For four and a half years, Buck’s Brewing has flown under the radar for most Central Ohio craft brew lovers. With a one-barrel system and an annual output of only around 50 barrels, owner/brewer Clark Myers’ beers were generally hard to find. On rare occasions, a keg popped up at The Daily Growler or The Ohio Taproom, but Myers typically kept his production at several key accounts in Licking County. That has now changed with the opening of a new taproom on the north side of Newark.

Buck’s taproom officially opens its doors today, January 24, at 3pm. The taproom is small but cozy, providing a very comfortable feel with plenty of natural light from three large picture windows. The handcrafted bar, made from large slabs of Ash, provides seating for nine. Add to that several mix and match tables and chairs, and total seating accommodates about 25. The bar’s décor comes from Myers’ personal collection of Breweriana, with collectable cans, bottles, steins and signs. The bar does not have a kitchen, but Myers encourages customers to bring in pizza or other eats from local restaurants, including nearby Pizza Cottage and Plaza Pizza.

Myers has used his four and a half years of brewing experience to hone his recipes. The opening day line-up will include a stout, a porter, a milk stout, a Belgian white, a pale ale, and an IPA. The beers were all produced on his new 7-barrel brewing system in a small building immediately behind the taproom.

The new Buck’s taproom will be open from 3-10pm on Wednesday and Thursday, and from 3-12pm on Friday and Saturday. If you stay until closing, you will hear Clark ring the “Last Call” boxing bell located on the wall behind the bar.

Buck’s Brewing is located at 993 Mt Vernon Rd in Newark.