Earnest Brew Works

A Neighborhood Gem with Fantastic Brews and Friendly Faces Our continued "Beer and Patio Search" brought us to Earnest Brew Works' South Detroit location, a spot that has quickly become one of our personal favorites. And for good reason! The patio here is a real highlight. It's well-appointed with large tables and umbrellas, offering plenty of shade on sunny days, along with a few comfortable benches. They even have a couple of simple games available to keep you entertained while you enjoy the outdoor ambiance. Like their other location, there's no in-house kitchen, but Earnest Brew Works consistently brings in some of the best food trucks, ensuring you'll always have delicious options to pair with your beer. Inside, the space is smaller but incredibly cozy, creating an intimate and inviting atmosphere. You'll find a mix of high and low-top table seating, a compact yet functional bar, and a convenient walk-up station for ordering your brews. For those who want to take the Earnest experience home, they boast a large selection of canned beers, along with a pretty impressive merchandise section, including adorable gifts for the canine companions who are, happily, also welcome at this location. What truly sets this location apart, however, is the staff and the overall vibe. The team is not only super friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable about their offerings. The atmosphere itself is colorful, hip, and trendy, making it a genuinely enjoyable place to be. It's the kind of spot where the other patrons are just as friendly as the staff, creating a "block party" feel where everyone seems to be having a great time. No matter which Earnest Brew Works location we visit, the quality of their brews and the inviting environment never disappoint. Earnest Brew Works is a solid brewery, consistently delivering on all fronts, and we'll undoubtedly be returning for more unforgettable experiences.

We LOVE Earnest!! If you're a dog lover and beer enthusiast, Earnest is the perfect spot for you! A friendly brewery welcomes furry friends with open arms, making it a delightful destination for both humans and their canine companions. What sets Earnest apart is its commitment to creating a vibrant community atmosphere. They regularly host a variety of events, from food centered events to bingo, ensuring there's routinely something fun going on. Plus, their rotation of food trucks adds an exciting culinary dimension to the experience, offering a diverse array of delicious bites to pair with your brews. The brewery itself boasts a charming, laid-back ambiance, with ample outdoor seating where you can relax and enjoy the company of friends, both two-legged and four-legged. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, adding to the overall warm and inviting vibe. Ofcourse the beer selection, never disappoints, with a range of craft brews to choose from, including IPAs, stouts, and seasonal specialties, there's something to satisfy every palate. And if you're not sure what to try, don't hesitate to ask the knowledgeable staff for recommendations – they're always happy to help you find your new favorite pint. Grab your pup, gather your friends, and come experience the unique charm and hospitality Earnest offers. Cheers to good beer, good company, and wagging tails!

Crunchy Hippie. What an amazing beer. So much so, I bought a case to take home. Amazing atmosphere. Service was spectacular. I go as often as I can. The biggest issue is that I live over one hour away.

Delightfully chill atmosphere, a lot of dogs and friendly people! There were two food trucks, one burgers and one dessert. We tried a flight and all the beer we tried was yummy. Peanut butter Porter was absolutely delicious, no weird aftertaste that typical peanut butters have (I bought a six pack to go if that's any indication how good it was). The wee heavy was a touch sweet but really yummy. The strawberry wheat had a slightly odd aftertaste but it did not last. It was a nice light beer that I would have easily drank a whole one of. The oatmeal Stout was good, but a little bitter for my palette. They have a variety of beer to go. We really enjoyed our visit and if we're ever back in Toledo will visit again.

This place has a great vibe! We came in when Tyler was working, and he is knowledgeable and fantastic! If you play Pokemon Go, it’s also a poke stop. We will definitely be stopping next time we’re in the area!

Tyler was absolutely amazing. He had great recommendations and top tier customer service. Definitely coming back just to see him! Please promote him CEO and give him a big fat raise!!!

Been here a few times while visiting my hometown, Toledo. Always a great experience. Solid beers and a good variety of rotating/seasonal brews (18 taps). Very laid back atmosphere with folks from all walks of life coming in out. Friendly staff and good food trucks. ...Just ate great Australian food from Tucker Truck. It's worth a visit.

Great place for a beer. Fantastic selection, very nice staff and friendly atmosphere.

We stopped here on the advice of a friend, as we were passing through the area on our way to Chicago. Nice selection of beers. Tyler and Jen were great. They took the time to describe beers they thought we'd like. They also suggested nearby restaurants for dinner. Another patron also gave great suggestions and bought a flight for us since we were new in town. Thanks to Tyler, Jen and Mateo.

