Best bar/brewery: Lock 15 Brewing Co. still a local favorite eight years later

When Signal Akron caught up with Lock 15 Brewing Co. owner Joe Karpinski on Aug. 6, the timing was fortuitous. The date, give or take a couple of days, marked the Cascade Valley brewery’s eighth anniversary.

“I didn’t even realize that until we were talking about it right now,” Karpinski said. 

With a rotating selection of house-made beers and a food menu of unfussy, made-from-scratch dishes, Lock 15 Brewing Co. is one of Akron’s most popular breweries — and a repeat Best of the City winner.

Still, there are some people who are unaware of Lock 15 Brewing Co., which opened in 2018 in the historic Swinehart Tire Factory building. Karpinski wants to change that.

“We still come across people who’ve never been here yet from Akron, which I feel like it’s kind of crazy since we’ve been around for eight years,” Karpinski said. “We have a cool place.”

Like many business owners, Karpinski is feeling the effects of the economy. Gas prices are higher, as is the cost of food, whether dining out or eating in. Consumers have multiple options competing for their attention when it comes to spending a night outside the home. Managing a business’ costs is more important than ever.

“Total headcounts are definitely down over last year and previous years,” Karpinski said. “We’ve been doing very well with managing those costs to be able to stay in business, and really that’s how you do it.”

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The beer menu features a mix of year-round brews and seasonal favorites that rotate every six months. This summer, the Over the Top Berliner Weisse, a pineapple cherry sour, and the spicy Station 3 Habanero IPA are popular among guests, Karpinski said.

On the food side, the brewery’s rotating selection of burgers is a fan favorite.

“Right now, we have a really good green chile bacon double smashburger that people love,” Karpinski said. “Our Nashville hot chicken sandwich, I feel like that’s definitely up there with favorite summer options on our menu.”

Lock 15 Brewing Co. is a popular stop for people cycling, walking and running on the Towpath Trail, thanks to its proximity to Cascade Park and the Mustill Store Museum. In warmer months, the large open-air patio is a popular spot for diners. Karpinski said plans are currently underway to erect a permanent structure over the patio to provide shade.

2nd place:

Missing Falls Brewery

234-231-1000
540 S. Main St., Suite 112
missingfalls.com

3rd place:

Baxter’s Speakeasy

330-800-0327
22 N. High St.
instagram.com/baxterspeakeasy