If you've driven up to Catawba Island on your way to Put-in-Bay or the Lake Erie islands, you might have passed Twin Oast Brewing without realizing what you were missing. The brewery sits on 3630 NE Catawba Road, on a 60-acre farm estate that used to be a gas-station stop for boat parties. These days it's become a destination in its own right. Rolling green hills, stone fruit orchards, a pond with a gentle waterfall, and two striking limestone turrets that give the place its name. The Smith family has been building something here since 2009, when they bought 60 acres of largely abandoned farmland and started restoring it. The brewery opened in 2018, and we keep finding reasons to go back.
Twin Oast Brewing. Photo: Untappd.
The Name and the Oasts
An oast is a traditional structure once used to dry hops. You find them in old hop-growing regions: perforated drying floors, vented cowls that turned with the wind, a warm and rustic feel. The brewery's about page describes oasts as "the perfect blend of farming and brewing," and that relationship is at the heart of what Twin Oast does. The name comes from two stone turrets built on the property, each designed as a twin oast. One is 20 feet in diameter, the other 24. They were constructed from limestone excavated from the farm itself. The Brewing Industry Guide case study notes that "if it wasn't a brewery, the property would likely be Ohio's most Instagrammable wedding venue." You've got the turrets, the orchards, the amphitheater for concerts, and the picnic tables surrounded by flowering bushes. It does host weddings and private events. But the setting alone doesn't explain the brewery's popularity. The beer backs it up.
The Smith Family and QuinStock Farms
Quintin and Donna Smith bought 60 acres of farmland in 2009 and named it QuinStock Farms. Rachel Hagenbaugh, writing for Lake Erie Living in 2024, reported that when they started restoration in 2011, the property was largely abandoned with only 10 cherry trees remaining. The Smiths planted hundreds of stone fruit trees: peaches, apricots, cherries, apriums, and pluots. Catawba Island has a unique microclimate. Quintin told Hagenbaugh that they can grow apricots on the island and have a crop nine out of 10 years, but if you go 10 miles inland on the mainland, you get a crop two out of 10 years. That kind of terroir shows up in the beer when you're building a farm brewery.
The family's son Cory runs the brewery. His dad's passion for restoring green space and his own passion for brewing aligned. Cory told Lake Erie Living that he still catches himself walking around and seeing that "it's something extremely special and beyond what I ever dreamed it could be." The Smiths now own 176 acres in the area. They also operate Gideon Owen Wine Co., the former Mon Ami Restaurant and Historic Winery, which they saved from development and reopened in 2020. In 2021 or 2022 they acquired Catawba Island Brewing Company, which they use for distribution and production, with a focus on creative sour ales that show up on tap at Twin Oast. The family has become a major force in preserving Catawba Island's agricultural heritage.
The Beer: Core Four, Fruit Beers, and a GABF Silver
Twin Oast blends German brewing traditions with modern American approaches. Their Core Four are year-round: Old Ohio, a 4.7% blonde ale with subtle citrus tones; Oasteweizen, a Bavarian hefeweizen with banana and clove notes; Legitimate Swells, a 6.3% American IPA with Citra, Mosaic, and Amarillo; and Ship Burner, a 5.1% brown porter with dark chocolate and coffee. The brewery's website says they don't try to stand out by making the highest alcohol or the hoppiest IPA. They use the best ingredients, creativity, and care. That philosophy shows up in the tap list.
Legitimate Swells IPA. Photo: The Scotty #91, Untappd.
ApriCatawba is the farm fruit beer that started it all. It's brewed with Catawba-grown apricots and has become a symbol of the brewery's mission to bring the island back to its agricultural roots. Vivod is a Berliner weisse, tart and sessionable, with notes of citrus, green apple, and honey. You can order it "Mit Schuss" with a shot of fruit syrup. Seasonal offerings follow the weather and the crops. Summer brings tree-ripened fruit and lighter brews. Fall has Proast, a Märzen-style lager, and Oktoberfest. Winter has the Non-Denominational Holiday Ale with blackstrap molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Berry Delish, a cream ale fermented on strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, celebrates August on Catawba. Lava Monster is an imperial red ale infused with hot peppers from QuinStock Farms.