Excellent beer! Fabulous place to hang out and great food trucks outside! Today they had Cousins Maine Lobster.

I am a beer snob and have the chance to travel the country a good portion of the year. Just not feeling these NW Ohio breweries. Most of the beer I have tried here has a skunk type aftertaste to me. Small location. Maybe holds 20 folks outside, 20 more inside. If its busy, you will not find parking here.There's 3 ipas here that have that crispy m hoppy finish i like. Honey buzz(taste no honey-dont let the name fool ya), Have a nice IPA and the west coast ipa (finish is not smooth). Yep I have tried some seasonals. Just not a fan. The staff is always friendly to me. Pint will run u $6-8. Food trucks out front almost daily. If it wasn't for the food trucks i wouldn't be back so frequently but come try for yourself

We have been to the downtown location recently and we both loved it. I love the bright hippie colors and decor! Unfortunately, we came for the Tag and it was " tagabrew out". They had some short tags but they were for the other location. Oh well. We will order some. We did have fun here and enjoyed the beers. If you're in the area, check it out.

Might be wonderful beer place but no coffee drinks here. Coffee search showed this. Nice divey setting and will be fun to try however

I was in town for work and someone suggested I stop here and check things out! I got a flight with some very delicious beers but my favorite was "The Spice is Right" if you like seasonal beers this is your spot! They have two different Christmas ales! TWO!!! I was very delighted with my stop here. The staff was super nice and helpful. They have $10 6 packs of their beer (I took an xmas ale and a pumpkin ale) plus growlers. They only negative is the don't have any food or any food truck options. They are surrounded by plenty of restaurants that do carry out so that helps. I would definitely return here if I was in town.

Our favorite local spot the beer is always good, the service is amazing, and typically there is a fun food truck to try. I highly recommend checking this spot out. We always bring friends from out of town.

ANOTHER MICROBREWERY in Toledo! Gimme a HELL YEAH! No...seriously...give it to me now...NOW, I SAID! I don't get down this way TOO often, but when I do, I try to stop at Earnest Brew Works. For pure variety, EBW is tops in town. There's at least 18 beers available at any given time (assuming that nothing has sold out yet). Probably, their flagship brew is the "Crunchy Hippie Granola Brown Ale." Not my fav, but it is popular around The Glass City. There's usually 4 or 5 IPAs on tap at any given time. How are they? I'm an IPA rookie...you'd have to ask Summer D, next time she's home. Depending upon the temperature, you can find me drinking (almost any friggin' beer, but I really like) wheat beers and stouts/porters. Right now, EBW is offering Scotch Barrel Aged Orion the Hunter Black Imperial Wheat...awesome at 11.2 v/v EtOH! Talk about the best of both worlds! Food? How about popcorn? BUT, food trucks and Pizza Cat are often available. Then again, you didn't come here to eat, did you? The first documentation of beer being brewed in these lands dates back to 432 years ago (although we're pretty sure that the Indians brewed beer before this). That's a long time. Keep the tradition alive! When you're in South Toledo, have a beer at Earnest Brew Works! 5 stars!!

Great beer great atmosphere. Met up with friends to have a dog party. Pet friendly. Had the Holiday Toast with Christmas Crackle rim. The staff were amazing and super friendly

Best brewery in Toledo. Great atmosphere, fun atmosphere, and super dog friendly. No kitchen, but usually have a solid rotation of local food trucks rolling through. They also have a nice patio space to enjoy on a pretty day. Big Oatis and Crunchy Hippie are must haves! Cheers.

We were headed home from Detroit and wanted to stop at a brewery. This is about 5 miles south of Downtown Toledo, but it's worth the drive. Good choice of low-alcohol beers and all tasted great. People stopped by just for the food truck. Patio is sunny but the table umbrellas helped. Loved the sign inside!

Day Trip to Toledo. Had our dogs. Their first time out with us anywhere. We did a search of dog friendly breweries and decided to give it a shot. It wasn't the best of days. Overcast, patio seating. Single guy working bar and tables. And it decided to rain which we hadn't prepared for but that didn't stop the crowd. Food was via food truck and a snow cone truck showed up as well. The wife and I enjoyed our beers. Even though it was crowded and long line the single bar tender answered questions and provided samples. If you happen to be passing through or need a good day trip. You should visit.

