What if someone told you to drive 45 minutes off the interstate to visit a bar in a town of 13,000 people in west-central Ohio?  You might raise an eyebrow. But …

… if you’ve spent any time chasing down good craft beer in this state, you’ve heard of Brewfontaine in Bellefontaine, Ohio. After all, it won the #1 Beer Bar in Ohio from CraftBeer.com four years in a row, from 2017 through 2020. It’s also an officially recognized Great American Beer Bar by the Brewers Association.

Historic Downtown Bellefontaine: The Building Behind Brewfontaine

The building was home to Johnson’s Restaurant in the 1950s, a regular stop for locals known for fresh grilled sandwiches and cold beverages. Co-owner Brian Wall and his partners spent years planning what would eventually open as Brewfontaine.

This place has the energy of a Columbus or Cleveland taproom without any of the pretense. Historic downtown Bellefontaine doesn’t get better than this.

They named a sandwich after the building’s roots. But more on that in a minute.

The Craft Beer Logan County OH Has Been Waiting For

Walk up to the bar and look at the tap list. Brewfontaine runs 16 taps, what co-owner Adam Rammel calls the “Sweet 16,” and the reasoning is deliberate: any more than that and the beers don’t rotate fast enough.

On any given visit you can put together a flight that crosses beer, wine, cider, and mead all at once.

The focus leans heavily on Ohio craft breweries, with national finds pulled in when something exceptional comes through. Nobody leaves without finding something worth drinking.

CraftBeer.com surveys thousands of craft beer drinkers across the country and names one top beer bar per state each year. Brewfontaine won Ohio four years running, 2017 through 2020, which is how a bar on South Main Street in Bellefontaine ended up on the radar of craft beer fans from Columbus, Cleveland, and well beyond.

Oh, and here’s something worth noting …. Brewfontaine also has a Mug Club for regulars. Members get their own personalized mug kept at the bar, access to exclusive events, and other perks. If you find yourself coming back more than once, it’s worth looking into at brewfontaine.com.

The Brewfontaine Menu Has Gourmet Sandwiches Bellefontaine Didn’t Know It Needed

The food isn’t filler. It’s the reason a lot of people who don’t even care that much about craft beer make the drive. Every sandwich comes with Mumford’s potato chips, made in Urbana, Ohio, and a housemade IPA pickle.

Small touches …. but they matter.

Signature Pretzels: Start here. Brewfontaine serves a pair of hand-rolled pretzels with Saucy Sows sweet pepper mustard, made locally in Jackson Center, OH. Add beer cheese for an extra two dollars. It’s the right way to start any visit, and it’s been featured in Tasting Ohio: Favorite Recipes from the Buckeye State.

The Mama Johnson Sandwich: Named for the building’s history as Johnson’s Restaurant, this is the one that started it all: Bavarian ham, Swiss cheese, Saucy Sows sweet pepper mustard, and banana peppers on grilled artisan Italian bread. Clean, simple, and exactly right. There’s also an Italian Mama Johnson variation with mozzarella, Italian dressing, onions, and tomatoes if you want to take it further.

The Grilled Reuben: Their own menu calls it “Our best seller.” Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing grilled on marble rye. Also available with turkey.

More Worth Ordering: The Sirloin Cheesesteak with roasted red peppers, mushrooms, and caramelized onions is worth knowing about. The Flyin’ Hawaiian with Bavarian ham, bacon, grilled pineapple, and smoked gouda is a reliable crowd-pleaser. The Greek Salad loaded with olives, feta, banana peppers, and housemade Greek vinaigrette is the kind of salad you keep eating past the point where you meant to stop. (Trust me here.)  There are rotating desserts and soups too, so ask your server what’s on.

Award-Winning Hospitality at Brewfontaine Bellefontaine, Ohio

In December 2023, Brittnee Vermillion, a server and bartender at Brewfontaine since opening day, was named Best Guest Experience Provider at the Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA) Industry Awards Celebration in Columbus. The ORA has since rebranded as the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance.

That kind of thing doesn’t happen by accident. Regulars are regulars here. First-timers get treated like regulars. If you walk in not knowing what to order, someone will point you in the right direction without making you feel out of place. For a bar with this many accolades, it doesn’t have an ounce of pretense.

Dog-Friendly Patio in Bellefontaine

Brewfontaine has outdoor seating with picnic tables, and it’s dog-friendly. (Perfect as the weather is warming up!) If you’re passing through Logan County with a dog, you’ve found your stop. The patio is visible from the street and worth grabbing on a good day, especially with a flight and the pretzel in hand.

Live Music, Events, and Catering at Brewfontaine

Brewfontaine hosts live music and rotating community events throughout the year, including Dine to Donate nights where proceeds benefit Logan County nonprofits. They also offer catering for private events, corporate gatherings, and more. The calendar shifts month to month, so check brewfontaine.com or follow them on social media before you go. Music bookings can be submitted directly through their site.

Planning Your Visit to Brewfontaine in Bellefontaine, Ohio

Whether you’re a Logan County local who’s somehow not been yet, or you’re driving through on US-33 looking for somewhere worth stopping, this is it. Online ordering is available through their website at brewfontaine.com.

Address: 211 S. Main St., Bellefontaine, OH 43311
Phone: (937) 404-9128
Email: cheers@brewfontaine.com
Winter Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–10pm | Sun 11am–9pm | Kitchen closes 9pm (8pm Sun)
Summer Hours: Sun–Thu 11am–10pm | Fri–Sat 11am–11pm | Kitchen closes 9pm
Online Ordering: brewfontaine.com
Mug Club: brewfontaine.com/mug-club
Catering: brewfontaine.com/catering