The brewery won a silver medal at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival for Oast House Reserve Meet Your Maker, a barrel-aged imperial stout. On Untappd, Twin Oast sits at 3.76 with over 46,000 ratings across 137 beers. Legitimate Swells has a 3.83 with more than 5,000 ratings. Rutherford B. Haze, a hazy IPA with Azacca and Sabro hops, clocks in at 3.98. The Oast House Reserve series has drawn serious attention. Jeff LaCourse checked in the Aprés lager and wrote, "Excellent malty lager. Twin Oast beers are usually great and this is no exception." Bryan Hoffaker had the Old Ohio and called it "Nice blonde. Smooth and easy." The fact that people are buying Twin Oast in grocery stores and at Heinen's, and that three of Bassett Market's top 10 beers on July 4 weekend were from Twin Oast, says something about how the beer travels beyond the farm.
The Food: Perch Tacos, Pizzas, and Farm-to-Table
The menu is elevated gastropub fare designed to complement the beer. Lake Erie Living highlighted the perch tacos, a family recipe with a hint of spice that pairs with Old Ohio. The pizzas work well with Legitimate Swells. The brewery offers seasonal dishes using locally sourced Ohio ingredients. Sunday through Tuesday they run Pies and Pints: $10 one-topping pizzas. Thursday is trivia night with 50% off select shareables for participants. Friday is Bones and Brews with $1 bone-in wings and $2.50 BBQ ribs. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6.
ApriCatawba fruit beer. Photo: Ellen Elder-Joseph, Untappd.
On Yelp, Twin Oast has a 4.2 with 167 reviews. Guests praise the fish tacos, margherita pizza, and perch sandwiches. The spacious outdoor setting comes up repeatedly. The kitchen closes one hour before the taproom (except Sundays, when it closes 30 minutes prior). You can order online through Toast. The food program is built to work with the beer, not compete with it. Grab a beer, find a spot inside or out, and use the QR codes for seamless ordering.
The Space: Taproom, Lawn, Oasts, and Quinstock
The property is what most people describe first. The taproom sits in the heart of the farm. You can drink in the tasting room, on the vast lawn or patio, inside the two larger-than-life oasts, or in the middle of the peach trees. There's an amphitheater for concerts, a pond with a waterfall, and in winter they've offered domed "igloos" for cold-weather outdoor seating. The Brewing Industry Guide noted that if they get 150 visitors on a winter Saturday, they might get 1,400 on a summer Saturday. The seasonal swing is real. The family makes every effort to keep core staff employed year-round, but winter is lean. Summer is all-hands-on-deck.
Quinstock is an annual August music festival that typifies the family's creativity. It began as a birthday party for Quin's "midlife crisis" in 2008 and expanded into a Woodstock-themed festival open to the public. Cory told the Brewing Industry Guide that it "kind of spiraled out of control to become an annual block party." They've also hosted a Winter Olympics event with quirky competitions like an anything-but-a-sled race and snowball shotput, with a charitable component benefiting Eriesponsible, a Catawba Island nonprofit focused on Lake Erie's health. The brewery offers brewery tours, live music, trivia nights, and game nights. Kids are welcome. The place is wheelchair accessible. They sell growlers, crowlers, and kegs. Wine is available for non-beer drinkers.
Catawba Island and Lake Erie
Catawba Island is technically a peninsula, connected to the mainland by a thin strip. It sits in Ottawa County, about an hour east of Toledo and an hour and a half west of Cleveland. Port Clinton is the nearest town. The Lake Erie islands (Put-in-Bay, Kelleys Island, Middle Bass) are a short ferry ride away. The area has long been a summer tourism hub. Twin Oast has helped turn Catawba into a destination rather than just a pass-through. Mike Bassett, a family friend, told the Brewing Industry Guide that he overheard a guy tell his wife, "We need to buy a house out here so we're closer to this." People are wanting to live there because of the brewery.
Cory has said they look at New Glarus as inspiration. People drive hours out of their way to pick up beer and have a nice time. That's how they built Twin Oast. They have no plans to expand distribution out of state. They see ample opportunity to grow deeper in their immediate vicinity and in the Cleveland and Toledo markets. Ed Thompkins, the beer and wine buyer for Heinen's, told the Brewing Industry Guide that "people go because the brewery's beautiful," but "if the beer isn't good, they wouldn't buy it in stores." Twin Oast leverages the experience of the brewery with the quality of the beer. Their hefeweizen is one of the best in the area. They're not an IPA house solely, or only barrel-aged beers. The range is part of the appeal.