Less than basic beer. Have been numerous times to try new beers and 'furkins'. But still bad. You get a minority chance the servers are not complete assh*es. They advertised Cherry Bomb a while back....it was definitely a bomb. Honeybuzz? Where is the honey. Wife and friends are not fans. I understand that microbrews are cool, good deal are. But, this place just doesn't get it. Trash

Amazing craft brewery in South Toledo! They've been around for about a year now and I still love coming here. There is always a great choice of brews on tap. They feature a new firkin every Thursday and frequently have food trucks (or feel free to bring your own food). We rarely have a problem with service; the bartenders are friendly and usually quick. My favorites are: Before the Sun (imperial coffee stout), New Sincerity (west coast IPA), Honeybuzz (double IPA), and Holiday Spicewood (American barleywine).

The beers are very good and the vibe is hometown. Love Toledo and this place is pure Toledo. Food trucks are an added bonus! Made the best out of their space during Covid.

I've been an avid homesteaders for over 15 years.....before craft was hip and cool. It is awesome to find a place like this that makes super solid beers. Most are over hopped ipa trash anymore. This place is legit and great beers. Come here and try them all. First time to toledo up from MO. Will be back!!!

We were in the South End for dinner. Decided to give Earnest Brew Works a try. We were impressed. They were busy. There was a dozen beers available. And the quality was good. I had a coffee stout. My wife had a Belgian Ale. It was a fun evening.

I bet these guys will need more space soon. This place was PACKED around dinner time on a Friday night. We grabbed a space at the bar. The IPAs were all excellent. The Crunchy Hippie is solid, but didn't like the one with peanut butter added: tasted too fake. They seem to still be working on getting their dark beers right: the flavor was there but the body was light. Definitely a little gem in Toledo.

Great place, great selection of beers. Many different kinds to choose from. Tried a flight of 6 difft beers. Something for everyone. The honey buzz DIPA one of the better DIPA I've had. I'm an out of towner but I'd definitely be a regular if I was a local.

This is an industrial space, nice and open with 50'ish chairs and a 12 seat bar. Super nice and intimate. 2 tv's let you know whats going on, and the music is eclectic. Came in to try the 11.2% Orion, and it was worth the trip. Small unassuming place with great local beer. Stayed to try a flight and all where solid. The place is very laid back in the afternoons, but jumping at nighttime. Popcorn in the corner with a view of the working brewery. Super nice place for having a beer. Warning, no grub! Lots of places nearby, but nothing to walk to. Wednesday is growlers day at $8 that is a steal.

Glad I stopped in. Good beer and great service in this pandemic world. They are doing their best to insure a safe environment for all.

It's small but nice. The cherry bomb was a little too cough syrupy for me. But I did enjoy the crunchy hippy a lot. Both peanut butter and regular. The bartender was nice and willing to talk.

Huge selection to choose from so got to love that. They had 18 different beers on tap, nothing makes me more mad then going to a brewery that has 5 beers on tap. The wife and I grabbed 2 flights (thank you for having the good flight glass holders that hold the glass and don't just balance them on a piece of wood) and sat down to try. Some beers are great, some are ok, some are meh, its really just finding what you like and with 18 beers to choose from that shouldn't be a problem. My personal favorite was the Holiday Spicewood. Not exactly the best thing to be drinking in the middle of August, but man that would hit the spot well on a cold winter day. A friend suggested this place and I am glad he did, worth the trip. They don't have food and it didn't seem like there was a lot of food choices in the area so make sure to plan accordingly.

Best beer in Northwest Ohio. A local joint run by great personable brewers. Get there and enjoy Earnest.

Hipster Van Gogh is the way to go if you prefer something less hoppy. Good taste, goes down easy. The place was crowded & lively on a Saturday evening and a handful of guests brought in their growlers for a refill. They also offer 4 oz. pours if you want to taste a few different selections. Would definitely go back.

This local watering hole has exceptional brews. This place would feel pretty drab if it were empty, but EVERY time I go it's packed, and it feels like the hot place to be in town. The owner is there many nights and was very kind and informative. -1 star for service. Bartenders were less than attentive. I had to do some not-so-subtle cues to get their attention. Even when I had it they just seemed kinda pissed that I bothered them

This is one of the best secrets in Toledo, that secret is spreading. They brew their beer in earnest- hence the name- and you can taste in in each drop. Honey buzz is their award winning IPA, which is my favorite. Crunchy Hippy is a great brown ale. Earnest has the staples of a great stout, tasty lagers, wonderful IPAs and still will venture out with experimental beers- like Firkin Fridays. You need to drink here!

