking lot, is a relatively new brewery. Actually, Bad Tom Smith Brewing has been open for a year, but just recently extended their tap room hours.

Its a small building with a bar and a few picnic tables where you can see and smell the brewing going on behind some glass doors. There lineup right now is 6 solid beers, mainly traditional ones but with a slight twist.

They have:
A 6.6% American IPA (Addlehead IPA)
A 6% American Brown Ale (Bad Tom)
A 6.8% Wheat beer (Brother Clement)
A 10% American Strong Ale (Old Abe)
A 5.8% Stout (Black Kettle)
And a 5.4% Helles (Kloppenburg Helles)

I would easily say their Helles is one of the best, I’d not thee best that I’ve had. And I was pleasantly surprised that I love the brown ale as well! As far as the others, the IPA is a little untraditional and I don’t think as bitter as most. I’m not an IPA fan (there I said it) but it was drinkable to me. Now as far as their stout, that’s the totally unique one! It was a sweet stout with definate hints of cinnamon in it. Like I said before, they definitely put their.own twist on their beers.

So if your down that way, definitely check them out! Slight parking is in the left side of the building, but mainly street parking. I can solidly say this might be my favorite little brewery in Cincy! 🙂

Have you checked them out yet in person or at Beerfest? What are your thoughts?

Old West Fest

I’m sure by now most people have gone to a Ren Fest, or at least knows what a Ren Fest is. Old West Fest is very similar, only a few hundred years later.

Situated out in the middle of nowhere in Williamsburg, OH, is a little area called The Old West Fest. Seriously, you just keep driving down one road, and then you keep going down the next, and you’ll eventually stumble upon it. This is the 6th year for the fest, and it has some amazing potential! It’s not completely filled up yet, but it’s getting there.

You walk in to the little town (seen above) and its street lined with shops, saloons, and even a jail. Be careful though, as there may be a shootout right in front of you in the street! This is a great place for kids! Especially if they’re boys in their cowboys and indians stage. Theres all sorts of period things going on, and feel free to dress up as well! if you didn’t there are shops selling cowboy hats, and even saloon girl hair  pieces for the girls, for surprisingly decent prices!

The local blacksmith making and selling his wares

He even makes iron mustaches! Perfect on villain weekend

A musician making instruments to sell, and occasionally playing them too!

There are a lot of other interactive things for you and the kids to do (for a slight price, which after paying $12/adult and $6/kid over 5, gets slightly annoying, but again, they’re not terrible, and lets face it, you do it everywhere else) There’s a train ride, pony rides for kids 12 and under, and covered wagon rides!

The train is $2/adult $1/child and takes a nice tour of the village

Pony rides are $5 for kids under 12 and does one big lap as seen above

Covered wagon rides are $2/adult $1/child and takes about 10 minutes and does through their “prairie” and back

The wagon ride offers benches and a pretty eerily experience of what it would be like

Look! Salvation from a distance! Also known as Old West Fest through the wagon as it heads back in towards town from the prairie.

Now the main thing you want to check out while you’re here? The shows! The shows are amazing! There’s magic, circus performers, a medicine show, gun fights, music, and a good ol saloon girl show. The great/interesting thing, is the actors all work together. The professor from the medicine show makes a special appearance with the saloon girls, and yet everything makes sense and adds a whole other level of authenticity to the festival!

A lot of the youngins get to be a magician during the show

The stable area stage that’s used when they don’t have horse shows going on in the corral.

The saloon girls having a good time.

Seriously these girls do a fantastic job!

The great thing about the shops and the drinks? They’re all relatively decently priced! It’s not like your normal price gouging festival wares, and things are really good high quality here too! And don’t worry, the adults can enjoy beer from a boot glass all day if they’d like, so don’t feel bad about dragging someone along.

I also recommend putting out a warrant for someones arrest. At only $5 bail at the sheriff’s office next to the jail, you can put a warrant out on your child for not cleaning their room, or your husband for hogging the remote, and the sheriff will gladly arrest them and put them in jail until they apologize. If you get there early in the morning by 10:30, your child can also become a deputy for the day!

This place is a lot of fun, and is no where near done growing! They’re open through September and the first weekend in October. So if you want to go this weekend is your last chance! I highly recommend making a trek out to the Eastside to check this place out. You can easily spend just an hour here or all day! It’s truly up to you.

Check out the pdf on show times and a map here! Don’t forget to pick one up when you arrive too!