What Patrons Say
The reviews tell a consistent story. On Yelp, guests praise the fish tacos, margherita pizza, perch sandwiches, and the spacious outdoor setting. The 4.2 rating across 167 reviews suggests a place that delivers. On Untappd, the check-ins add color. Adam Beneke was at Twin Oast in March 2026 and had the Cherry On Top and Banana Stand. Dawn Bonnett had the Star Krush. Ron Justice had the Star Krush. People are coming back and trying different beers. Josh Burgermeister had Legitimate Swells at Spicy Tuna Sushi Bar. The beer shows up on tap across Ohio. Patrick D. had Legitimate Swells at home. The fact that Twin Oast is in distribution and that people are seeking it out says something about the quality.
Legitimate Swells at the taproom. Photo: Lucas Sigurdson, Untappd.
The Brewing Industry Guide quoted Bassett: "That family is a very special family. They're brilliant at what they do. They're very well thought of, and they participate in the community. They're always asking, 'What can we do?'" The Heinen's collaboration, Red, White & Hazy, has been released for the past two July Fourths, exclusively at Heinen's and the brewery. Thompkins said that on the Fourth of July weekend, people buy that beer and take it to parties where others ask where they got it. "And there's only one answer." That's the kind of customer advocacy that spreads the word. The brewery has built a reputation as a family-run, homegrown business deeply tied to its area.
Practical Stuff
Twin Oast Brewing is at 3630 NE Catawba Road, Port Clinton, OH 43452. Phone: (419) 573-6126. Hours: Monday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12 to 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The kitchen closes one hour before the taproom, except on Sundays when it closes 30 minutes prior.
If it's your first visit, get a flight to sample the range. Old Ohio and Oasteweizen are safe bets for something approachable. Try Legitimate Swells if you want an IPA, or Ship Burner if you want something darker. Ask about ApriCatawba when it's in season. The perch tacos and pizzas have the most buzz. The outdoor seating is the draw when the weather cooperates. In winter, the igloos offer a unique experience. Check their website or social media for live music, trivia, and events. Reservations are available for certain seating areas. They're child-friendly and wheelchair accessible. Note that pets are not allowed except certified service dogs. Parking is available. Plan for crowds in summer. The Brewing Industry Guide's only negative, according to Bassett: "In the summer they're too busy."
Bottom Line
Twin Oast Brewing opened in 2018 on a 60-acre farm that the Smith family has been cultivating since 2009. The twin limestone oast-house turrets, the stone fruit orchards, the pond and waterfall, and the amphitheater make it one of the most distinctive brewery settings in Ohio. The beer is solid across the board: German-inspired core styles, fruit beers from the farm, and a GABF silver medal for the barrel-aged imperial stout. The food program holds its own with perch tacos, pizzas, and seasonal dishes. The family has expanded into Gideon Owen Wine Co. and Catawba Island Brewing, but Twin Oast remains the anchor. We think they've built something that fits the place. If you're heading to the Lake Erie islands or you're already on Catawba, it's worth a stop. Maybe you'll want to buy a house out there too.
Sources
About. Twin Oast Brewing. https://www.twinoast.com/about/ (Accessed March 2026).
Hagenbaugh, Rachel. "Cultivating Catawba Island: Twin Oast Brewing and Gideon Owen Wine Co." Lake Erie Living. July/August 2024. https://lakeerieliving.com/articles/2024-julyaugust/cultivating-catawba-island-the-smith-familys-legacy/ (Accessed March 2026).
Case Study: Twin Oast Has Built a Destination Brewery in Ohio. Brewing Industry Guide. https://www.brewingindustryguide.com/case-study-twin-oast-brewing (Accessed March 2026).
Twin Oast Brewing. Untappd. https://untappd.com/TwinOastBrewing (Accessed March 2026).
Twin Oast Brewing. Ohio Craft Brewers Association. https://ohiocraftbeer.org/breweries/twin-oast-brewing/ (Accessed March 2026).