Way to go, guys. Scot's been brewing great beer at home for years, and based off the beers available during opening week, his partner is one heck of a brewer too. Typically, first week for a taproom produces a few "misses," but not so here. Great lineup. Six brews on draft during soft open, and soon to be 10. These guys are not messing around. Get out and support Earnest Brew Works, Toledo! For the record, big fan of their blond ale (Easy), the West Coast IPA (New Sincerity--and seriously stands up to some of the stronger, heavy hopped west coast style brews), and the hibiscus ale (Hello). Also, love that they have kept the interior of the place simple, as a tap room should be. Come in, drink beer. No frills. Keep up the awesome work, guys!

Best beer in Toledo with very friendly staff. They always have a great selection. Don't you just hate it when a brewery only has a specific type of beer? Earnest has it all and they do every kind extremely well. Whatever beer you get, you will not be disappointed

First time here. Wide variety of beers to choose from. The entire staff wore mask if that matters to you. Speaking of the staff...extremely friendly. They disinfected each table as people left. They were very attentive. We were luckily enough to sit outside with a tent over us for shade. Their were 3 food trucks when we were there. We ate from the one with the burgers. Which were excellent! Hand cut fries were delicious as well. The other main food truck, which made pizza, was also getting a lot of action. We will try it next time. The cupcake truck was ok. But that's not why we went this place. If you gave questions, they answer their Facebook messenger very fast. We will be back. Drive 50 minutes to get here and worth it!

Very tasty beer here and that's all you get. No food except for the occasional food truck. Earnest is a new South Toledo establishment down at the intersection of Byrne and South Detroit, near the AW Trail. Easy to get to from South Toledo, Maumee, or Perrysburg. I am a big supporter of craft beer and welcome Earnest coming online.

Great small place for some good beer. Very good selection, so there's something for everyone. Kind of small so I don't know how it would be on a busier evening. No food here, but it looks like they have food trucks show up in the parking lot.

Random find by a friend. Great beer selection. Good atmosphere, went on a Friday after work with co workers. Pizza truck was nearby so we got to eat some fresh pizza as well!

This place is basically beer heaven. You can chose between 4 oz samples of the 20 beers they have on tap, 10 oz pours, a pint, or a ridiculous 32 oz mug! I had the oatmeal stout and it was spot on.

Great place, had no idea this place existed until I was told about it. Small inside but really suits its character as a place to go sample some local creations. Service was a bit slow and took a while to get acknowledged despite not being that busy at the bar. Enjoyed all the beers except the Smokehouse, that may have been the worst beer I ever had. Maybe a bit of a stretch with that one. I will definitely come back.

Not expecting much being where it is. South Toledo is dead right... lol surprised when I walked in. Looked better than expected, but the beers were just ok. Not blown away by anything they had on. But they are new and hope they do get better. Probably not going to drive across town again for it again.

Pleasantly surprised yet another good brew pub in Toledo. This time off Detroit in what would have been an abandoned building, now exists a thriving and very good brew pub. Food truck parked outside. Loved I mean loved the selections, so much so I had to do 2 flights instead of commit to one beer. Very nice examples of the style with a distinctive twist in each. My only complaint is that it isn't closer to my house in Maumee lol

Coincidentally, I'd read a write up of EBW in the City paper, a few days before making our annual pilgrimage back to the homeland that we call Toledo. Turns out it was meant to be, as the article was written by an old friend and EBW is located about 1/2 mile from my in-laws place in South Toledo! Pleasantly surprised by their range and execution of various styles from the Beer Pressure hazy East coast IPA, sorachi hopped something or other, to the blonde coffee ale, all were winners in my book. I went back twice to pick up 4 pack pints to go of Beer Pressure during my stay and highly recommend this little gem of a brewery.

At Grand River Brewing in Jackson, MI, I met an EARNEST employee, Brent. He was so enthusiastic about Earnest Brew Works that I drove down there a few days later. He introduced me to the owners. When it was safe in the production area, he arranged for me to get a grand tour. The brewer shared some interesting facts about the operation, making it somewhat different from breweries I visit in Central Michigan and West Central Florida. Of about eight beers I sampled, there was only one not at all to my liking. The others were either delightfully unique or fine examples of the particular style. I had gone prepared with an empty growler and was pleased I could get it filled with HONEY BUZZ double IPA. also brought home a six pack (cans) of another interesting beer. To me, it was well worth the drive, from South Central Michigan.

I grew up in Toledo but now live in Cleveland. Surprised at how good the beer taste. Reminds me of great lakes or fat heads. Will definitely be going there again when I'm back in town.

Great beer, and great variety of beer. Perfect place to get a growler filled or get a "crowler" (32 ounce cans filled on demand). The higher gravity beers are especially good.

Nice little tap room with quality beers. I've been a regular since Earnest opened. They've expanded their selection from 6 or so beers at opening to 15+ new and rotating offerings. You can find something good regardless of what style of beer you like. The West Coast IPA is not to be missed if you're a fan of the genre. Their attention to quality is appreciated too--I've had a couple of pints at other brewpubs and had a nasty headache later, not commensurate with the quantity imbibed. Earnest's beers seem very "clean" and high quality as well as tasty. Their "regulars" club nets you a free T-shirt or 2 pint glasses as well as occasional discounts and regulars-only events. Growler fills of all offerings and in-house produced Crowler cans are available to go. Bring a growler or purchase one of Earnest's--the crowlers are nice but not really a good value in comparison. The decor is simple--A nice wood bar, kitschy hanging incandescent lamps that provide a nice ambiance, concrete floors and block walls without much adornment. No food, though there is a food truck on "Firkin" Thursdays when new/experimental beers are released, and occasionally other offerings. Fresh-popped popcorn is always free, and usually good music on their audio system, not that you can usually hear it except on very slow nights. There are 2 TVs at the bar, though I see no evidence that anyone cares that they are there or not. The bartenders are friendly and the crowd tends to be beer aficionados, with the occasional curious friends in tow. Everyone is typically very friendly, though it can be too loud to have a conversation without nearly shouting. The only reason I'm leaving off the final star is the place can be very cold inside, especially near the walls on cold days, which is not surprising with concrete block walls, and the crowds can be pretty intense at times, making it difficult to find seating or get timely service. I don't think the proprietors expected it to take off like it has--they haven't been open that long and already need a larger venue. It would be nice if they were open longer than Thurs-Sat, but they need time to brew, and if you're going to open your own brewpub, you're certainly entitled to keep whatever hours you damn well please. However it would be great to be able to stop in on a Monday for a good brew after a stressful day at work.

Was here the day after thanksgiving. Smal place, great beer, was very crowded when I was there.

Great beer! This little brewery has tremendous depth and fantastic flavor profiles that epitomize each type of beer. Start out with a flight to sample a variety of beers, then pick either a snifter (10oz) or pint (16oz) to enjoy. Take a Crowler (32oz) or a growler (64oz) of beer to go! All were good. My faves wet the Hello Beer ale with hibiscus and orange and the Honey Buzz double IPA, though would have been happy with a pint of any variety. Kind staff, simple interior. Signage hard is not great, but a place worth finding. Enjoy this great new local brewery!!

Walked into the brewery this evening after work, right around 6pm. The doors were wide open to have a fresh breeze roll in, I'm sure. I noticed a Kurt Young for City Councilman sign and some smiling faces sitting at the front door. I didn't think anything of it as I walked to the bar to view the 12 brews on draft. I had previously tried their beer at the Old West End festival and found their beer to be appealing, relative to the other Toledo breweries like Maumee Bay and Black Cloister. I was there not 15 seconds once I was through the door when a lady sitting at a bar table asked if I was here for the Councilman's fundraiser. I said was here for a beer after work. She proceeded to tell me that the bar was practically closed off for a private event. I don't ever want to drink at a place doesn't give someone a head's up via a poster on the door saying there's a private party in session. I can understand. But a brewmaster or bartender didn't come to tell me this, rather than an attendee of the very small fundraiser that had less than two dozen people by the time I exited

A small simplistic tap room that does what you except, they make great beer. I honestly was amazed at the selection available for just opening up. The growlers are very reasonably priced compared to other local breweries as well. The staff was knowledgeable and although it was packed, they were quick to grab my order. With food trucks on the weekends, this reminds me of the unique character of a west coast brewery.

Great little brewery in South Toledo. The staff was accommodating and patient as I questioned them about their beers. They just opened two days ago and have 6 beers up. Soon there will be 10. Especially notable was the Honeybuzz DIPA and the Worker's Porter. The crowd was gregarious. I plan on returning soon.

great place, however my only criticism being the available seating space. if weather conditions do not allow for use of the outdoor tables, it can be SRO inside. non withstanding, a visit will still be worthwhile.

I really enjoy this place and their 15 beer flight. Service was great!!! But it is LOUD. They need to work on the acoustics. It wasn't even half full and it was so loud I could hear the music or myself think. The kid running around unattended screeching like a dying bird didn't help. A possible no children after a certain time may be a great implementation for those parents who have no common sense:)